so 
MY ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE. 
The first part of Oct, , 1894, my brother Arthur and I 
sat on the deck of one of the Fall River boats on our way 
from New York to Maine, and as I smoked my pipe after a 
good dinner we talked over our former trips, and won- 
dered if we would have the luck this time to get a moose. 
We had been in the woods together for fourteen or fifteen 
years, and bad shot lots of deer, and had glorious sport, 
but our ambition to get a moose had never been fulfilled. 
One year in northern New Hampshire, on 2d Conn. Lake, 
we chased two bull moose in our canoe for over a mile, 
and were within a few rods of them all the time, but as it 
was in July, we only followed them for the sport of it; 
but when we finally drove them ashore and they turned on 
us, with the hair on their mane standing straight up, we 
saw enough of moose to know you don't want to tackle 
them unless you can keep your nerve and know how to 
shoot. 
The night of our second day out found us at a farm 
house on the edge of the woods, where we intended to 
stay over night and from there take canoes to our camp, 
about twenty miles away. That evening we met several 
sportsmen who were on their way home, and as we talked 
over.a big wood fire we found that their success after 
moose had been poor, and we wondered if we were going 
to have another year without reaching our goal. Making 
a very early start the next morning, we took to the 
canoes, with two strapping big river men to pole us, the 
river being so rapid that paddles were useless. Going up 
that beautiful stream and breathing the exquisite air I 
commenced to feel that life was worth living. It was a 
magnificent fall day, and as I sat there in the canoe 
watching the trout Bcoot away, and all the life of the 
woods around me, it passed all too quickly, and our camp- 
ing place for the night was reached before I was ready 
for it. 
The first day or two in the woods I am always lazy, 
and let my guide — if I happen to have one — do all the 
work, knowing that my time for camp duties would soon 
come; so after a good supper I took my old brierwood 
pipe that had been in the woods with me for nineteen 
years and went out and took a seat where I could hear 
the musical ripple of the stream as it flowed by at my 
feet. What quiet old times I have had with that same 
old pipe. A man who does not smoke cannot realize 
the companionship there is in an old pipe that has been 
off with you in the woods for years. With every wreath 
of smoke it seems to bring back to your memory some 
bright spot when you were together before. 
I remember once when I was out alone in the Maine 
woods in the winter time, and had been following the 
track of a big buck nearly all day. and had got turned 
around. It was not far from dark, and at first I got 
rattled, so I cleaned away the snow from an old stump, 
and taking out my old friend, filled him up and started to 
reason out with him the best way out of my dilemma, 
and it was not long before his quiet soothing talk brought 
me to my senses, and I succeeded in reaching camp not 
long after dark. 
The next day about noon we reached our main camp on 
a beautiful lake, and here we found our guide, John East- 
man, who is so well known throughout Maine. We tried 
calling for moose at this camp for three days without 
getting an answer, and on the third day the genial pro- 
prietor of the camp, William Atkins, came back with a 
sportsman from a lake about fifteen miles away, where 
they had succeeded in getting a very fine bull moose, so 
we decided to start for that lake the following morning. 
Each of us carried a heavy pack the next day, and I for 
one was glad to reach camp, for I had not been in the 
woods long enough to get toughened. It was a beautiful 
night to call, so John and I started out and called until 
very late, but without an answer. I was so tired that I 
slept between each call, and it is a wonder I did not upset 
the canoe. 
We went out calling every night for a week without 
success, and our hopes commenced to go down to a very 
low ebb, and likewise our provisions, so we called a coun- 
cil of war and decided that John would better go back to 
the main camp for a fresh supply, and Arthur thought he 
would go with him and try calling for a night on Lake 
Millinoket, so the next day they left me to solitude with 
my old pocket friend. As I sat on the steps of the camp 
talking with my old friend, he said: "Now, old man, 
don't get lazy, but go out and try to get a deer, to have 
when the others come back to-morrow;" so, arguing with 
him for awhile, he, as usual, got the best of it, and, tak- 
ing my Winchester, I started for the foot of the lake 
where there is a deep bay with a small stream running 
into it at one side. The bay is about one-eighth of a mile 
wide and the same in length, and nowhere over 1ft. or 
18in. deep, with a hard, sandy bottom and a line of 
rushes all around the shore. It seemed to me to be an 
ideal place for deer to come in about dusk. 
As I leisurely paddled down the lake I passed one or 
two flocks of ducks, but there was no need for their flight 
if they only could have known that all I wanted of them 
was to go up to the head of the lake and stay away from 
the place where I was going to. After looking the ground 
well over I paddled up the stream which ran into the bay, 
and ramming the paddle into the mud so as to hold the 
canoe, I settled myself for a long wait. There are many 
muskrats along the stream, and it was interesting to 
watch the sharp little fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Rat, with 
some little Rats, would come swimming around a corner, 
and, catching sight of me, under they would all go, and 
pretty soon I would see Mr. Rat watching me from some 
cover; and, not seeing me move, out he would come and 
they would all go to work again, seeming not to notice 
me, but the slightest move on my part and away they 
would all go. 
Along toward dusk I began to get sleepy, for my week 
of calling at night had begun to tell on me and I was 
about ready to give it up, when — what was that in the 
bay? A rat; no, the sound was too familiar to me. There 
it goes again; and now my nerves were all on a strain, as 
I could hear splash after splash, and knew from the sound 
that a deer had entered the water and was wading around. 
Prom the noise he made I thought he must be a big one. 
From the direction of the sound I judged he must be 
going out from the shore and decided to wait so as to 
allow plenty of time for him to get settled. I waited 
what seemed to me an age, but was probably only a few 
minutes; and then laying my Winchester across my knees, 
I took the paddle and very cautiously worked the canoe 
out of the stream. Down in the bay I could hear it (what- 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
ever it was) having a great old time, but could not see, as 
it was getting to be dusk and the rushes were quite high; 
so slowly working my way down along the shore in the 
rushes I got nearer. I was straining my eyes looking in 
among the rushes when, great Scott! I almost jumped out 
of the boat, for there I saw a great black form that looked 
like a house, and I knew that I had a moose to tackle in- 
stead of a deer. I would have given a good deal just then 
for a few minutes' conversation with John Eastman as to 
the best plan to pursue, but John was miles away and my 
moose was right there. 
The air was absolutely still and there was no danger of 
his winding me. I could see that he was headed right out 
for the center of the bay, but I could not see him plainly, 
and could not tell if it was bull or cow, but thought if he 
got far enough out I would be able to push along and get 
in between him and the shore, and that would show him 
up against the water and I would be able to see if he had 
horns. As much as I wanted a moose I would not shoot 
a cow. 
It is a wonder be did not hear my heart beat, for it 
sounded to me like a drum. The way that old fellow 
splashed out into the middle of that bay one would have 
thought he was going there by my orders. Now he is 
against the background of water and I could see an im- 
mense set of horns. As he worked his way out I worked 
through the rushes and got between him and the shore, 
and when those horns showed up my heart for an in- 
stant seemed to stop, but I said to myself, Now, old man, 
you have been trying for this chance many years, don't 
make a fool of yourself. Being in about the right posi- 
tion I turned the canoe and worked toward the edge of 
the rushes, and, as I cleared them and reached open water, 
he was only about 80yds. from me. Almost the second I 
had a good view of him outside of the rushes I let my 
paddle Blide quietly into the water and took up my gun. 
I tried first to sight through my 1 yman rear sight, but it 
was too dark, so I turned it down and opened my bar 
sight. At that moment the old fellow saw me and threw 
up his head with a grunt, and the next minute I fired. 
From the pitch forward he gave I knew my bullet had hit 
him. Instantly recovering himself he came for me on the 
jump, with the water flying so T could hardly see him. 
Shoot as quickly as I could, I only got in three or four 
shots before he had covered the short distance between 
us. He came straight for the canoe and I thought my 
time had come. I was about to jump out and put for 
deep water when, within about 20ft. of me, he swerved 
and went by, and then I gave him one that brought him 
down to stay. The splashing then was something ter- 
rific in that shallow watpr, and not being over 10ft. from 
me, I grabbed my second paddle and shoved the canoe off, 
for I did not know but he would be up and at me again. 
Gradually hia struggles ceased, and with one mighty snort 
his old nose went under water and soon all was quiet. 
I sat, all of a tremble, hardly realizing what had taken 
place and the danger I had been in, and it waB not until I 
bad paddled up and taken hold of the great horn that 
stood way out of the water that I came to myself and 
realized the magnificent prize I had secured, all by my 
own efforts, off on that lonely lake. Then you just 
should have heard me I Why, I yelled and sang and 
whistled, and almost danced in the boat. It was hard to 
leave that noble fellow there in the water that night, but 
I might as well have tried to move a mountain as to stir 
him. So taking up the paddle I started home. I was so 
occupied in going over all of it in my mind that in the 
dark I missed the landing, and went up the lake over a 
mile past it. 
The next day Arthur and John got back; they found me 
sitting on the steps where they had left me, and wanted 
to know if I had been sitting there ever since they left 
me. "No," I said, "1 got tired last evening and went out 
and got a moose." They laughed at first, thinking I was 
joking; but when they found out it was true there were 
great times in camp. The rest of that day we three 
worked hard on that moose, and were tired out when 
night came. The horns measured 54in. across, and he 
stood 7ft. from the shoulder down; so you see he was no 
baby. His grand old head is on my dining-room wall 
now, and I always read my Forest and Stream where I 
can look up at him and think over my hunt again. 
The next week Arthur got a bull moose almost a mate to 
mine, and under circumstances almost as exciting; but I 
will try and get him to write about that himself. Well, 
old friend, I see no smoke coming from you, so I will put 
you carefully away. I never forget that but for your talk 
with me that day way up in Maine I should not now 
have that grand head before me. Henry E. Janes. 
New York. 
A PROFITABLE MOOSE. 
Boston, Jan. 3. — The Maine moose, deer and caribou 
season is over, but not so the interest in that game. One 
would be thoroughly convinced of this to have witnessed 
the crowd following a dead bull moose in a wagon, being 
transported from the railway station to Faneuil Hall 
market the other day. The crowd increased and by the 
time it reached the market it was almost a mob. The 
moose was a noble one that had been purchased by 
Messrs. Swan & Newton from a Maine guide, Mr. Fred 
A. Heath, of Heath & Hawthorn, of Philbrook Camp, 
Schoodic. The animal is stated to have weighed over 
8001bs., though experts declare that it could not have 
weighed ovtr 700ibs. On the weight of the moose Mr. 
Heath, who called upon me, is silent. It cost him $9 to get 
the beast from East Sabois to Boston, or rather he paid 
the American Express Co. $3 from East Sabois to Bangor 
and $6 from Bangor to Boston. He brought this moose 
out before the last day of the season, as his own, killed by 
himself, as he had a right to do, under the Maine game 
law. For the whole animal he received $87.50, with which 
he is much pleased. While here he was taken in charge 
by a number of gentlemen whom he has entertained at 
his camps. These gentlemen speak highly of Philbrook 
Camp. Mr. W. P. Hanson was there this fall and got 
two buck deer. His brother J. A. Hanson also got a buck. 
Wayne North and Charlie North have both been there 
this season and have got their share of big game. Mr. A. 
Frazer shot his deer there. Mr, John Conkling came back 
from the same camps with two does. Mr. George Lanphier, 
the well-known newsdealer who carries the Forest and 
Stream, got hia share of moose early in the fall. The 
above are a few of the hunters that have visited Camp 
Philbrook this fall, and were pleased to meet Mr. Heath 
in Boston. 
Concerning the moose, that was evidently an old one, 
[Jan. 11, 1896. 
Mr, Heath has a curious idea. He believes that the beast 
has long inhabited the section of his camps. He says 
that two or three years ago a hunter caught a moose 
swimming over the lake and paddled up to the animal in 
his canoe. It was close time and he did not dare to kill 
the moose. A happy thought struck him; he would fix 
the moose so that he could be pretty sure of him as soon 
as the open season begun. A bell on him would be the 
thing, since cattle that stray in the woods are easily 
located by a bell. Accordingly he tied a bell to the neck 
of the moose and let him go. Mr. Heath believes that 
the name of the man was Gerrish. The bell was often 
heard in the woods in that part of the country. But 
somehow the hunter did not get his moose as easily as he 
had anticipated; did not get him at all, in fact. Evidently 
he lost the bell, as a part of the strap was found in the 
woods. From some sort of marks, Mr. Heath concludes 
that he has killed the moose that wore the bell. I did 
not ask him how the hunter happened to have the bell 
in the canoe when the moose was caught. Moose have 
frequently been caught swimming in the water, but this 
js the first instance of that animal being mentioned as 
wearing a cowbell. Has not this bell, or bell story, some- 
thing to do with the tuft of hair found under the throat 
of the moose, termed by hunters "the bell," because it 
somewhat resembles a bell in shape? Will the man who 
put the bell on the moose speak up through the Forest 
andStream? Special. 
ADIRONDACK DEER. 
From. Governor Morton's Message. 
The policy which has been recently inaugurated of 
purchasing lands within the Adirondack ForeBt Preserve 
is one that is giving satisfaction to the people, and should 
receive the consideration that its importance deserves. 
Unless these lands are acquired within a reasonable time, 
they can only be obtained at higher cost many years 
hence. The preservation of this vast wilderness in its 
present condition means the conservation of the greatest 
watershed in this State, and one of the most important in 
this country. The rivers that have their source in this 
region dt-pend upon this forest for their supplies. The 
woods and mountainous character of this picturesque 
region also render it one of the best Banitariums in the 
world. 
It is generally believed that the game laws of the State 
need amendments, to the end that better protection of 
deer in the Adirondack region may be secured. Unusually 
large numbers of deer have been killed during the past 
season, and if this easy slaughter is not checked these 
animals will soon become extinct in this State. Two 
remedies are proposed by persons who are familiar with 
this question: First, a shorter season in which deer may 
be killed, and second, the prohibition of hunting deer 
with hounds and "floating." It is claimed by competent 
authorities that the hounding of deer and driving them 
into the lakes and ponde, where they are easily killed, is 
an unsportsmanlike butchery of a fine game animal. In 
view ot the importance of this matter, it will be wise to 
give due attention to the remedies that will be proposed 
for the preservation of deer in the great Adirondack 
forests. 
The Superintendent of the State Land Survey reports 
that the survey of the State lands has been prosecuted 
during the year in a manner insuring the best practical 
results as well as scientific accuracy. The chief assistants 
employed have been representatives of the best engineer- 
ing talent of the State, and men whose work has given 
them distinction in the general practice of their profes- 
sion. The boundaries of many of the larger tracts of 
land within the Forest Preserve have been monumented, 
and nearly 150,000 acres of these lands have been inclosed 
during the year, or about one-fifth of the present posses- 
sions of the State, and the work is still in progress. The 
topographical work has been kept apace with the survey 
of the boundaries, and the trigonometrical survey of the 
State has been extended with precision, with the aid of 
the best instruments and engineering talent available. 
This important work should receive the support of the 
Legislature as necessary to the preservation of the forests 
and the boundaries of lands. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
It 18 with great interest that I have read the many ideas 
lately expressed concerning the preservation of deer in the 
Adirondacks. 
Last summer I wrote an article for the Syracuse Stand- 
ard, in which I gave carefully itemized figures obtained 
from sixteen points which, on being footed up, show that 
in one year (which I think was 1893), in the localities 
mentioned, 995 deer were killed by hounding, 471 by float- 
ing, and only 233 by all other methods combined. Now, 
if measures are taken to preserve the deer, it would seem 
from these figures that the first thing necessary is to pro- 
hibit hounding entirely. 
I would recommend most earnestly to the reader's 
attention that part of Governor Morton's message in 
which he speaks of the preservation of game. He states 
in effect that hounding is characterized by competent 
judges to be unsportsmanlike butchery. Let me ask, 
what genuine sportsman will deny it? If it is unsports- 
manlike butchery the laws should not permit it, even if 
there was no necessity for preserving the game. I would 
also call your attention again to a most interesting 
article in one of the last issues of Forest and Stream, by 
Mr. Charles Fenton, of Number Four, in which he says in 
effect that because of hounding the deer were all cleaned 
out in that section in the fall, but that the supply was 
increased later by deer wandering in from the preserve 
of Dr. Webb, who allows no dogs in his vast park. Mr. 
Fenton has now obtained control of 30,000" acres, on 
which he allows no dogging. 
Again, floating, though not nearly as destructive as 
hounding, is not exactly satisfactory to the real sports- 
man, and I believe should be abolished. 
With these two pernicious features eliminated it is most 
certain that within a few years deer would become so 
plentiful that almost any greenhorn could obtain game 
by still-hunting. 
It has been suggested that it would be wise to prohibit 
all deer hunting for a period of years, the supposition 
being that at the end of that time the laws now in force 
would again be in vogue. This would be a severe blow 
to sportsmen who depend upon the Adirondacks for their 
annual outing. 
Again, what would be] the- result of such prohibition? 
