Certified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, 



approved by His Excellency the Governor General 



on 20th May, 1919. {P.C. 1079.) 



The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 

 May 9, 1919, from the Minister of the Interior, stating as follows: — 



Special attention has recently been directed to the potentialities of the 

 Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Canada as a grazing country. It is represented 

 that in these regions there is an abundant growth of vegetation in the summer, 

 which forms nutritious food for grazing animals in winter as well as summer. 

 It is estimated that there are at least a million square miles of such grazing 

 grounds in Northern Canada. The winter climate of these areas is too severe 

 for ordinary domestic cattle, but musk-ox and reindeer can graze there in the 

 open all the year round. The dimensions of the reindeer industry in Lapland 

 and in Siberia, and the great development of the reindeer herds of Alaska 

 suggest that corresponding development can reasonably be anticipated with 

 respect to Northern Canada. In this connection it is pointed out that herds of 

 barren land caribou, aggregating, it is estimated, twenty or thirty million 

 animals, frequent Northern Canada and that biologically, these animals are 

 practically identical wuth reindeer. 



Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Arctic explorer, is convinced that the musk-ox 

 can be readily domesticated and has urged that steps be taken in that con- 

 nection, with the object of developing herds for commercial purposes. 



The development of large reindeer and musk-ox herds in Northern Canada 

 will represent a very important addition to the meat production of the Dominion. 

 The development of musk-ox herds w-ill represent not only an addition to the 

 meat production but also to the wool production. The value and attractiveness 

 of reindeer fiesh for food purposes is well established. In regard to musk-ox 

 meat, Mr. Stefansson claims it is practically indistinguishable from beef. 



In all parts of the world, there is a constant reduction of grazing areas 

 through the development of such areas for field crops, and, in consequence, the 

 meat and wool problems are every year becoming more acute. 



The Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Canada lie too far North to be included 

 in the land suitable for the profitable cultivation of cereals, and therefore may 

 be regarded as permanent grazing areas. 



In view of the foregoing, the Minister considers that there are good grounds 

 for believing that the Canadian North may become a great permanent meat 

 and wool producing area, and that a Commission should be appointed for the 

 purpose of making a thorough investigation into the subject from a business 

 and national standpoint, and to report their finding. 



