AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 
193 
space about five feet long is formed by driving strong sticks into the 
ground in two converging lines, leaving both the ends open, the narrow 
end being wide enough to admit the muzzle of an old musket, and the 
other extremity so broad as to allow the head and shoulders of the Bear 
to enter. The gun is then loaded and fastened securely so as to deliver 
its charge facing the wide end of the enclosure. A round and smooth 
stick is now placed behind the stock of the gun, and a cord leading from 
the trigger passed around it, the other end of which, with a piece of meat 
or a bird tied to it (an owl is a favourite bait), is stretched in front of the 
gun, so far that the Bear can reach the bait with his paw. Upon his 
pulling the meat towards him, the string draws the trigger and the animal 
is instantly killed. 
On the coast of Labrador we observed the Black Bear catching fish with 
great dexterity, and the food of these animals in that region consisted 
altogether of the fishes they seized in the edge of the water inside the surf. 
Like the Polar Bear, the present species swims with ease and rapidity, and 
it is a difficult matter to catch a full grown Bear with a skiff, and a dan- 
gerous adventure to attempt its capture in a canoe, which it could easily 
upset. 
We were once enjoying a fine autumnal afternoon on the shores of the 
beautiful Ohio, with two acquaintances who had accompanied us in quest 
of some swallows that had built in a high sandy bank, when ive observed 
three hunters about the middle of the river in a skiff, vigorously rowing, 
the steersman paddling too, with all his strength, in pursuit of a Bear 
which, about one hundred and fifty yards ahead of them, was cleaving the 
water and leaving a widening wake behind him on its unrippled surface as 
he made for the shore, directly opposite to us. We all rushed down to the 
water at this sight, and launching a skiff we then kept for fishing, hastily 
put off to intercept the animal, which we hoped to assist in capturing. 
Both boats were soon nearing the Bear, and we, standing in the bow of 
our skiff, commenced the attack by discharging a pistol at his head. At 
this he raised one paw, brushed it across his forehead, and then seemed to 
redouble his efforts. Repeated shots from both boats were now fired at 
him, and we ran alongside, thinking to haul his carcase triumphantly on 
board ; but suddenly, to our dismay, he laid both paws on the gunwale of 
the skiff, and his great weight brought the side for an instant under water, 
so that we expected the boat would fill and sink. There was no time to 
be lost : we all threw our weight on to the other side, to counterpoise that 
of the animal, and commenced a pell-mell battery on him with the oars and 
a boat-hook ; the men in the other boat also attacked him, and driving the 
bow of their skiff close to his head, one of them laid his skull open with 
vol. ill. — 25 
