CHAPTER V. 
Upper Waite Kartu Rrver—Beaver Dams Burtt 
OF STONE—EXAMPLES OF BEAVER SHREWDNESS. 
HE Upper White Earth River, coming into the 
Missouri near the western border of what is now 
Ward County, North Dakota,—a stream varying from 
ten to twenty yards in width and about eighty miles in 
length heading near the boundary line of the British 
Possessions. The stream was named from the white 
chalk formations that are exposed from the bare, abrupt 
bluffs on the outer rim of the valley as the little river 
meandered through the high broken ridges that skirt 
the big river Missouri. 
On account of the slight impregnation of alkali with 
the water there, the White Earth River was never much 
of a resort for water game in comparison with other 
streams in that section, yet beaver, muskrat and mink 
were found in considerable numbers when allowed a 
chance of recuperation from the ever persistent trap- 
per. The Red River Half Breeds as a tribe, for many 
years laid tribute to this stream and kept the beavers 
well downin point of numbers. Inthe autumnof 1873, 
the writer, while having some years previous acquain- 
tance with this stream—made my first entry as a trap- 
per on White Earth River. The beavers were found 
few in numbers but were a wise colony as their actions 
proved after a little intimacy with them. The most 
noticeable beaver innovation was their construction of 
dam breasts by stone. The stones or. rocks used for 
