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Northern People, Northern Knowledge - 
The Story Of The Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913 - 1918
Magnificent Collections
 

 

Mammals


Hunting Polar Bears for Specimens

"October 2, 1914. Blue and I went to Cape Bathurst hunting I shot a sea gull on the first [whale] carcass going along I spotted three [polar bears] at the bluff, 1 big & 2 small we sneaked up to them inside lagoon got to the second carcass spotted two of them in the water alongside the shore ice and the big one laying on the ice about 40 yards from us. Blue shot at the big one he jumped up and gave him another shot then he tumbled into the water we went up to them and I finished the big one third shot the other two had a couple shots into them we could not shoot them in the head because dr Anderson wanted the skulls for specimens so we kept on shooting them in the neck because there shoulders were under the water all the time Blue Killed one of them and me wounded the other badley when we ran out of ammunition - 24 cartridges - so we left the wounded one expecting he would die or else we would get him when we came back with more ammunition went back to the camp met Sammy on the road they had heard the shooting and grumbling and came with a dog team we went straight back but the wounded one had dissapeard swam of[f] shore" (Castel Diary, 1914-1915).

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CMC CD96-663-017

Dead polar bear in snow, close view, with gun and pole, may be near Gore Islands, northwestern Banks Island, N.W.T. April 5, 1915. GHW 51659. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization


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CMC CD96-663-020

Man skinning adult male polar bear in snow, two sled dogs sleeping nearby, Banks Island? N.W.T. 1915. GHW 51665. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization

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