month. Hudson Strait is probably the foggiest place in the East- 

 ern Arctic. Fog is less frequent during the winter. 



VEGETATION 



In the short summer when there is constant daylight plants and 

 grasses flourish wherever soil is present. Hundreds of species of 

 plants rush through their life cycles in the 1 or 2 months when 

 growth is possible. Lichens and mosses grow in the less favorable 

 areas, although many sections have no vegetation cover at all. 

 The lichens are the chief economic plants because they are the 

 staple food of the migrating herds of caribou. There are very 

 few plants which are edible for humans, but the wild life depends 

 upon the vegetation, such as it is. 



Figure 2-15. — White whales. 



ANIMAL LIFE 



As far as the natives are concerned, the wild life is of primary 

 importance as a source of food, clothing, shelter, and implements. 

 However, in the eastern arctic game is not abundant and hunting 

 is carefully controlled for the protection of the natives. Caribou 

 are one of the most important land animals. They range in the 

 tundra areas west of Hudson Bay and approximately 3 million 

 migrate between this area and the Great Slave and Great Bear 

 Lakes. Smaller herds live on western Baffin Island in the low- 

 lands and interior uplands. Polar caribou, a smaller species, and 

 musk-oxen are found living on the scant vegetation of the far 

 northern islands. The polar bear is of lesser importance, although 

 its meat provides dog food and its fur is used for bedding and robes. 



Sea mammals are a vital factor in the lives of coastal Eskimos. 



48 



