REINDEER AND MUSK-OX 



n..- ^^ '"f ?"" ''^^'' °^ ^^^ musk-ox, already referred to, the acquisition by the 

 natives of fire arms instead of the bows and arrows which they formerly used 

 LndTmanv /r/^' tremendous increase in the number of animals annually; 

 and m many cases, wastefully destroyed 



w^rrlntfTJ^^^''^ '''T'''^ ^'^ 'T'l ^^"^"^i^sioners is not of such a nature as to 

 warrant them mreachmg any definite conclusion as to the extent to which the 

 wild caribou herds have been reduced in numbers from this and other causes 

 nnmbernf"?^ 1% T'l ^^^tnesses however, convey the impression that in a 

 number of localities, the herds have, during recent years, been seriously depleted 

 and in some cases practically exterminated. This applies to a large pordono 



o nt'^tl^.r''l^I^ 'f "^ ^■''' °f ^''''^'^ ^^1^"^' to the Macken^zie basin 

 lUf I U ^ \'^^ territory immediately tributary to Hudson bav and to 

 that which now forms the northern part of the three Prairie Provinces. 



Wolves and Wolverines — 



It is unfortunately beyond question that wolves and wolverines, especially 

 the former, exact a constant heavy toll from the caribou herds 

 evid;nrrn7M'' t'^r'T' ^n^ ^aj-ibou exists, wolves are also found, and the 

 witn^l hi k';,-^" T^'-^"' ""'^^ P'^'^'^P' to a greater extent than any other 

 witness has had opportunities of observing the wild Hfe of the large central 

 region, furnished most valuable information as to the manner in which the 

 wolves secure their prey by establishing their dens in close proximity to the 



rrfHT."ir'''^''-°'''"?u T"^ ^^^}^'' migrating caribou. He, at the same time, 

 indicated certain methods by which the losses from this cause could be largel^ 

 prevented. He referred to the wolverine as a most dangerous, though perhaps 

 not so general a menace to caribou life. s f F^ 



ESQUIMAUX AS HERDERS. ' 



Much conflicting evidence was given as to the likelihood of the Esquimaux 

 or the Indians developing into efficient herders. Most of the witnesses who 

 . Tk- wu'''! .opportunity of studying the Esquimaux at close range, appeared 

 to think that if properly trained by Lapp experts, thev would develop into excel- 

 lent herders. ' * 



This view is of course strongly supported by the experience of those in 

 charge of the reindeer enterprise in Alaska, where the Esquimaux have clearly 

 demonstrated their adaptability in this regard. 



Mr._ D. Jenness Ethnologist, who spent one year in Alaska and t^vo on 

 Coronation gulf with the Canadian Arctic Expedition, was not sure that it 

 would be at all an easy task to convert the native Esquimaux into efficient 

 herders, \\hile intelligent and trustworthy, they have been for generations 

 hunters and fishermen, and as long as game, fish and seal are plentiful thev will 

 not, in his opinion, turn away from that life for the more humdrum life of herd- 

 ing It, however, game became scarce, they would, he thought, develop into 

 herders as they had done in Alaska. p ^^ 



Professor p. B. MacMillan also stated franklv that he could not imagine 

 t\v^o or three Esquimaux guarding a herd of musk-ox or caribou, as such an 

 occupation was entirely at variance with their usual mode of life. As he knew 

 them in the far north, their summers were spent in hunting and laying up pro- 

 visions for the winter, while the winter itself was a season of pastime, spent in 

 visiting and other forms of Arctic enjoyment. 



42627—3 2,?, 



