HUNTING THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 



105 



THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 



CHAPTER XX. 



HE 



HUNTING THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 



black bear is found throughout 

 North America, from the 

 shores of the Arctic Sea 

 to its southern extremity 

 That they must have ex- 

 isted in great numbers 

 throughout this extent of 

 country, before its settle- 

 ment by Europeans, may 

 be easily believed, from 

 the immense number of 

 skins which can even now be procured of this animal. About 

 thirty-six years ago, one hundred and ninety-two thousand four 

 hundred and ninety-seven bear skins were exported from Quebec ; 

 in the year 1822, the Hudson's Bay Company exported three 

 thousand skins of the black bear. 



On the wooded portions of the rocky mountains, Captains Clark 

 and Lewis saw black bears, and subsequently found them on the 

 great plains of the Columbia, and in the tract of country lying 

 between these plains and the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally they 



