REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION 



Navigation Dates 



East Coast of 

 Baffins Land 



Food \'alues 

 of Caribou 



Hudsons Bay 

 Islands and 

 Fat Caribou 



Musk-ox 



wild herds come down, difficult and costly to preserve from 

 wolves and natives' dogs, and impracticable to use on most of 

 the usual winter travel routes. 



The average date Cumberland gulf is navigable by steamers 

 is August 1, and they must leave by October 1, or risk being 

 caught by the pack ice closing the mouth of the gulf. Ponds 

 inlet is even a shorter season; no vessel can get to the eastern 

 coast of Baffins Land without either going northabout — across 

 Melville bay — or south of the middle pack and between it and 

 the land. This last route is seldom navigable till after the first 

 w'eek in August. 



From a food point of view, caribou killed before August 

 are not in good condition. September, October, and with good 

 conditions, November, are the fattest caribou months. Caribou 

 quickly lose condition; during the migratory period they are 

 generally poor. 



The fattest caribou I know of in the Arctic are those of 

 Coats island. They are unable to migrate, the food is good, the 

 mosquitoes are not troublesome and there are no wolves to 

 harry them; if conditions are the same, Mansell island and 

 Charles island would be equally good. For food purposes as a 

 commercial proposition, I believe these or similar islands to be 

 the only feasible places. I am not well acquainted wuth the 

 mainland between Churchill and York Factory. 



The idea propounded recently of driving the herds of 

 caribou to a rail head with aeroplanes is childish; they would 

 be unfit for food after a week's harrying. Incidentally, the 

 natives dependent on them elsewhere would starve; caribou 

 lose fat and fiesh very rapidly under unfavourable conditions. 



There are no musk-ox on Baffins Land ; west of Prince 

 Regent inlet, to the north, and west from Wager inlet and 

 Repulse bay to the south, they are found. 



They were numerous on North Devon, but the natives have 

 reduced them considerably. Very large numbers occur on Elles- 

 mere Land, particularly to the west side; they are plentiful on 

 Melville island and Byam Martin island. 



I have no doubt they would domesticate readily, and I 

 consider Coats island a very suitable place to experiment. 

 Musk-ox and caribou do not interfere with each other and use 

 the same food. 



As soon as feasible, the experiment should be made of cutting 

 (gelding) the young bull calves; I have no doubt they would be 

 far more valuable for food purposes. Musk-ox meat is excellent, 

 except the older bulls which are "strong," and at the rutting 

 season, musky. Musk-ox hides have not a great value. The 

 average pre-war prices were about 50s.; at the January sales 

 this year some sold for £4 10s. The demand is small for them. 



Musk-ox are more local — less migratory — than caribou; if 

 food is plentiful they will stay a long while in one locality; they 

 prefer hilly ground, though they are frequently in considerable 



58 



