The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-02-02
THE AMERICAN MOOSE.
Something About the Largest Represents
tion OF the Deer Family.

ton OF the Deer Family.
As is well-known, the moose is the
largest species of the entire deer
genus, exceeding in proportions any
other native ruminant quadruped in
America, and when in full growth and
vigor, in the best condition, these
gigantic mammals, it is asserted, have
been known TO attain the enormous
weight of two thousand pounds. and q
reliable gentleman now living in Hart
ford, Conn, who has for many seasons
stalked this particular game and bagged
quite number OF large specimens,
SAYS that he killed q bull moose some
years since in Nova Scotia thai meas
ured seven feet from the top OF the
withcrs To the sole of the foot, which Is
considerably taller than the elk or any
other game animal on this continent
Fifty years ago the range of the moose
had vast geographical amplitude, ex-
tending from the Atlantic to the Pa.
cific entirely across the continent. But
the expansion of the Western settle
ments and the proclivities of the hunt
ing population have caused great
diminution in this species Of game and
driven the wary beasts to seek more in
accessible cover in the remote north.
Yet they are still found in Maine, Min
ncsota, Idaho, Montana, as well as in
the unpopulated districts of the Cana
dian provinces and in British Column
bia,
An old Chippewa guide, "Pe-to-Wan-
Quad" who had hunted in the vicinity
of Lake Huron ever since his boyhood.
told white traveller some years ago
that during severe winter many years
before. when the snow was very deep
and his family suffering for want OF
food, he went out alone upon snow
shoes to procure meat, and in a short
time came upon the fresh tracks OF
seven moose, which he followed for
three successive days. during which he
killed every one of them, besides two
black bears that attempted 10 join him
in the chase toward the last of il.
After his signal achievement in securing
this large supply of meat he returned
to his people, and taking out a party
with sleds hauled it all home, and il
sufficed for their subsistence during the
remainder of the winter.
The moose is an awkward, clumsy
looking animal. with an uncommonly
peculiar head and nose, ending in q
muscular. prchensible lip termed "muf
fle," which they use in collecting food,
and this appendage, when cooked. IL
regarded by hunters as delicious Dol
moroccan. The mouth is set well bacl
from the lower extremity of the mufile
thus adapting it to their method o
browsing upon the tender shoots o
deciduous shrubs and trees, which con
stitute their staple forage the yea
round.
Moose are quite abundant upon tn
Yukon river, toward its sources II
Alaska, as an exploration OF that sec
ton by Whimpon in 1867 shows. Be
tween latiiudes 65 and &C degrees nortl
and longitude 146 degrees, he says
.This part of the river abounds il
moose
The appellation of "moose" is prob
ably derived from an aboriginal source
as this identical synonym still obtain
among the Chippewas on the northern
borders, where those animals are mos
abundant.
In 1913 moose and elk were occa
sionally met with in the extensive
forests of Lake Huron.
Moose have been killed near tn
Pacific coast little south of Behrint
strait. = Chicago NeWS.