70 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



saw a few caribou, no doubt this species, in the great bend 

 of the Columbia River, north of Revelstoke, in 1915. In 

 September the new coat of this species is almost black, and 

 the antlers bear a large number of long tines. Further 

 north the large mountain caribou, first described in 1902 

 by Allen as Osborn's caribou (R. oshorni), is found in the 

 Stikine Mountains. This is a larger species than the south- 

 ern mountain caribou, and its splendid head is prized by 

 all big-game hunters. Its coat is browner than the R. 

 montanus. 



In referring to the caribou in his annual report for 1915, 

 Mr. Bryan Williams, then provincial game warden for Brit- 

 ish Columbia, states that the ''reports of caribou in the north 

 are much better than for several years, one hunting party 

 in Cassiar having seen some 1,200 head in a few days' 

 hunting. Information has also been received of magnificent 

 caribou ranges in a part of the north country hitherto al- 

 most uninhabited, even by Indians. The report states that 

 one day, while travelling some twelve miles, small bands of 

 caribou were constantly in view, and that one large band 

 of close on to five hundred head was seen." In his annual 

 report for 1915 Mr. Williams states: "When the last report 

 was written the mountain caribou in the Selkirks were sup- 

 posed to be very scarce, but subsequent reports were quite 

 the contrary. In fact, there were more caribou about than 

 for some years, though, owing to the bad crust on the snow, 

 they were hard to get. The Chilcotin caribou have almost 

 disappeared. Even the Indians are now agitating for an 

 absolutely close season in certain areas, and I promise to 

 see that if such regulations are made they will be observed. 

 There are many more caribou on the ranges towards the 

 head of the Fraser River than there were thought to be. 

 This country was hunted a good deal during the past season, 

 and one party reported having seen 128 head, which is a 

 very large number for this district." 



