THE MOOSE 31 



" The broad valley and mountain banks of the 

 Klondike,' 'writes Tappan Adney, "are an admirable 

 feeding-ground for the moose. The temperature 

 in winter is exceedingly cold and crisp, but the 

 snow-fall is light, and by reason of the intense 

 cold the snow does not settle or pack. There 

 is so little wind, especially through the early 

 part of the winter, that the snow accumulates on 

 the trees in strange and often fantastic masses, 

 giving the landscape, especially on the mountain- 

 tops, the appearance of having been chiselled 

 out of pure white marble. On account of its light- 

 ness, the snow is no impediment to the long- 

 legged gaunt moose, which is not obliged to 

 c yard' as in more southern deep-snow regions, 

 but wanders at will from valley to mountain-top 

 in search of the tender twigs of willow, white 

 birch, and cotton-wood. The Indians surround 

 the moose in its feeding-grounds, and as it runs, 

 one or more of them is tolerably sure of a quick 

 shot." 



The moose in this neighbourhood has long 

 been the main support of the Indians, and in 

 their household economy no portion of the beast 

 is wasted. To quote further : 



" The hides were brought indoors, the hair was 



