302 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 



when the water is run off, he kills them all with 

 the greatest ease. As the killing of beavers is 

 an art appertaining to the science of furring, 

 which I do not wish to make public, I shall say 

 no more on that head, except that they are always 

 killed by staking their houses, by guns, or by 

 traps; and not by hunting them with dogs, by 

 men on horse-back with spears, as I have seen 

 ridiculously described in prints. Nor do they 

 ever castrate themselves to escape their pursuers, 

 for that part is not only of no use, but both those, 

 their prides and oil-bags (the two latter vessels 

 being common to both sexes, and the prides only 

 used in medicine, known by the name of casto- 

 reum) lie so completely within them, that the 

 operation must be performed by a very skilful 

 hand indeed, and with the greatest care not to 

 kill them. Besides, what made them acquainted 

 with the cause of their being pursued? If their 

 flesh were not such excellent eating, very few 

 beaver-skins would ever come to market. Bea- 

 vers generally bring forth two young ones at a 

 time, which are most commonly male and female; 

 yet they will often have but one, especially the 

 first time of breeding; and sometimes three or 

 four; and I was told by a man of mine (Joseph 

 Tero) that he once cut seven out of an old one. 

 The first year, they are called pappooses; the sec- 

 ond, small medlers; the third, large medlers; the 

 fourth, heaver; and after that, old or great heaver. 

 They copulate in May, and bring forth toward 

 the end of June. The young ones continue to 



