226 THE PRESENT AND FUTURE 



than they are breeding; and so they must be increasing. 

 Their food supply is unlimited. They are protected by two 

 redoubtable champions Jack Frost and the Mosquito. Their 

 country never will contain a great lyiman population. The 

 natives are so few in number, and so lazy, that even though 

 they should become supplied with modern firearms it is un- 

 likely that they ever will make a serious impression on the cari- 

 bou millions. The only thing to fear for the Barren Ground 

 caribou throngs is disease a factor that is beyond human pre- 

 diction. 



It is reasonably certain that the Barren Grounds never 

 will be netted by railways unless gold is discovered over a 

 wide area. The fierce cold and hunger and the billions of 

 mosquitoes of the Barren Grounds will protect the caribou 

 from the wholesale slaughter that "civilized" man joyously 

 would inflict if he had the chance. 



The caribou thousands of Newfoundland are fairly ac- 

 cessible to sportsmen and pot-hunters, but at the same time 

 the colonial Government can protect them from extermina- 

 tion if it will. Already much has been done to check the 

 reckless and wicked slaughter that once prevailed. A bag 

 limit of three bull caribou per annum has been fixed, which is 

 enforced as to non-residents and sportsmen, but in a way 

 that is much too "American" it is often ignored by residents 

 in touch with the game. For instance, the guide of a New 

 York gentleman whom I know admitted to my friend that 

 each year he killed "about twenty -five" caribou for himself 

 and his family of four other persons. He explained thus: 

 "When the inspector comes around I show him two caribou 



