66 
FOMST AND STREAM. 
The Home of the Moose. 
In company with a party of frifehds, I spent twelve 
days at Lake Sourdnahunk (sometimes spelled Neso- 
wadnehunk), the lower end of which is located in town- 
ship 4, range lo. While there it was my good fortune not 
only to see, but to come into close contact with a large 
taumbcr of moose of various ages, sizes and stages of de- 
velopment. Lake Sourdnahunk is reached by buckboard 
from Patten, via Shin Ponds, Sebois, Grand Lake, and 
i'rout Brook, a total distance of fifty-two miles, eleven 
miles of which is over a good road, twenty-one miles over 
a fair to bad tote i^oad, and the remaining twenty miles 
vover a road- which is probably as rough as any in the 
State of Maine. The time consumed in taking the trip 
from Patten is just two and one-half days. We saw oc- 
casional nioose tracks the second daj' out, but when within 
five miles of the lake the tracks became very numerous 
and were of various sizes, ranging from the spring calf 
np to the old bull. 
A tramp over the numerous logging roads leading to 
the lake revealed the same state of affairs, many soft 
places having the appearance of a barnyard. Sourdna- 
hunk Lake empties into Sourdnahunk Stream, and at the 
head of the stream there is an old dam, which has set the 
waters of the lake back among the timber, producing a 
lot of dead wood. This flooded district, which is perhaps 
half a mile long and 6ooft. wide, is known as the "thor- 
oughfare," and is a favorite feeding ground for moose. A 
trip to the "thoroughfare," either in the evening or early 
morning, would always be rewarded by the sight of one 
or more of the big game. Our first trip was made in the 
evening, and as we silently paddled our canoes among 
the dead wood, we could hear the splashing of moose long 
before we were near enough to discern their outlines. We 
paddled up A^ery close to a spike-horn bull, and passing 
him unobserved, we next saw a large cow and two calves. 
The cow was standing in about 3ft. of water, and was 
feeding on the bottom. We watched her for at least ten 
minutes. She made a great deal of noise splashing about, 
and when she raised her head from the stream the water 
Avould run from her shoulders in torrents. 
Further down the stream a bull we had not observed, 
but who evidently saw us, let out a bellow, and in an_ in- 
stant all the moose in the "thoroughfare" started for the 
shore, going through the dead wood with a tremendous 
crash. 
One morning about 5 o'clock we took a trip to tlie 
"thoroughfare" and saw five moose, one young bull, three 
cows and one calf. Moose are easy to approach if one 
is careful not to let them get a scent. The cows especially 
would allow us to get very close to them, looking at us in 
a stupid, Avondering way, and appearing like great over- 
grown mules. On another occasion we were there with 
two canoes, and as we entered we saw a large cow swim- 
ming the stream. We headed her off so as to prevent her 
landing, and bro-ught our canoes very close to her on 
either side, when suddenly changing her course the bow of 
my canoe struck her on the hip, the point sliding very 
gracefully up her back, and nearly causing the canoe to 
capsize. By this time she was blowing pretty hard, and 
not wishing to injure her we allowed her to swim ashore. 
As previously explained, the place is filled with dead wood 
and fallen trees, but she went over and under all obstruc- 
tions without the slightest difficulty. She encountered one 
fallen tree about the size of an ordinary telegraph pole 
which was too high to run over, and too low to go under. 
Putting her head under the tree, with a mighty effort she 
tossed it up in the air high enough to allow her to pass 
under in safety. The strength of the moose is prodigious. 
One day we saw a very large bull and cow together, but 
were unable to get close to them. The Bangor & Aroos- 
took Big Game Guide quotes Joe Francis, of the West 
Branch, as authority for the statement that the moose in 
his section of the country come around at night and look 
in at camp to see if the sportsmen are asleep. We had an 
experience one morningwhich quite eclipses Joe's facetious 
story. About 6 o'clock a young bull was seen in the lake 
about half a mile from camp. A hasty canoe trip brought 
us very close to his lordship, who did not seem at all dis- 
turbed by our presence. After looking at us a while he 
finally trotted off into the woods. An hour later, while at 
breakfast, as we Avere discussing our acquaintance of the 
early morning, the cook came running into the dining 
room Avith the statement that Mr. Moose Avas at our camp 
door. Of course, such a sight Avas not to be missed, and 
hurrying out, sure enough there the same moose stood be- 
side the Avoodpile, less than ten rods from the camp. He 
remained there about three minutes, when he leisurely 
w^alked aAvay, and the incident was forgotten until we 
were seated at dinner, when the cook again called to us, 
"That moose is out in the ^^ard again." This time he was 
standing in the edge of the lake, about twelve rods from 
camp. He Avas a young bull with but four points. The 
velvet was hanging from his horns, which gave him an odd 
appearance. It is not often that a moose will present him- 
self for inspection three times in one day. 
About three miles from the lake, doAvn the tote road, is 
a small body of water known as Dwelly Pond. This pond 
is a grear feeding ground for moose, and one or more can 
be seen there any Avarm afternoon. On one occasion Ave 
saw three cows there. The pond has a soft bottom, and 
the moose seem to delight to wallow in the mud and 
water, and when they emerge they are literally plastered 
with mud, the bushes along the road being covered with 
mud left by the animals as the pass out. One mile from 
the lake is a smaller lake, known as Little Sourdnahunk. 
One dav Avhile we were on this lake casting for trout, a big 
bull moose walked into the lake within a few rods of our 
canoe. He was drinking very leisurely, when a flock of 
black ducks near by startled him and caused him to look 
in our direction, Avhen he immediately bolted for the 
Avoods. In a few minutes another bull came down on the 
opposite side of the lake to drink. The writer saAv sixteen 
moose while in this township, and another member of 
the party counted twenty-three. Of course it is possible 
that we saw the same animal more than once, but Avith the 
exception of the young bull that came into camp we do 
not know of any being seen the second time. 
We certainly saw a great many different rnoose, and 
our experience convinced us that instead of being an ex- 
tinct species, the moose is very much in evidence m^the 
woods of northern Maine. We were there at the height 
of the rutting season, and as the Aveather was very warm, 
we had exceptional opportunities for seeing moose in and 
about the water. In November they become scattered, and 
the unfortunate sportsmen who fail to secure a head Avill 
jump at the conclusion that moose in Maine are a thing 
of the past. A very comfortable camp is located on the 
east shore of the lake, owned by McLain & Hall, who are 
thorough woodsmen and reliable guides. Eight moose 
were killed in this section during the season of '97, six 
being taken out whole to Patten, and two heads going out 
via the West Branch to Norcros.s. 
On the morning of Sept. 29, while , at Trout Brook 
Farm, township 6, range 9, I saw a very large bull moose. 
We were hunting grouse up the old logging road leading 
to Cunningham's camps, when a sudden turn in the road 
brought us almost face to face with the largest bull moose 
I have ever seen. He did not see us until within a few 
rods of where we stood, tie was coming slowly down 
the road with his head low down Avhen he discoArered us. 
He appeared astonished at first, but gradually straightened 
himself up, and finally threw his head high in the air, un- 
til it appeared as though he Avould never stop. He pre- 
sented a magnificent sight, Avith his spread_ of antle'-s 
touching the overhanging boughs, and occupying the en- 
tire road, his possession of Avhich we were not disposed 
to dispute. He appeared to be about 8ft. high at the 
shoulders, Avhile his head and antlers added at least 3ft. 
more to his towering form. He had a fine head, with a 
spread of antlers of at least 5ft., Avith considerably more 
than tAventy points. As he loomed up before us in all his 
majesty, he looked indeed the monarch of the forest. We 
naturally experienced a feeling of uncertainty as to Avhat 
his next move Avould be, and were considerably relieved 
Avhen at the end of about one minute he suddenly turned 
and trotted up the road. That this Avas an exceptionally 
large moose there can be no question. Of course the 
dimensions I have given are merely a matter of opinion 
hastily formed, but I believe my estimates to be con- 
servative. Had this been my first sight of a moose I 
might admit that the suddenness of his appearance 
had produced a distorted imagination, which had 
greatly increased in size in my estimation, but as this 
was the seventeenth moose I had seen Avithin a period of 
tAvo Aveeks, I believe I was capable of forming a correct 
estimate. We folloAved his trail for nearly half a mile, 
Avhen he left the road, and Ave lost his track. His enor- 
mous Aveight was indicated by the unusually deep imprints 
he made in soft places. I measured one clear impression 
of his hoof, and it was 7j4in- loTig and 6in. Avide. This 
imprint was afterward examined by Wni. Currens, the 
genial proprietor of Trout Brook Farm, Avho said he had 
never seen a larger hoof. Mr. Currens has been in the 
Avoods for many years, and has a good knoAvledge of the 
animal. We found moose tracks very numerous in this 
township, especially along Boody Brook, and the East 
Branch of the Penobscot, between Grand and Second 
lakes. Our party went into camp for the purpose of fish- 
ing, and remained over into October, long enough to se- 
cure a deer, but on account of our unusual good fortune in 
seeing so many moose we were more than repaid for the 
trip. Geo. W. Lewis. 
New Haven, Conn., Jiin. 15. 
Boone and Crockett Club Meeting. 
The annual meeting of the Bo©n'e and Crockett 
Club Avas held Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Metropolitan 
Club, New York. At 7 o'clock the following members 
Avere present: Major George S. Anderson, H. S. A.; F. 
S. Billings, W. B. Bristow, D. M. Barringer, R. P. Car- 
roll, J. L. Cadwalader, E. W. Davis, W. K. Draper, W. B. 
Devereux, C. S. Davison, D. G. Elliot, George B. Grin- 
nell, W. M. Grinnell, Madison Grant, De Forest Grant, 
J. T. Gardiner, Frank LymaiT. Dr. Alexander Lambert, 
Osmun Latrobe, C. G. La Farge, Dr. L. R. Morris, Prof. 
H. F. Osborn, J. J. Pierrepont, A. P. Proctor, Thomas 
Paton, P. R. Payne, Gifford Pinchot, Douglas Robinson, 
Governor Theodore Roosevelt, J. E. ■ Roosevelt, Elihu 
Root, Dr. John Rogers, Jr., Dean Sage, Alden Sampson, 
H. L. Stimson, J. L. Seward, W. A. Wadsworth, J. S. 
Watson, Charles E. Whitehead, Caspar Whitney and 
Gen. W. D. Whipple. 
The following officers were elected for the coming year : 
President, W. A. WadsAvorth, Geneseo, N. Y. ; Vice- 
Presidents, Chas. F. Deering, Illinois: W. B. Devereux, 
Colorado; Howard Melville Hanna. Ohio; Wm. D. Pick- 
ett, Wyoming; Frank Thompson, Pennsylvania; Secre- 
tary and Treasurer, C. Grant La Farge, Ncav York. Ex- 
ecutive Committee, Winthrop Chanler, Chairman ; Lewis 
R. Morris, A. Rogers, Henry L. Stimson, Madison Grant; 
Editorial Committee, Geo. Bird Brinnell. Theodore 
Roosevelt. The two vacancies in the membership of the 
club Avere filled by the election of Hon. W. K. ToAvnsend. 
New HaA'en, Conn., and Gib. Bleistein, N. Y. 
The meeting was followed by a dinner, after Avhich 
Prof. He'nry F. Osborn, of the American Museum of 
Natural History, delivered an address, illustrated % 
lantern slides, on the ancient game of North America, 
This account Avas most happily told in an entirely un- 
technical and popular Avay. It Avas the story of a sup- 
posed trip taken by the speaker, Avith two companions 
from New York, westAvard over the land and sea of Avhat 
is now the American continent, as far as the Rocky 
Mountains, The journey began in Jurassic time, and the 
huge Dinosaurs of that period were described and pictured 
on the screen. Their extinction was explained by the 
destruction of their eggs by the small mammals, Avhich 
made their appearance and Avere numerous during the 
later Jurassic. The progress of higher life m the West 
was sketched, and A^arious types, important either for their 
extraordinary characters or as being the ancestors of 
existing types, Avere described and shown on the screen 
down as far 'as middle tertiary time. Thus the trip 
lasted some millions of years. The address was extremely 
effective, and was listened to Avith the greatest interest. 
Among the informal speeches made later m the_even- 
ing was one by Governor Roosevelt, in Avhich he gave an 
interesting account of the Rough Riders and their Avork 
in Cuba The regiment contained men of most diverse 
occupations and' characters, and the manner in which 
these type'! Avhich differed so Avidely m the circumstances 
and surroundings of their earlier life, assimilated is a 
striking feature of the good service which they performed, 
and indeed is Avhat made that good serA'ice possible. 
Short ' addresses were made by other members of the 
club. 
The Maine License Proposition* 
Boston, Jan. 21. — Quail shooting in the South is a thing 
much talked about by Boston gunners just now, and 
some of them have the good fortune to be able to go to 
some favorite Southern preserve for a couple of weeks 
or more. Mr. Peter B. Bradley, Mr. A. W. Steadman 
and Mr, H. S. Mann have been absent for a couple of 
weeks on a hunting trip. They are on Mr. Bradley's 
preserve at Stono, S. C, They took their own dogs, as 
well as guns and camping outfits. Duck shooting, as 
well as quail, is one of the features. Mr. Harry B. Moore, 
of Boston, and Mr. George C. Moore, of North Chalms- 
ford, Mass., left Friday evening for Hickory, N. C. They 
are to meet Dr. French, a Avell-knoAvn Boston gunner, 
there. They expect both quail and Avild turkeys in fair 
abundance, though they are not sportsmen Avho w^ould 
tolerate for a moment the shooting of quail for count. 
It seems that the proposition to make hunters buy a 
license to hunt big game in Maine is meeting with a 
storm of opposition, notAvithstanding the Governor rec- 
ommends as much and Commissioner Carleton is very pro- 
nounced in its faA'or. It is certain that the railroads are 
lending their influence strongly against such a measure, 
aided by all the transportation and express people. The 
Rangeley Lakes section of the country will fight the meas- 
ure, through their representative, while a strong dele- 
.gation from Aroostook county will appear against it. 
What the result will be it is too early to predict. Boston 
big game hunters are decidedly against such a license law, 
though they Avill make no movement against it, lest they 
be accused of mercenary motives. The general expres- 
.sion I have heard is one of disfavor, accompanied by the 
assertion that the mere chance of securing big game in 
Maine costs too much already. Besides, the idea of a 
license system is distasteful to the notions of gunners who 
visit Maine. "Charge us more for guides, board, or 
transportation; make us contribute to a fish and game 
protectiA^e fund, anything — only don't force .us to take 
out licenses. We want no part of such a system, and it 
Maine adopts it we can go to the provinces, Avhere such 
a system is already in vogue. Heretofore we have been 
to Maine by reason of the free hunting there. Change to 
a license system in Maine, and we can easily choose the 
provinces for our hunting." Special. 
MoNsoN, Me., Jan. 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
note your editorial in Forest and Stream of Jan. 14 
upon "Game Protection a Public Concern," and I agree 
Avith you to a certain extent. I am, however, utterly op- 
posed to the proposed scheme or any other that will im- 
pose a tax upon either hunters or fishers, ' whether resi- 
dents or non-residents. 
It is un-American in conception and character, and it 
seems to me Avill be repulsive to every one Avho comes to 
the Maine AVOods to enjoy the sports that nature has pro- 
vided for them. 
The non-residents with fcAv exceptions are paying out 
large amounts each j'ear to the people of Maine. This 
money goes into circulation through the guides, the hotels, 
the hotel employees, the railroads and steamboats, and 
the farmers Avho sell produce to this great army of 
sportsmen, guides and employees. 
The State appropriates only $25,000 for warden ser- 
vice and the propagation of fish, but. yet this appropria- 
tion is doing great good, and Avhile it is too small, it will 
preserve the game for the present at least. 
During the past tAvo years a fcAv demagogues in our 
State have been making efforts to create a prejudice 
among the farmers of Maine against the fish and game 
interests. The consequence is that there is some slight 
friction between the two. This condition has intimidated 
some of our best sportsmen, and they are now seriously 
considering the feasibility of adopting a license tax sys- 
tem "to make the industry self-sustaining." I believe 
the plan is fraught Avith evil and danger, besides it is 
entirely unnecessary, for the State of Maine can well 
afford to do all that it is doing and much more for the 
fish and game interests. It is the best investment that the 
State makes in the way of appropriations. If you or any 
of 3Wir readers entertain any views in opposition to this 
scheme, now is the time to express them. 
J. F. Sprague. 
Game Protector Beede. 
Keene Valley, Essex County, N. Y.— Editor Forest 
and Stream: In a recent issue of the Forest and Stream 
appeared an article without verification, and therefore 
anonymous, under the heading, "Present Deer Law Is 
Useless." Contained in the said article Avere statements 
reflecting on the undersigned, and the performance of his 
duties of game protector. 
Tliese statements have no doubt been made by some 
violator of the game laAv wTio has been punished by the 
undersigned for such Anolation, and Avho noAV thinks to 
secure petty revenge, and possibly a little cheap noto- 
riety, by having published anonymously statements which 
are" both false and malicious, and which cannot be sub- 
stantiated or proven. 
F. S. Beede, Game Protector. 
, Wants Aid against the Foxes. 
Altoona, Pa. — Editor Forest and Stream: Will some 
one experienced in trapping foxes kindly Avrite the under- 
signed, giving such information as may assist a number 
of our club members in their war against Reynard in this 
section? The foxes have become so plentiful in some 
localities that the propagation of game is a useless under- 
taking. There is no fox chasing, for the reason that the 
country is too rough, and this prowler of the forest has 
things quite his OAvn way. Our club is the Altoona Rod 
and Gun Club, and Blair County Game and Fish Protec- 
tion Association, Altoona, Pa. G. G. Zeth, Sec'y. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
