46 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



the mating season would be spent, and the chance of perhaps 

 a Hfetime would be offered for studying the animals, without 

 having to make long and very difficult marches to the 

 northern and more or less inaccessible hills — hills which 

 are away from navigable streams. In Newfoundland the only 

 easy mode of travelling is by canoe. When heavy photo- 

 graphic and sketching paraphernalia is added to the outfit 

 which is necessary for camping in even comparative comfort 

 during the cold autumn weather, one does not relish having 

 to haul heavy loads single-handed (I nearly always go entirely 

 alone) across the spongy bogs and through the marshy and 

 tangled forests of fir and spruce, and other obstacles, 

 discouraging even to the most ardent enthusiast. It will 

 therefore be readily understood how thoroughly I welcomed 

 the prospect which so fortunately offered itself. Accordingly 

 I moved to an old camp site up Sandy River, where during 

 previous years I had spent many weeks watching and 

 studying the Caribou. On arriving at this part of the 

 river, which was directly in the main line of travel, I was 

 glad to see that not many of the herds had crossed the 

 water. In most of the marshes, rather to the eastward of 

 the usual migration route, scattered herds might be seen. 

 Each day the stags became more and more restless 

 and excited, so that I felt sure the hopes of many years 

 were to be realised and that perhaps after all I might 

 have the good fortune to witness a fight between some 

 master stags. 



These fights are not very often witnessed. The few men 

 I have met, however, who were lucky enough to see them, 

 have described the event in most glowing colours ; their 

 enthusiasm carrying them into the easily attained realms of 

 imagination — that dangerous enemy to accuracy — the 

 enemy which leads the unwary naturalist so often far 



