I am surprised at how much of a food shortage there was in the Arctic circa
the early 1900s.

Stefansson talks of starvation among Eskimo, whole tribes starving to death.

Seems like the population was kept in harmony with the food supply by
unfortunately, starvation.  Just like deer will starve to death in a 'lean
' year.

In addition, the introduction of rifle in the Arctic made it so much easier
to get caribou, that the herds began to get wiped out.