THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
Land, Grinnell Land, Grant Land, and East Greenland have suffered 
especially from these visitations, while along the Arctic coast of the 
mainland many have been killed by whalers, or by natives in their 
interest. In recent years enterprising sportsmen have considered their 
game list incomplete without the inclusion of a few musk ox heads 
among their trophies, either from the barren grounds of the interior 
or from inhospitable Ellesmere Land.” 
It would seem that wherever the musk ox can be reached by white men 
directly, or by Esquimaux or Indians employed by them, the animal 
will become extinct in that locality; fortunately most of its haunts north 
of the mainland are inaccessible to traders and whalers. 
“It is doomed,” continues Dr Allen, “ throughout the mainland of 
Northern Canada unless the Canadian government takes the utmost 
care in restricting the killing for commercial purposes and for 
trophies — a difficult task in a country so sparsely inhabited. The 
musk ox seems, indeed, to be in a fair way, despite all practical 
means for its preservation, to soon share in continental North America 
the fate that has already overtaken the American bison. . . . The musk 
ox is in many ways a more attractive, interesting and picturesque 
animal than the bison, and should be saved in the interest of future 
generations of mankind. It is also the main dependence in certain 
districts of the Esquimaux, who rely upon it in large degree for cloth- 
ing, utensils and food. . . . The Esquimaux have, however, proved 
incompatible neighbours, and Esquimaux and musk oxen can never 
live together.” 
Dr Allen, I think, should have qualified the latter statement by saying, 
“ Esquimaux armed with rifles and employed by white men,” because 
these little hunters have lived beside the musk oxen and on them for 
hundreds of centuries, without making any appreciable difference. But, 
armed with rifles, and induced by presents to kill all and sundry, they 
have certainly exterminated the musk ox over large areas. In Arctic 
Canada, where complete protection of these animals is necessary to ensure 
their existence, the government is again faced with an impossible task. 
Nothing will prevent the Indians and Esquimaux from killing them 
whenever encountered, but something might be done by sending police to 
watch the whalers and prevent them from employing natives to hunt for 
them. Even this will be a difficult task, as there are not sufficient police 
in the area of the Barrens coast line to be efficient. 
356 
