^^^ The Moose in Maine. 



Moose are becoming more and more scarce 

 year by year. Formerly great numbers were 

 killed, and it became neoessary to protect 

 them by special legislative enactment. The 

 present statute forbids the hunting or killing 

 of moose between the 15th of March and the 

 1st day of October, under the penalty of forty 

 dollars for each moose killed. The average 

 number captured during the past six years is 

 estimated by woodmen to be about one hun- 

 dred per year, which are killed chiefly on the 

 Aroostook, Allegash and Penobscot rivers. 



Numerous attempts have been made to do- 

 mesticate them for use, but, so far as we can 

 learn, they have been only partially success- 

 ful. In one of our previous volumes an in- 

 stance was recorded where a moose was kept 

 for several months in a stable with a horse, 

 yet when taken into the street he was terribly 

 frightened, and at times most unmanageable. 

 Thev have, however, been so far domestioated 

 as to be harnessed to sleighs for purpose of 

 travel. Their gait is a long stride or trot, a 

 movement effected with apparently little effort, 

 by which they get over the ground with won- 

 derful speed. They never gallop or leap. Al- 

 though remarkably fleet their motion is rather 

 heavy, and when travelling the large antlers 

 lay back upon the shoulders, wiih the head 

 and nose elevated and extended. We have 

 seen vague and uncertain statements as to 

 their travelling capacity, but do not feel like 

 I repeating them. 



In winter moose frequent high regions, 

 wooded hillsides and mountains, assembling 

 together in large numbers, when they are said 

 to "yard." An abundant hard-wood growth 

 furnishes them with food, as they live mainly 

 on the twigs, branches and barkiof the trees. — 

 [Maine farmer. J 



