88 
THE STORY OF THE ELK. 
taller than a man, stretching perhaps for two days’ march between lakes, or 
a lake and a river, or between two mountains, or in any particular place 
where the moose were accustomed to pass. Spaces were left vacant here 
and there in this fence, and in these snares were set, in which the unfortunate 
animals became entangled. 
The flesh of the elk, in spite of some coarseness of grain, is generally 
regarded as forming excellent venison, although it has a slightly musky 
taste. The large and fleshy nose is, however, esteemed the greatest delicacy. 
Elk manage to maintain themselves in fair condition throughout the winter, 
so that their flesh is eatable when that of the ordinary American deer is so 
poor and dry as to be unpalatable. 
Although specially protected in Ontario, the elk is, however, now rapidly 
disappearing from the forests of North America; and this is not to be 
wondered at, when we learn that some years ago several hundreds of these 
animals were shot on one occasion in New Brunswick merely for the sake 
of their hides; their carcases being left to rot on the ground. Elk are still 
comparatively common in Alaska, but have more or less completely disap¬ 
peared from certain districts where they were formerly abundant. They have 
entirely ceased their visits to Newfoundland; but in Labrador many still 
remain, though gradually retreating thence towards the more secluded and 
inaccessible portions of the country. From Upper Canada all are gone, 
and but few remain in Lower Canada, where, fifty years since, they were 
abundant. What are left have retreated to the great den#e forests of the 
north. 
