Distribution of the Moose 



moose are to-day distinctly smaller than their kin 

 in Ontario, but are very numerous when the settled 

 character of the country is taken into consideration. 

 I have seen very few good antlers come from this 

 district, and in my opinion the race there is show- 

 ing decided signs of deterioration. 



These remarks apply, but with less force, to 

 New Brunswick and to Maine, where the moose, 

 though larger than the Nova Scotia animal, are 

 distinctly inferior to those of the region north of 

 the Great Lakes. This is probably due to killing 

 off the big bulls, thus leaving the breeding to be 

 done by the smaller and weaker bulls ; and, also, to 

 inbreeding. 



In Maine the moose originally abounded, but by 

 the middle of the last century they were so reduced 

 in numbers as to be almost rare. Thanks to very 

 efficient game laws, backed by an intelligent public 

 opinion, moose have greatly increased during the 

 last few days in Maine and also in New Brunswick. 

 Their habits have been modified, but as far as the 

 number of moose and deer are concerned, the pro- 

 tection of game in Maine has been a brilliant ex- 

 ample to the rest of the country. During the same 

 period, however, caribou have almost entirely 

 disappeared. 



Moose were found by the first settlers in New 



379 



