180 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



traders in fur would have acted so feelingly. 

 The musk-rat frequently inhabits the same 

 lodge with the beaver, and the otter also 

 thrusts himself in occasionally ; the latter, 

 however, is not always a civil guest, as he 

 sometimes devours his host. 



These are the animals most interesting in 

 an economical point of view. The Ameri- 

 can hare, and several kinds of grouse and 

 ptarmigan, also contribute towards the sup- 

 port of the natives ; and the geese, in their 

 periodical flights in the spring and autumn, 

 likewise prove a valuable resource both to 

 the Indians and white residents ; but the 

 principal article of food, after the moose- 

 deer, is fish ; indeed, it forms almost the 

 sole support of the traders at some of the 

 posts. The most esteemed fish is the 

 Coregonus albus, the attihhawmeg of the 

 Crees, and the white-fish of the Americans. 

 Its usual weight is between three and four 

 pounds, but it has been known to reach 

 sixteen or eighteen pounds. Three fish of 

 the ordinary size is the daily allowance to 

 each man at the fort, and is considered as 



