The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-04
A Beaver Hunt in Louisiana.


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There is mystery attending the move
ments of the beaver which invests it will
peculiar interest. The indomitable in
dustry, ingenuity and silence in con
structing its habitation and dams render
this animal an object of much interest t.
the hunter.
twenty-five years ago it was quite rare
| in Louisiana; now hundreds OF 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 a 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 ''bottom," which debouches into
swamp, varying in width, and of con-
siderable length. Many small branches
empty into it, and it is dull, sluggish
stream-a home for alligators, logger
heads, turtles, beavers, offers, mink, etc.
This swamp has never been dry within
the memory of the Oldest inhabitant un-
til the past summer and fall. In every
hollow log there was either an animal or
a reptile, the growth of swamp since
the Mississippi found channel 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 a full harvest.
They soon began slaughter, and bea-
vers, offers and mink enough to stock the
market and make hats for a generation
were bagged. The methods resorted to
for killing beavers were very simple.
They had made their lodges on the mar
Gin of the swamp. The hunter would
dig with spade over the channel leading
to the cell or lodge, and drop rope with
a moose into the hole thus made, then
sending in dog 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, aud having good pack OF
hounds, started for days hunt. 'Tll
tell the tale as it was told to me-" Soon
the busy pack are on beaver trail. The
dams having been previously 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 pillager."
The huntsmen urge on the already too
eager pack. They Overrun the trail, and
scattering far and wide in wild confusion,
the young hounds bounce a"cotton tail"
and in full cry call off the young and in
experienced hunters; but the old sports
men 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 old hounds hang on the
"spoor," following its intricate windings
across dry plastered flat into some dry
grass, and begin to give tongue so freely
that they are soon followed by their more
reckless companions. Now several wild
hogs start out of a thicket, 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 a deep alligator hole, he plunges
in and is followed by the dogs. One,
holder than the rest, scizes hold of the
beaver, and down they both go to the
bottom. But this pool has an owner.
With tremendous snort, huge alliga-
tor rises to the top Of the water, as it to
inquire who had dared to intrude into his
domain.
This frightens beaver and dogs, and
they all beat hasty retreat out on dry
land, but not far can the beaver 60, for,
wounded and tired, it drags into some
mash grass and is soon surrounded by
men and dogs. 1t is large one and
weighs ninety -six pounds.
A telling shot in the eye turns the al
igator 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 cotton
tails now return, each bringing some
trophy of his chase.
Eight beavers, eight offers, six wild
hogs, four rabbits, and one alligator ten
feet long. are the result of the days hunt.
Turf, Field and Farm.
Miss MARTINEAU.-Ha Harriet Martipeau
had her romance. At the age Of twenty
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