The Russellville Democrat., 1877-03-29
BEAVER. HUNTING.
ArD.y,s sport In the swamps of Ls.l.

AfDsy's Sport In the SwamPs of AoahsA ana.
 There isa mystery attending the move ments of the beaver which invests it with peculiar interest. The indomitable in dustry, ingenuity and silence in con- structing it's habitation and dams render this animal an object of much interest to the hunter.
 Twenty-Five years ago it was quite rare in Louisiana now hundredsof acres of woodland are destroyed, and drainage is seriously affected by beaver dams.
 The highlands of east Baton Rouge commence at the Mississippi at Baton Rouge, run in diagonal direction from the river, and are lost iE the flats border ing on lake Maurepas.
 A short distance below the town the highland is intersected by low place called q "bottom," which debouches into swamp, varying in width, and of considerable length. Many small branches empty into it, and it is dull, sluggish stream-a home for alligators, loggerheads, turtles, beavers, otters, mink, etc. This swamp has never been dry within the memory of the oldest in- habitant until the past summer and fall. In every hollow log there was either an animal or reptile, the growth of a swampkincethe Mississippi found a chan mel elsewhere.
 Tho news of this field of "varmints" soon attracted the attention of sportsmen, and like Sir Samuel Baker at the atbara, they prepared to reap full harvest. They soon began a slaughter, nd n Gy enough to stock the market and make hats for generation were bagged. The methods resorted ts for killing beavers were very simple. They had made their lodges on the margin of the swamp. The hunter would dig with spade over the channel leading to the cell orslodge, and drop rope with moose into the hole thus made, then sending in don to start the game, he would moose it as it became entangled in the rope. Many were caught in traps.
 Several sportsmen, armed with guns and lances, and having a good pack of hounds started for days hunt. "Pll tell the tale as it was told to me-" Soon the busy pack are on beaver trail. The dams having previously been cut, the water had left all the dens high and dry, and an occasional alligator hole deep dug into the basin of the morass, was the only refuge for this "subtle pillage." The huntsmen urge on the already too eager pack. They overrun the trail, and scattering far and wide in wild confus- ion, the young hounds bounce "cotton tail" and in full cry call off the young and inexperienced hunters; but the old sportsmen stand and listen for the voice of some reliable veterans gone to test the veracity of the babbling stragglers.
 It is not long ere they return to the spot where the trail had been lost, and the tenacious cid hounds hang on the ''spoor," following it's intricate winding across dry plastered flat into some dry grass, and begin to gibe tongue so freely that they are soon followed by their more reckless companions. Now several wild hogs start out of thickct, and draw off the young hunters and dogs as before.
 Away all go through brier and brake, and now the beaver is up, making his way to oa..deep alligatorhole, he plunges in and is followed by the dogs. One bolder than the rest seizes hold of the beaver and down they both go to the bottom. But this pool has an owner. With a tremendous snort huge alligator rises to the top of the water as if to inquire who had dared to intrude into his domain.
 This frightens beaver and dogs, and they all beat a nasty retreat out on dry land, but not far can the beaver go. for, wounded and tried, it drags into some marsh grass and is soon surrounded by men and dogs. It is large one and weighs ninety-six pounds.
 A telling shet in the eye turns the al- ligator on his back. The dog is also badly wounded in the fight with the beaver.
 The wandering stragglers who had been allured by the wild hogs and cot tontails now return, each bringing some trophy of his chase.
 Eight beavers, eight otters, six wild hogs, four rabbits and one alligator ten feet long are the result of the days hunt. -7wf, Fscld and Fdrm.