WOODCRAFT, 



HINTS TO SPORTSMEN. 



The sportsman can, if need be, in stress of accident or mis- 

 fortune, forego nearly every appliance of civilization, and having 

 learned the ways of the savages, live and enjoy life as the savages 

 do. The skins of animals he slays, or the bark of the birch or 

 the hemlock will make him a shanty ; pieces of fresh peeled bark 

 supply him with cups and plates which need no washing after 

 use, as they are thrown away. Cedar roots and tough long grasses 

 supply twine and rope, a spindle of hard dry wood rapidly revolved 

 with the hands upon a piece of soft pithy wood, or with an ordinary 

 bow with a single turn of the string around the spindle, will obtain 

 a fire ; he can bake his fish and bread in the ashes and broil his 

 meat on a stick ; and provided he has only sufficiently warm cloth- 

 ing, a trusty gun, a hatchet, knife, matches, and compass, he has 

 the measure of his necessities full. 



Waiving luxurious comforts, it is always desirable to travel as 

 lightly as possible and as little encumbered, especially if the tramp 

 be long and continuous and not broken by occasional temporary 

 camps. Nevertheless, experience teaches that the trouble of carry- 

 ing an extra pair of walking-boots, or at least a pair of moccasins 

 or easy shoes, is well repaid. If your feet are blistered, coat the 

 inside of your socks (woolen are best,) from the ankles downward 

 with common yellow bar soap, repeating the application for two or 

 three days, by which time the feet will become hardened. It acts 

 equally well as a preventive. Never suffer the shoes to dry after 

 wetting, before they are thoroughly oiled, soles as well as uppers, 

 with castor oil. The least inconvenient dress is a woolen overshirt 

 with pockets, worn as a blouse and fastened around the waist with 

 a sash or belt. The toe of a stocking fitted into the shirt makes a 

 good pocket, if you have none already. A heavy Hudson's Bay or 



