miles without
seeing one. They were protected by law, which no doubt did
much near the densely populated sections, but as far as our
coast was concerned did absolutely nothing because Indians
and trappers shot them on sight for food. Last year there
were a few seen here and there and all at once, during the
present season, there are thousands. Hundreds have been shot
and they are reported abundant all over. I imagine this must
be due to particularly favourable weather conditions and the
immense number of foxes trapped last winter. There is also
this fall, an extraordinary number of muskrats--they are
swarming everywhere, even in totally, unfavourable
localities, doing much damage in some places. What is the
cause of this? Presumably it must be through some cause
decreasing the number of their enemies. This is why I think
much care must be taken before any steps are taken to
protect certain species. Some still hold their own against
all odds.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, Governor General of Canada,
acknowledged the receipt of the _Address_ from Balmoral Castle in
September, granted an interview at Ottawa in December, and authorized
the use of his name to show his sympathy with the movement.

Dr. W.T. Grenfell has a long and most intimate knowledge of the
Atlantic Labrador. He writes:

The matters of animal preservation which interest me most
are: The rapid decline in numbers of harp seals which we
Northern people can get for our boots and clothing. This
food and clothing supply, formerly readily obtainable all
along the Labrador, helped greatly to maintain in comfort
our scattered population. It is scarcely now worth while
putting out seal nets. We attribute this to the destruction
of seals at the time of their whelping, by steamers which
are ever growing larger and more numerous. No mammal,
producing but one offspring can long survive this.

Along the Labrador coast east of the Canadian border, birds
are destroyed on sight and nests robbed wherever found. The
laws are a dead letter because there is no one to enforce
them.

There is great need also for scientific inquiry with regard
to the fisheries--the herring and mackerel are apparently
gone, the salmon are getting scarcer, and the cod fisheries
have been failing perceptib