The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-06
rather common, as the settlers who hunt
and trap them are few, and the woods

ana trap them are few, and the woOde
almost lmpenetrable. There remains
OF the larger game only the caribou,
which Is fast becoming extinct, as 1t ie
nlercilessly hunted down by both Indl-
ans and whites. though they are still
fairly abundant back OF Gaspe, along
the head waters Of the st. Johns and
York rivers, but long hunting expedi-
tlons into the interior have to bc Or
ganlzed on the north shore of the gulf,
as they have retreated into the great
Wilderness in the interior of Labrador.
The bird world is also scantily repre-.
sented. as there is little food for them.
The spruce grouse and ptarmigan are
the only resident game birds. and the
| latter Is only seen in winter along the
coast."" have SPeen assured that our
own RATED gro1s :cailed Shore willow
grouse, thriyes well where 1t has good
feeding grounds aud shelter. All of
these land birds are difficult to hunt,
since the, gnarled, twisted trunks of
the trees form a. tangled labyrinth, the
mazes of (which defy all penetration.
Neither are the chances better to see
something Of the feathered tribes along
the seashore; at least not in the sum
mer, save where there Is breeding
colony, such as may be seon Oh tho
nigh fiat topped rock at Perce, whioh
shelters a@'Iarge fook of ever hungry
cOrmorants. >a la~.H
The settlers regard everything which
has wings as legitimate game, and in
olpde in this list. all looms, gannets,
herons, seagulls and puff1ns, the value
OF which differs in ratio to their rela-
tive size, as the flavor Of tue meat is OF
nc. consequence. The fat Esquimaux
curlew, however, is their choice bird,
and constitutes their annual feathered
mamma, whlch( comes down by the mid
die of August in great showers of flesh
from the, north, and is Welcomed with
open arms and the wide muzzles of
such tools rs represent Oh this coast the
equivalent for guns. Shortly after this
much looked for advent, the rest Of the
migratory species follow, and the bays
ana lnl>ts along the coast are then as
sorted to- be literally black with; water
fowel of all kinds, both large and small,
have often listened to what ono might
call tall stories from these settlers con-
corning the quantities of geese, brant.
elder ducks and black ducks, If their
accounts were not confirmed by every
body have ever questioned upon these
matters, .-.... -.. ......
AS soon as fishing is practically
closed, which Is about. the middle OF
October, the rusty gun is again brushed
up and charged with handful or 80 of
coarse shot, which is apt to make great
havoc among dense focks if they are
within close range. Tho poor success
which otherwise attends these opera
tionB Is of course due to tho want OF
improved arms, as the breeoh-loader is
still here looked upon az a rare tool and
is not within the limits OF the scanty
purse OF the poor man. The revolu-
tionary musket, heirloom OF perhaps
couple of generations. or an old
double-barreled Duzzle-loader arc the
regulation arms which are still in use
all along the coast.
A shooting frolic may last a few
weeks, after which there is again another
lull until next year, as hardly any biros
remain here for breeding, since their
necessary food is lacking. The rocky
or sandy beaches afford 10 favorable
feeding grounds, and the rivers are
confined in narrow rocky channels
where an expansion with marshy flats
Is not possible, which might attract tho
valuable game ducks. nm told, how.
ever, on good authority, that the great
and still unknown interior of the PENN.
nula OF Labrador fairly swarms with
myriads OF breeding water fowl of all
descriptions. from the large Canada
goose to tho numberless variety of
waders, which are noticed to pass enoh
spring and fall along the coast. The
Indians at Mingan are the only people
thrOIIqh whom anv inform otiOo 0an t,a
ubYalneJ, as these parts constitute their
annual hunting and trapping grounds.
to whloh they resort toward August and
remain until June, when they como back
to the coast with their furs.