70 pioneer life; ok, 



the shore in search of fish with which to feed their 

 cubs. The hunter had to exercise great care to keep 

 where the wind would not blow from him to the bear, 

 as the latter would detect the slightest taint of his 

 presence. After killing the old one he could some 

 times take the cubs, but if they ran he concealed 

 himself and they would return in a short time. If 

 he failed to approach near enough to kill the bear, 

 he let his dogs after her, and she would soon climb 

 a tree, followed by her cubs, when he shot the old 

 one from the tree, and then withdrew with his dogs 

 until the cubs descended and gathered aronnd their 

 dam. If he found it difficult to take them, he could 

 set traps or snares for them, as they will linger near 

 their dam for two or three days. 



Another manner of taking bears was in houses, 

 similar to those used for wolves. They were made 

 larger, being generally ten by fourteen, and built 

 upon a floor of large logs, unless a large flat rock 

 could be found in a convenient place to build upon. 

 The top was covered with logs or rocks, so heavy 

 that the bears could not raise them. The door was 

 in the side, and hung at the top. When ready for 

 use, the door was swung up and the bait connected 

 with it by a rope, in such a manner that the bear 

 when it pulled upon the bait, would loose the fasten- 

 ing, and cause the door to fall down to its place, and 

 fasten the bear into the house. In this manner we 

 some times caught the old bear and cubs at once. 

 When they were secured in this manner, we could 

 convey them home alive in the following manner. 



