134 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



on wolves which are killed anywhere within the Northwest Territories, 

 an Order in Council to this effect being passed last August. 



T> . The protection of musk-oxen is one which has already 



Recommenda- ^ -«t r. r 



tions for Pre- been brought to your attention by Mr. Stefansson 



serving Fauna ^^^ yQ^j. Chairman has already made valuable recom- 

 mendations respecting their conservation. Below are the recommen- 

 dation^ contained in a report prepared by Mr. Maxwell Graham for 

 the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire; the 

 Chairman of the Society has concurred in them and has expressed 

 the hope that action will shortly be taken: 



( 1 ) "A close season for a number of years, during which no one 

 but Indians, explorers and travellers may kill musk-oxen and then for 

 food only. If during this period any musk-ox skins are offered for 

 sale the same should be confiscated and the person so offering the 

 skins should be severely dealt with. 



(2) " When an open season is allowed for musk-oxen, hunting 

 these animals with dogs should be absolutely prohibited, for the reason 

 that when dogs are used the musk-oxen will, as with wolves, stand at 

 bay. This habit of theirs is taken advantage of by skin hunters and 

 others, these people shooting the animals down as they might cattle 

 in a pen. 



(3) " No skins should be sold or exported unless tagged by a 

 government official, who would periodically inspect all musk-ox skins 

 stored at Hudson's Bay or other trading posts, his duty being to 

 confiscate all skins which were plainly not prime, and hence not taken 

 when in season, and to see that all skins legally obtained were tagged 

 with a numbered metal tag or label, bearing on it the year's date of 

 such tagging. 



(4) " The establishment at different selected locations within the 

 proper range of the musk-ox, of absolute sanctuaries, wherein not only 

 musk-oxen but caribou, as well as fur-bearers, might thrive and 

 multiply." 



The report also recommended: 



" That customs officers at Herschel island examine all vessels and 

 be empowered to confiscate any musk-ox skins illegally obtained from 

 the natives, while such vessels are wintering in their proximity." 



And a further extract states: 



" In order to still further safeguard the interests of the natives and 

 of the musk-oxen, I would advise that the government supply to the 

 natives up-to-date wolf traps, which might later be paid for either in 

 wolf pelts or money obtained for the same." 



