ANIMAL SANCTUARIES IN LABRADOR 489 



Of course, I know there is a feeling that, if they are going to 

 disappear, the best thing to do is to exploit them to the utmost 

 in the meanwhile, so as to snatch every present advantage, 

 regardless of consequences. But is this business, sense or 

 conservation ? Even if any restriction in the way of numbers, 

 sex, age or season should be imposed on seal hunting, a small 

 sanctuary cannot but be beneficial. While, if there is no other 

 protection, a sanctuary is a sine qua non. It is possible that 

 some protection might also be afforded to the whales that hug 

 the shore. 



The case of the birds is quite as strong and the chance of 

 protection by this sanctuary much greater. With the exception 

 of the limited egging and shooting for the necessary food of the 

 few residents — the whole district of Mekattina contained only 

 213 people at the last census — not an egg nor a bird should be 

 touched at all. The birds soon find out where they are well off 

 and their increase will recruit the whole river and gulf. A few 

 outlying bird sanctuaries should be established in connection 

 with this one, which might be called the Harrington Sanctuary, 

 as Harrington is a well-known telegraph station, a central point 

 between Cape Whittle and Mekattina and it enjoys a name that 

 can be easily pronounced. In the Gulf the Bird Rocks and 

 Bonaventure Island to the south ; one of the Mingan Islands, the 

 Perroquets and Egg Island to the north ; with the Pilgrims, up 

 the river, above the Saguenay and off the South Shore, are the 

 best. The Pilgrims, 700 miles from the Atlantic, are probably 

 the furthest inland point in the world where the eider breeds. 

 They would make an ideal seabird sanctuary. On the Atlantic 

 Labrador there are plenty of suitable islands from which to 

 choose two or three sanctuaries between Hamilton inlet and 

 Ramah. The east coast of Hudson Bay is full of islands from 

 which two corresponding sanctuaries might be selected, one in 

 the neighbourhood of the Portland Promontory and the other in 

 the south-east corner of James Bay. 



There is the further question — affecting all migratory animals 

 but especially birds — of making international agreements for 

 their protection. There are precedents for this, both in the 

 Old World and in the New. And so far as the United States 

 are concerned there should be no great difficulty. True, they 

 have set us some lamentable examples of wanton destruction. 

 But they have also set us some noble examples of conservation. 



