Clark: February 3, 1806

Monday February 3rd 1806 About 3 oClock Drewyer & Lapage returned,
Drewyer had killed Seven Elk in the point below us, Several miles distant,
but Can be approached within 3/4 of a mile with Canoes by means of a Small
Creak which discharges itself into the Bay, on this Sid of the Clatsop
Village. Directed Serjt. Pryor to go in quest of the meat, the winds was
So high that they were unable to Set out until) a little before Sunset,
when they departed; at 10 P.M. they returned excessively Cold and informed
us that they could not make land on this Side of the bay or get into the
Creek in consequence of the tides being out and much lower than usial. we
are apprehensive that the Clatsops knowing where the meat is, will rob us
of a part if not the whole of it. at half after 4 P. M Sergt. Gass
returned with his party they brought with them the flesh of 4 other Elk
which the hunters had found, being part of the 10 which were killed up the
Netul river the other day. He left Ro. Field, Shannon & Labiesh to
Continue the hunt, and made an appointment to return to them on friday.
late in the evening the four men who had been Sent to assist the
Saltmakers in transporting meat which they had killed to their Camp also
returned, and brought with them all the Salt which had been made,
consisting of about one Sushel only. with the means we have of boiling the
Salt water we find it a very tegious opperation that of makeing Salt,
notwithstanding the Kitties are kept boiling day and night. we Calculate
on three bushels lasting us from hiere to our deposit of that article on
the Missouri.