\ 



164 



SLED-DOGS OF THE NORTH TRAILS 



the frozen fish are transported from the stages 

 at the fishing-ground, and stored at the Indians' 

 cabins. 



The total fish caught in this way varies. If 

 a complete freeze-up does not set in over-rapidly, 

 one man may have 8,000, another 4,500, another 

 3,000 — which is sometimes governed by the num- 

 ber of dogs to feed, and sometimes by the ability 

 and energy of the fisherman. Also there is good 

 luck and bad luck. 



The following are some carefully kept, strange 

 old records of the autumn fish-catch at a Far 

 North Post in 1880 — almost forty years ago ! 



Fish-catch 

 Nov. 2 



Total 



Nov. 



. 833^ 



. 515 



. 507 



. 501 



. 500 



. 829, 



. 3,685 



Heavy snow fall 



Caught with six nets to each man — four 

 men fishing. Twenty-four nets in all. 1 



weather mild, ice still weak. 



Fish-catch : 



Nov. 9 . 



10 . 



23 



25 



Total 



480 

 600 

 470 

 780 

 .634 

 980 

 660 

 434 

 438 

 606 

 496 

 250 

 194 

 200 / 

 7,222 



Caught with eight nets to each man, 

 four men fishing, thirty-two nets in 

 all. Nov. 23, Whitefish, finished spawn- 

 ing and leaving river. Nov. 25, took 

 nets from river and set at usual winter 

 fishing-ground. Fishing in river never 

 failed so early before. 



1 Half the total number of nets are set each day. Meanwhile 

 the other half — that have been lifted with the fish — are being dis- 

 entangled and dried and prepared for resetting the following day. 



