Clark: January 12, 1806
On a Sunday at Fort Clatsop, Drewyer and another man were sent out hunting and returned in the evening with seven elk, Drewyer once again proving the party's most reliable provider while other hunters struggled due to inexperience and scarce game. Sergeant Gass and the men assisting the salt makers arrived in the afternoon, as did hunters sent to the point, who killed nothing. Because the four messes had been wasteful with fresh meat, Clark decided to change the system: the seven elk would be jerked and issued in small rations.
Sunday the 12th January 1806 This morning Sent out Drewyer and one man to
hunt, they returned in the evening Drewyer haveing killed 7 Elk; I
scercely know how we Should Subsist, I beleive but badly if it was not for
the exertions of this excellent hunter; maney others also exert
themselves, but not being accquainted with the best method of finding and
killing the elk and no other wild animals is to be found in this quarter,
they are unsucksessfull in their exertions. at 2 P. M Serjt. Gass and the
men I left to assist the Salt makers in Carrying in their meat arrived
also the hunters which I directed to hunt in the point, they killed
nothing-. We have heretofore devided the meat when first killed among the
four messes, into which we have divided our party, leaveing to each the
Care of preserving and distribution of useing it; but we find that they
make such prodigal use of it when they happen to have a tolerable Stock on
hand, that we are determined to adapt a Different System with our present
stock of Seven Elk; this is to jurk it and issue it to them in Small
quantities
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Sunday the 12th January 1806. This morning I sent out Drewyer (Drouillard) and one man to hunt; they returned in the evening, Drewyer having killed 7 elk. I scarcely know how we should subsist—I believe but badly—if it were not for the exertions of this excellent hunter. Many others also exert themselves, but not being acquainted with the best method of finding and killing the elk, and no other wild animals being found in this quarter, they are unsuccessful in their efforts.
At 2 P.M. Serjt. Gass (Sergeant Gass) and the men I left to assist the salt makers in carrying in their meat arrived, along with the hunters whom I had directed to hunt on the point; they killed nothing.
We have heretofore divided the meat, when first killed, among the four messes into which we have split our party, leaving to each the care of preserving it and distributing it for use. But we find that they make such prodigal use of it when they happen to have a tolerable stock on hand, that we are determined to adopt a different system with our present stock of seven elk: this is to jerk it and issue it to them in small quantities.
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