MOOSE HUNTING. 313 



favourite browse moosewood and maple abounds. In 

 this space of 10 or 20 acres, called a moose-yard, they 

 remain all winter, unless disturbed. In New Brunswick 

 and Lower Canada, during the month of March, when the 

 snow is deep and crusted which serves the double purpose 

 of making the snow-shoeing good and of cutting the 

 moose's shins hundreds of moose are annually butchered 

 for the sake of their hides, value $5 each, the more valu- 

 able carcases being left to rot, and poison the woods with 

 their stench. The cows, being heavy in calf at this season, 

 are the more easily slaughtered. This is a pity. Animal 

 life is not so abundant in these woods that it should be 

 thus recklessly destroyed. There are good laws for the 

 protection of moose, but it is found almost impossible to 

 enforce them. One cannot blame the Indian, or even the 

 lumberman or backwoods settler, for killing game at any 

 season of the year for food, but the traffic in hides should 

 be put down with a strong hand. In running moose in the 

 deep snow, a light dog that can run on the surface is of 

 the greatest assistance to the hunter. The cur barks and 

 snaps at the heels of the monarch of the forest, causing 

 him to plunge and sink still deeper in the snow. When 

 the snow is 3 feet deep and crusted, moose hunting is 

 simple slaughter. On the other hand, when it is not quite 

 so deep, or when there is little crust on the surface, moose 

 hunting tries the endurance of the hunter to the utmost. 

 On one occasion, in company with an old Indian and his 

 son, we started a moose at nine in the morning, and ran him 

 till the following evening before we killed. The young 

 Indian led the way, making tracks. I followed, carrying 

 the gun; the old man walked leisurely in our tracks, 



