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Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 18:35:45 -0600 (MDT)
From: <beaverboy@sofast.net>
Subject: MtMan-List: Summertime trapping & a bath!
Some trapper journal excerpts concerning summertime trapping
and checking traps then taking a bath!
ôAugust 2d (1835) we forded the Yellow Stone with some
difficulty to the south sideààà.. We stopped in this valley until the 20th
The Trappers being continually employed in hunting and trapping
beaver..ö ôWe stopped at this place trapping until the 3d of August
(1836)ö ôJune 18 (1837) we left PierrÆs hole and crossed the mountain to
JacksonÆs big holeàà..21st traveled down the river to GrayÆs river and set
traps We remained hunting the streamsàà..until the 28 of Juneö Osborn
Russell and his companions traveled just four more days till July2nd to a
supposed rendezvous site ôwhere we expected to find the Rendezvousö but
found only a large band of buffalo.
ôOn the 20th of July the meeting (rendezvous) broke up and the
parties again dispersed for the fall huntö A fall hunt commencing in July!
Summers are short here in the Rockies, got to make hay while the sun
shines. ôWe staid and trapped until the 29th (July) Then we started back
to the Gros vent fork where found the Camp consisting of about 60 men
under the direction of Mr.Dripps James Bridger Pilotö.
The best excerpt from RussellÆs journal includes trapping and
bathing! ô(August 1839) 28th after visiting my traps I returned to campààI
took my rifle and sauntered down to the shore of the Lakeàà.(the day being
very warm) I took a bath in the lake for probably half an hour and
returned to campà.ö
RussellÆs journal is of course considered by most to be the best
record of an individual trappers time in beaver country of the west. It
does include many accounts of trapping in prime fur time as well.
OgdenÆs account in Snake Country Journal also includes several
accounts of trapping in a very hot time of the year. ôApril 16 (1827) From
our traps not one beaver. We have certainly cleaned the ground (I assume
this phrase to mean trapped out). Apr.22 His (McKay and party) success
compared to us is nearly double, amounting to 735 Bers (beaver) & Otters
taken in two small streams, both which they cleanÆd (trapped out). I have
every reason to be satisfied with our returns which now amounts to 2230 Br.
(beaver) & Otters.ö ôJune 28. The trappers not averaging more than 100
beaver eachà.June 30, All our traps being in the water we did not raise
Camp. Our traps were visited, two stolen with beaver in them. Its galling
we cannot secure one of these villains to make an example ofà..ö ôJuly 4.
We have but 40 traps and two again broke in the jaws. July 11. Trap
stolenà. The Beaver was taken out of the trapààJuly 12 Loss of two traps,
one carried off by a beaver and the other stolen by Indians with a beaver
in it. It is rather surprising, from the number of traps these wretches
have stolen, they cannot contrive to take a beaver out without destroying
the Trapààö An excellent account of trapping fur in hot weather, July 4 is
usually really hot everywhere in the lower 48.
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Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 18:46:20 -0600 (MDT)
From: <beaverboy@sofast.net>
Subject: MtMan-List: Jugs and a Slow Death
Madeira Wine and Port Wines are historically correct in any place,
camp, era and function across the country. They're pretty good too. Our
Fore Fathers couldn't be wrong. I drink it warm always and its fine. Fort
Union served chilled Madeira on ice at formal meals (they had a ice
house) I've had Blandy's Madeira wine (founded in 1812) from the island
of Madeira and found California madeira (Paul Masson) to be better tasting
and much cheaper($5.50 vs $20.).
Just remember the old German pharase "Drinking is a slow death, but
who wants to rush it"
Beaverboy
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Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 21:08:16 -0700
From: "Daniel L. "Concho" Smith" <hrd7@lycos.com>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Soap and Hygiene - and more . . .
This is a good point Dick,
I do research for the Pennsylvania Historical Society, in my research of hunters/outdoorsman/exployers of colonial times in PA and NY.
I have found accounts/journals of professional hunters and men of the woods writing that bathing on a regular schedule increased their success in taking game, moving around local natives (Indians) and others undetected, as did not smoking tobacco. They felt that odors whether human or as that of tobacco were very important if not present to having a better survival rate in these questionable times.
Their idea of scheduled bathing was once a week in cold weather (probably when coming into the settlements) and as often as possible in warm weather (streams being warmer in summer).
Buck Conner had an article about a prof. hunter from Pottsville PA in the T&LR magazine a few years ago that stated this hunter would come in on Sat. to handle business for the game collected during that week, leaving on Sun. evening to go back out into his woods.
I believe this is what "scheduling" is referring to in many of the accounts read, being woodsmen, hunters, scouts, etc. - they came in and handled business, made reports and got resupplied for the next outing, at that time they bathed.
Even today a good bow hunter does everything possible to stop body odor, special washing soap for them and their clothing and most do not smoke in their hunting clothes or get near a camp fire, again the odor of anything un-natural to the animals and others is a "give-away" problem.
Later
Concho.
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>
>Something else you may want to read is the biography of Plenty-Coups of the Crows. He tells (through the interpreter) that bathing was done frequently and in all seasons. The reason being that odors can give away the presence of a person to both game and enemy. Trappers learned a lot from the Indians........
>
>For what it's worth. . . .
>Richard James
>
>Richard James
>
>
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I have spoken to wes housler a few months ago, and we discussed capote patterns, in our discussion he was researching a more correct pattern of capote very similar to the great lakes capot, with the arms being slightly curved and the length being mid-thigh and having more of a cuff , and the waist being abit more flared rather than the straight cut of the typical patterns of today. I have made several capotes from paul muellers pattern , but if anyone has a pattern of my description or a place for me to obtain one I would appreciate any info and input.<BR>
<BR>
thanks<BR>
frank sablan<BR>
Odessa, texas</FONT></HTML>
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Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 19:12:27 -0400
From: Windwalker <windwalker@fastmail.fm>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: capote pattern
On Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:47:14 EDT, JOAQUINQS@aol.com wrote:
>Hello list,
>I have spoken to wes housler a few months ago, and we discussed
>capote patterns, in our discussion he was researching a more=
correct
>pattern of capote very similar to the great lakes capot, with=
the
>arms being slightly curved and the length being mid-thigh and=
having
>more of a cuff , and the waist being abit more flared rather=
than
>the straight cut of the typical patterns of today. I have made
>several capotes from paul muellers pattern , but if anyone has=
a
>pattern of my description or a place for me to obtain one I=
would
>appreciate any info and input.
>
>thanks
>frank sablan
>Odessa, texas
Have you thought of Northwest Traders?
- --
Windwalker, windwalker@fastmail.fm on 07/22/2002
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<DIV>Have you checked out the Mountain's sketch books (vol 1 & 2) and the voyager's sketchbook? There are many different coat patterns like you described, made from varying materials. hardtack</DIV>
<DIV>ps to Windwalker, northwest trader is Paul Mueller. <s></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Hello list,<BR>I have spoken to wes housler a few months ago, and we discussed capote patterns, in our discussion he was researching a more correct pattern of capote very similar to the great lakes capot, with the arms being slightly curved and the length being mid-thigh and having more of a cuff , and the waist being abit more flared rather than the straight cut of the typical patterns of today. I have made several capotes from paul muellers pattern , but if anyone has a pattern of my description or a place for me to obtain one I would appreciate any info and input.<BR><BR>thanks<BR>frank sablan<BR>Odessa, texas</FONT> </FONT>
<DIV>we have NOT inherited the Earth from our fathers,</DIV>
<DIV>we are Borrowing it from our Children</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 23:27:58 EDT
From: JOAQUINQS@aol.com
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: capote pattern
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i will pull those books out and look, has anyone made one from those spec.s,
thanks for the info
frank
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">i will pull those books out and look, has anyone made one from those spec.s, <BR>
<BR>
thanks for the info<BR>
frank</FONT></HTML>
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<DIV>Frank, I haven't, but wish I'd have checked them out when I made my capote. I used the standard NW traders pattern for a caped canoe capote. It Is a shorter capote, no fringe, and has a cape and coller- rather than a hood. I am satisfied with it. I wanted a less cumbersome capote. I made it from a Whitney 'horse blanket'. This is a smaller, thicker blanket. The coat comes to mid thigh, and doesn't have the bothersome fringe, etc... on it. I'll send you a pic. If anyone else wants pics, let me know..... I'll send to you too. I only wish it were a bit more 'tailored', as opposed to the square cut style. Oh well, live and learn. hardtack </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF">i will pull those books out and look, has anyone made one from those spec.s, <BR><BR>thanks for the info<BR>frank</FONT> </FONT>
