NORTHERN OCEAN 237 



ever wished for a change of food ; though when fish or fowl 1771. 



11 December. 



came in my way, it was very agreeable. 



The beaver^ being so plentiful, the attention of my com- 

 panions was chiefly engaged on them, as they not only furnished 

 delicious food, but their skins proved a valuable acquisition, 

 being a principal article of trade, as well as a serviceable one 

 for clothing, &c. 



The situation of the beaver-houses is various. Where the 

 beavers are numerous they are found to inhabit lakes, ponds, 

 and rivers, as well as those narrow creeks v/hich connect the 

 numerous lakes with which this country abounds ; but the two 

 latter are generally chosen by them when the depth of water 

 and other circumstances are suitable, as they have then the 

 advantage of a current to convey wood and other necessaries 

 to their habitations, and because, in general, they are more 

 difficult to be taken, than those that are built in standing 

 water. 



There is no one particular part of a lake, pond, river, or 

 creek, of which the beavers make choice for building their 

 houses on, in preference to another ; for they sometimes build 

 on points, sometimes in the hollow of a bay, and often on 

 small islands; they always chuse, however, [227] those parts 

 that have such a depth of water as will resist the frost in 

 Winter, and prevent it from freezing to the bottom. 



The beaver that build their houses in small rivers or 

 creeks, in which the water is liable to be drained off when the 

 back supplies are dried up by the frost, are wonderfully taught 

 by instinct to provide against that evil, by making a dam quite 

 across the river, at a convenient distance from their houses. 

 This I look upon as the most curious piece of workmanship 

 that is performed by the beaver ; not so much for the neatness 

 of the work, as for its strength and real service ; and at the 

 same time it discovers such a degree of sagacity and foresight 



[^ Castor canadensis Kuhl.] 



