3-074-991 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lord Lonsdale's Travels in the Arctic Regions of North America: Norway House, Head of Lake Winnipeg, 1890. 'Norway House...is the depot of supplies for the interior north-western region...The Hudson Bay Company has the reputation of dealing liberally with those in its employment, and wisely and humanely with the Indian tribes from whom, as well as from numerous half-breed trappers and adventurous French Canadians, it gets its yearly supplies of valuable peltry [ie animal skins and furs]. These are obtained by setting iron or wooden traps for the animals in the winter, their fur being in the best condition at that season; the skins most prized are those of the pine marten or sable, and the so-called "fisher," the black and the silver fox, the red fox, the beaver, the bear, and the buffalo (now become very scarce); those of the mink, the racoon, the lynx, and the wolverine are of less value...It is said that the supply of fur-bearing wild animals is now falling short. We do not know whether it would be feasible to rear some kinds of them in large breeding establishments, from which they could be procured at much less cost than while running wild'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.