Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 1/The Last Moose of Vermont
The Last Moose in Vermont.
An Object Lesson to Acadians.
The Last Moose of Vermont.
The illustration upon the opposite page, tells a sad story, and needs but little comment, in order to point a moral.
We are indebted to Mr. John W.Titcomb, Commissioner, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, for a copy of the Fifteenth Biennial Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries and Game for the State of Vermont, and from which, with the permission of Mr. Titcomb, the illustration which we give, is reproduced.
The story, as therein related, is, in brief, as follows: In March, 1899, a full-grown bull moose was killed at Wenlock, in the town of Island Pond, by Jake Barnes, assisted by one Boville. An abstract of the evidence reads:
"A man came to camp, saying he had seen a strange animal. Barnes and Boville started in pursuit. Barnes fired the first shot, and the moose only shook its head. The second shot hit the moose behind the ear and brought it down. Several persons saw the dead animal, and Eugene Hobson helped to skin it, and took its feet home. A search warrant was issued, and the head of the moose was found hanging at the camp in Wenlock, where Jake Barnes worked. It was seized, and after being photograped by Taxidermist Balch, was placed in pickle. It has since been mounted for the University at Burlington. The case was brought before a grand jury at Guildhall, in September, 1899, and although the evidence was very clear, and Barnes admitted that he shot it, no bill was found against the poachers or their accomplices."
Like the buffalo, which but a quarter of a century ago, were, as the sands of the sea, in number, upon the western prairies, but have now entirely disappeared, the moose is no longer to be found in such numbers, or over such a wide territory, as formerly, among our Acadian wild woods.
We are much indebted to our present Game Commissioners for the more rigid enforcement during recent years, of the laws relating to the preservation of wild animals. Nevertheless we cannot be too careful in a matter of this sort, and it is to be hoped that all poachers, or others, found guilty of any misdemeanor under the game laws, may be severely dealt with.
Prof. Ganong's scheme of a reservation of wild land, for the establishment of a National Game Preserve and Park, in the Acadian Provinces, is well worthy of every encouragement, and is one which we sincerely trust may be carried out.
A New Brunswick guide recently had his license cancelled by the Government, for breach of the laws, and, doubtless, all future trespassers will be dealt with in an equally stern manner.