Excerpt from Report of the Royal Commission, Appointed by Order-in Council: To Investigate the Possibilities of the Reindeer and Musk-Ox Industries in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions of Canada, May 20, 1919

The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated May 9, 1919, from the Minister of the Interior, stating as follows: -

Special attention has recently been directed to the potentialities of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Canada as a grazing country. It is represented that in these regions there is an abundant growth of vegetation in the summer, which forms nutritious food for grazing animals in winter as well as summer. It is estimated that there are at least a million square miles of such grazing grounds in Northern Canada. The winter climate of these areas is too severe for ordinary domestic cattle, but musk-ox and reindeer can graze there in the open all the year round. The dimensions of the reindeer industry in Lapland and in Siberia, and the great development of the reindeer herds of Alaska suggest that corresponding development can reasonably be anticipated with respect to Northern Canada. In this connection it is pointed out that herds of barren land caribou, aggregating, it is estimated, twenty or thirty million animals, frequent Northern Canada and that biologically, these animals are practically identical with reindeer.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Arctic explorer, is convinced that the musk-ox can be readily domesticated and has urged that steps be taken in that connection, with the object of developing herds for commercial purposes.

The development of large reindeer and musk-ox herds in Northern Canada will represent a very important addition to the meat production of the Dominion. The development of musk-ox herds w-ill represent not only an addition to the meat production but also to the wool production. The value and attractiveness of reindeer fiesh for food purposes is well established. In regard to musk-ox meat, Mr. Stefansson claims it is practically indistinguishable from beef.

In all parts of the world, there is a constant reduction of grazing areas through the development of such areas for field crops, and, in consequence, the meat and wool problems are every year becoming more acute.

The Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Canada lie too far North to be included in the land suitable for the profitable cultivation of cereals, and therefore may be regarded as permanent grazing areas.

In view of the foregoing, the Minister considers that there are good grounds for believing that the Canadian North may become a great permanent meat and wool producing area, and that a Commission should be appointed for the purpose of making a thorough investigation into the subject from a business and national standpoint, and to report their finding.

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