New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-25

NUMBER EIGHTY TWO.

reason appear to us of little consequence, but the
mere enumeration of the wild animals that in
habited the vast forest and prairie domains will
at once show the immense difference in that
respect with former times There were then
large droves of wild oxen or bisons and buffalo
that approached even our Attakapas prairies in
their migrations. We had besides innumerable
deer wild bears and Indian hogs; wild cats
panthers, tigers, catamounts, wolves, weasels,
rabbits, squirrels, flying squirrels, guinea pigs,
rats de bois otter, beaver, opposun, bear.
racooon, ETC., etc. All these animals afforded
ample material for the chase, not to speak at the
present moment, of the innumerable field and
water fowl that in due season. increased the stock
of provisions and victuals, so necessary for the
first settlers of the country, often deprived of
the resources by unsuccessful or failing crops.
OF all the preceding species of animals there are
but few at the present day that can be accounted
of any importance in commercial point of view.
The buffalo herds are decreasing every year, with
the extension of the white population through the
great American plains Of our continent, and we
do not imagine that any living specimen could
be met with in the limits of our State. We, our
Selves in 1880, saw the floating down of a living
buffalo in Red River, one that had no doubt been
prevented by the swift current in the high foods
of that river in following its drove when travelling
that water course. Bears have become scarcer
with every year; SO beavers and otters-though
| specimen beaver was exhibited in cur city only
short time ago, which had been caught near the
Old Basin or Canal Carondelet. Indian hogs and
wild bears are still eXtantin our yicnage, and par
tcnlaFly round about the forests Of Lake Pontehar
train towards the Chef Menteur ana Rigolets, near
the Bayou Coehon, it is said that they still abound,
and seem rather to multiply. That particular
locality in ancient times, was The rendezvous sta
ton Of some very suspicious Charac5ers-some-
thing Of the land pirate description and the reputed
abode Of runaways. Though at this day there are
no longer any these latter species Of Fagabonds,
still it may be that the abundance OF the wild hogs
in that vicinity may&Ger attractions for such of
our city characters as, for valuable reasons, may
think themselves safest far away from the vgilant
and prying eyes of our urban police. AS for pan
Tiers and tigers, it is long since we have seen
exposed any Of their hides or skins in our market,
and we thence conclude that they have nearly dis.
? appeared from our country, altogether. With re-
5 spect to racpoon, rats de bos, weasel, and such
other small forest inhabitants, we overheard sort
of dialogue Of two country blacks the other day,
; in the neighborhood Of the GENTLY hahitations
and the lake Pontchartrain new freedmen settle
=
smart chance" of this appetizng food for the black
country folks, since fowling and hunting from the
city had become less frequent. Let our city
Z, sportsmen make note Of this, when the next fall
season approaches. OLD Michoudfs vast domain, as
usual, will afford the amplest sport IN that tayorite
line of small prairie game, added to the numerous
/, tlocks of wild geese and turkeys, of which some
have come over from the pny forests from over the
to,
snipes, ducks, deals water hens, gulls, pelicans
, etc.; not to mention black birds, papabottes
uuails, wood pigeons, etc, and for aa occasional
exploit to the hunters delight, they may bring
down an eagle, vulture, an owl, and even buz
zard if so inclined tho we would rather advise
that these latter be kept unframed public scaven
gers in the enyirons of our suburbs. Now we have
named some of the more noted of the four footed
inhabitants and The feathered tribe that frequent
and enliyen our forests and swamps IN order that
our readers may form an idea of what our environs
presented, when but few or scauty hunters had
set about destroying these primeval possessors o.
the grounds.
e When in course Of time our thick planted forests
shall have been cleared and converted into cult
7 waited fields or rice meadows, we may then sup
: pose that little hunting sport will remain, ezcep
with respect to the fall game, that in all countries
of the world frequent the fields and waters during
I. the fall sseason. Hence the faathered field ant
water fowls will continue to furnish occasion to on
e huntsmen. and sportsmen for their prohtabl
i, activity, whilst what was formerly called ~
y qrGa0e chd8se," or the great hanting business
n will have entirely ceased and passed ont Of re
n membranee. In the description which we hGg
y given of Allard's Metairie farm house, we haV
), omitted to state that right in sight of that yer
ID ancient settlement is situated a heath or plain
u reputed the most frequented spot of all sorts
IA small water fowl, and for that reason the yer
at rendezvous Of the young city amateurs for tn
al sporting frolic Year afteryearw have there OF
VI served generations of hunters seeking their ever
:. animatng pastme and although, on Sunday PAL
tcularly, sometimes whole battalions of foWlers ar
discharging their pieces, as if q continued fusad
- were going on, we have not seen the game desel
- that station, but annually return to that identc;
locality. No doubt certain berries or pea
y in the adjoining forests or heath ground
~ have the virtue of drawing to this neighbo
hood the focks of blackbirds wild pigeons, snipe
= grassets and other birds that cannot be drive
=, away from there notwithstanding the almost inee
~ SAINT persecution to which they are exposed. W
= must observe that upon all plantations along tt
- border of our streams, at least in the vicinity
.; our city, it the custom to have one or more
- the domestics brought up regular hunters, wi
~ had no other occupation than that of supplying IL
~ planters table with the game of the season. tt
i owners themselves, and more particularly Il
IL young members of the male sex, would make
4. their vocation as much as their pleasure to go
join in hunting bout or tour, but, as we sa
4 before, the regular business Of supplying Il
H., forest game was left to some brought up hunt
Ii man of the place. This was also the case wi
IL regard to fishing the planters had their own ifs
= ing hands, that did no other work, just like t
i hunters, and in this manner we have known Il
wealthy planters around our city, mantainir
: indeed mostsplendid private table. Our reade
must not forget that the housewives upon o
~ Louisiana plantations were renowned for the
oia ability in preparing the incest confectonaries al
to, preserves upon their own home places from t
molasses and syrups of the plantation sugar
a., as so that besides the materials furnished fro
of the kitchen and vegetable gardens, the orchar
de and fruit stands, there was the resource of Il
a confectionary's sweetmeat preparations to CROW
W by an ample dessert the fulness of planter
Il. table. All sorts of home fowls the poultry yal
p and the pigeon house would supply; and as f
r.