September 11, 1833

11 September: In the morning, bright and clear; at 6:15 the sun rose in a clear sky above the eastern hills near the fort. At 7:30, 67°F [19.4°C]. They worked on the boat early. A large supply of fresh meat was sent up to the workers. Mr. Bodmer went up into the hills to draw the Bears Paw. Dreidoppel went out with his gun [and] saw a pair of bald eagles and a common raven, which had white feathers in its wing. I went onto the prairie and paced off the location and surroundings of the fort. The boat was finished, and today it was caulked. The carpenter, Saucier, was occupied making four new oars for it. At twelve noon, 68°F [20°C]; it was warm but not unpleasant.

I had someone show me a beaver trap today. It is a spring trap with two springs, with jaws not completely round but instead form [ing] a very flat bow when they are closed, about 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 inches wide. The trap is laid in the water [with] willow branches on both sides, so that the beaver must go over [the trap] if it wants to reach the scent placed on a piece of wood. The trap is fastened to a pole with a chain. Similar traps, though only half as large, are laid for muskrats but are fastened with only a small cord. Otters are also caught in beaver traps.

In the afternoon I accompanied Mr. Bodmer to the hills, where I looked around while he sketched the Rocky Mountains. Dreidoppel relieved me at four o’clock. The boat was already caulked this afternoon. Evening unusually pleasant.

Date: 
Wednesday, September 11, 1833
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Cory Taylor (Automatically Generated)
Zachary Joyce