800.014Arctic/4
The British Chargé ( Chilton ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6.]
Sir: In continuation of my note No. 627 of the 15th instant [ultimo], and in response to the specific enquiries contained in your note of the 19th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that I have received the following particulars from the Governor General of Canada regarding posts of the Royal Canadian Mounted police [Page 572] established in Baffin, and Ellesmere islands and other sections of the Canadian Northern territories:
A Mounted Police post in so far as buildings are concerned is composed of a small barracks to house members of the Force and separate buildings for storing supplies. In so far as personnel is concerned, each post is in charge of a non-commissioned officer with two or three constables for duty and patrols, and the necessary number of natives to act as dog drivers, guides and interpreters.
The Posts established in the Eastern Arctic Sub-District include the following:—
- Baffin Island
- (1)
- Pangnirtung, Cumberland Sound,
- (2)
- Ponds Inlet, on the North end of the island.
- Devon Island
- (1)
- Dundas Harbour.
- Ellesmere Island
- (1)
- Craig Harbour, (South of the island)
- (2)
- Rice’s Strait, (near Cape Sabine).
All the above mentioned posts are permanently occupied by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with the exception of Rice’s Strait, near Cape Sabine, where stores only have been placed, pending the arrival of buildings for a permanent post and personnel, which are being sent up this year.
The above Sub-District is in charge of a Commissioned officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who resides at any one of the posts, as circumstances demand. All the posts are visited once a year by the Commissioned Officer mentioned and by the officials of the Canadian Department of the Interior.
In regard to the duties of members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stationed in the Eastern Arctic, it may be added that all the Mounted Police Detachments in the Eastern Arctic are Post Offices and Customs Ports, and the Non-Commissioned Officers in charge have been appointed Postmasters and Collectors of Customs.
Furthermore, the duties of members of the Force stationed in the Eastern Arctic include the supervision of the welfare of the Eskimo for the Department of Indian Affairs, educating them as far as possible in the White Man’s Laws and issuing destitute relief where necessary, enforcement of all the Ordinances and Regulations of the Northwest Territories, including Game Laws and the protection of Musk Oxen, and the issue of Game, Animal and Bird Licenses to the various Trading Companies, the supervision of liquor permits, the enforcement of the Migratory Birds Convention Act for the Department of the Interior; the enforcement of the Criminal Code and Assistance to the Post Office and Customs Department, as set forth in the last paragraph above, as well as to the Department of [Page 573] Mines and Agriculture in the collection of Eskimo material and ethnological and biological specimens.
Members of the Force are also called upon to assist in the taking of the Census and assisting the Director of Meteorological Service in the taking of readings at the different Posts from time to time, and to supply topographical information to the Federal Service.
In addition, Police patrols to surrounding settlements and Eskimo villages and also extended patrols to remote points are also made by each detachment for the purpose of obtaining the information required.
In bringing the above information to your notice, I have the honour to renew the assurance conveyed to you in my above mentioned note of the Canadian Government’s readiness to afford the MacMillan expedition any assistance within the power of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the other Dominion officers in Canadian Northern territories.
I have [etc.]