REINDEER AND MUSK-OX 



half at Rocky bay and half at Lobster bay. Posts for the fence had been cut 

 and hauled during the previous winter, but no braces for the posts had been 

 provided. I started the herders peeling the posts and distributing them across 

 the peninsula which it was proposed to fence off, after first having selected the 

 most favourable route. As the fence had to be erected, for the most part, over 

 solid rock, making it impossible to sink the posts, it was essential that a large 

 number of braces be used. It was impossible to obtain these locally so that I 

 w^as obliged to have two boats with Indians start from St. Augustine and cut 

 pieces on the way. The greater part of the coast is barren, and only in spots 

 can poles be found. This was done, and by the time I left the fence was well 

 under way, the work being done by the herders under the chief herder, Sam 

 Fequet. The fence will require continual patrol and repairs in view of the 

 nature of the ground over which it is constructed. 



The former chief herder, Charles Bromfield, left the place the day I arrived, 

 although he knew I was on my way and had communicated with him by wire 

 from time to time. From his record, which I had learned from disinterested 

 parties and other parties while en route and at Rocky bay, I felt that he was not 

 trustworthy, and it was evident that he was extremely lazy. Under authority 

 obtained from you by wire, I installed Sam Fequet as chief herder, Sam is a very 

 energetic worker and appeared to be conscientious and anxious to do all possible 

 to keep the deer herd intact. George Bromfield was allowed to go on account of ill 

 health. This left only Sam Fequet and John Salvin as herders. I engaged Jack 

 Welman to replace Bromfield. 



Three Indian families had been moved to the place to assist in caring for 

 the deer during the summer. The Indians had done fairly good work but were 

 getting tired of it and wished to get back to St. Augustine to prepare canoes, etc., 

 for the winter. I allowed them to return and gave orders to the Hudson's Bay 

 Company to pay the three men at the rate of $1.25 per day. 



The deer are somewhat peculiar in their habits and the work of the herders 

 is by no means easy. In the summer the deer invariably travel to windward. 

 Fortunately the prevailing winds are from the southwest or southeast which 

 brings the deer out to the headlands, where the various varieties of flies bother 

 them least. During the night, however, when there is less wind they travel 

 inland. The stags give the greatest trouble as they separate from the does 

 during the summer. Before the fence was started the stags were usually found 

 three miles, or more, inland by morning. Fortunately, they stay in a herd and 

 can be driven in this way. When the wind comes off the land the herders are 

 busy from morning to night and sometimes all night keeping the deer on the 

 headlands. In view of the extremely rough nature of the country this is no easy 

 task and entails much running over rocks and morass. The chief herder, up 

 until the time I left, had naturally worn out eight pairs of sealskin boots. The 

 dry moss on the rocks cuts the boots like knives. He had nothing left to wear 

 when I was coming away, and I was obliged to leave him my long rubber boots. 

 At Romaine, I purchased some sealskin boots and had them forwarded for the 

 use of the herders. Their agreement calls for three pairs annually. 



Counting the deer is not easy as they are continually moving. This had 

 been neglected by the late chief herder. I instructed Fequet to see that a proper 

 count was made at least once a week. 



While at Rocky bay, I endeavoured to trace up the herd from the time it 

 had been landed and to ascertain what had become of them. Starting with 126 

 deer landed, I found that three had died from injuries received during the trip. 



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