NO 1405. MAMMALS OF NORTHWEST TERRITORIES— MACFABLAXE. 729 



CETACEA. 



WHITE WHALE. 



DelpJiinapterus leucas (Pallas). 



Common in the Arctic Sea and in the estuary of the Mackenzie 

 River, where tlie E.skimos cai)ture a number every season. Man}" years 

 ago, it is said, several individuals ascended that river as far as Fort 

 Good Hope. They are abundant in Hudson Bay, where a large num- 

 l)er are annually captured at Fort Churchill by servants of the com- 

 ]mny; the oil is extracted, dul}' shipped, and sold in London. The 

 various boat and ship discovery and Franklin arctic search expedi- 

 tions have all noticed the presence of wdiite whales in the northern 

 sea luider review. Greely gives latitude 81"^ 35' north as its most 

 northerly migratory observed range. 



On the (juestion of the "Northwest Passage" Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, in 

 volume 2 page 258 of his Last of the xlrctic Voyages, writes: "The original act was 

 to reward any persons who, by sailing from sea to sea, jiroved America to be an 

 island, and at the period the reward was offered, it was considered (I speak subject 

 to correction), by the wording of applications to the Treasury, with the assertion 

 'that great benefit Avould arise to commerce.^ Now, when Sir Edward Parry made 

 good his claim, it was for the completion of a portion between the meridians undis- 

 covered. The act then, . . . divided the undiscovered spaces into divisional 

 rewards. But inasmuch as Sir John Franklin, Sir John Richardson, Dease and 

 Simpson did not sail through, the rewards to which they were most justly ('ntitled were 

 denied. But to my mind, and to those who are deemed to possess the clearest views 

 in such matters, it has been deemed that the solution of the question (or really that 

 America is sea-washed on its Arctic bounds) would have been incontestably proved 

 had any person passed down Peel's Strait in open water and arrived at the positions 

 visited either by Captain Back in former times, or by Doctor Rae on his late journey 

 (1853-54). 



It has therefore been assumed by the friends of Sir John Franklin, that his ship 

 did so pass down Peel's Strait, and was wrecked in a jjosition which would entitle 

 him, if living, to contest this matter. And my own opinion goes to favor those who 

 have, by much more hazardous voyages than those made by Parry or his successors 

 determined the commercial interests which may, in consequence of their discoveries, 

 and probably will, be pursued at some future period along that sea-washed shore." 



In this connection I would point out that the time has surely arrived for action 

 in respect to these remote and distant shores, as well as to our immense possessions 

 situated to the north of the American Continent. We already know that there are 

 copper deposits of much value up there. Coal has been met with and no doubt iron 

 and other minerals are also pre.-^ent in some sections. The reindeer and nmsk ox 

 have numerous representatives. Wolves, foxes, and polar bears are not scarce, 

 while many of the rivers abound in salmon and other fish. In the straits, inlets, 

 and larger bays whales, seals, and walruses are still in abundance, and call for 

 some attention from Canadian fishermen. Nor should it be forgotten that there are 

 many portions of the Canada of to-day fertile and of great metallic wealth, which, 

 but a few decades ago, were considered almost worthless; it would therefore be very 

 unwise to assume and continue to hold similar oi>inions regarding the resources of 

 many tracts of vast extent and importance, now virtually despised, which may yet 

 prove of great worth to the Dominion. 



