56 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



caught one pike. There is no doubt that we might have 

 procured an abundance of pike, but a fear of retarding 

 progress by the drag of the trolling line and its interfer- 

 ence with the steersman in the tortuous course of the 

 rivers, as well as in the lakes, led to the discontinuance 

 of its use, until necessity should advise us to adopt it as a 

 means of procuring food. 



Mr. Keating states, in 1823, that from Eainy Lake to 

 Lake Superior they did not meet with a single quadruped. 

 The only animals they saw were about thirty or forty birds, 

 chiefly ducks Among the birds observed were the Cana- 

 dian jay (Garrulus Canadensis) ; blue jay (Garrulus cris- 

 tatus) ; hairy woodpecker, Indian hen, golden plover, and 

 woodcock. Partridges (Tetrao umbellus) were killed ; a 

 whip-poor-will was heard, and a rail seen. 



The Bishop of Montreal in 1844 saw one wolf, some of 

 the smaller quadrupeds, innumerable ducks, many loons, 

 some other aquatic birds and a few of the heron tribe. 



