68 
Corporal F. Mclnnes, R.C.M.P., formerly of Ponds inlet, Baffin 
island, has kindly furnished the following notes: 
“In the rolling country between Maxwell Murray bay and Milne inlet, small herds of 
caribou can be found after the month of January and up to the end of April, after which 
they become more numerous. Small herds occur near the end of Arctic sound during 
October and November, and occasionally, also, in the month of December. They have 
also been reported as occurring sparingly here during the summer months. In late spring 
and summer small bands resort to the country around Scott inlet. A limited number 
cross the ice of Navy Board inlet in the spring from Baffin island to Bylot island, and, 
remaining there for the summer, cross back again to Baffin island shortly after the ice 
forms in the fall. On October 2, 1924, caribou crossed Eclipse sound from the south- 
west corner of Bylot to the Salmon river, west of Ponds inlet, travelled up it a distance, 
then crossed overland into the region of the Patricia river near Toolukana. Similarly, 
on November 3, 1924, a solitary caribou crossed from Bylot to Jones creek (Ponds inlet), 
travelled a distance up the stream, then swung westerly towards Salmon lake and the 
Patricia river. There are, however, very few caribou found on Bylot island during the 
summer. Large herds migrate north in the spring from the Melville peninsula, across 
Fury and Hecla strait, and on the north shore divide, some going east and some west 
for the summer. Large herds are found at the end of Admiralty inlet and to the west of the 
inlet on the Brodeur peninsula. The Eskimo report caribou in large numbers between 
Fury and Hecla strait and Jungersens fiord.” 
It has been said that caribou occur sparingly in the low mountains 
west of Clyde river. 
The foregoing notes on the distribution of this species supply inform- 
ation regarding the greater part of Baffin island except for Cockburn land, 
towards the northern part of the island, a large region which is still unex- 
plored. 
On Baffin island, as elsewhere, the barren-ground caribou is subject 
to attack from wolves which frequently loiter in the vicinity of herds and 
are a real menace to the weaker animals, the calves, the solitary, and the 
unwary. The present writer has seen several comparatively fresh caribou 
remains as evidence of the depredations of this animal. The caribou, in 
the aggregate, must suffer a considerable annual mortality from this cause. 
On the other hand, the writer believes that the Eskimo, in the natural 
course of events, do not appreciably reduce the number of caribou. These 
people live principally on seal, apparently by preference as much as expe- 
diency, although they are fond of caribou meat. What caribou they do 
kill is, in the main, for the securing of skins for winter clothing. In regions, 
such as parts of Ungava, where for one reason or another the natives are 
unable to get caribou, there is a great deal of suffering from the cold, 
with a consequent falling off in the birth rate. It is understood, also, 
that such people are more susceptible to disease. 
The police at Pangnirtung, in April, 1924, found two dead caribou 
on the ice near Newbayen harbour, which had been tracked down and 
killed by six wolves. One was found under similar circumstances near 
American harbour. Kumlien (1879, p. 54) referring to the caribou of 
Cumberland sound, remarks: 
“These droves are continually beset by packs of wolves, which keep a viligant watch 
for any that unluckily stray out of the herd, for such a one is immediately attacked and 
run down. It is seldom, however, that the wolves can do much damage to the herd when 
they keep together, as they form a circle, the weaker ones in the centre, and can thus keep 
the wolves at bay.” 
