202 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
premises, however, the ultimate extermination of 
the Canadian beaver is merely a question of time. 
It has already disappeared for good from many 
sections in which it was formerly present. It is 
becoming very scarce in certain localities where it 
should receive immediate protection in the way of 
several legally-assured years of rest and full exemp- 
tion from disturbance by hunters. In other 
districts, where it is generally but surely diminish- 
ing in numbers, its killing should be restricted on 
lines similar to those pursued by the Company for 
many years subsequent to 1821. Greater latitude 
might be accorded to hunting in now unknown and 
not easily accessible parts where it probably 
abounds ; but except for food absolutely required: 
no one should be permitted to trap or shoot beaver 
out of season. It is useless making rules and regu- 
lations, however, unless they be strictly enforced. 
The woodland buffalo is now receiving some well- 
deserved attention in this regard, and it is about 
time that the musk ox should be protected from 
indiscriminate slaughter solely for the sake of his 
head or hide: there should be a seasonable limit 
imposed upon hunters thereof. Neither should the 
mountain goat and sheep, the elk, and the valuable 
food animals—the moose and woodland caribou— 
be neglected in this connection. And although the 
Barren Ground reindeer is still abundant, yet the 
northern Indian should not be permitted to con- 
tinue or resume their ancient vicious course of reck- 
