REINDEER AND MUSK-OX 



APPENDIX No. IV 

 REINDEER AND MUSK-OX, HUDSON BAY REGION 



Letter addressed to the Commission by Captain H. Toke Miinn, Arctic Explorer. 



Junior Carlton Club, 



Pall Mall, S.W. 1, 



March 15, 1920. 



Dear Sir, — Replying to yours of February 24th (J.C.C./U.W.) I enclose here- 

 with some notes on the subject for the Commission. Mr. V. Stefansson wrote 

 me a series of questions about two or three months ago to which I replied very 

 fully. I understood this was for your Royal Commission of which he was a 

 member. I have not the copy of my reply by me. Had I been financially able to 

 do so it would have given me much pleasure to come to Canada to give evidence 

 on this subject, for no doubt the Commission would like information on many 

 points I have not touched, and also have some queries as to those I have dealt 

 with. 



One somewhat serious objection to using Coats — or another island — as a 

 breeding ground is the difficulty of transporting the domesticated caribou or 

 reindeer elsewhere unless a good harbour was available. This would not apply 

 to any herds raised for food. I believe in some years the narrowest waters 

 between Coats and Southampton islands must freeze and set, and by careful 

 observation a herd could be driven across. For experimental purposes an 

 island is vastly preferable, as all losses from wolves, straying into wild herds, 

 native hunters unaware of the domestication experiments, etc., would be avoided. 

 The Commission may consider my report unnecessarily unfavourable to experi- 

 ments on Baffin's Land. Personally, I should welcome such experiments there, 

 though I should consider them doomed to failure except for the slight benefit 

 the natives would eventually obtain from skins and meat accruing to them. 

 The subject is too long a one to deal with in a letter such as this, and I only need 

 add that the cost of maintaining a herd and protecting it on Baffin's Land 

 would be altogether out of proportion to any benefits likely to be obtained. I 

 shall be happy to reply further to any queries you may send. I might state I 

 expect to sail for the Arctic in June with our little vessel (150 tons), and will be 

 glad to bring the Commission back any particular information they may require 

 if I can obtain it. 



I am, sir, yours faithfully, 



(Sgd.) HENRY TOKE MUNN. 



Note. — Captain Munn's report follows. 



55 



