202 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



storms ; this morning the thermometer stood 18° above. Ice strong 

 enough for boys to skate, something very rare for October. 



I have not had time to go shooting this fall, but hope if we 

 have fine weather, to go away a few days. The winter birds have 

 got along, and everything looks like winter ; our lumbering opera- 

 tions will soon close. 



I am keeping a lookout for anything I can hear about the 

 shell heaps. There have been several men here selling horses from 

 Prince Edward Island. They say oysters are more abundant 

 than clams and they think there are plenty of old heaps but don't 

 know how ancient any of them may be. I have heard more about 

 the stone profile found in the old mound at St. George, but am 

 afraid we cannot get it as it has been sent to St. John; but next 

 summer perhaps you may talk them out of it, at any rate you can 

 get the loan of it, or perhaps exchange. I had a very ancient 

 Indian anchor made of wood, hooked up out of the lake. I do 

 not know as it would hardly pay to send, but is quite an oddity 

 and looks very old. 



When I was home, I tried hard to find some butter tbat would 

 answer you, and have it sent from up country but it is very poor 

 and costs forty cents ; I have put it in the shop, and am expecting 

 more. I shall not send anything Mrs. B. does not approve. I 

 made a bargain with our butter maker for all he had or could 

 make in the spring at thirty cents on the English side, but some 

 butter speculators came along and offered him forty cents and I 

 lost it or the most of it. I will keep a sharp lookout for a good 

 firkin or two. The duty, twelve cents in gold, is very much against 

 the English side butter. 



If you have a set to spare of antelope horns, also a bow and 

 arrows such as the Western Indians use to shoot buffalo, I should 

 like them. I want to show the latter to our Indians, also a pair of 

 snow shoes that turn up at the front. I think if our Indians and 

 moose hunters would make them like the lot I saw at the Institu- 

 tion they would be much better than such as are used this way. 



With kind regards to Mrs. Baird and Lucy, believe me 

 Yours as ever, 



Geo. A. Boardman. 



