ANIMAL SANCTUARIES IN LABRADOR 485 



1. Food. — The resident population is so sparse that there is 

 not one person for every 20,000 acres ; and most of these people 

 live on the coast. Consequently, the vast interior could not be 

 used for food supplies in any case. Besides, ever since the white 

 man occupied the coast, the immediate hinterland, which used 

 to be full of life, has become more and more barren. Fish is 

 plentiful enough. A few small crops of common vegetables could 

 be grown in many places and outside supplies are becoming 

 more available. So the toll of birds and mammals taken by the 

 present genuine residents for necessary food is not a menace, if 

 taken in reason. In isolated places in the Gulf, like Harrington, 

 the Provincial law might safely be relaxed, so as to allow the 

 eggs of ducks and gulls to be taken up to June 15th and 

 those of murres, auks and puffins up to the 15th. Flight birds 

 might also be shot at any time on the outside capes and islands. 

 There is a local unwritten law down there — " No guns inside 

 after the first of June " — and it has been kept for twenty years. 

 Similar relaxations might be allowed in other places, in genuine 

 cases of necessity. But the egging and out-of-season slaughter 

 done by people, resident or not, who are in touch with the out- 

 side world should be stopped absolutely. And the few walrus 

 now required as food by the few out-living Eskimos should be 

 strictly protected. Of course, killing for food under real stress 

 of need at any time or place goes without saying. The real and 

 spurious cases will soon be discriminated by any proper system. 



2. Business. — Business is done in fish, whales, seals, fur, game, 

 plumage and eggs. The fish are a problem apart. But it is 

 worth noting that uncontrolled exploitation is beginning to affect 

 even their countless numbers in certain places. Whales have 

 always been exploited indiscriminately and their wide range 

 outside of territorial waters adds to the difficulties of any regu- 

 lation. But some seasonal and sanctuary protection is necessary 

 to prevent their becoming extinct. The " white porpoise " could 

 have its young protected ; and whaling stations afford means of 

 inspection and consequent control. The only chance at present 

 is that when whales become too scarce to pay they are let alone 

 and may revive a little. The seals can be protected locally and 

 ought to be. The preponderance of females and young killed in 

 the whelping season is a drain impossible for them to withstand 

 under modern conditions of slaughter. The difficulty of policing 

 large areas simultaneously might be compensated for by special 



