MAMMALS OF. NORTHERN CANADA 183 



Indians have known of instances ■where both kinds of wolves 

 and some of their dogs have mated, and they have always 

 found that the resulting offspring were not only prolific, but 

 also better and stronger as beasts of burden. Parry records 

 an instance — the first authentic one known to him — where 

 a setter dog had intercourse with a female wolf (Canis gri- 

 seus). It was soon afterwards killed by a male of the same 

 species. 



New Caledonia District, British Columbia, usually 

 sends out from 40 to 120 wolf skins annually, fully three- 

 fourths of which belong to Canis latrans. 



Eskimo Dog — Canis familiaris horealis (Desmarest). 



The Eskimos make use of this indispensable animal for 

 travelling during the winter season, and in summer it ren- 

 ders much assistance in tracking their boats (umiaks) up- 

 stream, on the Mackenzie, Peel, Anderson, and other Arctic 

 rivers. These boats are manned by women and are always 

 steered by an elderly man. When tracking on the beach 

 the woman is attached to the cord hauling-line next to the 

 bow of the umiak; then follow at intervals, similarly har- 

 nessed thereto, from four to six dogs, who with their leader 

 go forward or halt at the call of their driver mistress. 

 Nearly all the hauling dogs used by the Company at Port 

 Anderson were obtained from the Eskimos. 



Early in the month of February, 1864, a very virulent 

 and fatal form of distemper broke out among the post and 

 native dogs, and, in a short time, it carried off about three- 

 fourths of their number; but as there was still much work 

 to be done in the way of transport of outfit and returns 

 between the Anderson and Fort Good Hope, besides the haul- 

 ing of fresh venison from the camp of the fort hunter for 

 the spring and summer use of the establishment, we had to 

 be constantly on the lookout to purchase as many dogs as 

 could be spared by visiting Indians and Eskimos, to replace 



