LOW TEMPERATURE — DEER STORIES. 177 



The lowest temperature that I observed occurred this week when, 

 about seven o'clock one morning, the glass was at 27° below zero ; 

 it must at the very least have been 30° below during the night. 

 This is generally the average winter temperature in this region, on 

 cold winter nights and mornings, while it often goes down to 40° 

 below and sometimes freezes the mercury. This winter the majority 

 of readings for the thermometer have been hardly to zero, or barely 

 below it — consequently the bays have not frozen over, travelling has 

 been most difficult, and the people have suffered accordingly. 



In the poorer communities I have been struck with the greed with 

 which everything is saved or hoarded up against a time when it 

 may be needed. Nails are often of as much value as if they were 

 made of nickel ; pieces of wood of peculiar shape are saved ; the 

 hoop, stave, or head of a barrel, if strong, is carefully laid away ; 

 while each little thing is saved or hoarded with the care bestowed 

 upon some sacred Penates, that is kept to be looked upon rather 

 than for use. Everything has its value while there is little that is 

 apparently useless. 



I suppose that to-day, Thursday, Feb. 10, one of the most 

 exciting stories (since verified) came to us that we have heard 

 for a long time. I have reference to a party of deer hunters who 

 have just returned from the interior with report of a large herd of 

 deer having appeared there, about a day's journey eastward from 

 where we now live. Their success has been unusual. Large herds 

 have been seen, and a great many deer killed by different parties 

 along the coast. One man living in the little settlement up the 

 river had the rare fortune to kill four in one day. It appears that 

 the hunter alluded to started out alone from the cabin, one morning 

 before breakfast, and, coming up with a herd, was fortunate enough 

 to kill two deer with the same ball — both falling together. He re- 

 turned to the cabin to breakfast, and said that he should want some 

 one to go with him with a sledge and dogs to procure the deer and 

 bring them to the cabin for him. While waiting for the men to har- 

 ness the dogs, and get in readiness, he said to them that he would 

 just take his rifle and have a turn over the hill beyond to see if 

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