480 



EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



numerous in earlier times than now. First the Dutch and the English, and 

 later on the Russians and Norwegians, hunted reindeer in Spitsbergen. 



[In the 1860's, according to Johan Hagerup,] reindeer swarmed in Sassen 

 Bay, Advent Bay, and Green Harbour, and it did not take long to kill 

 a hundred reindeer or so. In the seventies, cod-fishing began in those waters. 

 For several years about 30 fishing vessels lay in Isfjorden and other places, 

 and each of these vessels took yearly 25 to 50 reindeer. Later on tourists 

 came, who shot a great many; they took the heads as hunting trophies, 

 and left the carcasses. . 



FIG. 48. Spitsbergen Reindeer (Rangijer platyrhynzhus) . After Wollebaek. 



Norwegian hunters have shot reindeer both on Kong Karls Land and on 

 the north coast of North-East Land, and on islands lying still farther away 

 to the north (Castrens, Parrys, Martens and Phipps 0yer), the reindeer, 

 according to A. E. Nordenskiold [1880], . . . has been fairly common. 



Capt. Hans Johannesen . . . has informed me that Edge 0y was the 

 best hunting ground for reindeer in Spitsbergen. . . . Some hunters could, 

 in former years, when reindeer were far more numerous in Spitsbergen than 

 now, return with up to 150 animals. . . . Other Arctic travellers have stated 

 as the best hunting-grounds: the north side of Bellsund, round Isfjorden and 

 Wijde Bay, on the coasts of Hinlopenstredet and at Heleysund. . . . 



"That the Spitsbergen reindeer, which are [=is] killed yearly in great 

 numbers by Arctic hunters, is not exterminated, seems a proof," says Kolthoff 

 [1903], "that it is found in greater numbers in the valleys which stretch 

 into the country, where these hunters never go." Besides, it may be men- 



