HUNTING. 177

able transversal piece of wood, in such a way that it unfolds itself by the
slightest attempt at escape on the part of the game.

Fig. 32 represents a marmot snare set on the same principle as the
preceding.

In fig. 33 we have the rabbit snare in common use among the Carriers,
wherein the springing device of the fox snare has remained practically unchanged.

Fig. 34 illustrates a Yukon grouse snare. It calls for no explanation. I
have seen numbers of fool hens (Dendragapus Franklinii) brought down
from the trees in which they were perched by simple nooses of spruce root-
lets prepared on the spot, and attached at the end of long poles.

Beaver Hunting.

An animal whose capture necessitates special appliances and entails clever
strategical expedients, owing to its amphibious habits, is the beaver. As it has
remained the chief object of our Dénés’ pursuit in spite of its greatly diminished
numbers, some description of the steps taken with a view to securing the same
will be found acceptable.

It is during the winter months, as well as after the opening of the spring,
that beaver hunting is practised on the most extensive scale. Once its lodge
has been found, an indispensable preliminary to effect its capture is to discover
the exact location of its path or trail under the ice. It follows well marked
routes when swimming from, or returning to, its winter quarters. These our
Dénés easily find out by sounding the ice in different directions with cariboo
horns. Their well practised ears readily discover by a peculiar resonance of
the ice where the rodent’s usual path lies.

So, at a given point they cut a hole, wherein they set their babiche beaver
net, attaching thereto a switch the small end of which, issuing from the water,
is provided with small bells, which are the modern substitutes for the beaver
nails and pebbles of a past age. Then the hunter proceeds to demolish the
beaver’s lodge, in order to drive it off. Should the game not be found there,
the same operation is repeated at his adjoining provision store. When the
undulations of the water tell of its presence, it is frightened away to where
the net is set. In case it is swifter than the hunter and reaches the net before
the latter, the efforts it will make to extricate itself therefrom will agitate the
little bells, and the hunter will immediately make for the hole and draw it
out before it has time to cut itself clear of the net.

Fig. 35 represents a bone device indispensable to the efficiency of the
beaver net. It is attached to the end of the net which is laid out at the opening
in the ice wherein it floats in the water. The side strings of the net are passed
through the central hole of the bone piece, and thence connected with the
little bells at the top of the outstanding stick, so that by pulling them up,
the farthest end of the net, which is under ice, will be drawn back to where

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