The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-14
THE GREAT CARIBOU HERDS.
Twice Year They Troop Across New.
foundland by Thousands.

foundland by Thousands.
The great caribou herds Of Newfound-
land migrate semi annualy,~snd no ono
but an actual witness Of these migra-
tions can form any adequate conception
Of the marvellous number Of deer which
the island contains.
1t is estimated that the number which
crossed the Exploits river at one point
during ten days in The autumn Of last
year exceeded four thousand. This eros.
sing ground is only one Of scores Of
similar trails.
Somewhere about the middle of Sep.
TENDER the migratory tide sets south.
ward, the kinds with fawns forming
the vanguard of the long procession.
The lazy stays hang on the rear until
some storm more severe than ordinary
gives an nnmistakable earnest Of the
approach Of winter.
Then all alike hurry toward the shell
tered districts in the south, taking q
straight course, over boulder strewn
mountain heights, through tangled and
obdurate masses of timber, across noun
tain torrents and immense lakes.
During winters Of unusual severity,
the animals often draw quite near to
the settlements on the south coast;
whereupon the settlers, armed with fear
some firearms, such as sealers used some
fifty years ago, straightway proceed to
decimatc the herds with volleys of buck
shot. The price Of caribou venison at
such times in the city OF st. Johns has
been known to drop to two cents per
pound.
The foes OF the caribou other than
man are not numerous. Although the
big gray wolf is still reported on the
northern plains in considerable numbers,
it is now seldom encountered in the in
terror. Having formerly existed in
large packs, it is supposed that. migra
ton must have occurred across the win
ter ice foes OF the Bell Isle strait to
the coast OF Labrador.
Even such redoubtable beast of prey
as the gray wolf could at no time make
certain of a successful forav upon an
animal endowed with such great speed
and endurance as a well-qrown caribou.
A trustworthy old Newfoundland trap
per says that he once witnessed an ex-
citing chase by wolves OF q couple Of
prickets, or .year-old caribou stays.
Both sides doubtless were going at
their utmost pace. lie measured the
bounds OF the caribou and found them
eighteen feet. while the wolves only
cleared fourteen, so that the cariboa cas-
liz gained on them when close pressed.
SO much ahead were the caribou at
times that they rolled over ON their backs
in the snow to cool their painting AMI
heaying sides and seemed to gather new
strength and refreshment from the act.
Another enemy to the caribou fawns
has of late years quietly replaced the
wolf. the stealthy and bloodthirsty lynx
canadensis. The island at this date
fairly swarms with these fierce cats.
Antlers are common to both sexes
of the caribou. There are rare occasion
al stays with short legs and compact
bodies. which never carry antiers and
show no rudimentary growth, and there
also arc some few does devoid of horns.
A Newfoundland guide tells Of seeing
a dozen mature caribou in company,
and only one, a nearly white stag, car
ried antlers.
The caribou is strong and gallant
swimmer Each limb is like a paddle,
IT,. extended hoof answering TO the
blade In the winter the frog of these
enormous hoofs become completely alb
sorbed. so that its shape grows concave,
while very sharp, she'll like edges grow
well out on the margins. assisting the
animal immensely in crossing frozen
lakes and scaling the steep sides of slip-
perry rock precipices.
1t is an interesting sight TO watch
the herds taking water with as much
unconcern as wild fowl. The enormous
thickness OF their dense coats of hair
doubtless helps TO float their bodies
high above the surface, giving bouyan-
ey almost equal to that OF cork jae-
ket
While swimming they rest their I'M
derjaws on the water, with nostris
slightly elevated, and carry their white
seuts erect. Should they suddenly catch
Whit of wind from the hunter, they
give evidence of their excitement BY
bounding twice or thrice almost en-
tircly clear OF the water, causing a tre-
mcndous connection.
In their migration they are usually
seen TO travel ON the leads (dcer paths)
in single file, the stays, as rule, bring
ING up the rear. Tho most forward
and alert sentinels OF the herds arc the
barren does; next come The does with
fawns, always prepared to give warning
to their indolent eonsorts. All the 90
vannas Of the interior Of Newfoundland
are scored by well defined leads, which
the herds invariably make for and fol-
low --Emnire Review