A MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 68, 22 April 1929, Page 8

A MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

"G"

To the Editor.

Sir, — Mr E. I. Herrick's expedition to Dusky Souncl, wliicli lias liad sueh. succossful results will plaee that "terra incognita" 011 the map for all time. It will also open up a country for the hai'dv hunter to explore, providing sport unequalled in the southern liemisphere. Air Herrick lias added a page to the history of this Dominion whichi will be read witli avidity throughout tlie world. The pity is that Air Herrick's splendidly-planned expedition has been too modestly told; there was ample material for a dozen coluinns. Few people realise the colossal proportions of the elk or moose dcer (alces Uiachlis), wliicli is tlie largest of the family of the cervidae and is found 111 Nortli America, Norther Europe aiicl tlie coldest part of Asia, tliinly scattered in all but tlie first-named locality. At tlie shoulder tlie elk may attain so great a heiglit as eiglit feet when adult. The female is antlerless. I11 the male these appendages possess quite a peculiar shape, tlie two together forming a kind of basin, 011 accounfc of their being developed into huge palmated concave sheets of boney tissue, whieh diverge laterally from the skull. In the norther parts the moose deer is quite a solitary animal. Alore than one is selclom seen at a time, unless during the rutting season or when tlie - female is accompanied by her faivns. Tt has tlie sense of hearing in very great perfection and is the most shy and wary of all the deer species, and 0.11 this account the art of moosehunting is looked upon as the greatest of an Iiulian's acquirements, particularly hy tho C'rees, who take to themselves the credit of being able to instruct tlie hunters of every other tribe. The skill of a moose hunter is most tried in tlie early part of AA'inter, for during the Summer the moose, as well a.s other animals, are so niucn tormented by the mosquitoes that they become unconcerned of the approaeli of man In tlie rutting season the bucks In y* aside their timidity and attaek every animal that comes in their way, and even eonquer their fear of man himself, The hunter then brines thein

witliin gunshot by scraping 011 tlie blade bone of a deer and by whistling, whieh, deceiving tlie rnale, Jie blindly li.astens to the spot to assail his supposed rival. If the hunter fails to give it a mortal wound as it approaclies he shelters himself from its fury behind a tree. There are several instances in which the enraged animal has completely stripped tlie bark from the truiik of a large tree hy striking with liis forefeet. Tho usual paee of the moose- is a high sliambling trot, and its strides are immense. On accounfc of their necks being short at the same time their legs are long, they hrowse upon the bushes rather than on the ground, whieh they find difficulty in reqcliing with their months. While eongratulating Air Herrielc on his splendid ltill, it is pleasant to record that botli he and Alrs Herrick helong to the oldest families in Hawke's Bay, who were the pioneers of sport in the Bay. At Riverslea was the first pack of bounds in the province (beagles). Air Ernest Tapner, a near relative to Air and Alrs Herrick had several royal Bengal tigers to liis credit wliile in Jndia, besides being a noted game shot and a good all-round sport. Tt is to be hoped that tlie elk's head, when mounted, will be placed for a week or so in a promincnt establishment in Hastings on view, so that our vounger generation will see the front part of the fearsome animal from Dusky Sound. — I am, etc.,

Hastings, April 22, 1929.