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The Smith boys were all
hunters. Vancouver Island was thick with deer, so there was never
a year when the larder wasn’t stocked with canned venison. They
could bag a deer in the woods behind the farm. No wonder the
Depression seemed to pass them by. The most famous duo were Nels
and Leslie who made an annual trip every year for 20 years. Nels
was near 80 before they stopped. Visitors often came to the farm
to go hunting. Carrie’s husband, Richard, was one. Another
was Jack Davidson, husband of Josie Smith who was Pa’s cousin. (see Richard Smith) |
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Nels Smith and Leslie
Smith circa 1940s
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Leslie Smith, Edward Bergman and Murray Creighton after a birding
adventure. Ducks could be found along the banks of the Cowichan
River and Pa (Thomas Smith) was a
skilled dog trainer.
circa 1940s
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A would-be hunter inspecting the
kill. When game was brought home, many hands helped with the
butchering. The meat was shared among all the family members and
usually consumed fresh. A carcass would keep about 10 days.
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Leslie
Smith at the ol’ hunter’s cabin he and Nels used for several
years. This photo was labelled “Hiawatha”.
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