The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-04-06
BEAvRR-HUNTING.
AsD.y,. Spor. In lhe swamp. of Louis,

There lisa mystery attending the move
ments of the beaver which invests it with
peculiar interest. The indonitable in.
dustry, ingenuity and silence in con-
structing its 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 in the flats border
ing on lake Maurepas.
A short distance below the town the
highland is intersected by low place
called a "bottom," which debouches
into a 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
swampbince,the Mississippi found chan
mel elsewhere.
The 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,
and beavers, offers and mink
enough TO stock the market and make
hats for generation were bagged. The
methods resorted to for killing beavers
-. H,I l. IL.
lodges on the margin of the swamp. The
hunter would dig with a space over the
channel leading to the cell or lodge, 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 a beaver trail. The |
dams baving 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
sgortsmen stand and listen for the voice
of some reliable veterans gone to test the
veracity of the babbling stragglers.
1t 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 its intricate winding
across dry plastered fat into some dry
grass, and begin to gibe tongue so freely
that they are soon followed by their
more reckless companions. Now I
several wild hogs start out of thicket, {
and draw off the young hunters and
logs as before.
Away all go through brier and brake, {
md now the beaver is up, making his
way to a-deep alligator hole, he plunges in s
md is followed by the dogs. One bolder {
han the rest seizes hold of the beaver S
md down they both go to the bottom. {
But this pool has an owner. With a 6
snort a huge alligator rises s
@ the top of the water as if to inquire
Who had dared to intrude into his t
lomain.
This frightens beaver and dogs, and |
hey all beat hasty retreat out on dry
and, but not far can the beaver go, for, Q
and tried, it drags into some t
marsh grass and is soon surrounded by
nen and dogs. 1t is large enc and q
7eighs ninety-six pounds. b
A telling shot in the eye turns the al a
gator on his back. The dog is also o
adly wounded in the fight with the g
eaver. c
The wandering stragglers who had g
cen allured by the wild hogs and cot G
entails now return, each bringing some "
rophy OF his chase. p
Eight beavers, eight otters, six wild "
ogs, four rabbits and one alligator ten d
,et long are the result of the days hunt. 81
: Turf, Field and Farm. a
Al