1-26 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. vm. 



or Bersiamits Indians, a tribe of the Montagnais nation. 

 In 1670, Pere Albanel states that 'the moose approach 

 the country of the Oumamiois.' On the south side of 

 the St. Lawrence, in the Gaspe District, the moose is still 

 common, and the hunters kill large numbers of this animal 

 for the sake of their skins. ' We were informed,' says 

 Mr. E. Bell,* ' that a party of hunters had procured 300 

 skins in 1857 ; and that another party of only three 

 Indians had killed, during the same season, between 90 

 and 100 on one expedition, as many as six falling a prey 

 to them in one day ; yet these noble animals roam in 

 numbers over the district.' 



After breakfast, we started full of pleasant anticipa- 

 tions for the lakes. A flock of those merry birds, the 



pressed, some going on each side, but instantly falling into line again when 

 the obstacle is passed. 



' At this season the "spikehorn," or two-year-old male, is noted as affording 

 the longest and most difficult chase ; and the oldest male for making the 

 most gallant fight. In fact, they often refuse to run at all. 



'A moose " yard " presents a strange sight to those not familiar with it, 

 with its broken bushes and peeled trees ; for sometimes when the snow is 

 very deep and difficult for them to get through, they break down and browse 

 closely the tops of young fir trees five or six feet from the ground, and 

 where they are two or three inches in diameter. They also reach up and 

 peel and browse ten or twelve feet high above the ground, raising the fore 

 legs and allowing the weight of the body to rest on the hind ones. Al- 

 though so fond of browsing the fir, they never eat the bark of it, yet they 

 seldom kill any other tree, as they generally peel only one side off those they 

 use for food ; they also break down the bushes in one direction, pulling 

 them towards them, so that the direction the moose has taken is known to 

 the hunter by this sign, when he first approaches a "yard." 



' The young fir trees are killed by the males rubbing their heads against 

 them instinct teaching them in that manner to apply the balsam of fir, 

 which possesses great healing powers, to the sore and tender places caused 

 by the loosening and falling off of the horns. 



' The favourite winter food of the moose is the twigs of the fir tree and 

 the bark of the mountain ash, and of a species of dwarf maple, and the 

 young twigs of the " moose- wood." 



* Geological Survey of Canada. 



