Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

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consequence established a premium or head money, payable for the hojid of each
wolf. Formerly it was only necessary to take the ^calp (i. e., the skin from the
top of the head, and the ears) to a magistrate, who granted a certificate entitling
the applicant to tiie premium. But this was found to lead to abuses, as some of
the Indians were in the habit of breeding a cross between the wolf and their
own curs, which when sufficiently old were killed for the sake of the premium;
aud many instancf s have occurred of foxes' scalps being substituted by white
settlers for those oi young wolves. A new regulation was consequently made,
and the party claiming the premium was compelled to present the whole head.
The beaver is now seldom found within reach of the white settlements; and the
panther, lynx and wild cat have emigrated far to the north. Foxes, both silver
grey, cross and red, raccoons, otters, fishers, martens, minks and muskrats, still
remain in diminished numbers, and large quantities of fur are still annually
exported.
Of the game—deer have become gradually destroyed, and but few comparatively
now remain. In some localities, as in the Western District, they were
tolerably plentiful till the winter of 1842-3, when a numerous band of Pottawattamie
Indians came to the province from the United States. These were
noted hunters, and the winter being favourable for the pursuit, immense numbers
of the deer were slaughtered. The Indians do not generally kill more than
they want for use; but this roving band appeared to hunt merely for the sake
of destroying, as many a deer was left where it fell to be devoured by the
wolves. In Canada, large numbers of deer are killed, at what are called "deer
licks;" these are wet swampy places, the water of which is strongly impregnated
with salt, and which places the deer are in the habit of visiting at night, during
certain seasons of the year. In order to get within shot, the Indians usually
build up a kind of platform io the branches of a neighbouring tree, and watch
there, rifle in hand, for the arrival of the deer, whose doom is soon sealed. Occasionally
the deer, when hunted, will take to the lakes, and swim out sometimes
more than a mile; the hunters generally follow in canoes or skiffs, and a desperate
water fight ensues, which usually ends in the destruction of the poor quadruped.
Previous to the winter of 1S42, wild turkeys were also plentiful iu the Western
and London Districts; but the severity of that winter, and the great depth of
snow, caused them to be completely starved out of the woods; and innnense
numbers were killed in the farm yards, whither they had ventured in search of
food. This was complete murder, as most of them were little better than skin
and bone. Had they been fed and taken care of during the winter, and allowed
to escape in the spring, the breed would have been effectually preserved
whereas in consequence of the wholesale destruction practised amongst them, not
a single turkey was met with during the following year. Last year, two or three
flocks were seen, therefore there are still hopes of their continuing to exist in
the province. In particidar localities, and at certain seasons of the year, the
partridge or pheasant, for by both names is it known, (which is in reality a kind
of grouse), is tolerably plentiful in the woods. Woodcocks and snipes are not
so numerous, but may occasionally be met with. There is also a species of
hare, which turns white in the winter. Pigeons are very plentiful in the spring
and autumn, and are killed by hundreds. Of ducks there are many varieties,
some of them are very beautiful; they are excellent eating, and being found in
great numbers, particularly about the marshy parts of the lakes and rivers,
afford excellent sport. Wild sMans are occasionally seen, and wild geese very
commonly. Amongst the smaller animals the squirrels must not be omitted,
as they are in great numbers, and form the principal (/ame of Canada: of these
there are four varieties, the black s(piirrel, the largest and most numerous;
tlie grey .S(piirrel, which is seldom met with; the red squirrel, and the ground
squirrel or chipmouli: these when properly cooked are excellent eating, aud
most persons prefer them to pigeons.
For the purpose of jjreserving the game of the province, and in order to
endeavour to prevent its utter destruction, a bill was liitely brought into parlia-