I 



THE BUFFALO OR BISON 125 



at least 150 pounds more. They are also coarser haired 

 and straighter horned." Doctor Schultz also quoted Hon. 

 Frank Oliver of Edmonton, who recorded the wood buffalo 

 as still existing in small numbers between the Lower Peace 

 and Slave Rivers, extending westward from the latter to the 

 Buffalo River in latitude 60°, and also between the Peace 

 and Athabaska Rivers. Some buffalo meat was brought 

 every winter to the Hudson's Bay Company's posts nearest 

 the buffalo ranges. 



In 1888 W. Ogilvie obtained further information regard- 

 ing these buffalo, and this is given in the Annual Report of 

 the Department of the Interior for 1889. He estimated the 

 number of animals to be about 180, and from information 

 secured in 1891 the same observer thought that their numbers 

 did not exceed 300 CAnnual Report, Department Interior, 

 for 1892). 



Doctor Otto Klotz published in the Ottawa Naturalist 

 for 1901 data furnished him by J. A. Macrae, Inspector of 

 Agencies in the Athabaska region in 1900. At this time it 

 was computed that the buffalo numbered from 500 to 575 

 head. Mr. Macrae stated that "some eight or nine were 

 killed last winter, but as I tried and punished those who 

 killed them it is thought that no more depredations will 

 occur. I understand that there has been an increase since 

 the animals were protected, of perhaps a couple of hundred, 

 and it would appear to be only necessary to continue vigor- 

 ous protective measures in order to perpetuate the herd." 



Fortunately, the Northwest Game Act was passed by 

 the Dominion Parhament in 1906, and under this act a 

 permanent close season for buffalo was provided for a 

 number of years. 



In 1907 Inspector A. M. Jarvis of the R. N. W. M. 

 Police was sent specially from Regina to the Athabaska 

 region to ascertain the existing numbers and condition of 

 the wood buffalo and to recommend means for their pro- 



