easily take care of a large number of dogs during the
summer months. For the winter supply an immense number of whitefish
were caught just as the winter was setting in. These fish were hung up
on high stagings beyond the reach of wolves and stray, prowling dogs.
So intense and steady was the frost that the fish, which immediately
froze solid after being hung up, remained in that condition until well
on into the next April. Such a thing as the temperature rising high
enough to even soften the fish was almost unknown. The result was the
fish were kept by this great preservative, the intense frost, in prime
condition for both the people and the dogs. On account of their
abundance, and the ease with which they could be obtained, they were for
many years the principal article of food.

The Indians take but little care of their dogs in the summer time; they
literally have to fish for themselves, and very clever are some of them
at it. So abundant are the fish, and so clever are the dogs in
capturing several varieties that haunt the marshes and shallows along
the shores, that the dogs easily secure sufficient numbers to sustain
life and even grow fat upon. On these fishing excursions the Indian
dogs often wander over a hundred miles away from the wigwams of their
masters, and are gone for months together.

While quantities of fish were being caught during every month of the
year--for even in the coldest parts of the winter they could be caught
through holes in the ice--yet the actual full fishery season only lasted
a few weeks. On this fishery everybody depended for their principal
winter supply. It generally began a short time before the ice set, and
continued about as long after. The fish, which were principally
whitefish, were all caught in gill nets. When brought ashore they were
stabbed through the flesh near the tail. Through this incision a sharp-
pointed stick was inserted. Ten were always thus hung up on each stick,
with their heads hanging down. While still warm a single slash of a
sharp knife was given to each fish between the gills. This caused what
little blood there was in them to drip out, and thus materially added to
the quality of the fish, and also helped in its preservation.

The work of bringing these thousands of fish home was done by the dog-
trains. It is heavy work, as each train of four dogs was expected to
draw twenty sticks of fish at each load. However, the track was
generally all