NORTHERN OCEAN 381 



frequent the banks of rivers and creeks, the sides of lakes and 

 ponds, and the plains which abound with dwarf willows ; for 

 it is on the buds and tops of that tree they always feed during 

 the Winter. In summer they eat berries and small herbage. 

 Their food in Winter being so dry and harsh, makes it 

 necessary for them to swallow a considerable 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 use 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 [414] to twelve feet square, and are stretched in a 

 frame of wood, and 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 

 center 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 tv/o small props, about four feet long : a 

 line is fastened to those props, and the other end being conveyed 

 to the neighbouring willows, is always so contrived that a man 

 can get to it v/ithout being seen by the birds under the net. 

 When every thing is thus prepared, the hunters have nothing 

 to do but go into the adjacent willows and woods, and when 

 they start game, endeavour to drive them into the net, which 

 at times is no hard task, as they frequently run before them 

 like chickens ; and sometimes require no driving, for as soon 

 as they see the black heap of gravel on the white snow 

 they fly straight towards it. The hunter then goes to the 

 end of the line to watch their motions, and when he sees 

 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 



