FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 93 
able to haul somewhat larger loads, find their own subsistence in the 
moss which covers practically all of the sub-arctic region. No matter 
how cold the weather, or how deep the snow, the deer can paw their way 
down to the moss and thus keep themselves in good condition on the 
longest and roughest trips. Another point in favour of deer is that, 
should misfortune overtake a party of Arctic travellers and it become 
necessary to kill the transport animals for food, the flesh of the deer is 
palatable and nourishing, while only dire necessity would impel anyone 
to use dogs for food. 
“It seems to have been the idea of the United States government 
that the establishment of large herds of domesticated reindee: in Alaska 
would be a long step in the direction of solving the transportation 
problem of that district and, in addition, would, to a considerable 
extent, provide a food supply for the natives who otherwise would, from 
time to time, become charges upon the public treasury. 
“This experiment by the United States government was followed 
with great interest by many Canadians who were interested in the de- 
velopment of our northern territories, and particularly by Dr. Wilfred 
Grenfell, who, in connection with his medical missionary work on the 
Labrador coast, found himself confronted by practically the same con- 
ditions that obtained in Alaska, viz.: severe climate, absence of means 
of winter transportation other than dogs, and scarcity of food supply 
for natives and fishermen during periods of unusually severe weather. 
“At Dr. Grenfell’s 1equest, the Dominion Government, in 
1907, purchased a herd of some 300 Norwegian reindeer. 
These were handed over to Dr. Grenfell to be used by him 
in connection with his work. It was originally intended that the herd 
should be established on the North shore of the gulf of St. Lawrence, 
but he finally decided that his mission station at St. Anthony, on the 
northeast coast of Newfoundland, was a more suitable place for the 
experiment. There is an abundance of reindeer moss at, or near, St. 
Anthony, the climate is in all respects suitable and, should occasion 
require it, the deer can readily be shipped from there to any desired 
point on the Labrador coast as conveniently as from the point first 
selected. 
The Reindeer 
in Labrador 
“Dr. Grenfell’s experiment proved successful from the start 
and his herd of 1eindeer now numbers over 1,200. A considerable num- 
ber of stags and barren does have been killed for food and there have 
been the usual unavoidable losses by death and accident. He reported 
in May, 1911, that the meat is excellent and the skins valuable and that, 
in his opinion, reindeer will, in the future, be as valuable in Labrador 
as in Alaska and will afford an export industry of meat from a district 
