14 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
|July 7, 1906. 
Newfoundland Notes. 
The caribou are migrating north in large 
numbers. Every train that arrives, reports 
seeing herds containing from five to fifty. 
Readers who have been on the island, know 
that the railway line runs north for a certain 
distance, and then branches west towards Port 
au Basque. 
The track is like an immense ribbon stretched 
across the county, and with the exception of 
the sectionmen, and a few lumber settlements 
along the line, the whole county, which the line 
traverses, is unsettled. Hence, the deer roams 
for the better part of the year undisturbed, and 
when the great northern or southern migration 
is on, they cross the track at various places, 
almost in countless numbers. What the train 
people see, is only a small percentage of the 
vast herds that are moving night and day. The 
sight of families of caribou crossing near the 
train, never appears to lose novelty for travel¬ 
ers. They are always on the lookout while 
going through the deer country, and are very 
seldom disappointed. When tne engineer blows, 
some deer fly like the wind, and others toss 
their heads and saunter on, as if to show their 
contempt for man and all his works and pomps. 
His Excellency, the Governor, Sir Wm. 
McGregor, has made the suggestion, that rein¬ 
deer be imported into Newfoundland from 
Alaska, for draught purposes. In northern 
Newfoundland and Labrador, where there are 
no regular roads, the natives use dogs for 
hauling purposes. When the lakes and marshes 
are frozen, and a good fall of snow on the 
ground, it is easy to travel anywhere. The dogs 
used are very ferocious. A report reached 
here the other day, of a man and his family 
who had been traveling in Labrador; by some 
means, the dogs, which are always hard to 
manage, became unmanageable, with the re¬ 
sult that they ate the driver and his family. 
It was not till the dogs returned, looking sleek 
and well fed, that any apprehension was felt. 
Then some men went out on the track, and 
found the bones of the unfortunate people, in 
such condition that they told the whole story. 
The natives find it hard to feed these dogs, and 
they are a constant strain on a people whose 
resources are limited. Hence, it has been sug¬ 
gested that reindeer be substituted. All this 
island and the Labrador are peculiarly well 
adapted for the maintenance of deer. 
A local paper goes further, and suggests that 
we domesticate our native caribou. Many peo¬ 
ple seem to think this a good idea, and say that 
the caribou is as good as the reindeer for 
draught purposes. They are cheaper and more 
easily procured, and are very easily domesti¬ 
cated. Guides and others in various parts have 
time and again captured and tamed young cari¬ 
bou, with very little trouble, and it will be an 
interesting experience to watch, if the govern¬ 
ment causes some to be captured and trained. 
It has also been suggested, that the Avalon 
Peninsula on the southeast of the island, com¬ 
prising the land between and south of Trinity 
and Placenta Bays, be turned into a deer pre¬ 
serve. Men who have traveled this country, 
agree that it would be an ideal place for a 
natural deer park. Years ago, caribou were 
very plentiful on Avalon, but excepting a small 
herd which still remains there, the rest have 
been killed off. Avalon is more thickly popu¬ 
lated than any other part of the island. But 
if it were stocked with deer, and a heavy penalty 
named for killing them, they would thrive all 
right. When the new game commission is 
appointed, this matter will be submitted for their 
consideration. 
Several Americans have obtained permission 
from the Government, to get live caribou for 
exportation. Mr. Henry Clay Pierce, a few 
weeks ago, procured six. Mr. Pierce is presi¬ 
dent of the Mexican Central Railway. He com¬ 
missioned Edward Brake, a local guide, to cap¬ 
ture them. He did so, and took them to Lake 
Nebagnan, Wisconsin, where Mr. Pierce has a 
private reserve, Cedar Island Lodge. Word has 
reached here, that they arrived all safe and well. 
No doubt, after this there will be more appli¬ 
cants from America for live caribou; and at 
some future time, perhaps our deer will be like 
our old-time Newfoundland dogs. If we want 
the latter now, I believe they are to be had 
purer and better in many parts of the U. S. 
than in this island at present. 
The latest reports from the moose that were 
imported a couple of years ago, are to the effect 
that when last seen in the neighborhood of 
Deer Lake, they were in poor condition. It 
will be a pity if they do not thrive, as great 
things were expected of the experiment. 
Bears are proving troublesome at Little 
River Codroy. Arch Mclsaac, of Little Forks, 
has lost several fine sheep. They have also 
been seen round South Branch; but up to date, 
all efforts to shoot or trap them have proved 
futile. 
The best news for years is beginning to come 
in from the salmon rivers. All indications 
point to a very good season. Six salmon were 
taken at Little River one day last week. Mr. 
Diamond, an American sportsman, took forty- 
five salmon in four days last week at Crabbs. 
Mr. Crane got three salmon per day. Col. 
Ward got a /-pound salmon on Friday, and 
Capt. Rhodes a 12-pound salmon at South 
Branch. I. N. Barrett caught three salmon, 
weighing five pounds each, at Cook’s Brook on 
Saturday last. Mr. Mott got one eighteen 
pounds, and Col. Ward caught a i6j/2-pounder 
last evening. 
At the mouth of the Humber River, within 
one hundred yards of the railway wharf, there 
is excellent trout fishing. A. Harbey captured 
three trout Saturday, weighing twenty-eight 
pounds. Trout were never so numerous, and 
salmon are abnormally plentiful, but they have 
not gone up Harry’s River yet. 
Several American sportsmen have turned up 
along the line and they are getting good sport. 
It is a little early for many of the pools, but 
the fortunate angler who hooks one of these 
fresh run salmon or grilse, will have first-class 
snort. 
I have been scanning the columns of Forest 
and Stream for months on the look-out for an 
intimation as to where one could procure a 
nice series of angling pictures. Surely such a 
someone. The shooters have no end of good 
series fit for the angler’s den, is published by 
L 
FIRST PRIZE MOOSE HEAD—TAKEN BY JOSEPH B. TOWNSEND, 3D. 
