The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-28
From the Salem Register,
The MOOSE.

Tho moose which has probably hsen .xtnct in
Massachusetts for the last thirty or forty years, is
still found in the upper wids Of n. York, and in
some Of the Northern portions Of Vermont and
New Hampshire. Around Moose Head Lake
tue West branch Of the Penobscot DC, ,hey are
quite abundant yet, This is the largest Of the
deer family the length Of the body not uncom.
monty beng six feet ten inches, and the height
five feet four. The color is black 'r blackish
brown, intermxed with gray; head large and
long terminating in q large, thick, curved nose
with a email triangular muzze and thick upper
lip; neck very short, surnounted wi h a short
name and furnished with hairy appendage be-
meath; nostrils long, slouched aud narrow body
rather thick and supported on ions and slender
legs; ears long, ten inches, mere or less toe.
capable Of being widely separated ;--tail very
ehort; the males furnished with large palmated
antlers the females desttuted OF horns The
flesh ia delicious, being more like beef than ven
ison, but infinitely superior by oun taste. to the
finest beef ever eaten.
10 the Winter, those animals are said to herd
together to the number of eight or ten, not roam
iig rs in the Summer, but combining themselves to
The same locality, unless disturbed, as long as the
snow remains on the ground They select ia
vorahle spot where the twgs. branches and bark
of the trees will furnish them with suitable food
tread down the snow hard, and gradually extend
their enclosure a. they consume their supplies
In The Summer they roam near swamps snd mar
shy grounds in the vicinity Of lakes and ponds
where they can find the coarse grass, twgs and
bark Of trees. and water lilies, on which they feed
Woodland rovers who traverse their haunts often
see trees stripped and peeled of their bark, where
the moose has been feeding Its peculiar conior
nation, the shortness ofits neck. and the length of
its lega will not allow of its feeding like other
quadrapods, but admirably adapt it to pluck the
tender twg, and strip the bark from treess. to crop
the high grasses Of the marshes, and to luxuriate
on the leaves of the water lily as the animal stands
in the cooling lake
The ease and rapdty with which the Moose
makes his war through the forest are surprising
in long, ungainly, awkward trot, with hoofs wide
epread, he plunges over fallen trees through thick.
eat, and brush, seemingly impenetrable, with az.
tunIshing speed but he cannot sustain long con
tinued flight
The indian Specification of the term Moose j.
Eo0dedfc, a name which its habits make quite
appropriate Its f,vorite tree. of the bark Of
which il il peculiarly fond, is called the Moose
Wood, otherwise the striped maple, which does
not grow very high.
The nose is hunted for food, and for it's hide
which tho Indians tan and convert to various use.
full ends. The hair j, sometimes used to stuff
Morse collars and for like purposes, and might be
enplopeS To advantage much more extensively,
but Il is ge0erally thrown away and wasted. We
noticed heaps of il about the deserted camps of
the Indians who had stopped hero on their way
up end dswn the Lake. These inprovident fcl.
lsws are making sad havoc among the moose A
party Of five cfthe st Elancs tribe, who quarter.
III a. Kinso after cha Of their hunting expeditions
and lei toe day before our arrival. had with them
aeventy.fiTc Moose h'les--haying shot them for
their skins stripped hem and loft their carcasses
10 the woods. Such obstruction II continued, will
aeon thin their ranks ani drive them INTO more in
accessible regions.
A mature hunters find this an agreeable spot to
try their skill on nobls game. The moose is gen
orally shot in the night, and the amature employs
On some calm. still evening, an experienced per.
son, who can easily be found here, to paddle him
IN brich canoe to some bay or cove where the
moose comes down TO the lake to feed on the water
Lilies, and there lies in wait until the animal ap.
breaches. The noise he makes gives due notice OF
his coming. and the large, indis,inct object, dimly
yIsable 10 the darkness, is to be the test Of the
inarksmans skill. The nervous tremulousness
which even good snortsman accustomed only to
small game, is pretty sure to feel whom he raises
his gun or rifle at moose for the first time stand
ing or kneelins in fra birch, not unfrequently
spols bis aim and his nights work, and compel,
him to return disappointed. The sense of smell
and hearing Of the moose are very acute, while
that Of seeing is comparatively obtu.e. Great eau
ton 10 therefore required in approaching them no
10 enter current Of air which shall watt towar,
them any strange odor or sound, for they are ex
trsmely timid and shy. and would instantly hov
their suspicion excited.
A young gentleman whom we had the pleasure
Of meeting At Kiuso, proved his ski MS marks
man BY shooting two Of these animals in his nigh
excursions. and one Of them weighed .probabl,
HOO lbs The excitement Of the preparation tn
novelty Of the night voyage in the birch cpnae, tn
anxiou. waiting, the Staying, the camping 6ut il
the wilderness, md tho morning return from
successful, adventure, with the spoils Of victory
are hl'ed with romance enough for many goot
story afterwards.
A Miraculous BnL-The following items ar
stated by celebrated tourist to have actual,
been presented in a bill Of work done In repairing
the Lutheran church At Hamburg
Fv mending tho ten commandments, for nos
and three fingers to ono Of the robbers on the cross
Sos securing and brushing Pontius PLATE, for gil
ding and painting the wings Of the angel Gabrie
hi half breast " Mary Magdalen, for cleansing
The ky In the east and adding sundry stars, 70
cleansing and painting the hig6 priests maid m
addsng color 70 her cheeks, for putting nsv
fbathefee IL The cocksds Of g. Peter. for brushing
and bdghtssine hell 6re and providing tails ap
hoeus IL two devils, for identifying and orna
~n.aoi., sos,s M tha sldara and .iroouth mini