MAMMALS OF NOETHEKN CANADA 163 



taught them to be more careful and provident. Since the 

 introduction of steam also into the districts of Athabasca 

 (1883), and the Mackenzie Eiver (1886), the provision 

 posts of both have not been called upon to furnish more than 

 a bare quota of the quantities of dried meat and pemmican 

 absolutely required under the old inland York boat system 

 of transportation. The hunting of reindeer has, therefore, 

 largely declined, no doubt to their increase in numbers, and 

 the Indians are able to devote more of their attention to the 

 trapping of fur-bearing animals. The Eskimos of the Ander- 

 son and Mackenzie rivers, however, were never guilty of 

 waste of food in the same inexcusable manner. They are a 

 more provident race, and seldom suffer privation for want of 

 food. In course of the Company's five years' occupation of 

 Fort Anderson, we received considerable quantities of venison 

 and many skins of the Barren Ground reindeer from the 

 Eskimos and Indians who resorted thereto for purposes of 

 trade. 



During the comparatively short season of open water, 

 the Anderson and Liverpool Bay Eskimos were engaged in 

 fishing and hunting reindeer along the river, as well as 

 walrus, seals, and sometimes whales, in the contiguous polar 

 seas. In spring, when the reindeer were on their annual 

 migration to the coast, but especially on their fall return to 

 the woods, the Eskimos shot and speared a great number; 

 in the former season while browsing on the slopes and sum- 

 . mits of the Anderson River banks, and in the latter, when in 

 the water making for their customary crossing points or 

 passes. In both cases the successful hunter inserted an 

 arrow in the carcase, so that on its floating by the lodges 

 lower down the river it might be taken ashore for the bene- 

 fit of the party by whom it had been killed. Early in 

 December, the Eskimos usually retired to their driftwood- 

 constructed huts, or winter houses, at various points along 

 the coast, but before doing so they always made more or less 

 provision for their return to the Anderson Eiver in the 



