NORTH AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES 317 



writes that in February, 1899, an observer saw 550 carcasses 

 unloaded in the harbor of St. John's and two weeks later about 

 the same number, so that the price of meat fell to 3 cents per 

 kilogram. However, as late as 1913 they were still common 

 and could be seen in large bands, especially during the migra- 

 tions, but large heads were more difficult to secure. 



In a letter to Dr. Francis Harper, dated October 4, 1934, 

 Greville Haslam writes that he had spent nine of the previous 

 fourteen summers in the island, and found in 1919, 1920, and 

 1921 "a few caribou" each year in the region north of the 

 railroad near the Humber River and Birchy Lake. "There 

 was no question in anybody's mind that the caribou were dis- 

 appearing, but they all claimed that this was because the 

 animals no longer migrated, and that they would be found in 

 large numbers in some other section, especially the country 

 lying at the head of the Gander River and extending around 

 Mount Cormack and west around Meelpaig Lakes. In 1929 

 we spent three weeks in this country but saw not a single cari- 

 bou and only a few tracks made some months before. In the 

 summer of 1934 we spent three weeks on the Serpentine River 

 but saw no tracks." It seems \hat the numbers have appar- 

 ently fallen off considerably in late years, but exact statistics 

 are unavailable. At all events there was a general impression 

 in 1934 that caribou were again increasing and in that year 

 the Government permitted an open season, charging $50 for 

 a license to shoot a caribou. Brooke Dolan reported that 

 according to a Newfoundland official, 60 licenses (including 

 two to aliens) were issued in 1936 and that some caribou were 

 killed. One herd of about 700 was reported seen north of the 

 railroad, but shooting was permitted to the southward of the 

 railroad only. In 1938 John K. Howard found small numbers 

 a little distance north of the head of White Bay. Thus it 

 seems that there are still a good many caribou left in the 

 country, but in order that the numbers may be maintained at 

 an economic level some care in administration is needed. 



Dugmore (1913) presents some interesting notes on habits. 

 Summer in Newfoundland begins late in June. During this 

 month the young caribou are born, and at this time the does 

 seek the thick forests of spruce and fir. Usually there is a single 

 young at a birth but twins are not rare. With the passing of 

 wolves on the island, the lynx is about the only potential 



