488 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



other, which will fill up the gaps automatically. The result is 

 that poaching is commonly regarded as a venial offence, poachers 

 taken red-handed are rarely punished and willing ears are always 

 lent to the cry that rich sportsmen are trying to take the bread 

 out of the poor settler's mouth. The poor settler does not reflect 

 that he himself and all other classes alike really have a common 

 interest in the conservation of an}' wild life that does not conflict 

 with legitimate human development. There is some just cause 

 of complaint that the big-game reserves are hampering the 

 peasants in parts of India and the settlers and natives in parts of 

 Uganda. But no such complaint can be raised against the 

 Laurentide National Park, so wisely established by the Quebec 

 Government. The worst of it is that many of the richer people 

 set the example in law-breaking. The numbers of big game 

 allowed are exceeded, out-of-season shooting goes on and both 

 out-of-season and forbidden game is sold in the markets and 

 served at the dinner-tables of the very class who should be 

 first in protecting it. 



Partly because Quebec has taken the lead in legislation and 

 partly because an ideal site is ready to hand under its jurisdiction, 

 I would venture to suggest the immediate establishment of an 

 absolute sanctuary for all wild birds and mammals along as much 

 of the coast as possible on either side of Cape Whittle. The best 

 place of all to keep is from Cape Whittle eastward to Cape 

 Mekattina, 64 miles in a straight line by sea. The 45 miles 

 from Cape Mekattina eastward to Shekatika Bay are probably the 

 next best ; and next, the 35 from Cape Whittle westward to 

 Cloudberry Point. As there are 800 miles between Quebec and 

 the Strait, I am only proposing to make from one-tenth to one- 

 fifth of them into a sanctuary. And this part is the least fitted 

 for other purposes, except sea-fishing, which would not be 

 restricted at all, the least inhabited and the most likely to succeed 

 as a sanctuary, especially for birds. 



Cape Whittle is 550 miles below Quebec, 70 below 

 Natashkwan, which is the last port of call for the mail boats and 

 50 below Kegashka, the last green spot along the shore. It 

 faces Cape Gregory, near the Bay of Islands in Newfoundland, 

 130 miles across; and is almost as far from the north-east point 

 of Anticosti. It is a great landmark for coasting vessels and for 

 the seal herds as well. A refuge for seals is absolutely necessary 

 to preserve their numbers and the business connected with them 



