REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION 



Quite apart from the meat quCvStion, this would be a proper measure, as it 

 would permit of intelligent selection of the best males to be used for breeding 

 purposes. 



Carded Alusk-Ox Wool. 



Milk— 



The milk of the musk-ox, while, of course, small 

 in quantity, is said to be of excellent quality. 



Fur and Wool — 



From a fur standpoint, the skins of the musk-ox 

 are apparently of but little value except for use as 

 robes, but there is no reason to doubt that they would 

 make good leather. 



Unlike those of the caribou and the reindeer, the 

 hide of the musk-ox is apparently free from injuries 

 caused by warble files. 



The value of the wool which constitutes the inner 

 coat of the musk-ox is, as yet, problematical. In itself 

 the wool is of fair quality, but though experiments to 

 that end are now in progress, no machinery has so far 

 been perfected wdiich will successfully separate it from 

 the coarse hair of the outer coat, with which it becomes 

 mixed when being shed. 



The shedding is a gradual process, the new wool 

 taking the place of the old as this is shed, and there 

 is, therefore, grave doubt as to the practicability of 

 removing the latter until it has been properly replaced 

 by the fresh growth. 



In this connection it will be 

 noted that Professor Hornaday states 

 that one of the musk-ox in the New 

 York Zoological Gardens, from which 

 the old wool was combed, died some 

 three weeks later from pneumonia. 



It is well known that a sudden 

 change to severe weather will fre- 

 quently cause serious mortality 

 among sheep that have been recently 

 clipped. 



Wolves — 



The evidence goes to show that 

 the mature musk-ox, in normal 

 health and condition, does not fear, 

 and it is not attacked by, wolves or 

 other predatory animals, but there 

 is every reason to suppose that, as 



Musk-ox Wool Over-socks, Knitted by Madame 

 Bemier — 1909. 



Courtesy of Captain J. E. Bernier. 



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