320 ECONOMIC MAMMALOGY 



"The elk trots with a loping stride, beyond the pace of any horse, 

 and keeps it up for hours. It was regularly used for traction purposes 

 in Sweden until it was forbidden in the seventeenth century because 

 it helped so many malefactors to escape from justice." 56 "The European 

 moose was formerly under domestication and proved valuable for 

 transportation in the cold northern countries. It is on record that it 

 once hauled a sleigh 234 miles in one day. For diverse reasons the 

 chief one being that exiles in Siberia used it to effect their escape 

 it became unlawful to maintain moose in captivity in Russia." 57 Its 

 food in Norway is browse, chiefly roan-tree, sallow, aspen, birch, alder 

 and cherry, but it eats also fir leaves, juniper leaves and berries, and 

 various plants. 58 



The American moose (Alces americana, etc.) is still found in small 

 numbers in various widely separated localities in the United States 

 and is common at many localities farther north. The total number in 

 the United States national forests was estimated in 1925 at 6061, and 

 in 1927 at 7I92. 59 It is said to be increasing somewhat in numbers 

 where it is well protected and not already exterminated. 60 During an 

 open season in Maine, in 1927, 100 bull moose were killed, but they 

 are not plentiful enough to "warrant another open season for some 

 time to come." 61 "They are much more valuable to the state alive 

 than dead. The moose is a great attraction to visitors, and a close- 

 up photograph is prized highly by the sportsman. Many spend the en- 

 tire season in the Maine woods with kodak and fly-rod." 62 



We are told of a team of moose in North Dakota and a single moose 

 in Manitoba which were driven in harness. 63 Jones says that, with its 

 great size and strength, perhaps it "could be developed into a domestic 

 animal of value. Several cases are recorded of its being successfully 

 used for draught purposes. It is but just to add, however, that the 

 moose has not yet [1913] been bred in captivity." 64 Because of its 

 short neck and long legs, it is difficult for the moose to feed from the 



66 Jennison, Natural history: animals, p. 293, 1927. 



57 Jones, Fur farming in Canada, p. 95, 1913. 



58 Salvcsen, The moose and red deer in Norway, Journ. Mammalogy, x, 59-62, 

 1929. 



69 Adams, Roosevelt Wild Life Bull, in, 558, 1926. New York World Almanac, 

 for 1928, p. 364. 



60 Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, No. 49, p. 31, 1926. 



81 Amer. Forests and Forest Life, xxxiv, 512, 1928. 



62 Fishing and hunting in the State of Maine, p. 12, from Kept. Maine Comm. 

 Inland Fisheries and Game for 1926. 



63 Shields, Moose in harness, Forest and Stream, XLI, 316, 1893. 

 w Jones, Fur farming in Canada, p. 95, 1913. 



