THE BUFFALO OR BISON 125 
at least 150 pounds more. They are also coarser haired 
and straighter horned.”’ Doctor Schultz also quoted Hon. 
Frank Oliver of Edmonton, who recorded the wood buffalo 
as still existing in small numbers between the Lower Peace 
and Slave Rivers, extending westward from the latter to the 
Buffalo River in latitude 60°, and also between the Peace 
and Athabaska Rivers. Some buffalo meat was brought 
every winter to the Hudson’s Bay Company’s posts nearest 
the buffalo ranges. 
In 1888 W. Ogilvie obtained further information regard- 
ing these buffalo, and this is given in the Annual Report of 
the Department of the Interior for 1889. He estimated the 
number of animals to be about 180, and from information 
secured in 1891 the same observer thought that their numbers 
did not exceed 300 (Annual Report, Department Interior, 
for 1892). 
Doctor Otto Klotz published in the Ottawa Naturalist 
for 1901 data furnished him by J. A. Macrae, Inspector of 
Agencies in the Athabaska region in 1900. At this time it 
was computed that the buffalo numbered from 500 to 575 
head. Mr. Macrae stated that ‘“‘some eight or nine were 
killed last winter, but as I tried and punished those who 
killed them it is thought that no more depredations will 
occur. I understand that there has been an increase since 
_ the animals were protected, of perhaps a couple of hundred, 
and it would appear to be only necessary to continue vigor- 
ous protective measures in order to perpetuate the herd.” 
Fortunately, the Northwest Game Act was passed by 
the Dominion Parliament in 1906, and under this act a 
permanent close season for buffalo was provided for a 
number of years. 
In 1907 Inspector A. M. Jarvis of the R.N. W.M. 
Police was sent specially from Regina to the Athabaska 
region to ascertain the existing numbers and condition of 
the wood buffalo and to recommend means for their pro- 
