Monday February 17th. 1806.
Collins and Windser were permited to hunt to day towards
the praries in Point Adams with a view to obtain some fresh
meat for the sick. a little before noon Shannon and Labiesh
& frazier Came with the flesh and hide of an Elk which had
been wounded by Sergt. Gasses party and took the water where
they pursued it and cought it. they did not see Sergt. Gass or
any of his party or learn what further sucksess they have had.
Continued the barks with Bratten, and commenced them with
gibson his feaver being sufficiently low this morning to permit
the use of them. I think therefore that there is no further
danger of his recovery. at 2 P. M. Joseph Field arrived from
the Salt Works and informd us that they had about 2 Kegs of
salt on hand (say 3 bushels) which with what we have at this
place we suppose will be sufficient to last us to our deposit of
that article on the Missouri. we directed a party of six men to
go in the morning in order to bring the salt and Kittles to the
Fort. at 4 P. M. Serjt. Gass and party arrive, they had killed
8 Elk. Drewyer and Whitehouse also return late in the
evening, they had killed one Elk, part of the meat of which
they brought in with them.
The Brown, White, or Grizly Bear are found in the rocky
mountains in the timbered part of it or Westerly side but
rarely; they are more common below or on the East Side of
the Rocky Mountains on the borders of the plains where there
are copses of bushes and underwood near the water cources.
they are by no means as plenty on this side of the Rocky
Mountains as on the other, nor do I believe they are found at
all in the woody country which borders this coast as far in the
interior as the range of mountains which pass the Columbia
between the enterance of Clarks and the Quicksand Rivers or
below the Great falls of Columbia.
The Black Bear differs not any from those common to the
U. States, and are found under the Rocky Mountains in the
woody country on the borders of the Great Plain's of Columbia
and also in this tract of woody country which lie between these
plains and the Pacific Ocian. their econimy and habits are also
the same with those of the United States.
