108 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
the northward of Fort Franklin ; and from the swampy and impracticable nature of 
the country, they are not likely to be soon eradicated from thence. |The Iroquois 
are the greatest Beaver takers in Canada, and their hunters now allot the beaver 
districts amongst themselves, and endeavour to preserve these animals from ex- 
tinction, by trenching the beaver-dams of any one quarter only once in four or 
five years, and taking care to leave always a pair at least in a dam to breed, 
Further north the Indians, when they break up a beaver lodge, destroy, as far as 
they are able, both young and old, and the numbers of Beaver are consequently 
now very much reduced. Gangs of Iroquois were also introduced into the fur coun- 
tries to the north some years ago; and by setting traps, which destroyed indiseri- 
minately Beaver of all sizes, they almost extirpated the species from their hunting 
grounds. The Hudscn’s Bay Company are, however, endeavouring to remedy this 
evil, by laying plans to insure an adequate supply of the very useful beaver-fur, 
although it is not likely that it can ever be so plentiful as it was formerly. In the 
year 1743, the imports of beaver-skins into the ports of London and Rochelle, 
amounted to upwards of 150,000; and there is reason to suppose that a consi- 
derable additional quantity was at that period introduced, illicitly, into Great 
Britain. In 1827, the importation of beaver-skins into London, from more than 
four times the extent of fur country than that which was occupied in 1743, did not 
much exceed 50,000. 
In some seasons a great mortality occurs amongst the Beavers from some 
unknown cause, many being found dead in their lodges. Towards the north, the 
fur of the Beaver is better, and continues in prime order through a greater portion 
of the year. At Great Slave Lake, in latitude 61°, July, August, and September, 
are the only months in which the beaver-fur of inferior quality is procured. In 
commerce, beaver-skins, cut open, stretched to a hoop, and dried in the ordinary 
manner, are named beaver-parchment, and form by far:the greatest part of the 
importation. When the beaver-skins have been made into dresses, and worn by 
the Indians, it is termed Jeaver-cout ; and, though it may have been in use a whole 
season, it still brings a good price. Inferior sized skins are named beaver-cud. 
An incisor tooth of a beaver is fixed in a wooden handle by the northern Indians, 
and used with great dexterity to cut bone. This was the instrument with which 
that people fashioned the horns of the rein-deer into spear-heads and fish-gigs ; 
but these bone weapons are now generally replaced by iron, and the beaver tooth 
has been supplanted by an English file. 
The best account of the manners of the Beaver, and the most free of extrava- 
