98 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



Travelling up Eureka Sound to the northernmost end of 

 Fosheim peninsula, at the mouth of Greely Fjord, Ekblaw 

 states: 



All along the way we had seen musk-oxen on the hills on both sides 

 of the sound, and we killed all we needed for food. Even on the ice, we 

 found their tracks for miles. 



The latter observation would indicate that, contrary to the 

 belief of Stefansson, musk-oxen may migrate from one 

 island to another when the intervening water is frozen 

 over. 



Increased Protection of Musk-ox. — The reduction in the 

 numbers of musk-oxen has not only been due to recklessness 

 of the natives and the demand for musk-ox robes, but 

 thousands have been slain for the support of the various 

 Arctic expeditions that have visited or penetrated their 

 range. Large numbers have been slaughtered by sports- 

 men, and, while no fault is found with those who have killed 

 a few individuals for the sake of their heads, or to provide 

 specimens for the larger museums, we have evidence that 

 a number of men, calling themselves sportsmen, have dis- 

 played a passion for slaughtering these animals which rivals 

 that of the Eskimo and the game-hog. 



The extermination of the musk-ox is only a matter of a few 

 years, unless prompt and adequate steps are taken to put an 

 end to the killing of the animal for the sake of its skin. The 

 extreme scarcity of the musk-ox is now admitted by the 

 fur traders. At the present time I am informed that the 

 price in Canada varies from $50 to $350 a robe, according 

 to the size and quality. In some cases it takes two or three 

 skins to make a robe. In a comparatively recent adver- 

 tisement in The Gazette (Montreal), of musk-ox robes offered 

 for sale by one of the leading dealers in these suppUes, the 

 following statement is made as an inducement to purchase: 



