340 APPENDIX F 



horns"), were common in this country twenty years ago. The 

 last he saw was sixteen or seventeen years ago, when he met one 

 above the Boiler Rapid. The last he knew of being killed was 

 between Fort McMurray and Fort McKay, 9 years ago, a buck. 

 Maurice Bouchier, of McMurray, killed it. Point la Biche is 

 named because there were plenty of them there in old days. 

 Just above the Cascade Rapid is an island called La Biche, be- 

 cause there they killed some. The Cree call it Wawaskesew; the 

 French, La Biche. 



Akes americanus Jardine. Eastern Moose. 



The moose is fairly common along the Athabaska and Slave 

 Rivers, and is occasionally found on the shores of Great Slave 

 Lake, east to its eastern extremity. The country drained by the 

 Little Buffalo River and its tributary, the Nyarling, is a favorite 

 haunt of the creature, and one was killed by our Indian canoe- 

 man near the head of the latter stream on July 9. This fortunate 

 circumstance happening at a time when our provisions were nearly 

 exhausted, saved us from some decidedly uncomfortable days. 



While we were ascending the lower Slave River on our return 

 trip we saw many tracks, on September 28 and 29, and near 

 Point Brul6 on October 1. We next noted the species on the 

 Athabaska above Mountain Rapid on October 18, when a female, 

 accompanied by her well-grown calf, crossed the river some dis- 

 tance above us. They were pursued by one of the canoemen, but 

 without success. During the remainder of the month, between 

 that point and Athabaska Landing, we saw tracks practically 

 every day, but sighted no more of the animals. Robillard told 

 us that moose calling is practiced regularly by many of the 

 hunters, and he himself was evidently a proficient caller. 



Rangifer caribou (Gmel.). Eastern Woodland Caribou. 



We saw tracks of caribou on the Athabaska, below Iron Point, 

 on October 28, and above there on the following day. The 

 species is said by the natives to be of quite general distribution, 

 but is nowhere common. 



