PROPORTION OF MEN TO OTHER ANIMALS. 357 



of wild animals to each hunter. Among the Laplanders, 100 

 reindeer is the smallest number on which a man can subsist, 

 and no one is considered rich who does not possess at least 

 from 300 to 500. But these are domesticated, and a lanre 



' o 



supply of nourishment is derived from their milk. In the 

 case of wild animals, we may safely assume that a much 

 larger number would be necessary The Hudson's Bay terri- 

 tory is said to comprise about 900,000,000 acres. The number 

 of Indians was estimated at 139,000. Allowing one wild animal 

 to each twenty acres, this would give about 300 animals to 

 each Indian ; and, if we consider the greater longevity of man, 

 we must multiply this by six, or even more. 



Or, again, we may attempt to form an estimate in the 

 following manner. The number of skins received by the 

 Hudson's Bay Company in 1866 amounted to 1,250,000, made 

 up as follows : 



Beaver 144,744 



Fox 32,982 



Lynx 68,040 



Marten 92,373 



Mink 73,149 



Musquash 608,396 



Otter 14,376 



Eabbit 105,909 



Bear 6,457 



Racoon 24,860 



Wolf 7,429 



Sundries 63,950 



1,242,765 



The number of Indians is estimated at 139,000, 

 and Hearne states that every one requires at 

 least twenty deerskins for clothes, without 



Carried over . . . 1,242,765 



