CHAPTER XXVI. 



Fur-Bearing Animals. 



the silver, blue, grey, red and white foxes — the ermine — the 

 marten — the otter — the varying hare — the lynx — the 

 wolf — the wolverine — the sable — musk-ox — the polecat 

 — the badger — the musk-rat — the racoon — the fur trade. 



HAVE spoken of the oil-bearing animals, the economic fishes, 

 and will now briefly direct attention to the fur-bearing animals 

 of the Hudson's Bay country. I may tell you, in the first place, 

 ^ that should the traveller in that region depend upon the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's employes for his information concerning 

 these resources, he would remain in ignorance. These people, when- 

 being questioned concerning the furs or other products, can manage to 

 talk and yet say the least of any persons I have ever met with. 

 Without being personal, I will give the reader a sample of an inter- 

 view with a Hudson's Bay Company man of the north. The same 

 one will fit anywhere you go. They have all learned the one 

 lesson : — 



"Did you get many furs last year, sir ?" 



" Not many, sir. They are very scarce now." 



" Do you get any of the silver or black fox skins, these days ? " 



" A very few, sir. Just one or two ; they are very scarce, sir." 



" Are the porpoise very plentiful in these waters ? " 



" No, sir. They are very scarce, sir." 



"Did you get many last season ?" 



" No, sir ; very few, sir." 



" How about the walrus ?" 



" They are very scarce too, sir." 



" Did you get any last season ?" 



