LXVIII THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



With regard to the walrus of our north eastern coasts, Com- 

 mander Low in his report on the cruise of the "Neptune" writes: — 

 "There has been a rapid diminution in the number of walruses in 

 the northern part of Hudson Bay during the past few years, and 

 it is only a question of a few years more, if the present method of 

 killing is continued, before the walrus will be as rare as the right whale 

 in the waters of Hudson Bay." 



The Fur Trade. 



The rise of the fur trade was almost coincident with the dis- 

 covery of Canada, and with the establishment of the great fur trad- 

 ing companies their agents penetrated ever farther into the interior 

 of the country until fur trading stations had been established in every 

 accessible part of the area now embraced within the borders of the 

 Dominion of Canada. 



In recent years the ever advancing network of railway and 

 steamboat communication has made it possible for hunters to carry 

 their provisions and supplies into remote recesses of the continent 

 which have hitherto been practically inaccessible. The last retreats 

 of the fur-bearing animals have been invaded by their remorseless 

 enemy, man. The musk ox, for instance, has only figured in the Lon- 

 don sales during the last 40 years — before that time the hunters 

 of the Arctic regions were unable to reach its habitat; the continued 

 invasion of its territory makes its extinction more than probable 

 in the not distant future. 



As a result of these inroads, the fur-bearing animals are every- 

 where decreasing in number and notwithstanding the fact that hunt- 

 ing is everywhere being carried on with increasing vigour by the aid 

 of modern guns, smokeless powder, improved traps and the most 

 alluring baits and scents, the supply of furs obtained is constantly 

 diminishing. Coincident with the falling off in the supply, there has 

 been a remarkable increase in the demand for furs, especially for the 

 most costly varieties. This has been most marked during the past 

 20 years owing to the increase of population and wealth among the 

 people of northern countries where furs are required not only for com- 

 fort but also to satisfy the requirements of fashion. The value of the 

 furs exported from Canada in the year 1913 was $5,415,118. This 

 increased demand has, of course, been accompanied by a steady rise 

 in price. This is illustrated by the following table showing the prices 

 brought by certain staple skins at the great fur auctions in London in 

 successive years. 



