106 THE TRAPPER'S FOOD. 



are found in Hudson's Bay, and in some places, when permitted to 

 remain undisturbed for a considerable time, their number is frequently 

 so great as almost to exceed credibility. I shall by no means ex- 

 ceed the truth if I assert that I have seen upwards of four hundred 

 in one flock near Churchill River; but the greatest number I ever 

 saw was on the north side of Port Nelson River, when returning 

 with a packet in March. At that time I saw thousands flying to the 

 north, and the whole surface of the snow seemed to be in motion by 

 those that were feeding on the tops of the short willows. ... In 

 summer they eat berries and small herbage. Their food in winter 

 being dry and hard, makes it necessary for them to swallow a con- 

 siderable quantity of gravel to promote digestion, but the great depth 

 of snow renders it very scarce during that season. The Indians, 

 having considered this point, invented the method now in vogue 

 among the English of catching them in nets by means of that simple 

 allurement, a heap of gravel. The nets for this purpose are from 

 eight to twelve feet square, and are stretched on a frame of wood, 

 and are usually set on the ice of rivers, creeks, ponds, and lakes, 

 about one hundred yards from the willows, but in some situations not 

 half that distance. Under the centre of the net a heap of snow is 

 thrown up to the size of one or two bushels, and, when well packed, 

 is covered with gravel. To set the nets when thus prepared requires 

 no other trouble than lifting up one side of the frame and supporting 

 it with two small props about four feet long ; a line is fastened to 

 these props, the other end being conveyed to the neighboring wil- 

 lows, so that a man can always get at it without being seen by the 

 birds under the net. When everything is thus prepared, the hunters 

 go to the adjacent willows and woods, and, when they start the game, 

 endeavor to drive it into the net, which at times is no hard task, as 

 they frequently run before them like chickens ; and sometimes re- 

 quire no driving, for, as soon as they see the black heap of gravel 

 on the snow they fly straight toward it. The hunter then goes to 

 the end of the line, and when he sees that there are as many about 

 the gravel as the net can cover, or as many as are likely to go under 

 at that time, with a sudden pull he hauls down the stakes and the 

 net falls on the snow, and incloses the greater portion of the birds 

 that are under it. By this simple contrivance I have known upwards 

 of three hundred caught in one morning by three persons." 



The weight of the Willovs^ Ptarmigan is about one and a 

 half pounds. Another species called the Rock Ptarmigan is 



