ARCTIC DOGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 59

ARCTIC DOGS.

[See illustrations elsewhere in this issue.]

When in March, 1900, the Southern Cross, with the British Antarctic expedition, touched at Stewart Island on its return from wintering in the Antarctic regions, Commander Bjarchgrevink was in great anxiety with regard to his Arctic dogs, which the New Zealand quarantine regulations prevented his landing. Being advised to see the Hon. J. G. Ward on the matter, he found himself recehed and welcomed most heartily, and Mr Ward, with his accustomed energy and kindness, entered into the matter, so that in. a -short time it was arranged that the dogs could be landed on a small island on a six-months' quarantine. Next day three boats from the Southern Cross landed a pack of some 40 dogs on the island in question in my charge. It was rather an exciting seene — the dogs leaped from the boats, dragging and rattling their chains, and tore wildly round, barking loudly, quarrelling with and biting at each other. I confess I received this consignment with some misgivings, and my fh-ct question — perhaps a natural one — put to "the Lapp, Savio, who was in charge of the dogs, was, '"Do they bite?"' With a serene smile on his goodnatured, handsome face, he replied, "These dogs no bite you." There was something so honest and winning- in the man's face that I at once believed him, and have since proved the truth of hi« statement. The dogs are not vicious, but remarkably quiet an*' easily handled.

Summoning my assistants-- two stalwart Stewart Islander*, who though they had a dozen times calmly faced death in the stormy Foveaux Strait, on this occasion .seemed inclined modestly io take a "back seat" — we soon had each dog chained to a stake, while a cask for kennel, tin for water, and a couple of dogs" bi-cult& each made them happy for the time.

Soon after, with notebook in hand, I went round the pack and leaint something ot the chaiacter and history of each dog from Sa 11 . io, who departed with evident regret, saying. "I \ery much like those dogs."'

Sauo, or Per Yon Per^en Savio. to fiive him his full name, informed mo that the clogs had been collected in Greenland and Siberia. He also pointed out those which were chums and could be chained and fed together, the leaders of the sledge team=. and gave other useful information. He did not appear to care much for the Greenland dogs, which are larger,, but not &o pretty as the Siberian.

Being fond of dogs. I =oon got to know each dog and its cLaraccer. and found them mostly very friendly and e\en affectionate. It was evident tbe\ were not all pure bred, having been crossed probably with the Russian collie. Nansen, on firot seeing his. pack, wrote: — "There stood the dogs, tied up, making a deafening clamour. Many of them appeared to be well-bred animals — long-hmrpfl. snow -w lute, with upstanding ears and pointed muzzles. With theii gentle, good-natured looking face?, they at once ingratiated themselves in oui affections Some of them more resembled v fox and had shortei coats, while other* were black or spotted. Evident'iV the\ were of different races, and some of .hem betrayed by their drooping ear* a strong admixture of European blood." This description would apply \fiv well to the dog? landed here. Ry judicious selection, several beautiful young dogt, v it'i a.] the points of a pure Sibeiiaii, liavp since been rep red.

Though easih bandied, the clog are great fighter." aino'ift thoni^ehp-. ofto continuing until one '« killed, and they ha\e a dpeided

■■dovui" upon any «ti-av do 1 ?:-. Thit ha- led to the mistaken idea that they aro mmous. I luu c ag-ain and agran interfered m " s-awige fialit, striking and nailing t) cm i ght u n cl left. w^d'Oul auv inline to *iiy e e!f - indeed, it i- ru>no=i likliliou- to MitiVe 1 o\v. in the fig.cest b?ttle, oik cVi onolher wil) turn fir a f i action of a -'T.ni 1 . and. with an ~il-■r.o-f. ypr-'ooetir look, lick my hand as tho'.iß' 1 to my. "Tin* qrorrel i« lot with you." Mo-* of the <lo<s^ l-o.\c then chums. \iilh whom they clo not fight, e< en in o general

"set to." when a dozpn <v bf aie iu\o'veJ. I ljr!ie"\ c th.s- fi.eud-.hip i.o'tU good, though the pace it oQneially too f<';- •m-1 fur.ou-- for taking ucciiri'tc no'.e=. I b'.\'e\e tl-at the roa'-on of tins fighting i- tbat t!>p dogs have b?pn collected fiom dift'eicn* settlements., v. hpre doubtless the f-pr-u'Mi* scarcity of food cau^r- tl.em to rt - r nt bitteilv the intrusion of s-trana^i-. 1 ha\e i eared a number of pups, which are growing up peaceably to-

gether and do not fight In the T/ay described. Nansen notes the same thing with regard to his when he vi rites :—"ln: — "In respect to temper there was> a great difference between the generation of dogs we had originally taken on board and those we now had. While the former were great fighters, perpetually at feud with each other, and often to the death, the latter were exceedingly quiet and well-behaved." The climate of Stewart Inland seems to agree remaikably well with the dogs, as I have not lost one dog or pup from disease since they were landed in March, 1930, and I have good accounts of several that have been taken further north. A. W. Teaill. ♦