Clark: March 12, 1806

Wednesday March 12th 1806 We Sent a party again in Serch of the Canoe but
they returned unsucksessfull as yesterday Sent one hunter out on this Side
of the Netul he did not return this evening. Our party are now furnished
with 358 par of Mockersons exclusive of a good portion of Dressed leather,
they are also previded with Shirts Overalls Capoes of dressed Elk Skins
for the homeward journey.

Besides the fish of this Coast and river already mentioned we have met
with the following Species. viz. the Whale, Porpus, Skaite, flounder,
Salmon, red-carr, two Specis of Salmon trout, mountain or Speckled trout,
and a Speceis Similar to one of those noticed on the Missouri within the
mountains, called in the Eastern States, bottle nose. I have no doubt but
there are many other Species of fish which also exist in this quarter at
different Seasons of the year, which we have not had an oppertunity of
seeing. the Shell fish are the Clam, perriwinkle, common Muscle, cockle,
and a Species with a circular flat Shell.

The Whale is Sometimes pursued harpooned and taken by the Indians of this
Coast; tho I believe it is much more frequently killed by running on the
rocks of the Coast to S. S. W. in violent Storms, and thrown on different
parts of the Coast by the winds and tide-. in either case the Indians
preserve and eat the blubber and Oil as has been before mentioned. the
whale bone they also carefully preserve for Sale.

The Reptiles of this Country are the rattle snake, garter Snake a common
brown Lizzard. The Season was so far advanced on this side of the Rocky
Mountains that but fiew rattle Snakes were Seen, I did not remark one
particularly my Self, nor do I know if they are of either of the four
Species found in different parts of the United States, or of that Species
before observed only on the upper parts of the Missouri & its
branches.

The Garter Snake So Called in the U States is very common in this country,
they are found in great numbers on the open and Sometimes marshy grounds
in this neighbourhood. they differ not at all from those of the United
States. the Black or Dark brown Lizzard we Saw at the long narrows or
Commencement of the woody country on the Columbia; they are also the Same
with those of the U, States. The Snail is noumerous in the woodey Country
on this Coast, they are in Shape like those of the U, States, but are at
least five times their bulk. there is a Specis of water Lizzard of which I
only Saw one just above the grand rapid of the Columbia. it is about 9
inches long the body is reather flat and about the Size of a mans finger,
covered with a Soft Skin of dark brown Colour with an uneaven sufice
covered with little pimples, the neck and head are Short, the latter
termonateing in an accute angular point and flat. the fore feet each have
four toes, the hinder ones five unconnected with a web and destitute of
tallons. it’s tail was reather longer than the body, and in form like that
of the muskrat, first riseing in an arch higher than the back, and
decending lower than the body at the extremety, and flated
perpindicularly. the belly and under part of the neck and head were of a
Brick red every other part of the colour of the upper part of the body are
dark brown. the mouth was Smooth without teeth.

The horns of Some of the Elk have not yet fallen off and those of others
have Grown to the length of Six inches. the latter are in the best order,
from which it would Seem that the pore Elk retain their horns longer.