The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-07-24
NewfoundIand caribou Herds.

| will remember an account of a great
deer slaughter near Burgess, which APP
peared in your columns last year. 1t
was estimated that 3 200 caribou were
killed in day or two. The legislature
then in session, passed restrictive meas
ures, making recurrence Of such slaugh-
| ter impossible.
Representative Moulton, of Burgess,
during the present session, presented a
number Of numerously signed petitions,
praying that the deer law be amended
and the restrictions removed. In sup
port Of his position he quoted some facts
about our caribou that were enlighten-
ing TO the average sportsman. 1t has
been always known that vast herds Of
deer existed, but as the railway went
through the interior Of the island and
opened it up somewhat, the account of
occasional hunters as to the number Of
deer were taken cum grano sails. Mr..
Moulton, besides being a hunter OF ex-
perience himself, had lot to do with
hunters in his district, and is well quail
fled to speak with authority on the
question of deer. He stated in the as
sembly of his own knowledge and the
evidence Of many hunters whom he had
questioned, that the number Of deer
at present ranging the interior amounted
to about 250,000-a quarter of a mill
lion. The natural increase yearly he
sets down as $4,000. The number killed
BY local and foreign sportsman annually
amounts to 10000; about 5000 die each
year from wolves ana natural causes,
leaving net increase Of 10000 caribou
annually added to the herd. He con-
tended that for the preservation Of the
caribou, they should be judiciously thin
ned each year, as the herds range over
vast plains, feeding on MOSES, which
they tear up by the roots, thus destroy
ing the natural pastures. Many sports
men differ with him on this point, and
refer to the vast extent of territory
which they range, the better part OF
AZ, 900 square miles. This country, con
sisting largely of marshes and barrens,
| is eminently adapted for feeding
grounds; and, further, the parasitic
plants upon which they feed are so pro-
life and tenacious Of life that nothing
less than blowing them up would de-
strov them. The defamation Of our
caribou on these grounds need not be
feared for many day.
1t is the intention Of the legislature
to appoint commission to consider the
whole question, and at future session
of the House to make recommendations
that will appear most advantageous
from the evidence laid before them. In
the meantime, the law stands, and the
caribou are protected, and any sports
man who wants to experience the pleas
ure Of stalking his caribou and securing
trophy for his hall or den win find
| plenty Of sport on the island for many
years to come.
Last week was talking to Mr. George
Nichols of Deer Lake, one of the most
active and intelligent guides in the couu-
try. Mr.. Nichols left me at Deer Lake
and went in the country for some dis
tance to take up his traps after the
winter. On one marsh, about three
miles distant, he counted over ninety
caribou grazing, like cattle, in pas
tnre; he had no gun along with him and
did not disturb them
The moose imported last year we're
seen a short time ago near the Upper
Humber and are reported as doing very
we'll Correspondence in Forest and
Stream.