resources of these tundra lands for the preservation and development of the native population there. Quite apart from humanitarian consideration, it seems fair to say that these native Canadians are making no mean contribution to the national economy. In the interests of the aboriginal population, projects for the exploitation of the so-called “barren” sub-Arctic lands, for the grazing of cattle, or for the commercial development of reindeer herds should not be encouraged. Furs and Game.—In considering the aboriginal popula- tion, it should not be forgotten that fur production is still the leading industry in the Far North. It is estimated that eighty per cent of the North Pacific Region—wooded terrain, tundra, and marsh—produces or is a potential source of fur, game, and the produce of wild life. Notwithstanding the agricultural and industrial activities in the Peace River section, the Yellowknife region, and along the Canadian National Railways in British Columbia, more than half the inhabitants of the region depend on wild life produce, notably the fur industry, for their living. It engages, directly or indirectly, prac- tically all the Indians and Eskimos and a proportion of the white population. ', Northern British Columbia, Yukon, and a considerable ‘part of Mackenzie District are particularly adapted to the production of furs of high pelt value: fisher, marten, lynx, and beaver. In southern Mackenzie and a considerable part of northern Alberta, fine fur is scarce, or lacking except for beaver, but in that section there is a heavy catch of such fur- bearers as muskrat, red fox, mink, rabbit, and squirrel. The delta sections of the Mackenzie, Slave, Peace, and Athabaska Rivers are famous muskrat areas, and there are important muskrat marshes around Lesser Slave Lake. Trappers who seek only high-value pelts make a good living, beaver trappers appear to make a bare living, and the trappers of animals producing cheaper grade furs must gain part of their living from other sources. Thus the per- sonnel in the industry distributes itself as might be expected: white trappers go after the fine furs, heavy earnings from good years sustaining the bad ones, and the Indian traps in his traditional or allotted area with little opportunity or, indeed, inclination to balance a year of comparative plenty against the inevitable season of hardship. It is sometimes claimed that a trapline that will support one white trapper will support several Indian families. Much depends on the supply of game for food, but good fur country is usually good game country. Most white trappers are unmarried, whereas, in the economy of the Indian trapper, the women and children trap additional cheap furs and contribute to the food supply as well. In the sub-marginal trapping areas, the Indian Affairs Branch is trying to add goat raising and gardening to Indian activities. Some progress is being made in other measures to improve the diet and health of the Indians, the {18} effectiveness of which is suggested by an apparent recent increase in the native population. The traditional Indian system of allocation of territory involves the recognition of family or group traplines. Where delimited areas are designated for Indian use, as in Wood Buffalo Park, no allocation of ground to individual trappers is necessary, but in other areas it is desirable that the trapper be confined to one line and his position secured thereon. The system of trapline registration, operated in British Columbia and now established in Alberta, has been successful. In the Northwest Territories, where close control is necessary to the welfare of the natives, Royal Canadian Mounted Police act as arbiters, but Yukon Territory has no program of active management of fur resources. Extension of the trapline registration plan is recommended for all areas except those in which natives depend for food on migratory game. There the trapping areas are determined by the movements of the caribou. In the furs of high pelt value, the marten, fisher, and lynx have complicated natural variations in numbers, and experience has shown that they cannot survive intensive trapping throughout their range. Northern British Columbia is the best present field, though marten are found in good numbers in some more remote sections of the Yukon and the Mackenzie District. Mink is a persistent species that responds to trapline management and will withstand steady trapping. Beaver and muskrat are ideal subjects for fur manage- ment. The beaver is prolific and has a high pelt value. After centuries of exploitation, during which the beaver were almost exterminated from time to time, the point has been reached where control of harvesting should be insti- tuted and only the annual surplus removed, thus estab- lishing continuity of income. There are huge areas in Canada physically suitable to beaver culture. The muskrat is a prolific species which, while of low individual pelt value, is easily harvested and produces a high return per unit of habitat. Beaver will not stand heavy, unregulated trapping. In the conservation of fur resources, all species require, for ultimate full development, areas free from disturbance and sufficiently extensive to provide for adequate numbers to cover all natural fluctuations. These conditions are met in the National Parks, and even in those game sanctu- aries set up for the protection of individual species a measure of protection is afforded to other species. Fur farming and reindeer herding, while related to wild life conservation, are forms of animal husbandry. Conditions for fur farming are excellent in the North Pacific Region, but feed is the allimportant factor. On this account there is less promise for meat-eating than for fish-eating species. Throughout the Mackenzie Valley there is considerable fish and much coarse fish that might be so employed. Also, the abundant plankton in the Arctic waters offers possibilities in the supply of a balanced