144 



FOREST AND STKEAM. 



[Mabou 34, 1881 



Assembly Bill Numbek 242 contains a provision which, 

 notwithstanding some crudities, bespeaks the cordial support' 

 of all sportsmen. The bill referred to is entitled "An Act 

 to amend chapter five hundred and thirty-four of the laws of 

 eighteen hundred and sevouty-niuc," entitled "An Act for 

 the preservation of moose, wild deer, birds, fish, and other 

 game," as amended by chapter five hundred and thirty-one 

 Of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty. Section 9 of 

 this bill reads as follows : 



Section thirty-one of said act is hereby amended so as to 

 read as follows : 



§ Si, A State bounty of thirty dollars for a grown wolf, 

 fifteen dollars for a pup wolf, [andj twenty dollars for a 

 panther, one dollar for a fox, tine dollar fur any kmtk <z<-epl, a 

 itighL-liiick, and one dollar fur any otrl, except a screech-vtrl, 

 Shall be paid to any person or persons who shall kill any of 

 said animals or birds within the boundaries of this State. 

 The person or persons obtaining said bounty shall prove the 

 death of the animal or bird, so killed by him or them, by 

 producing satisfactory affidavits and the skull and skin of 

 said animal. Or the head and data of said bird, before the 

 supervisor and one of the justices of the peace of the town 

 Within the boundaries of which the said animal W bird W»8 

 killed. Whereupon said supervisor and justice of the peace, 

 in the presence of each other, shall burn and destroy the said 

 skull and brand the said skin of said, animal, so that it may 

 be thereafter identified, and th-ill bum and destroy tie said 

 head and chnm of ' « v'tl bird, and issue to the person or persons 

 claiming and entitled to the same an order on the treasurer 

 of the county to which said town belongs, stating the kind 

 of animal or bird killed, the date of killing the same, and the 

 amount of the bounty to be paid in virtue of the within sec- 

 tion of this act, and the county treasurers of this State are 

 hereby authorized and directed to pay all orders issuer] as 

 aforesaid; and all orders issued in the manner aforesaid and 

 paid by the treasurer of any county in this State shall be a 

 charge of said county against the State, the amount of which 

 charge, on delivery of proper vouchers, the comptroller is 

 hereby authorized and directed to allow in the settlement of 

 taxes due from said county to the State. 



There is little doubt that the setting a prize, on the heads of 

 vermin would have a very marked effect in increasing the 

 game in any section of the country, and while the bounties 

 offered in this bill are in some cases high, they would cause a 

 diminution in the number of our foxes, owls and hawks that 

 would send joy to the heart of every game bird in the land. 

 Some such provision should certainly be added to any bill 

 amending the game law which may be passed by the 

 Legislature this season. 



There aro a number of other excellent points about Bill 

 No. 21J, which unfortunately we have not the spjee to no- 

 tice at present. 



Jpuj gyottemm §oumt. 



THE VOYAGEURS OF THE UPPER LAKES. 



SINCE theopeniug of Lake Superior to general navigation 

 by the completion of the Sault Ste Marie Canal, and the 

 common use of steam in ttie commerce of the upper lakes, the 

 old-time occupation oE the "voyageurs" upon those great 

 waters has ceased. Most of the trade with (lie great North- 

 west in the world wbich was conducted by the enterprising 

 Nprthwest Company found a depot at Fort William, and the 

 carrying was done principally by the voyageurs in canoes. 

 Their main course was up the Canadian rivers, chiefly the 

 Ottawa, through the Georgian Bay and up the St. Mary's 

 River to Sauit, Ste Marie, and thence around the northern 

 6h.ore of Lake Superior to the Fort. From that point those 

 hardy men found their way into the great wild country far 

 up into high latitudes wherever there were furs to be 

 bought. In those days the passing of "brigades" along 

 the "North Shore " "was of common occurrence. Some 

 : i':> '[.i'. - 'I: rusionttlly used, bitf the great bultcof 



the transportation between Sault "Ste Mario and Thunder Bay 

 was bj- canoes. The Hudson's Bay Company took its sup- 

 plies from the Hudson's Bay ports up the rivers into (he in- 

 tenor, and over the great fur land the competition between 

 the two great organizations-, always sharp and severe; fre- 

 quently became a matter involving lawless strife and blood- 

 shed. ' Since the union of these great trading companies the 

 Hudson's Bay Company has had a clear field, to the best in- 

 terests botli of the company and, it is believed, the Indians. 



The present upper lake voyageur is of a later generation, 

 and knows of the great rivalry mainly by tradition. The 

 skirting of l be great lake, the stirring ad ventures by flood and 

 field, the trapping in the great woodland region, the fierce 

 contests between the retainers of the two great companies, he 

 recalls only as memories of a half-forgotten tale. A few of 

 the old men may rem ember the Northwest Company as an act- 

 ual existence, and occasionally the traveler meets with one 

 who has scars to show for his share in the bloody strife which 

 for many years was waged over the profitable fur trade. The 

 greatest pride of such a one is his connection with the North- 

 west Company in his youthful days, and his later service with 

 the Hudson's Bay Company. 



The original voyageurs were for the most part descendants 

 of the French or French Canadian traders and of the Indians 

 inhabiting those parts of the country where the fur trade, or 

 the commerce growing out of it, was carried on. Occasion- 

 ally, however, though'not often, one finds in the present-day 

 voyageur a well-marked descent from Scotch ancestry, and I 

 remember traveling with one most unmistakably Irish. But 

 the amount of white blood coursing through their veins would 

 puzzle a life insurance actuary to determine, even if he had 

 the whole family tree before him. In many of the modern 

 voyageurs it is hard for the ordinary observer to discern 

 traces of the aboriginal blood from any physical characteris- 

 tics ; but personal acquaintance develops mental and moral 

 traits which one naturally attributes to Indian descent. These 

 may result from youthful associations and class habits, but it 

 would seem that "they are most easily accounted for by an- 

 cestral blood. 



I do not know elsewhere of any such combination of per- 

 sonal qualities as I find in the modern Northern Lake voya- 

 geurs. The American backwoodsman has the bravery, the 

 coolness in trial, the coition and the hardihood, but hardly 

 the versatility, the sprightliness or the good humor of the 

 voyageur. The pioneer of the "States" is more bluff and 



hearty than the voyageur, is like in superstitious feeling, but 



lacks his relig; 

 and churches, 

 dian mind iut 

 itual teaching, 

 boon well repaid in 

 dians to the Romai 

 The voyageur c > 

 the foresight of bis 

 hospitable, careless 

 in his own camp U: 

 morrow, equally re 

 last crust. He is 1; 

 and economical as to annum 



hundred things which' accident or disaster in Hood 

 may make indispensable, he is thoughtful and provident. He 

 is fruitful of resources, stoical in hardship, content with any- 

 thing which comes to him and thankful for a little. Physi- 

 cally superior to the average Indian as also to the average 

 white, he shrinks from no labor or hardship which must be 

 met, but wanting somewhat of the spirit of his white ances- 



•acter, his respect for forms and priests 

 The early Jesuit missionaries molded the In- 

 a strong reliance upon the Church and spir- 

 md the early devotion of these pious men has 

 1 in the attachment for centuries of the In- 

 man Church. 



■ e Midlines the improvidence of his red with 

 white progenitors, lie is generous and 

 md indifferent. I [o will feast- a stranger 

 day and go on short commons alone to- 

 dy to divide his own or the Stranger's 

 fish rind wasteful as to food, but, careful 

 and tackle : and as to the 

 dig 



try, waits to m 

 to face with da 

 in- is a coward, 



His life is much upon th 

 out of reach of the shore. 

 a flowing sea he never one 

 avoided." This trait may < 

 the Indian side of his anc 

 ments at the start like a 

 meets bravely whatever c 

 frightened at wind or sea i 

 ized as to sail unsafely. B 



istead of meeting it half way. Face 

 privation lie is a hero ; in anticipation 



• water He is 

 But a stiff bree; 



unttrs when it i 

 sine as much fr< 

 islry. He nevi 



3 to V 



of his 



good sailor when 



•, a wet sheet and 



m be foreseen or 



n the French as 



• braves the ele- 



nlor, but, being in, he 



I never saw but one 



i not so much demoral- 



ither hand. I never knew 



:1. unless the signs seemed 



ire-seeker, like Kiuglake's' Greek sail- 



il, they have a most unsailor-likelove 



y believe that in a gale of wind they 



;k-Uound coast upon their lee than no 



storm lie muiuures his small craft ad- 



gthe "North Shore," south of Pie 



quarter, and seas so high 



J he w 

 on the 



propitious. HtnsttSM 



ors in Eothon. ' fade) 



I, and i real 



would rather We & ro 



coast at all." But in a 

 mirably. Once cOaslil 

 River, iu a " big wind 

 and black that each Of as instinctively i 



which to t ry to reach t he shore when the 

 Whelm us, when the knowledge of t.heguidi 

 churl, failed to show even a boat harbor for 

 looked desperate, our voyageur's spirit ros 

 His skill in avoiding the sens wbich threat 

 was wonderful ,- and when, after making thirty miles in two 

 and three-quarter hours, we rounded into a little harbor at 

 the lower end of Olio Island, we felt a grateful appreciation 

 of the master] v skill which had brought us through, and which 

 shall never forget 



sleeted his oar upon 

 aves should over- 

 arid ■' -lu.Jyof the 

 miles, and the case 

 tti the occasion, 

 ned to swamp us 



He 



fill fo 



rage lit 



idy Isl 



i too timid to under- 

 low Hie old shore canoe-line, 

 a half day's pulling or sailing 

 till J had "been many times on 

 Point to Grog Cap, on Lake Su- 

 lb v-vreurL: tafa a straight 

 3. The most intelligent voya- 

 uld not, be prevailed on to go Out 



of it 



more than a fou 

 canoe iu making 



i and the drowni 



Of a mile 

 ie outside p 

 of four met 



But with all hi 

 take a new coins. 

 where, with a sir 

 would be saved, 

 the old route f rot 

 perior, that I COU 

 course inside of £ 

 getir I ever sailed 

 side of Maple Islan. 

 calm. Maple Iskn 

 diameter ; but the 1 

 sage forty or fifty y 

 not forgotten yet. 



Upon one occasion we left Montreal Island for Point of 

 Mines, which bore, as nearly as I can remember, S. by E. a 

 distance of twelve miles. The island is about W. or W. by 

 S. from Montreal River, at the mouth of which is the nearest 

 land from the south end of the island, and six miles distant. 

 I handed the compass to the bow oarsman to steer by, the 

 fog being heavy, with the understanding that ha would head 

 for our destination. Mv surprise may be imagined when in 

 an hour and a half I heard the dash of the swell upon the 

 shore, and the bold and rounded rock which ma us the en- 

 trance of the river came dimly into view through the fog. 

 We had then to creep slowly along the coast from point to 

 point, adding a full hour's hard pulling to the severe day's 

 work before we came to camp in the little bay. 



A "traverse" is the thing to be guarded in n voyageur's 

 life. He spends a good portion of a trip in depleting the 

 dangers of the next "big crossing.' - It is true the lakes are 

 treacherous, blU ll 

 but, little better in 

 rather trying to one even well versed in the voyageur's pecu- 

 liarities to see seven or eight miles take the place of four or 

 five, because by the additional distance up the bay the 



It. i 



"crossing" will be somewl 

 with voyageurs or Indians w 

 this kind. Even an island it 

 confidence. I have- tried turn 

 lion of this peculiarity, but ct 

 did likewise. But t 

 cent alone. T have 

 ever L have come in 

 The voyagcui 



Shortened. Every traveler 

 all enough instances of 

 in mill pas-ace seems to give no 

 neanuagunto-etsomcexplaba- 

 cou'.d only learn that their fathers 

 is the voyageur's by Indian des- 

 1 it in the cauoe Indians where- 



is not observ- 



ralies 



•olfigy. Hi 



in weather, and 

 3 element. But he ft 



>ns which so frequently 

 re as orten mere guesses 

 This is true of the lu- 



tmt of cause and effect in mete 

 some extent the law of periodicil 

 more upon it than upon any other oi 

 in observation of the various condit 

 modify its actions. His predictions 

 as those of the average white man. 

 dian, as well. 



He is observant and knowing of the habits of fish, which 

 he takes by spear or net, so far as to know the best times and 

 places of capture. And the same remark would apply to the 

 habits of game and fur-bearing animals, but as to (he facts 

 lying beyond this range he is as ignorant, as other men. He 

 hates snakes like an orthodox descendant of Adam, without 

 regard to their habits or poison. His sight is keen and ac- 

 curate. He never mistakes a log for a cauoe, nor a stump or 

 rock for a wigwam. Nor can you make pass with him the 

 blue haze in the mountains for the smoke of a distant fire. 

 [As a marksman ho is not successful. He casts a fly with 

 ildll and accuracy, but he loses more trout, once booked 

 than an ordinary fisherman, lie knows their likely places, 

 and enjoys helping you land them. 



Away from towns and civilization he is sober and vigilant; 

 but the trip over, he can get drunk in as quick time as any 

 other human beins. In his cups he is not quarrelsome ta 

 outsiders ; but 1 have reason to believe the family sometimes 

 suffers. Some never drink to excess ; and I have met one or 

 two who professed never to drink at all, which was to be 

 doubted. 



Since the finding of some profitable mines on the North 

 Shore he has faith iu discovering one which will lift him into 

 riches at once ; and a vein of quartz seen along shore will be 



sufficient to create an excuse for a camp, or, at all events, an 

 unnecessary landing. But he sees in economy and labor no 

 road lo competence, yet on an expedition he is industrious 

 and untiring. His iioncsty is unquestionable ; except, possi- 

 bly, in regard to tobacco, winch he is inclined to treat as one 

 of God's good gifts common to all men. 



On the trail or coasting, tea is his only stimulant. He in- 

 sists, whatever happens, on three meals a day: and the fisher- 

 man or tourist, who tries to avoid one of tliem will not be 

 treated like a gentleman. But the stores must be watched— 

 not against theft, but waste. Salt, sugar and flour will be 

 left in the rain or on the wet moss of the camp, and pork and 

 potatoes will be thrown away. 



In the aiisine the coi/at/enr 'is about the average of fishing 

 and hunting guides. Some make good bread ; bin, hard bread 

 should always be carried if practicable. He is pioneient in 

 cooking fish and potatoes. I have eaten Lyonnaise potatoes 

 of his cooking as good as in Delmonico's or Parker's ; al- 

 though, no doubt, appetite had a great deal to do with this 

 conclusion. I have seen loaves of bread turned out of a tin 

 oven baked before an open, log fire which would be a credit 

 to any w T ell-managed kitchen. But, as I have intimated, 

 such cases are exceptional. 



The true wyagmir spcajts three languages— English, slightly 

 broken, a French patois and Chippewa, and many read fairly 

 the first and last of these. 



One of the marked peculiarities of the voyageur is his at- 

 tachment to and care for his boat. Ho does not have the 

 same feeling in regard lo his canoe, probably because the 

 latter is so shortlived. But his boat is always in mind. It 

 is never left in a possibility of danger. How the skies are, 

 or the wind, or the sea, matters little. The bay where you 

 find a eampiug-place may be perfectly secure from wind and 

 sea— landlocked— but the boat must be hauled up on poles 

 and logs clear of the water, and tied with the strongest rope 

 to the furthest tree to bo reached. A canoe, however, fares 

 differently. It is lifted from the water, turned carelessly 

 over on the shore, where a boat could never be left. 



In the management of boats and heavy canoes the voyageur 

 is superior to the Indian, while in the single light canoe he is 

 inferior. In ascending or descending a rapid his skill is 

 wonderful, and I have seen Indians stare in admiration at his 

 performance. The voyageur is more vigorous, has more 

 active "pluck," or "grit," than the ordinary Indian, and is 

 of better physique, which does not come from the. French 

 side alone, but rather from the combination of the two races, 

 or, it might, be said, from the combination of the French with 

 the finer specimens of the Indian womanhood, which the 

 French trader was sure to choose. The voyageur Is proud of 

 his white progenitors, but hardly looks at his" aboriginal an- 

 cestry with ihe same feeling. Indeed, Ids epithet, expressive 

 of the utmost contempt for another of his own class, is— 

 " Indian." 



In the changed conditions of life, I believe the admixture 

 of white with Indian blood has strengthened the mixed race 

 beyond the Iudian average. My observation has not been bo 

 extensive as to make me confident, but it is my impression 

 that the Indian woman lives to a greater age than the man : 

 at all events, I have seen more aged women'than men among 

 the Indians: Iu the mixed race, however, I believe the men 

 attain the greater average age. 



How long the race of voyageurs will last is a problem time 

 alone can f oive. The increase of commercial and manufac- 

 turing pursuits tends to lead to mdoor life more than in 

 earlier years; aiidwhen tueyoyageur becomes a laborer upon 

 railroads, or a workman in mills, "he will rapidly lose his dis- 

 tinctive characteristics. Then the sportsman or tourist coast- 



ing the shores of 1 



d Superk 



, may 



be reduced for guides to that whiter-blooded mixture of van- 

 ity, impudence and laziness, which is so common In the more 

 fashionable outdoor resorts of New York and New England. 



A TRIP TO CURRITUCK, N. C. 



SOMEWHAT less than a thousand years ago 1 made up 

 my mind, with that diabolical desperation born . 1 ;i 

 continued ill-luck, to have a good time with the ducks, if 1 

 had to go to Greenland to purchase the enjoyment. I had 

 Suffered so many ilisappointnients in the pursuit of the above 

 fickle creatures at and about, my Eastern home, that "pa- 

 tience" (never a remarkable feature of my nature: beci 



exhausted, and I was ripe for anything in the way of a 

 change. 



An old friend came to my rescue one stormy night, just in 

 the - -nick" of time, as 1 was busy packing no my traps, 

 preparatory to leaving for Wisconsin. He hud just returned 

 from .Norfolk. Va., and his description of the shooting at 

 " Currituck" — I was going to say, " al — most" took away my 

 breath I I did not waste' time "iu seeming my berth on the 

 first outgoing steamer, and wa3 soon on my way— 1 will not 

 say " rejoicing," for no mortal man ever suffered as I did, I 

 verily believe. The journey was a rough and stormy one, 

 ami wdien I at last arrived at the hotel in the quaint and de» 

 eidcdlyroiua.ir.i-. city of Norfolk, 1 praised the "gods" for 

 my safe deliverance. It was a fearful trip, continued through 

 a blindinu storm of sleet and snow, and the wind blowing 

 strong enough to almost lift Ihe ship from the water. Glass, 

 crockery, trunks, in fact everything on board, " went to 

 smash" in grand good style, including several of "mineown" 

 wordly goods, wbich were recovered only by the "greatest 

 sacrifice" on my part, lean assure you. Taking all thuigs 

 into consideration I was thankful to get ashore, although I 

 would have gone through twice the amount of trouble and 

 danger to have had my fondly wished for "Day with the 

 Birds." I left the city long before daylight the next morn- 

 ing on the little steamer Cygnet, and managed to kill time, 

 somehow, principally by smoking, until tiie broad waters of 

 Currituck Sound glimmered in the distance before us. Quite 

 a throng of men graced the decks of our little craft, and I 

 amu-ed myself listening to the big stories (of course all duck, 

 goose and swan) which" some of them told, evidently with 

 The intention of creating a sensation among us "green mis." 

 Thirty-two teal with both barrels (not counting cripples); 

 ten geese with a "twelve" gun, and so on, until I fairly 

 winced under the galling fire. One long-bearded individual 

 in particular, dressed from head to heels in regulation dead- 

 grass color, etc., and fondly Cherishing att immense meer- 

 schaum, loudly expatiated upon the_ beauties •■/ a sixtef-n- 

 gauge on single bards, ye knaw ! This hen j gun b siness 

 wasallbosh, ye knaw ! He used but one- ounce of shot, and 

 would take his chances with the best or them! .particularly 

 on thirty-two teal with both barrels. I thought). So they 

 talked and smoked until we made the landing at Knot's 

 Ialand- my place of departure. The dock is a queer one, if 

 dock you can call it, simply a Bhed built ou the poles that 



