Original - North Central Michigan College Library

anfcThe sociable disposition of the commandantenabled us to pass the winter at Michilimackinacin a manner as agreeable as circumstanceswould permit. The amusementsconsisted chiefly in shooting, hunting, andfishing. The neighboring woods abounded inpartridges 40 and hares, the latter of whichis white in winter; and the lake is filled withfish, of which the most celebrated are trout,whitefish, and sturgeon.Trout are taken by making holes in the icein which are set lines and baits. These areoften left for many days together, and in someplaces at the depth of fifty fathoms; for thetrout having swallowed the bait, remains fastand alive till taken up. This fish, which isfound of the weight of from ten to sixty poundsand upward, constitutes the principal foodof the inhabitants. When this fails they haverecourse to maize, but this is very expensive.I bought more than a hundred bushels at fortylivres per bushel. Money is rarely receivedor paid at Michilimackinac, the circulatingmedium consisting in furs and peltries. Inthis exchange a pound of beaver skin isreckoned at sixty sols, an otter skin at sixlivres, and marten skins at thirty sols each. 4140In North America there is no partridge; but thename is given to more than one species of grouse. Thebirds here intended are red grouse. Author.41After the English conquest of Canada the value ofthe livre was fixed at one shilling Canadian currency.55