108 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



fur trade. These have been kept for over 200 years, 

 and if we begin after the whole continent was covered 

 by fur-traders, they are an accurate gauge of the abun- 

 dance of each species. Obviously, this must be so, for 

 the whole country is trapped over every year, all the 

 furs are marketed, most of them through the Hudson's 

 Bay Company, and whatever falls into other hands 



Drummond Vole or Fieldmouse 



is about the same percentage each year, therefore the 

 H. B. Co. returns are an accurate gauge of the relative 

 rise and fall of the population. 



Through the courtesy of its officials I have secured 

 the Company's returns for the 85 years — 1821-1905 in- 

 clusive. I take 1821 as the starting-point, as that was 

 the first year when the whole region was covered by 

 the Hudson's Bay Company to the exclusion of all 

 important rivals. 



First, I have given these accounts graphic tabula- 

 tion, and at once many interesting facts are presented 

 to the eye. The Rabbit line prior to 1845 is not reliable. 

 Its subsequent close coincidence with that of Lynx, 

 Marten, Skunk, and Fox is evidently cause and effect. 



The Mink coincides fairly well with Skunk and 

 Marten. 



