Opening of Navigation--Sturgeon fishing--Rafting timber--Sawing
lumber.
About the last of May the ice went off the lake, and navigation was
open. We made up another bee to go to raft our timber down. Father
sent William and I one day ahead of the party, in order that we might
set nets for sturgeon, which we did; and when father and men came up
next day, we had fourteen large sturgeon to begin with. While
white-fish is the staple food in that north country, these sturgeon
come in at seasons as an extra luxury; indeed, they are the beef and
bacon of the northern Indian. Sturgeon oil is both lard and butter
for these people, and blessed is the wife and mother who has many
vessels full of it.
We made a big raft of our timber, and both wind and current favoring
us, we soon had it hauled out and piled up on the beach near the
church. The sawing of the timber was gone into by the Indians in
turn, each doing his share. This we carefully piled, to season, and
in the autumn the Hudson's Bay Company, as per offer and promise,
sent their carpenters, and the enlargement went on. There was great
rejoicing and a grand reopening when the work was finished.