SrOKT L\ NEWFOUNDLAND. 29o- 



DEEK STALKING. 



The caribou or reindeer are finer tliaii those of .wliich Norway 

 and Lapland can boast, being niucli hirger and carrying far finer 

 antlers. Stags have been often shot which weighed from 500 to 

 600 lbs. The antlers of the stag are pahnated, sweeping back- 

 ward and of magnificent projjortions, the brow antlers meeting 

 over the nose, like a pair of hands clasped in the attitude of 

 prayer. These horns are shed in Xovendjer. Their migrations 

 are as regular as the seasons, from the south where they pass the 

 winter to the north-western portions of the island where they 

 feed and bring forth their young. When the October frost begin 

 to nip the vegetation they turn toward the south and repeat their 

 long march. September and Octoljer are the months for deer- 

 shooting. Some knowledge of the country and the assistance of 

 Mic-Mac Indians are requisite. There are favourite hunting 

 grounds known to the initiated and to the Indian guides, where 

 deer stalking can be enjoyed to perfection. One of the best of 

 these is the "barrens" overlooking Grand Lake, opposite the 

 northern end of the island. Here tliev collect in large heixls 

 before setting out on their southern -migration. The "White 

 Hills" in the neighbourhood of Hall's Bay, an arm of Notre 

 Dame Bay, is another favoiu-ite stalk ing-grouud. Inland from 

 various settlements on the southern shore, in the late autumn 

 and early winter, great numbers of deer are slain. At times the 

 St. John's market is over-stocked in winter with carcases of 

 venison brought by the steamer from this quarter. The cpiarters 

 are often sold for five to ten cents per pound. Formeidy deer- 

 stalking was expensive sport as it was ditficult to reach the 

 interior ; but railways as they open up the country will aid the 

 sportsman in reaching the desired locality and lessen the expense. 

 Indians are almost indispensable in these excursions. 



I.ORD DUNKAVEN. 



Lord Dunraven in " The Nineteenth Centiiry for January, 

 1881," gave an account of a deer-shooting excursion he made in 

 this island. He found it " a good field for exploration and sport." 

 He said "the caribou are plentiful, and the Newfoundland stags 



