Partridge Hunting

It appears that like today, partridge (ptarmigan) hunting was very popular in the late 1800s.  Sir William Whiteway and his Son were hunting on the Bay de Verde peninsula - between Bay de Verde and Ochre Pit Cove in the Fall of 1891.

Sir William Whiteway - Source Wikipedia

Sir William Whiteway was born in Littlehempston, Devon, England in 1828. He was the Premier of the "Colony of Newfoundland" for three terms: 1878-1885, 1889-1894 & 1895-1897.  His political party was Conservative up to 1885, and then switched to Liberal for the rest of his political career.

So his partridge hunting trip described below would have been in his 2nd term.  The Monarch at the time was Queen Victoria.

It's reported that they shot 69 brace of partridge - 138 birds.  I'm thinking, make no wonder the birds are scarce these days!  I'm also thinking the birds were thick, or he was a very good shot!

Evening Telegram - September 23, 1891

But hold on a minute!  The reports were false.  A follow up report the next day describes much lower numbers.  Not only that, he was hunting a different area! Only 22 brace (44 birds) at Ochre Pit Cove barrens.  Birds are reported as scarce!

It goes on to describe Kettle Cove Ridge as the prime spot to get a few birds.  Kettle Cove was next to Caplin Cove, so I'm assuming the ridge would be around the Monday Pond area, which is now pasture land where cattle roam.

William Carson appeared to have good luck hunting at Kettle Cove Ridge.  But a bit of research leads me to think this had to be a different William Carson than the CN Marine ferry M/V William Carson was named after. That William Carson (the renowned Doctor and Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly) died in 1843.

Evening Telegram - September 24, 1891

It appears that the heavy hunting is taking is toll by the year 1899.  As reported below, birds are scarce.  Sounds like 80 birds was the "norm" around Kettle Cove Ridge when hunting was at it's peak.  From my research, the Squarey's appear to be a family that originated in Teignmouth and Shaldon, Devon - England. They were mariners and merchants that traded with Newfoundland, who eventually settled here.

Evening Telegram - September 27, 1899

 Hope you enjoyed reading about the partridge hunting.  Keep coming back for some more interesting LIC area history tidbits.

S.