WHOLESOME FOODS. 65 



ing and distributing factory for all the country 

 north and east, and had the distinction of being 

 the place of council each year. 



The people inhabiting the country embraced 

 by the Mackenzie Kiver, Great Bear Lake, and 

 the coast of Lake Winnipeg, subsisted almost 

 entirely on white fish. These were killed in 

 great numbers each spawning season, not only 

 for their own food, but for their team dogs as 

 well, the posts putting past from ten to one hun- 

 dred thousand, according to the importance of 

 the place and the mouths to feed. 



The fish were hung in number on skewers as 

 taken from the water, the sharpened stake be- 

 ing run through the fish near the tail. 



The string of ten fish on a skewer was called 

 a "percer," and was hung head down from long 

 horizontal poles, as high as a man could reach, 

 and the length of these traverses would accom- 

 modate one hundred "percers." The great 

 stock of fish was surrounded by a high picket 

 stockade open to the weather, with one entrance, 

 which was kept strictly under lock and key, and 

 opened each evening by the post-master, i. e., 

 steward, who gave out the requirements for the 

 next twenty- four hours' consumption. 



The expenditure was kept posted up each 

 night, showing for what use the fish had been 

 given out, under the following headings: 



5 



