New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-04

Beaver HuntiaR In Louisiana.
81. D." writes from Baton Rouge to the
Tart, Field and Farm:
1t is generally suppos ID that the beaver
ia native of cold climates exclusively.
We confess to being in this category, prob
ably beeause we always see beavers donned
in cold weather. That such is not the case
the peeled twigs and limbs found on the
banks AMI the large dams built across
many streams in the highl Ands OF Loui.i'
ana plainly show.
There is a mystery attending the move
ments of the beaver which invests it with
peculiar interest. The indomitable indus
try, ingenuity and silence 10 constructing
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 hundreds OF acres of
woodland are destroyed, and drainage is
seriously affected, by beaver dams.
The highlands of E4st Baton Rouge COM
mence at the Mississippi at Baton Roug5,
run IN diagonal direction from the river
aud are lost in the fats bordering on Lake
Maurepas
A short distance below the town the high.
land lie intersected by u low place called
"bottom," which debouches into a swamp
varying in width, and OF considerable length.
Many small branches empty in o it, and it is
u uuAly EAuRRtsu blEbhIl-d hOAub 1UE dlIlBb-
tors, lOggerheads, turtlee, beavers, offers,
mink, etc. This swamp has never been dry
within the memory of the "oldest inhatit-
ant" until the past summer and fall. In
every hollow log thers was either an animal
or reptile, the growth of swamp since
the Mississippi found a 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 full harvest. Not one
had Fletcher No 10, but that was of little
consequence. They soon began a slaughter,
and beavers, offers and mink enough TO
stock the market and make hats for gen.
GRAFTON we're bsgged. The methods resOrted
TO for killing beavers were very simple
They had made their lodges on the margin
of the swamp. The hunter would dig with
a spade over the channel leading TO the
cell or lodge, and drop a rope with moose
into the hole thus made, then, sending in a
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
lsnces, and having Egood pack of hounds
started tor q days hunt. am tell the tale
as it was told to me-" Soon the busy pack
are on a 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 basiu of
the morsss, was the only refuge for this
Subtle pillsger."
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 "eOtton-tail,"
and in full cry call off the young and mex
perienced hunters; but the old spOrtsmen
stand and listen tor the voice of some re-
liable veterans gone to test the veracity of
the babbling straggers.
1t is not long ere they return to the spot
where the trail has been lost, aud the teua-
oiOus old hounds hang on the "spoor," fol.
lowing its intricate windings across a dry
plastered Hat into some dry grass, and be-
giu to give tongue so freely that they are
5000 followed by their more reckless com
panions. Now several wild hogs start out
of thicket and draw off the young hunt.
ers and dogs as before.
Away all go through brlar and brake, and
now the beaver is up, making his way to a
deep alligator hole, he pluuges in and is fol
lowed by the dogs. One holder than the
rest seizes hold of the beaver, and down
they both go to the bottom. But this pool
has an owner. With tremendous snort a
huge alligator rises to the top of the water
| as if to inquire who had dared TO intrude
| INTO his domain.
This frightened beaver and dogs, and
they all beat a hasty retreat out on dry
| land, but not far could the beaver go, for,
wounded and tired, IL dragged into some
marsh grass ard was soon surrounded by
men and dogs. 1t was a large one, and
weighed nineUy-six pounds.
A telling shot in the eye turned the ALI
! gator on his back. The dog was also badly
wounded in the fight with the beaver.
1.-THE loud horns, in gsyly walblng strains
Proclaim the beavers fate"
The wandering strsgglers 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
were the result of one days hunt. Who can
| beat it,
Swans may account for this hegira Of
beavers from the land of the Dakotas on
scientific principles. We think they were in
Inundated last summer, and learning of the
measures taken to prevent Intimidation,
they have sought an asylum ia the "quiet
waters of turbulent Louisiana.