236 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 



falls to him and launched hhn into the stream, in 

 hopes that we might pick hun up with the boat; 

 but the trees came down without the bear, which 

 made us conclude, that he had grounded some- 

 where above. Thus ended in disappointment, the 

 noblest day's sport I ever saw: for we got only 

 one skin, although we had killed six bears, and 

 not one morsel of flesh; which at this time would 

 have been particularly acceptable, as we had eaten 

 nothing of fourteen hours. 



The black-bear which I saw cross the river, ap- 

 peared to swim very heavily; and I do not believe 

 that they can dive and catch fish in deep water, 

 but content themselves with walking along the 

 shores, where the water is not out of their depth, 

 to pick up the offals which are left by the white 

 ones and otters; or such as die of their wounds 

 and drive on shore; but they will catch fish in 

 shallow streams, and rake up clams and other 

 shellfish. When they first come out of their caves 

 in the spring, for want of better food, I have ob- 

 served that they eat dead grass; they also feed 

 on ants and other insects which they get out of 

 rotten windfalls; these they tear to pieces for 

 that purpose, but when Empetrum Nigrum is 

 ripe, they feed almost wholly on the berries ; which 

 not only make them fat, but also give their flesh 

 a very good flavour. As they have no chance with 

 a white-bear, they always avoid the unequal com- 

 bat; and I do believe they will attack no animal 

 that is able to make a stout resistance: even the 

 porcupine, I am inclined to think, they do not 



