Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-29
IN THE MINNESOTA WILDS
Washington Man and State Official
Have Experiences.
ANIMALS TIMID, BUT STUPID
Run When They Meet Man, But
Light Attracts Them-Try to
Climb in Boat.

George Shires III of Stoneleigh Court
| this city. said to be the only person in
| this country who has successfully pho
| tographed big game is spending the sum-
mer in ST: Louis county, Minnesota. He
| recently obtained photographs by day
light and ten hashlight pictures of moose.
Mr. Shiras in company with Carlos
Avery of the state game and fish COM
| mission Of Minnesota, spent fifteen days
| during June in trailing moose. The ami
| mails, hungry after their winter fast,
| usually find abundant food in the streams
and lakes Of the county. During the
present month, however, food has practi-
cally disappeared.
The photographers had many exciting
experiences. according to Mr.. Avery.
Moose Stupid and Timid.
THE moose is not fierce or. dangerous.
as generally supposed" he says. 1--WE
| found that as soon as they get scent of
a human being they will run. They do
not take fright merely at sight. but will
stand and look stupidity as long as they
do not get the scent.
1T was necessary to get within 100
feet of an animal in daytime and within
twenty-five feet at night for fiashlight.
When the fash came the moose would
make a break. and was just as likely to
come toward us as to run the other way.
we were in Loon river. which has
high banks, and sometimes they could
not climb out. They would see our
boat light and make for it. We had to
times had to push them away with the
oars. 1t was never necessary to shoot. 1t
is more exciting sport than hunting.
Tried to Climb in Boat.
"One night we were about to take a
f1ashlight of COW moose when she got
scent of us and tried to get away, but
could not climb the bank and became
terrified, making straight for our light.
I'VE had to push her away with oars
and she swan around believing, COM
ing at us three times, and finally got
out Of the river and away without our
taking a picture. OF course, we could
not use canoes, but had a canvas boat
which was light enough for portages, but
safe.
There were only two or three nights
while we were there that the air was
clear enough for picture-making. 1t gets
very hot there during the day, coming up
around eighty about every day, and then
turns very cold at night. coming down to
40 or thereabouts. The water being
so much warmer at night than the air
produces fogs almost every night.
No Moving Pictures Taken.
Conditions have to be just right, and
Mr.. Shiras was well equipped, having
eight cameras, one of them a moving
picture apparatus. We were not able to
use that because with so much outfit we
could not reach the lake. where we had
expected to get the moving pictures of
moose in the water. In the narrow river
channel that could not be done.
1--WE found as many deer as moose in
that region, which was surprise to me.
Mr. Shras has hunted moose in New
Brunswick, but found them much more
plentiful here, and was enthusiastic over
northern Minnesota as big game pre-
serve. Signs Of the moose were abundant
everywhere"
Mr. Shiras, who is the son of Justice
Shiras of the United States Supreme
Court. now retired. was formerly as ar
dent a sportsman with the gun as he is
now with a camera. He finds more zest
in the preservation of the life of game
than he formerly enjoyed in its slaughter.