10 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



adopted throughout eastern Canada, where we have large 

 areas that are unproductive so far as the food supply is con- 

 cerned and where deer will thrive abundantly, as it con- 

 stitutes their native home. On economic grounds the pos- 

 sibilities of the wild meat supply should receive the serious 

 consideration of the provincial governments and of the 

 people. We cannot afford to neglect so valuable an oppor- 

 tunity. It involves nothing more than a sane and judicious 

 protective policy, adequately extended and applied. It 

 would mean that our non-agricultural areas would be made 

 productive and our forest areas more productive. 



Development of Northwestern Territories. — How often has 

 our pride in the possession of so enormous an area as Can- 

 ada comprises been touched to the quick by the reminder 

 that our vast undeveloped Northwest Territories and barren 

 lands are practically unproductive, if we leave out of con- 

 sideration the fur trade, which has seriously diminished. 

 But there is no reason for depression. On the contrary 

 there is every ground for confidence in the potentialities of 

 our* northern territories and their profitable development, 

 provided we will adopt the correct attitude towards the 

 conservation of the wild life of those territories. The eco- 

 nomic development of northern Canada is dependent upon 

 the proper conservation of the wild life of that section of 

 the Dominion. If adequate measures are adopted to con- 

 serve upon proper lines the game and fur-bearing animals of 

 those portions of the Northwest Territories unsuited to agri- 

 culture, and such portions constitute by far the greater 

 part, there is no reason why the whole of that area should 

 not be productive and contribute to the wealth of the coun- 

 try. The possession of such territories would become a 

 matter of pride rather than of reproach. 



How is it possible to regard the countless numbers of 

 caribou that inhabit those regions, and to which fuller refer- 

 ence will be made later, except as an inestimable food sup- 



