The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-23
PARADISE FOR HUNTERS.
Interesting Article on Grand Island in
the Gateway MAGAZINES.

the Gateway Magazines
In the November number of The
Gateway, a monthly magazine publish
ed i'm Detroit, is published an interest
ing illustrated article by r. II. Noble,
fuel superintendent for the Cleveland
Cliffs Iron company, entitled, "A Hun
ters Paradise" and being a description
of Great Island, near Munising. The
general character of the article is indi-
Gated in the following extracts:
THE mecca of animal life on the ISL
and is the beautiful lake in its CEN
ter. Here the wild duck brings out
her brood of downy midgets, to chase
the water beetles, and wax strong un-
til their growing pinions shall take
them to southern waters while their
birthplace is clasped i'm the embrace
of northern winter Here the loon
delights to sound his uncanny note far
into the night. The family of beavers,
provident against coming winter, are
every busy with their numbering oper-
atoms. The Telling of trees, the skid
ding to the water. the rafting, the
building of camp, and the storage of
supplies which must be completed dur
ing tile busy season. OF all the ami
mails which inhabit the north country,
these are the most interesting.
"The instinct of the fishes to select
spawning grounds best suited to the
development of the egg, the ingenuity
of the birds which select appropriate
sticks that they weave together with
moss and the tenacious fiber of bark
form a framework which they line
with horse hair and bits of wool. and
finally create the finished nest, are
matters Of interest to the naturalist;
| but mysterious as they seem, he is
satisfied with the one explanation of
instinct seeking to perpetuate the
species.
I'm the case of the beaver. the same
| instinct furnishes the motive but TO
carry out the plan calls for a much
higher standard of mental caliber
which we must accord a place i'm the
realm of intelligence. The promoters
of new colony constitute themselves
into a corps of engineers. Thoroughly
organized and with plan definite to
inspire their human rivals, they cruise
| the country for every feature of its
topography which might have a bear
| ing on their hydraulic scheme. once
satisfied that the conditions are favor
able to a uniform and constant sup
ply of water they then make their
preliminary survey and finally adopt
a location.
THE stretches of sandy beach along
this island lake are the favoritc play
grounds for the elk They come here
in the early evening and romp to their
hearts content. These frolics seem to
be the sole expression of playfuness i'm
the daily life of the elk at this fall
season, the balance of their time be-
ing given up to negotiating pure and
simple.
THE native deer also make an even
ing pilgrimage to the lake, but this
with them is more serious business,
for the governing instinct of their
lives is protection against the attack
of wolves. and If possible, they will
lapproach the lake from the windward
side so that sound or scent of danger
will be carried to them from the land.
Even then they file down the we'll
beaten trails to the waters edge with
great caution, ever hanging back for
a sign of danger. So little are they
accustomed to expect danger from the
water, that frequently they may be
quite nearly approached with a boat,
and i'm this way some of the best pho
tographs of wild life have been OBJ
tanned.
ITO those who take pleasure in the
study of animal life the island offers
a field of ever-increasing interest.
Nearly all of the specimens which
have been placed on the island have
listened TO "the call of the Wild" and
are following out their natural des-
tiny as truly as if they had never been
captured. While IL would not be sports
manllke TO shoot one of these animals
because their haunts are well known.
the sensation OF discovery. and the
interest of studying their habits Is Just
as keen as was that of President
Roosevelt when he watched for hours
the animal life In far away Montana.
With such opportunities I'm easy reach.
why is IL that so few break away
from the tedium of town. and do not
avail themselves of the delights of
this wonderland.