The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-29
MANY CARIBOU KILLED.

IQuebec Cor. of New York SUM-
The present hunting season in New
foundland is one of the most successful
ever reported by sportsmen. Caribou
have never before appeared to be so
abundant on the island. They have al
ways been found in the barren lands Of
son the herds that passed within the
range of the hunters were larger than
usual, and the animals were shot by
scores They did not seem to be disturbed
by the proximity Of human beings, ana
have frequently been seen within a few
hundred yards Of the villages The extent
to which they have been slaughtered can
nearly 1000 sets of antlers have already
been passed by the customs at POrt-aux-
Basques this season, and of course many
more must nave been taken out Dy way
of St. Johns. One sportsman, who was
Devastating at a place called Topsails.
says that thousand carcasses could be
seen along the railway east of HowIey at
one time last November.
1t must be borne in mind that apart
from the caribou slain in Newfoundland
by hunting parties from the continent Of
America and elsewhere for sport and fro-
phies of the chase thousands are annu-
ally slaughtered for food by the people
of the island. Venison is in fact a sta
pie article Of food with Observation-Disclosures
during the winter months, alternating in
either its sailed or its frozen state with
ence of many Of the dwellers about the
great northern bays 1t frequently hap
from the trains that traverse the island
over its only railway and sometimes the
shooting of them also be witnessed.
On many days of the season from fifty to
a. hundred carcasses have been carried by
the railway.
Since the middle of December many of
the large herds of caribou on the island
have crossed to the extreme south, and
as all the American and other foreign
sportsmen have returned home. the ma
tives are engaged in slaughtering the ami
mails for their own subsistence. The flesh
is selling this winter on the market at st.
Johns for and cents a pound. very
much less than the cost of beef. Up to
g year or two ago venison was exported
now entirely prohibited
The largest stays have now all shed
their horns, and hence the hunting of the
island has no further attraction for
sportsmen. But the slaughter by the ma
1ves still goes on. It would pay both the
if the season were shortened. so that it
ended about the middle of December, in
from the defamation now going on by the
natives, and the thousands of dollars an
nually paid into the island treasury for
thousands more paid by them to guides
and for supplies would pay hundreds of
times over for the loss of the paltrv sums
received from the sale of venison.
The heads of the Newfoundland caribou
or reindeer are much priced by spOrtsmen.
ada, Norway or Lapland. being much
larger and carrying far finer ant1ers
Stays are often shot Weighing from 600 to
200 pounds. while the antlers are enormous
and beautifully palmated. They sweep
backward but not infrequently the brow
antlers meet over the nose. like pair Of
hands clasped in an attitude Of prayer
Some of the Englfsh-spea king New
foundlanders make excellent guides h1ff
many sportsmen prefer the Micmac In
dians. Some of the favorfte hunting
grounds are known only to the latter and
TO those who have hunted with them. In
former times deer stalking wasB ex-
pensiVe sport for foreign spOrfsroen he
cause OF the difhculty of reaching the in
terror me railway has removed much Of
this difficulty.