264 NEWFOUNDLAND 



and has been a hunter in his day. At present he is very 

 anxious to introduce capercailzie and black grouse into the 

 island, and I hope in the near future to send him birds 

 and eggs for the experiment.^ If once they could be started, 

 I feel certain that these splendid game birds would do well 

 in Newfoundland, for both in summer and winter there is an 

 abundance of the foods on which they thrive. The winters, 

 too, are not more severe than those of their native Norway. 

 The Glencoe had been to the bottom of Hermitage Bay 

 since I sailed on her last year, but she seemed none the 

 worse for the ducking, except that the cabin doors would 

 not shut ; and one very proper old lady seemed to be 

 much shocked by the fact that she could see the other 

 passengers dressing. Captain Drake knew every submerged 

 rock on the south coast but one, and that one he unfortunately 

 struck on 6th June, off Ramea, and punctured the bottom of 

 his ship. The sea poured in so quickly that there was 

 nothing left but to beach her, which was done in dense fog. 

 The pumps were kept working, but she settled down. 

 Wrecking apparatus was, however, soon on the spot, when 

 the Glencoe was raised, and reached St. John's on the 17th 

 of the same month, when she was docked and repaired. 

 Much sympathy was expressed for Captain Drake, who 

 spends his life taking risks, and seems to be always on the 

 bridge day and night. No one, in fact, could run a steamer 

 in summer on the south coast in the way he does, so it is a 

 satisfaction to all Newfoundlanders that he retains his position 

 with the complete confidence of the public. 



' By the time these lines are published the introduction of capercailzie and 

 black grouse to Newfoundland will be an accomplished fact. Forty birds were 

 procured by me in Norway through the agency of Mr. Lindesay, and it is hoped 

 they will reach Newfoundland in safety. The Newfoundland Government, in 

 bearing all the expenses, have shown a proper appreciation of the wants of local 

 sportsmen, and all lovers of nature will wish the experiment success. 



