N^o 12

And what is surprising his sagacity enables him to discover the number of beaver who inhabit the Lodge by the manner the Grass is spread upon their Beds, as it Shows him the differrent tribes &c. The Otter frequently enters the Lodges in winter, and either kills or drives them out: indeed all the carnivorous animals make war on this harmless creature, whose sole happiness seems to consist in leading a life of industry and peace[.] The Indians who are their sworn enemies, have several methods of destroying them[.] One is by setting nets under the Ice made of Line cut from the Skin of the Carribou in its green state about the thickness of Surgeon Twine; it extends quite across the river; one man attends it while the others proceed to break through the house vaults &c. so as to drive him out whereby he may run and entangle himself in the net, which is immiediately drawn out otherwise he would soon cut his way with his teeth – frequently they are necessitated to break down all the vaults before they can get at him which is very laborious work. Another method is by cutting a hole in the Ice of 4½ feet long by 3½ broad; when this is done they procee[d] to drive stakes of dry wood around the hole

[45]