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Twenty-Seven Years in Canada West - The Experience of an Early Settler (Volume I) by Samuel Strickland
page 146 of 232 (62%)
their respects to the carcass, he laid out several poison-balls, and
actually killed six of them before the carcass was eaten. The value of
the wolves, including their skins and the bounty-money, amounted to
forty-four dollars, a nice little sum for a few hours' trouble, not to
speak of the satisfaction of having contributed to extirpate this
devouring crew. I must, however, caution the uninitiated to be very
careful in the use of this deadly poison: indeed it should only be used
by the most experienced trappers, and then at some distance from the
settlement.

The price of the wolf-skin varies from 5 shillings to 7 shillings, 6
pence, Halifax currency, according to size and quality: they are always
in good demand for sleigh-robes.* Those made of this species of fur are
considered the most elegant and _distingue_.

[* Sleigh-robes are commonly made of bear or buffalo skins dressed with
the hair on. The most fashionable are racoon or wolf. Several of these
skins are sewn together, with the tails of the animals stitched to the
bottom of the robe. The inside lining is generally scarlet or purple
cloth. A well equipped sleigh should have two robes for each seat, one
of which should cover the cushions, and fall gracefully over the back
of the seat, whilst the other is drawn over the passengers, and wraps
them securely from the cold.]

A perilous adventure once befel my brother-in-law, James. He was a bold
brave boy, of ten years old at the time, and was on his return home
with a pair of oxen, with which he had been assisting a neighbour
residing about six miles from his father's house. His road lay by the
river shore, which was dreary enough at the fall of the year and in the
evening hour: but the child was fearless, and saw the deepening shades
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