1 86 MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 



" ViNELAND, Feb. 7, IQ02. 



Farmers near the Blackwater Swamp are very much excited over the in- 

 cursions of a bear, which has been carrying off live stock. Old bruin, whose 

 tracks showed that he had circled around the buildings of Farmer Stevenson 

 a few days ago, prowled around the barn of George Lyons last night, his 

 .tracks being very plain in the snow and slush. 



The bear has been seen by William Jones and William Saul, and Farmer 

 Jones, near the lake, had two pigs carried off by the beast. He has been 

 tracked into the swamp two or three times, but every time he succeeded in 

 outwitting his pursuers. Hunting parties of farmers are still looking for the 

 animal." 



"ViNELAND, Feb. 14th. 



The villagers of Newfield and farmers thereabouts are greatly excited over 

 bear hunts. Bruin was seen and shot at twice by hunting parties last night, 

 and was pursued toward his lair in Blackwater swamp, where he made his 

 escape. 



The bold incursions of the bear during the last few days have greatly 

 frightened the farmers. The tracks of the bear were first discovered where 

 he circled around the barns of Farmers Stevenson and Lyons during the last 

 snowfall. Then Bruin stole two pigs from Farmer Jones, of near the lake, and 

 was seen by another farmer. Night before last the bear broke into the hog- 

 pen of J. Pasqualin, near Forest Grove, killed a hog and carried off one small 

 pig. While near the swamp around Maurice river, of which the Blackwater 

 river is a tributary, Peter Surran's horse became frightened by the sudden 

 appearance of Bruin and almost ran away. 



Two bear-hunting parties organized at Newfield early last night, one being 

 led by B. J. Buckman and the other by Joseph Louder. All the men had 

 shotguns, and each party had a pack of good dogs. The dogs of one of the 

 hunting parties finally got on the trail of Bruin, and young Louder shot at the 

 beast twice, but, it being dark, the bear succeeded in fighting off the dogs 

 and escaping. Another party will go out to-night in the hope of getting a 

 shot at the animal." 



Burlington Co. — See under Ocean Co. — Price. 



Cape May Co. — The last black bear known near Dennisville was killed 

 about 1858, when three others were seen. — Lee. "Quite plentiful at certain 

 periods, particularly in the dense cedar swamps in the upper part of the 

 county where 5 have been killed the present autumn." Beesley in Geol. 

 Sur. of N. J. — C. May Co., 1857, Appx. "The last one killed was about 

 1878 at Long Bridge Swamp in upper or Dennis township." — Hand. 



Cumberland Co. — See under Atlantic Co. 



Gloucester Co. — See under Atlantic Co. 



Mercer C^.-^See under Bucks Co., Pa. 



