Page 237 |
Previous | 237 of 520 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
214 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN
w i t h i n every l o c a l i t y adapted to its requirements. There
are seasons also when, for natural reasons beyond our knowledge,
it is more markedly numerous i n certain sections of
the country than is usually the case; but the very extraord
i n a r y statements made by B e l l that there were imported
into E n g l a n d 713,115 skins of the A m e r i c a n otter i n 1830,
494,067 i n 1831, and 222,493 i n 1832, must be enormously
exaggerated. As only 23,889 is the total given for 1833, the
other figures must surely be grossly incorrect. The Company's
aggregate sales for the twenty- five years previous to
1878 only amount to 318,140, or an average of about 12,723
skins a year. In March, 1888, they sold 11,588; i n the
same month of 1902, 8,675, and 10,273 i n 1903. The three
best years of said period were 1864 w i t h 15,443, 1866 with
18,380, and 1867 w i t h 15,271, and the three lowest, 1853
w i t h 8,991 1874 w i t h 9,010, and 1877 with 9,926 skins.
I n fifteen years ( 1863- 1877) of the aforesaid twenty- five,
Mackenzie R i v e r D i s t r i c t supplied 1,984, and the Athabasca
D i s t r i c t i n twenty years ( 1858- 1877) supplied 4,861 skins
toward the above grand total. The Mackenzie R i v e r contribution
by F o r t Resolution, Great Slave Lake, was 427 for
the same period.
B y widely separated hunters, this animal is said to mate
d u r i n g the months of M a r c h , A p r i l , and M a y . The offspring
are from three to five i n number. One informant says they
are born w i t h their eyes wide open, but a l l the others assert
the contrary. Richardson mentions that the female has one
l i t t e r of f r om one to three annually i n A p r i l ; but Indians in
the far north ( i n N e w Caledonia, B r i t i s h Columbia, on the
Peace and Saskatchewan Rivers) vary i n their several
accounts. Traces of its " s l i d i n g , " or travels from one
stream to another over the winter snow, have been frequently
observed, and as a result some— not all— of those seen are
shot or r u n down and bludgeoned. I never, however, heard
of any instance i n keeping w i t h Godman's " otter- sport"
s l i d i n g amusement.
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 237 |
| OCR | 214 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN w i t h i n every l o c a l i t y adapted to its requirements. There are seasons also when, for natural reasons beyond our knowledge, it is more markedly numerous i n certain sections of the country than is usually the case; but the very extraord i n a r y statements made by B e l l that there were imported into E n g l a n d 713,115 skins of the A m e r i c a n otter i n 1830, 494,067 i n 1831, and 222,493 i n 1832, must be enormously exaggerated. As only 23,889 is the total given for 1833, the other figures must surely be grossly incorrect. The Company's aggregate sales for the twenty- five years previous to 1878 only amount to 318,140, or an average of about 12,723 skins a year. In March, 1888, they sold 11,588; i n the same month of 1902, 8,675, and 10,273 i n 1903. The three best years of said period were 1864 w i t h 15,443, 1866 with 18,380, and 1867 w i t h 15,271, and the three lowest, 1853 w i t h 8,991 1874 w i t h 9,010, and 1877 with 9,926 skins. I n fifteen years ( 1863- 1877) of the aforesaid twenty- five, Mackenzie R i v e r D i s t r i c t supplied 1,984, and the Athabasca D i s t r i c t i n twenty years ( 1858- 1877) supplied 4,861 skins toward the above grand total. The Mackenzie R i v e r contribution by F o r t Resolution, Great Slave Lake, was 427 for the same period. B y widely separated hunters, this animal is said to mate d u r i n g the months of M a r c h , A p r i l , and M a y . The offspring are from three to five i n number. One informant says they are born w i t h their eyes wide open, but a l l the others assert the contrary. Richardson mentions that the female has one l i t t e r of f r om one to three annually i n A p r i l ; but Indians in the far north ( i n N e w Caledonia, B r i t i s h Columbia, on the Peace and Saskatchewan Rivers) vary i n their several accounts. Traces of its " s l i d i n g , " or travels from one stream to another over the winter snow, have been frequently observed, and as a result some— not all— of those seen are shot or r u n down and bludgeoned. I never, however, heard of any instance i n keeping w i t h Godman's " otter- sport" s l i d i n g amusement. |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 237
