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 1 
 
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 6 
 
MKMCOfV MSOIUTION TUT CHAIT 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2' 
 
 A 
 
 >1PPLIED IIVHGF 
 
 1S53 EoM Hoin StrMI 
 RochMlw N,. Yort, ,4609 US* 
 (716) «a2 - 0300 - »»,» ^ 
 
 (716) 2U - S9a9 - fo. 
 
,/./■ r 
 
 CANADA 
 
 LBPARTMBNT OF MINES 
 
 OBOl 'OIOAXi SUXVUT 
 
 Hon. BMitt Roena, Mimutu; A. P. Low. Dwdtt limimi; 
 R. W. B«oc«, DiucTOR. 
 
 MEMOIR No. 30 
 
 THK 
 
 BASINS 
 
 OF 
 
 NEl^ON AND CHURCHILL RIVERS 
 
 WILIIAH HoINNES 
 
 OTTAWA 
 
 OOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU 
 
 1913 
 
 Xa. 1226 
 
Yd 
 
3 
 
 6 
 
 e 
 
 g 
 
 £ 
 U 
 
 2210« 
 
C'ANAJIA 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF MINES 
 
 OBOLOaiCAL SUKTBT 
 
 Hod. Komit Kwiu«. MiNinrii. A. »'. low, Drrrtv MiNi»r»«; 
 K. W. Hmii K. iMnn-riH:. 
 
 
 M£MOIR No. ao 
 
 •I'MK 
 
 i 
 
 BASINS 
 
 or 
 
 NEI^N AND CHURCHILL RIVERS 
 
 WILLIAlt MoINHES 
 
 
 OTTAWA 
 UOVKRNMKXT PKINTI.Nt; lUrKKAl 
 
 I9l:t 
 
 -j2ioe 
 
 Nu. luw 
 
K. W. ltH<N K, KiKJ.. 
 
 Dir««cror, (N-oloffiiul Survey. 
 IVptirtiiieDt of Miiip*. 
 
 SiH- I lit^ to »iiliinit the fcillowiiiK I'limrt on an arua wei"t ol 
 Ifu'lstin Im.v !• ihrufinjr piirt of tlk> Fnivinc. ,,t Sa-kutilifwuii iin ' 
 part of tlio North Wt«Ht Tt-rritorips of Ouniidu: uwoniiumif.! Ii.v a u<-« 
 \>tgifa\ iniip on ii »c'h1c of Ifl inih-n to oiip ini'h. 
 
 I have the honour to lie, Sir, 
 
 Your olH>tli<>nt servant. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 Ottawa, mil. 
 
 William Melnre*. 
 
TABLE OF CORTEHTS. 
 
 P«r,»., 
 I'etter of transmittal. 
 
 lotrodaotion i 
 
 History 1 
 
 Summary of RM>lo«icaI work 3 
 
 Topocraphy ..., 4 
 
 Urainase :, 
 
 Xelion river '< 
 
 Churchill river .'i 
 
 Hayes river li 
 
 Lakes li 
 
 Inhabitants 7 
 
 Fauna 7 
 
 Transportation 9 
 
 Cammercial poseibilities i 
 
 Fisheries «» 
 
 Timber 10 
 
 Water-powers II 
 
 Climate 13 
 
 Records of temperatures ] 4 
 
 Detailed table of temperatui-i-s 14 
 
 Summary of temperatures 17 
 
 Abstract of temperatures in Manitoba IK 
 
 Agricultural lands 20 
 
 Clay-covered basin 21 
 
 Description of rontes of travel 27 
 
 Saskatchewan river 2X 
 
 Carrot river 28 
 
 Churchill river 2!l 
 
 Reindeer river 30 
 
 Little Churchill river 31 
 
 Prince Albert to the Churchill v, 
 
 Cumberland lake to the Churchill 3B 
 
 Graseberry River route 37 
 
 KisHissing River route 38 
 
 Itoutes to Reed lake and Gras^ river 38 
 
 Burntwood and Grans rivers 38 
 
 Nelson River route 41 
 
 Hayes River route 41 
 
 General geology 45 
 
 Table of formations 4<i 
 
 Igneous 47 
 
 Pre-Cambrian 47 
 
 GrenviUe 4g 
 
 Lac LaRonge and adioining regions 48 
 
VI 
 
 <;K0i,O(iICAI, SUKVEV, CANADA 
 
 «»<noial geology -Continued. **»o«:- 
 
 Ke^wtttin 
 
 Wapawekka Lake belt ............!.'.'![ ** 
 
 Amisk Lake belt '?" 
 
 Keed Lake area '* 
 
 Wekusko Lake area [ *' 
 
 Pipe Lake area [][]] *- 
 
 Cross Lake area ^ 
 
 Huronian ^ 
 
 •■Vthabaska Sandstone ** 
 
 Ordorician ** 
 
 Kossils , *** 
 
 -Northeast boundary of Ordovician ?? 
 
 Silurian "' 
 
 Devonian *- 
 
 Cretaceous ** 
 
 Wapawekka Lake beds *? 
 
 Paskwia Hills section ". ^l 
 
 I'ost Tertiary and Kecent .........!... tl 
 
 Detailed description of rivers and lakes -» 
 
 Nelson river _ 
 
 Burntwood river "" 
 
 Cluirchill river .....'.'.'.. "** 
 
 Southern Indian liike **" 
 
 Hayes Kiver route ** 
 
 Soundings in Hayes and Nelson riWrs ^, 
 
 Hudson bay " "' 
 
 Ice conditions 
 
 Weather conditions ^* 
 
 General navigation . 
 
 Compasses J 
 
 Tides and currents '' 
 
 Ports Nelson und Churchill .... „i 
 
 TiJes *' 
 
 Shelter ** 
 
 Ice •••''■'^'■■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■.'.■.'.■.■..;;;:; "^ 
 
 Saskatchewan river 
 
 Carrot river "* 
 
 Keindeer lake '** 
 
 Wollaston lake ■•••••.................. "o 
 
 Southern Indian lake "" 
 
 Reed lake V.V.V.V.V. "'^ 
 
 Cormorant lake "." "5 
 
 Atikameg lake ''" 
 
 Amisk lake ............!! "! 
 
 (ilaciatioD 
 
 Olacial stris "** 
 
 Potholes '^ 
 
 Lake Agassiz 
 
 125 
 
XKLSON AND CnURCim.I. RIVERS 
 
 Vii 
 
 _ PAor. 
 
 Goonomic Keologir |i>^ 
 
 Oold 128 
 
 Silver ]2f) 
 
 Copper ' ]<2f) 
 
 Molybdenum ]28 
 
 Iron I2(( 
 
 Coal 131 
 
 Oil-shales jgg 
 
 *"=» 134 
 
 Salt , J4 
 
 Amber ]35 
 
 Olass Hand j3(j 
 
 Lime Ijg 
 
 Brick m 
 
 Building stone ]3f) 
 
 Bibliography 139 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 Photograph*. 
 Plate I. Churchill river from Mountain portage; a view char- 
 
 aoterintic of the Pre-Cambrian region Fbontispibck. 
 
 II- Sturgpon-wier river, Saskatchewan 6 
 
 III. Cormorants' nests with young birds, on a boulder islet 
 
 in Suggi lake, July 2 g 
 
 IV. Uprooted trunk of white spruce, Candle river I0 
 
 V. Fall on Rapid river near the Churchill ]2 
 
 VI. Running rapid below Oxford House, Hayes river 42 
 
 VII. Hayes river, below Painted Rock portage 42 
 
 VIII. Rapid above the Rock, Hayes river 44 
 
 IX. Namew lake, in the limestone country north of the 
 
 Saskatchewan 4lj 
 
 X. Palnozoic, magnesian limestone, Namew lake, canoe 
 
 men in the foreground 62 
 
 XI. Sea-river fall. Nelson river 70 
 
 XII. Rock lake, an expansion of Churchill river 82 
 
 XIII. Pseudo-conglomerate (Pre-Cambrian), Southern Indian 
 
 lake ^ 
 
 XIV. Trout fall, above Knee lake, Hayes river "gg 
 
 XV. Cree Indian camp. Knee lake Og 
 
 XVI. Candle river, a view typical of the Saskatchewan valley 
 
 as the higher land is approached 102 
 
 XVII. Cut ofl, west end of Cumberland lake, an estuary in 
 
 process of being silted up 104 
 
 " XVIII. York boats, returning from Oxford House lOg 
 
 XIX. Lignite .seam, Wapawekka lake. Saskatchewan 131 
 
 Map. 
 Map No. 1226 (58A). Nelson and Churchill river-, Saskatchewan, and 
 
 North West Territories Ekd. 
 
THE BASINS 
 
 or 
 
 NELSON AND CHURCHILL RIVERS 
 
 BT 
 
 William Mclnnes. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 On account of the increasing demands for information alwut 
 the country between Saskatchewan river and Hudsrn bay, and from 
 the fact that a considerable amount of new information, both geo- 
 graphical and geological, in reference to the region, was available, it 
 was deemed advisable to compile and publish the accompanyiii<?; map 
 sheet. 
 
 The map covers a rectangular area of about 220,000 square miles, 
 having Fort Churchill at the northeast corner and Prince Albert at 
 the southwest. The geological boundaries are laid down with 
 accuracy only where they cross, or occur in the vicinity of lakes or 
 rivers; elsewhere, owing to the extent of the region covered, tliey 
 are necessarily only app ximate. 
 
 In writing the descriptive report, the published writings of other 
 explorers have been freely drawn upon for accounts of the parts of 
 the district not visited by the writer. 
 
 A series of forty thin sections of the rocks of the district was 
 examined under the microscope by Mr. Leopold Reinecke, and many 
 of the names of the rocks used in the report are based on his descrip- 
 tions. 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 The historic period for the country adjoining Hudson buy u:ay 
 be said to begin with the visits of early explorers who sought the 
 bay in the quest for a northwest passage to China and the Indies. 
 
 The inland region to the south was reached first by fur-traders 
 from French Canada; Richardson states that the Indians of the 
 lower Saskatchewan sold their furs to French Canadian traders as 
 early as 1G97. Permanent trading posts were not established until 
 about the middle of the eighteenth century ; one of the earliest being 
 2210S-1 
 
 I 
 
OKOLOOICAL BVRTKT, CANADA. 
 
 at the head of Cedar lake, where Verendrye built a fort in 1748 or 
 1749; the pott at La Come was iounded in 1753, and that at the 
 mouth of the Paskwia river in 1756. English traders do not seem to 
 have reached this district until 1770 or a few years earlier, though 
 the northern portion was reached by Henry Kelsey in 1691-3, '<nd 
 the Saskatchewan region in 1754-5 by Anthony Hendry, both of 
 whom started from Hudson bay in the interests of the Hudson' . Bay 
 Company. This great Company was founded by merchants of 
 England, who after a number of private ventures in the seventeenth 
 century became convinced that an important tr^ue could be estab- 
 lished with the coimtries around the bay. A charter was granted by 
 Charles II in 1670 to Prince Rupert and a number of associates, 
 who were called ' The Governor and Company of Adventurers of 
 England trading into Hudson's Bay,' giving them all the land" whose 
 waters drained into the bay, and a monopoly of the trade of the 
 region. Posts were established at the mouths of Nelson, SeTem, 
 Moose, and other rivers flowing into the bay, and from these for 
 many years trade with the interior was carried on, through the 
 mediation of the coast Indians. This policy was changed only after 
 it was found that French traders, entering the country by Montreal 
 and the great lakes, were interfering seriously in the inland trade, 
 aiid the plan, which has since been pursued, of having an extensive 
 syatem of inland posts, was inaugurated. 
 
 (Cumberland House was built by Hearne in 1774, and there is a 
 local tradition in the neighbourhood that the post at Moose lake was 
 established a few years before that at Cumberland. Before the end 
 of the centurj', posts hml been established at a great number of 
 places throughout the region. From that time to the present a large 
 trade in raw furs has been carried on with the Ijidians of the 
 district; for many years by rival English and Canadian companies. 
 In 1808 the two Canadian con-.panies — the X Y Company and the 
 N. W. Company — \mited and continued as the N. W. Company, and 
 between them and the Hudson's Bay (/orapany a coalition was formed 
 in 18li, and the name and charter of the ' ;t named Company was 
 retained: the Hudson'^ Bay Company for the remainder of the 
 century had only unorganized free traders to compete with. Becently 
 Revillon Brothers, a French company, have invaded the field, and 
 hare established fur trading posts in the vicinity of most of the old 
 forts of the Hudson's Bay Company. 
 
BASINS OF NKI.HON AlfD CHPHCHILL HIVBRS. 
 
 a 
 
 SUMMARY OF GEOLOGICAL WORK. 
 Durinc the lummer of 1906 the writer descended Nebon rWer 
 to Split kke and made an examination of the region lying betiraen 
 that lake and the Pas, on the Saskatchewan. During the coune of 
 the exploration Bumtwood, File, and Grass rivera were examined, 
 also the lakes lying north of the Pas. In 1907, Carrot river was 
 surveyed, and the northern and eastern slopes of the Paskwia bills 
 were examined. In 1908, n sur^■ey was made of Southern Indian 
 iHkc, which occupies a large l)Osin in the Churchill valley in lati- 
 tude 68°, and the Churchill river was examined between that lake 
 and Lac LaRonge. In 1900, Wapawekka lake was surveyed and a 
 large part of Lac LaRonge; an examination was also made of 
 Xeweiben lake and part of Churchill river above the mouth of Rapid 
 river. In 1910, Deschambanlt lake and river and Grassberry river 
 were surveyed, and an examination was made of Amisk lake and of 
 Candle river and the western part of Cumberland lake. 
 
 The remaining portions of the region covered by the map sheet 
 have been examined more or less closely by many difierent explorers 
 whose names will be given in the references. Outside the writer, 
 those principally responsible for the geological colouring and descrip- 
 tions are Bell, Cochrane, MeConnoll. Tyrrell, Low, and Dowling, all 
 of the Geological Survey. 
 
 Bell's work was done in tlie years 1«77 to 1880, and covered 
 ■ hiefly the valleys of Nelson and Iluyes rivers and the Hudson Bay 
 region ; and Cochrane explored part of the country in the neighbour- 
 hood of Reindeer lake in 1881, Berens river in 1882, and. previous to 
 tliat. in 1877, had explored Oods and Island lakes. 
 
 lx)W explore<l the route leading from Lake Winnipeg to liutlson 
 bay. by way of Berens and Severn rivers, in 188.''>. 
 
 McConnell explored the country lying to the west of the area of 
 the map sheet in 1889 and 1S90, and, though his work does not 
 appear on the map, it lay so dose that it has been of value for 
 purposes of correlation. 
 
 Tyr-ell explored part of northwestern Manitoba in 1888 and 
 follow;.;- years to 1891 ; the country between Churchill river and 
 Athabaska lake wi 1802 ; and parts of northern Manitoba and eastern 
 Saskatchewan from 189.5 to 1899; and Dowling, between the years 
 1890 and 1899, made explorations in nortliern ^fanitoba and eastern 
 .and central Saskatchewan. 
 221M-1I 
 
♦ OKOLoaioAL auBvey, oakada. 
 
 The work done by each of the«e, aa well a« by other explorer* 
 will appear in the references throughout the report and in the bihlio- 
 Kraphy. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 The region, broadly eonsidere.l, forma part of the extenaiv,. Pre- 
 Cambrian peneplain of northern Canada, encroached upon, to the 
 northeMt. south, and west, by more recent, flat lying, wdimentarv 
 rooks. Ihe peneplain surface haa an elevation, in the northwestern 
 part of the area, of from 1,.300 to 1,500 feet above the sea, but gradu- 
 ally diminishes in height eastward to the broad declivity thro.igl. 
 which Nelson and Hayes rivers, and. in part, Churchill river, flow 
 to the sea. In the neighbourhood of 8ipiwe«k lake, which lies nlKJUt 
 m the middle of the depressed area, the elevation of the Mirface 
 above sea-level is about 600 feet. There are no high elevations, au.l 
 tlie general level of the interstream areas is not more than 100 to m 
 feet aboT e the level of the streams. 
 
 The plateau has a gently rolling surface characterized by 
 rounded outlines which have resulted from long continued and pro- 
 found erosion. It is intersected by rivers and streams innumerable 
 and IS dotted with lakes of all sizes. The river valleys are moderately 
 depressed, and are made up generally of chains of rock-boun.I basins 
 which form series of lake-like expansions along the rivers, tlie water 
 •piUmg over the lowest part of the rims and flowing from basin to 
 basin with swift current or over a succession of rapids and falls. 
 
 The surface is wooded throughout, though, except in the valleys 
 Of the higer •tnamt. the forest growth is of small size (Plate I) 
 North of latitude 66" or thereabouts, the forest is mainly black 
 spruce and tamarack of stunted growth, a growth which characterizes 
 also the muskeg portions of the southern area. 
 
 To the northeast, where the horizontal limestones of the Hudson 
 Bay basin overlie the older rocks, the surface is of the nature of a 
 gently sloping, flat plain. The level character is due, in pari, to the 
 horizontal attitude of the rocks and, in part, to a covering mantle 
 of boulder clay of somewhat uniform thickness. In this, and to some 
 extent in the underlying, solid rock, the rivers have trenched narrow 
 channels, which constitute the only breaks in the surface 
 
 The overlap of the Cretaceous sediments to the south is marked 
 for a hundred miles we.t of Lake Winaipegosis by the bold escarp- 
 
BASINS OF NICLSON AND ClIL'KCIIII.t. RIVKKS. Tf 
 
 ments of the Porfiipine uiul I'liskwia hills, ami farther weit by the 
 equally high but gently alopintf outlines of the Wapawekka hillii. 
 
 The countrs- about Montreal hue and east of it it characteriMd 
 by heavy occiiniiilationx of drift, which form somewhat prominent 
 hills that reach heights of over 2,000 feet above the sea. 
 
 DRAINAGE. 
 
 The whole of the area under consideration, except a small tract 
 in the northwest corner, is drained by rivers Huwing to Hudson bay; 
 of these, the Nelson and (Jhurchill are the largest, the first named 
 taking rank among the half-dtzen largest rivers of the continent. 
 
 The Nelson, which empties from Lake Winnipeg into Hudson 
 bay, is 1,660 miles in length, measured to the head of its longest 
 tributary, the Bow, and drains an area of 370,800 square miles, of 
 which about 313,000 square miles are in Canada. Its drainage basin 
 embraces all the country, westward to the mountains, lying between 
 the watersheds of Churchill and Athabaska rivers to the north an<? 
 the ^lissouri to the south, and eastward to the head-waters of Albany 
 river and to within 60 miles of the head of Lake Superior. 
 
 Its volume is computeil to be n8,.369' cubic feet per second at 
 extreme low water, measured just below Sipiwesk lake and above the 
 inflow of the large tributaries, Clearwater, Grass, and fiumtwood 
 rivers. The river is made up, by the union in Lake Winnipeg, of 
 the Saskatchewan, Red, Assiniboine, Winnipeg, Serena, and many 
 smaller rivers, and is augmented in vohime after leaving the lake by 
 receiving several large tributaries. 
 
 The water of the river is somewhat murky from suspended sedi- 
 ment, but gradually clears as it passes through the numerous lake 
 expansions along its course, thus the amount of matter in suspen- 
 sion is 2-666 grains per imperial gallon below Lake Winnipeg and 
 only 0-552 grains near the moutli. The water of the Saskatchewan, 
 near Cumberland, was found to contain 16(50 grains of solid matter 
 to the imperial gallon,* while that of the Nelson, below Sea-river 
 falls, contained 171 grains,' and at its mouth. 12-528 grains. 
 
 The Churchill is 1,000 miles in length and has a drainage basin 
 115,600 square miles in area. The water along part of the river's 
 course is slightly murky. It contains above the mouth of Reindeer 
 
 >Dept. of Public Works 1911. Nelson River, Report upon Reconnaissance Survey. 
 'Report of Progress, Geol. 8urv., Canada, 1881-2-3, p. 6 H. 
 •Report of Progrew, Geol. Snr>-., Canada, 187»-«0, p. 78 C. 
 
• OBOLOOICAL BUBVIV, OAKADA. 
 
 d*' I.k« .nd dr.inin,, „ it doe., p.n of th, P^-O^briw pZ 
 
 ^"!!':,. r'T *'^' :'»"• ~n'«inin» 2.08 ,«in, of dJ^ohad «,Hd 
 nmtr to the in^erial gslloii.' 
 
 .bout 88.0( «,„.r, mile, ,„ ,rea, dwin. . bolt .long tb. outon 
 11 the .wa mapped; it. water i. rwn.rk.bly fro. f«,m ,u». 
 
 The tract to the northwe.t, above referred to. .heda iu water 
 
 lake.. 
 
 tlu. ^tu '"* T """""""' throughout the area, particularly i, 
 the northern and eaatem part, where inequalities of the ,urf«e^ 
 re.ult.ng from .tructural c«u«« and from unequal d«>ay and erodon 
 of the older rock., are not corered by later .edimenU nor filled, to 
 
 Ind clljr "* '" **" **"'*''• •*' ^'""♦^"•'y •"«»•. ««'«K 
 
 Be.ide. Lake Winnipeg, with an area of 9,460 «,uare mile* 
 mo.tIy outaide the ar a of the map sheet, the largeat lake. ar. Rein. 
 J I' 'TJ'*^ **'""* ""***= Wollaaton, 900 square mile.; Southern 
 Indian. 800 square miles, and Etawney, which ha. not been explored 
 m the norther:, region; Lac LaRonge, 400 square mile., at the 
 border of the Paheozoic area of sedimentary rocks; and Mooae 
 about 400 square miles, and Oedar, about 300 square mile., in th« 
 Sari^atchewan Valley region. Smaller lake, in great number, .r, 
 .eattered over the region, many, which lie at a distance from ant 
 •urveyed route, not appearing on the map. All the large lake, m 
 rtown and most of those that attain even a considerable size, but it 
 V be awumed that over aU the country not deeply drift covered, 
 jjall lalrea are everywhere plentiful. 
 
 ■Report o(Pro«rflw,G 
 •Report of PrnRrem, ( 
 
 rv., Canada, p. 6 H. 
 ty., Canada, DTft-SO, p. 
 
I'LiTK ir. 
 
 
 2210C-P. B. 
 
 SttirgMin-wier river, Saakabbewan. 
 
 Phnto bii W. Melnnti. I'H0. 
 
BAaiMit or XKIJION AND CIII'KCIIILI. IIIVRm. 7 
 
 INHABITANTS. 
 
 Tb* NfioB i* •till iu a wild ttate except in t)t« louthwMt coraar, 
 whara thara are protparout lettlimiantt, with tba city of Prinoa 
 Albart, population about 8,000, a* a centre, and in tba lower Satkat- 
 ohawan vallaj, wbc<ra a tuwu i» fait growing at tba Pu, tbe tem- 
 porary tanniniia of the Hudson Baj railway. Hettlemant it 
 extending north also from itationt on the Prince Albert branch of 
 tba Canadian Northern railway, into the Carrol River valley in the 
 neighbourhood of Loat rivjr. 
 
 Tba only other brvuk* in tho wildemeca are wliere a few houici 
 duatar about the |>u«tt of the fur trading eompaniea and tha 
 Ifiiaionii 
 
 Elwwbere, the country it inhabited by Indiana, to whom are 
 allotted certain reaervation* of land, but who for tbe mott part make 
 a livelihood by hunting over the unoccupied land. The Indiana 
 number about 4,600, divided into Hwampy, Wood, and Plain Craaa, 
 of whom there are about 4,100 scattered over the region generally 
 (Plata XV); Ohipawyana, numbering perhapi 800, liTing in the 
 northwect; Saulteaux, numbering 100, occupying reaerraa on Lake 
 Winnipeg and near the head of Carrot river; and Sioux, numberinl 
 about 60, d eace n danta of Bitting Bull'a band, who an looatad on . 
 •mrll reaerve to tbe north of Prince Albert. On lonw of the reaervea 
 to the louth imall famia are cultivated, but generally over the region 
 the Indians depend for a living upon hunting and fishing. 
 
 On th<> whole they seem to he slightly on the increase, though 
 certain band^ who are isolated from their kind by distance are 
 decreasing in namberg. A few Kskiu:oa come south from the barrt < 
 grounda to the Iludson Bay post at lieindeer lake to trade thair 
 catches of furs for necessaries, and a few come down the west coast 
 of Hudson bay to Fori Churchill. 
 
 FAUNA. 
 
 The region i« well stocked with the larger wild animals of the 
 deer family. To the north, in winter, barren grround caribou, 
 Rangifer groenlandictu, are plentiful; lar^e herds come as far south 
 as Reindeer lake and the middle of Southern Indian lake daring the 
 period of their annual winter migration southwards. They were 
 encountered by Tyrrell, in July, on Dubawnt river, about 900 milea 
 
8 
 
 OKOLOUICAL SURVEY, C.\X.\nA. 
 
 farther north, in verv h,rgo her.ls, nun.borinK many thousand 
 niiimals. In early winter Inrlinns from Churchill river travel north 
 In inl..ir,|,t il,,. inivlHiii; hcnls ti. sooiiro n supply of meat. 
 
 The woodland caribou, Hangifer caribou, is not uncommon in 
 the wooded region to tlic south of that frequented by the barren 
 ground variety. 
 
 Moose. Alcex amerlca>iu.'<, uru eommon as far north as Churchill 
 river and a little beyond, and are particularly plentiful in the part of 
 the Saskatchewan valley bordering the low, swampy area. In the 
 valleys of Carrot and Candle rivers they wore found to be very 
 numerous. 
 
 With them are found omisional Wapiti, Cervus canadensis; 
 juniping deer, Odocoileii.s hvmionus, and Whitetails, Odocoileus vir- 
 ginianus horealis. 
 
 Fur bearing aninnils. though not so plentiful as they once were, 
 occur in fair numbe^^'; they include: — 
 
 Black bear, Ursu.i amr,i<nnii.i; otter, Liiira canadensis; wolf, 
 Canis occidenlaVis; coyote. Canis htrans; lyn.x. Lynx canadensis; 
 mink, Pulorius vU„n: w.-ns,.]. riilonus sp.; l,eavcr. Oaifor cana- 
 densis ; fisher, Mustela peniututi ; marten, Mttsiela amei-icana abi- 
 etecola; wolverine, Gulo luscus; muskrat, Filer zihethirus; skunk, 
 Mephitus hudsonicus ; and foxes, Vulpes. 
 Snudlor iiiiin:nK includr : 
 
 Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum ; rabbit or hare, Lepus ameri- 
 cainis; woodehuck, }fannola iiwnax canadensis; and Red, Ground, 
 and Flying squirrels; Little ehipmunks; and Rophers. lemmings.' 
 mice, voles, shrews, and bats. 
 
 Game birds, including wild geese, wild ducks, and several varie- 
 ues of grouse, are fairly numerous. They all nest in the region in 
 limited numbers wherever suitable breeding grounds are found. 
 During the spring nnd .uitumn migration to and from the breeding 
 grounds near Hudson bay, the lakes, scattered over the low lands of 
 the Saskatchewan, fairly swurm with ge.se and dueks, and during 
 these seasons they iire taken in large numbers by the Indians A 
 large variety of other binls bre<.d in the district; notable among 
 them are |K>lican8 and .•ormorants, which nest in great numbers on 
 -mall rocky j.Icf. i„ tb(^ biko« north of the Saskatchewan (Plate 
 
 'Guul. Surv., Ciiniulii, Annual l{i|H>rt, Vol. I.\, liS!«i, I*|. I". 
 
22106-p. 8. 
 
 
 9 
 
 
BASINS OF XKLSON AND CHURCIIILI. RIVKIIS. 
 
 
 
 The principal useful vurieties of fish occurring in the inland 
 waters are sturgeon, whiteti*h, lake trout, dorc, pike, and goldeyes. 
 
 TKANSPORTATIOX. 
 
 The southern part of the area n.apped may now be reached by the 
 Prince Albert branch of the Canadian Northern railway, and by a 
 branch constructed from the main line to the Pas on Saskatchewan 
 river. 
 
 The proposed Hudson Bay railway when built will make the 
 northern part more accessible, but the greater part of that area will, 
 even after the building of the railway, be reached only by means of 
 canoes and York boats or other craft suitable for na-igating swift 
 rivers, where numerous falls and rapids nece-sitntc niany portages 
 (Plate I' 
 
 COMAI KHOIAL ]'< )SSIHILIT1 F.S. 
 
 The commercial po-sil.ilities of the region are great and varied. 
 It contains, in the southern part, large areas of land suitable for 
 settlement; its fisheries promise to 1h3 important and, under proper 
 restrictions, could be carried on commercially without the depletion 
 of the waters. The timber, though confined principally to a belt on 
 both sides of the Saskatchewan and its tributaries, is an important 
 asset. Over the northern portion the trnilc in fur.-' is of very con- 
 siderable value. 
 
 There is reason to hope that the region will be found to contain 
 valuable minerals; it is traversed by several belts of Keewatin rocks 
 (which probably include also areas of Huroiiiau), and these, f.o;- 
 our experience of like rucks elsewhere, may be looked upon as afford- 
 ing promising fields for the search for valual)!.- minerals. Similar 
 areas in central Canada have been found to contain many valuable 
 deposits of ore, including ores of iron, nickel, silver, and gold. The 
 minerals of the district are dealt with more fully in the chapter nn 
 ' Economic Geology.' 
 
 Fisheries. 
 
 Commercial fishing promises to be an important industry in the 
 district, when, by the construction of the Hudion Bay railway, it is 
 made accessible. 
 
10 
 
 OXOLOOIOAL BCBTBT, CANADA. 
 
 The lakes end riven tribuUiy to the NeUon end Ohurohill, u 
 well u these rivers themselves, are well stocked with sturgeon, and 
 in most of the lakes whitefish are plentiful. Lake trout may be 
 caught in the clear water lakes, and dor£ and pike are abundant in 
 almost all the lakes and streams. 
 
 The salt water fisheries of Hudson bay are sure to be of great 
 importance. Although the fish occurring in the bay have not yet been 
 studied thoroughly, it is known that many kinds suitable for food 
 occur plentifully. Among the known varieties are whitefish and trout 
 which are caught in the shallower partb of the bay, especially in tha 
 estuaries of the rivers; the Arctic salmon, which is plentiful along 
 the east coast, and codfish, the presence of which has been established, 
 though whether they are abundant or not is not known. Whether 
 they are found to be plentiful or not, it seems probable that the bay 
 might be successfully stocked with these fish, since it is known that 
 cod may be readily propagated artificially, and the conditions of ^ood 
 supply and water are favourable. The deeper waters of the bay and 
 straits have not been explored. 
 
 Whaling has been carried on profitably for ri^-- years in the 
 waters to the north of the bay proper, and r' , whales or porpoise 
 are plentiful in the bay itself. 
 
 Ti-qilier. 
 
 Though the district as a whole, with the exception of small tracts 
 in the southern part, is woo<led, there are but small areas within its 
 boundaries in which the forest growth is of a size to be commercially 
 of much value, and these are confined to the southern part and to 
 limited stretches of river valley in the northern part. The timber 
 tree of the region is the white spruce (,Picea alha), though the black 
 spruce (Ftcea nigra) attains a 4tze suitable for pulpwood. The 
 deciduous trees that attain merchantable measurements are the white 
 birch (Betula papyrifera), the aspen and balsam pcplar (Populus 
 irtmuloides and P. halsamea), and the tamarack (Larix amerieana). 
 
 Along the western side of the Faskvria hills and over the shoulder 
 of those hills crossed by the Pacific Northern railway, there are exten- 
 sive forests of white spruce which are now the basis of a large 
 lumbering industry. In the region to the northwest of Prince 
 Albert, lying, however, for the most part outside the limits of the 
 area mapped, are extensive tracts of (rood spruce from which the 
 

 3 
 
 22106- n 10. 
 
BAUX8 or irCLSOV AND CHUBOUILL UVBR8. 
 
 11 
 
 Urce lumberinar companies of Prince Albert derive their supply of 
 logs. 
 
 The principal tracts of good spruce minatning are situated io 
 the Saskatchewan valley and in the valleys tributary to it, though 
 small groves of good size occur along most of the streams, and 
 scattered trees grow very large (Plate TV). 
 
 Forest fires have swept over most of the ama at different times 
 in the past and have destroyed much valuable timber. Only very 
 wet, muskeg areas and tracts surrounded by lakes and swamps have 
 escaped the repeated fires — the occurrence of two fires at intervals of 
 40 years was plainly indicated by the charred stumps on the uplands 
 south of Bumtwood river. 
 
 Carelessness on the part of travellers seems to have been the 
 main nause of the fires, since violent storms with lightning are not 
 common in the district. 
 
 The campaign of education being carried on by the Forestry 
 department seems to be showing results in the greater care now 
 exercised by many of the travelling Indians in regard to the spread 
 of fire; and there is reason to hope that in time large tracts will be 
 again reforested with trees of commercial size. 
 
 On the shifting sandbars and low islands and banks of the 
 Saskatchewan, all along the portion of the valley east of Squaw 
 rapid, the tall, straight rods of young willow, Salix hngifera, form 
 dense thickets, which are being renewed as the bars shift and as new 
 land is being built up. There seems to be an opportunity here, now 
 that access can be had to the river by railway, for the establishment 
 of a willow-furniture and basket making industry. 
 
 Water-powen. 
 
 The total amount of power capable of being developed from the 
 many falls and rapids which occur on the rivers within the area, is 
 almost incalculable. Some of the rivers are of great volume and all, 
 along parts of thel. /Urses, have rapid descents. 
 
 Of the rivfirs, the Nelson, by reason of its great volume and 
 numerous falls, is the Kost important from the point of view of 
 power development. Between Lake Winnipeg and Split lake, a 
 distance of about 230 miles, the river has a descent of 340 feet, and 
 between Split lake and the sea, 200 miles, a descent of 470 feet. The 
 greatest fall occurs in the portions of the river between Gross and 
 
I'a 
 
 OKOLOOIOAL HUBVEY, CA5A1>A. 
 
 •Sipiwesk lukt>j, wliere there i» a total deoceut of over <»> feet in 2^ 
 miles, and between Gull lake and the foot of Limestone rapid, where 
 the descent n 306 feet in about 07 uiiles. There are a great many 
 lake expansions along: the eourse of the river, and between them, 
 rapids and falls, to the number of fifteen or more, occur. Some of 
 the falls oifer exci-Uont sites for water-power plonts, and at aeveral 
 the vertical drop is considerable: at £bb-and-Flow rapid there is a 
 fall of 11 feet; nt Whitemud full, 30 feet; at Bladder rapid, where 
 the whole river Hows in one cluinnel fi>r the first time after leaving 
 Playgreen Jokc, II feet; at Over the Hill rapid, 10 feet; at Red- 
 rock, 10 feet ; at Orund rapid, 20 feet ; at lower Gull rapid, 60 feet ; 
 and at Kettle, lx)ns; Spruce, and Liniestone riipids. drops of 60 feet 
 within a mile or so of distance. 
 
 When the great volume of the river is taken into consideration, 
 nuiounting to 118,309 cubic feet per second ot low water, or about 
 four times the volume tlowing over the Chnudi6re falls at Ottawa 
 and one and a half times that at Sault Ste. ilnrie, it will be seen 
 that the total nnionnt of available power is very great. 
 
 Other high falls are Missi fall on Churchill river, ju&t below 
 Southern Indian lake, where the vertical descent is in the neighbour- 
 hood of 20 feet; Grand rapids, at the mouth of the Saskatchewan, 
 with a descent of iit>nrly 100 feet ; a full 30 feet in height on Bapid 
 river near the Churchill (Plato V), and Mannzo fall on Bumtwood 
 river whore the vertical drop is about 30 feet. Tn addition to these, 
 falls and rapids almost innumerable oci;ur along the courses of all 
 the rivers and streams of the region. 
 
 In a report on the water-powers of Canada, published by the 
 Commission of Conservation in 1911, an estimate is made of the 
 horse-power available nt a few of the falls and rapids within the 
 district. On the Saskatchewan the estimate is made for oi.ly two of 
 the rapids, namely: — 
 
 Cole rapid, minimum H.P 14,700 
 
 Grand rapid, minimum IT.P 80,000 
 
I'l.ATK V. 
 
 2in6-p. 12. 
 
 "holo 1,11 W. Mclnwa, VHO. 
 Fall on Kapid rivtr, near the Churchill. 
 
BAalRil or XHtMOX AlfD OHURCIIIM. RIVKKM. 
 
 1.-! 
 
 On Iho NeUon river tlie lior»«-|>ower it oaloiilatfKj for eleven 
 rapiUt, and aggtcgaU'* tt,>*5P,00it, divided at followt:— 
 
 AppnniiiiulH Kariiiintcil 
 hffttd, in h(>rm*-piiwi'r. 
 
 I.tinritmiv nipii) 
 
 I.(in« Sprure rapid 
 
 Kettle rapid... 
 
 (lull rapid 
 
 Hirthday rapid 
 
 Oritnd rapid 
 
 Rapid* ■U.v r Sipiwcnk lulic. 
 
 HIadder rapid 
 
 W hitemud (ull 
 
 Kbb-aad-Flow rapid 
 
 Hapid* above Crow lalcc 
 
 as 
 
 1.140,000 
 
 u 
 
 I.I40.UU0 
 
 M 
 
 1. ■-•«), IWO 
 
 67 
 
 two, 000 
 
 24 
 
 320, WM 
 
 20 
 
 27C,UUO 
 
 31 
 
 4I«,IXIU 
 
 I0« 
 
 147,000 
 
 ao 
 
 403,000 
 
 It 
 
 148,000 
 
 45 ' 1 
 
 1 OOS.OOO 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 Over so large an area as that included in the map there inufi'i 
 necessarily be considerable variation in the climatic conditions. It 
 may be said in a broad way 'lat all of the southern part of the area, 
 including the broad valley of the Saskatchewan and most of the 
 region lying between the Saskatchewan and Churchill river, is 
 climatically suited for agriculture. The northern limit for cultiva- 
 tion follows approximately the 55° summer isotherm which crosses 
 the central part of the area at about latitude 61" 30' ; it may be placed 
 at about the south shore of Southern Indian lake, for the central 
 part of the area, somewhat farther south for the eastern part, and 
 farther north for the western part. 
 
 The comparatively high latitudes, though they involve long and 
 cold winters, give the compensating advantages of longer days during 
 the summer months. During the three principal growing months 
 this increased length of day gives to this nortiiern area an amount 
 of possible sunshine greater by 180 hours than that of central 
 Ontario; converted into days this world mean more than ten days 
 
14 
 
 mOLOOIOAL 8CBTBT, OAVAOA. 
 
 of aadcd iunihlnt durinf thm» month*. ■ »«ry important oonaiiUrA- 
 
 tlon. 
 
 The following table givei the average maximum and minimum 
 temperaturea for the month* of July, Auguat, and September of tha 
 jeara 190«. 1907. and 19«*, compiled from records kept during the 
 ixpliirationt of thoae yenta^- 
 
 I^MBllty. 
 
 Dale. 
 
 Ave. iiiM. Avi'. ini». 
 
 I 
 
 Barntwooa KIvct v»JI*y . j July 
 
 Onw River vulley Augurt... 
 
 MMluitchcwnn vulley !8ept«mlier. 
 
 Cwrot Rlvnr valley. 
 Carrot River valley., 
 ( arnrt Klver valley.. 
 
 July 
 
 AngMt...... 
 
 Hepteraber. 
 
 ( liunshUl Kivtr vall.<y . . July 
 
 Huuthem In lian lake !AilBtt»t .... 
 
 ChurcliiU aiver valley.... jScptenber. 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 7» 
 73 
 t>2 
 
 M 
 
 47 
 •4 S 
 
 1007 
 
 
 744 ■ 
 57 
 
 32 1 
 
 47 « 
 37 I 
 
 tow 
 
 77-3 
 fUtl 
 
 aio 
 
 Kro<t im Dialit "I 
 2»tli. 
 
 Kruet OB IKlli, 
 21>t, aa<l 2«tli 
 loMth. 
 
 4S I 
 
 44. g I'ruHt 37t)i 
 2«tli. 
 
 It may be of intereat to add a more detailed tnble of tempera- 
 ture for the district between the Saskatchewan and NeUon rivert; 
 and for cowparison. a table, kindly fumi.hed by Mr. Stupart, of tha 
 Meteorological Service, of temperatures at a number of i«oi,- » m 
 Manitoba during the same season :— 
 
 Table of Temperaturea. 
 
 630 
 
 riHit 
 
 N. Lat. Dutr. ii!m. Niion. «p.m. Min.(or24 hrn. 
 
 Viilley 
 ( 'ro»» 
 
 of Xrliion rivor. 
 
 lnk)>. 
 
 Viillcy ot Xi'luon river 
 
 ., 54-15 
 ! 54—30 
 . 54—45 
 
 I 54—45 
 
 . 54-45 
 54-45 
 
 . 54—45 
 
 iwe 
 
 Timr. 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 
 50 
 50 
 40 
 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 .W 
 
 .56 
 55 
 
 4N 
 
 48 
 
 61 
 
 6H 
 68 
 
 54 
 
 52 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 60 
 64 
 
 72 
 
 ittruns N.W. 
 
 wind and rbin. 
 Strong X.W. 
 
 wind. 
 
•AMRtt or XKMON ARn OHniCHtl.l. RIVKIix. 
 
 TabU of Ttaiptnit«rt»— Tond'fiMfi/. 
 
 1.% 
 
 
 
 
 
 • » 
 
 
 
 
 Iliir. 
 
 
 l>aii'. 
 
 a.m. 
 
 \ •«. 
 
 6 p. III. 
 
 ' Min f"r 24 lir- 
 
 1 
 
 Sipiw<'i>klalif ... 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 3R 
 
 70 
 
 72 
 
 
 X'ullry (.( N'rtuna rivrr. 
 
 a- » 
 
 iff 
 
 «4 
 
 78 
 
 70 
 
 
 M II 11 
 
 M 
 
 » 
 
 no 
 
 78 
 
 78 
 
 
 tiplil l»kf 
 
 M 
 
 29 
 
 «A 
 
 70 
 
 68 
 
 wiail. 
 
 «* 
 
 M 
 
 W 
 
 SN 
 
 84 
 
 111 
 
 Htning H. V.. 
 winil. 
 
 AvcrtMCi- for Juiw... 
 
 
 July 
 
 441 
 
 831 
 
 HI) 
 
 
 t^plit Uk<* 
 
 l»- 15 
 
 1 
 
 44 
 
 76 
 
 
 
 
 M-IS 
 
 i 
 
 «t 
 
 
 
 
 •• .!''-*!.,!' 
 
 iMV^ 1.1 
 
 3 
 
 ao 
 
 72 
 
 72 
 
 
 bmrr HurntwixHt vallt-^. ... 
 
 iM 
 
 4 
 
 «3 
 
 84 
 
 NO 
 
 
 *' " '' . . 
 
 U 
 
 5 
 
 m 
 
 82 
 
 82 
 
 
 " , .. , 
 
 U 
 
 tt 
 
 64 
 
 74 
 
 72 
 
 
 •* •« *4 
 
 M 
 
 7 
 
 82 
 
 H4 
 
 72 
 
 Haiti 7 •.111, to 
 niMtti. 
 
 " 
 
 Aft— 4S 
 
 H 
 
 M 
 
 72 
 
 72 
 
 
 .. 
 
 .fiV-IA 
 
 \) 
 
 44 
 
 78 
 
 74 
 
 
 WunkwHtim I»kr 
 
 M-30 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 80 
 
 82 
 
 
 " 
 
 U-W 
 
 II 
 
 M 
 
 84 
 
 78 
 
 
 l^>w«r HurBtwo«M| vhI1i'> 
 
 SS— ts 
 
 12 
 
 .52 
 
 52 
 
 42 
 
 N. K. mind all 
 11. m. 
 
 ftM)tprint Ukiv.. 
 
 »»-4» 
 
 13 
 
 47 
 
 52 
 
 .10 
 
 N. K winil and 
 rnin. 
 
 M 
 
 SS-4S 
 
 14 
 
 ,M 
 
 5« 
 
 HO 
 
 \. v.. wind nnil 
 ruin until ninin 
 
 M 
 
 88-4S 
 
 15 
 
 4« 
 
 6« 
 
 B2 
 
 
 rpprr HurntwiMHj vallfy... 
 
 JS-30 
 
 IS 
 
 M 
 
 70 
 
 72 
 
 
 ** 
 
 SS-30 
 
 17 
 
 HO 
 
 76 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 .W-30 
 
 18 
 
 M 
 
 72 
 
 74 
 
 2liitur^ ruin altiT 
 niMir. 
 
 •* 
 
 54-30 
 
 19 
 
 W) 
 
 n 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 .W .•«! 
 
 2» 
 
 Al 
 
 i« 
 
 76 
 
 
 " " . 
 
 .M-ao 
 
 21 
 
 .17 
 
 «7 
 
 m 
 
 Kuiii :.ll (luy. 
 
 " ■• 
 
 55-80 
 
 22 
 
 !i7 
 
 74 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 55-30 
 
 23 
 
 W) 
 
 74 
 
 76 
 
 
 HurntwtMHl lakt- 
 
 .V5-30 
 
 24 
 
 38 
 
 78 
 
 78 
 
 
 Kile Kivrr VHlley 
 
 56-15 
 
 25 
 
 64 
 
 80 
 
 76 
 
 
 KihUke 
 
 SS 
 
 2« 
 
 58 
 
 84 
 
 78 
 
 
 " 
 
 St 
 
 ss 
 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 85 
 62 
 
 78 
 76 
 
 77 
 
 76 
 
 
 ......'..'........'.'. 
 
 
 ** 
 
 86 
 SS 
 
 29 
 30 
 
 60 
 .VI 
 
 69 
 66 
 
 68 
 73 
 
 
 " '. ... . '.'.'..'.'.'.'..'.'..'. 
 
 
 .1 
 
 55 
 
 31 
 
 58 
 
 80 
 
 7ft 
 
 
 .Vvi-ragiTt (or July . . 
 
 
 Aujt. 
 
 58S 
 
 73 
 
 72 
 
 
 Milhy Ukr.. 
 
 54-45 
 
 
 60 
 
 7.1 
 
 78 
 
 
 BrtweenMethy ami Krrd laki- 
 
 .54—48 
 
 2 
 
 .19 
 
 68 
 
 66 
 
 
 i( tt .. 
 
 54-45 
 
 3 
 
 55 
 
 72 
 
 68 
 
 
 •{.•ttllak. 
 
 54-30 
 
 4 
 
 .15 
 
 72 
 
 70 
 
 
 " 
 
 54-30 
 
 .1 
 
 65 
 
 73 
 
 72 
 
 
 " 
 
 54-30 
 54-45 
 
 K 
 
 7 
 
 65 
 64 
 
 73 
 
 82 
 
 72 
 80 
 
 
 firuas Rivrr valley 
 
 
 Wnkuskolake 
 
 54—45 
 
 54-45 
 
 8 
 
 62 
 00 
 
 86 
 76 
 
 80 
 
 76 
 
 
 
 
10 
 
 OEOLOOIOAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 'able of Temperatures — Conlimifd. 
 
 Hla.-i 
 
 I 6 30 
 • N. Lat. Uate.i am. 
 
 ! i 
 
 Wcku^ko laki— run 54—45 
 
 54—45 
 
 (Inisii Kiver valley 55 
 
 55 
 
 55 
 
 Wi'kuHko lake. 54—45 
 
 54—45 I 
 
 " 54—45 , 
 
 Cira88 Hiver valley 54—45 , 
 
 " 54—45 I 
 
 " 54—45 
 
 H, <d lake 54-30 
 
 1 54—30 
 
 South of Reed lake 54—30 
 
 " j 54—30 
 
 Cowan Hiver valley 54—30 
 
 " i 54—15 
 
 " ; 64—15 
 
 Yawninit»tone lake 54 — 15 
 
 " 54—15 
 
 " 54—15 
 
 Cormorant lake 54 — 15 
 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 
 20 
 21 
 
 22 
 23 
 
 26 
 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 
 Av<'ra«ef< for .\uKUst. 
 
 { 'ormorunt lake 
 
 Atikame« lake 
 
 The Pas, Saskatchewan 
 Atikameg lake 
 
 Cormorant lake 
 
 Atikamcglake 
 
 54—15 
 
 54-15 
 
 54—15 
 
 54 
 
 54 
 
 53-45 
 
 54 
 
 54 
 
 .T4-15 
 
 54—15 
 
 54-15 
 
 54—15 
 
 54—15 
 
 54—15 
 
 54-15 
 
 54-15 
 
 54—15 
 
 64—15 
 
 Sept. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 U 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 IS 
 17 
 18 
 
 54—15 19 
 
 54—15 I 20 
 
 54 I 21 
 
 64 22 
 
 64 • 23 
 
 Ninm. f)|>'"' .Min. lor 24 111-, 
 
 10 
 
 60 
 
 11 
 
 40 
 
 12 
 
 60 
 
 13 
 
 56 
 
 14 
 
 60 
 
 15 
 
 65 
 
 60 
 49 
 66 
 57 
 
 45 
 
 36 
 47 
 50 
 
 24 { 54 
 
 25 I 57 
 
 52 
 44 
 43 
 44 
 
 30 I 44 
 
 31 ' 56 
 
 72 
 60 
 
 .58 
 62 
 91 
 
 78 
 68 
 78 
 88 
 55 
 
 68 
 
 78 
 78 
 78 
 66 
 
 H2 
 65 
 49 
 50 
 58 
 63 
 
 54S 
 
 56 
 56 
 57 
 52 
 42 
 49 
 60 
 60 
 60 
 56 
 51 
 45 
 37 
 48 
 51 
 47 
 56 
 45 
 
 51 
 43 
 
 48 
 43 
 
 48 
 
 61 
 
 72 
 
 72 ■' 
 
 64 
 
 70 i 
 
 76 ; 
 
 70 I 
 
 67 
 
 66 
 
 54 
 
 SO 
 
 51 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 .55 
 
 64 
 
 68 
 .54 
 49 
 58 
 
 68 
 
 83 
 81 
 74 
 
 78 
 66 
 
 68 
 67 
 63 
 71 
 
 72 
 .56 
 
 ,58 
 .53 
 
 59 
 64 
 
 681 
 
 64 
 61 
 68 
 63 
 58 
 64 
 72 
 72 
 65 
 64 
 58 
 54 
 54 
 50 
 50 
 58 
 60 
 58 
 
 60 
 54 
 46 
 46 
 
 56 
 
 Liitht fnwt 
 
 night. 
 
 54 
 
 52 
 
 54 
 . 56 
 
 ,58 
 
 47 
 
 62 
 
 56 
 
 at 
 
 all 
 
 Kaiii 
 p.m. 
 
 42 
 
 32 
 
 38 
 
 34 
 
 44 
 
 ,52 I.iKht rain 
 5 to lU 
 p.m. 
 
 40 
 
 38 
 
 42 
 
 40 
 
 43 
 
 46 
 
 S.K. wind, 
 rain at 
 night. 
 
 46J Min. aver- 
 age from 
 12th to 
 31st. 
 
 46 
 42 
 54 
 49 
 38 
 37 
 ,57 
 48 
 55 
 55 
 48 
 44 
 36 
 4,5 
 47 
 44 
 56 
 40 
 
 Vtiii t rain 
 all day. 
 
 SO 
 40 
 47 
 42 
 43 
 
BASIXS OF NKI.SON .\M> CM I Itt' II I 1,1. I!l\l'.l:: 
 
 Table of Temperaturei — Continued. 
 
 V\»v 
 
 N. Ijjt. I)i 
 
 A .so 
 a.m. 
 
 Noon. 6 p.m. i Min. for 24 lir>. 
 
 .Vtikumeg laki^ < on 
 
 Between Atikameg unci Keed- 
 
 er lakei 
 
 Reeder lake 
 
 The Pai<, Sankatchewan 
 
 Avenmi's fur S'ptvintjtT. 
 The Pa», Haskatrlii'Witn , . 
 
 Saskatchewan river.. . 
 
 Cedsr lake 
 
 High Portage 
 
 54 
 S4 
 
 H 
 
 54 ! 27 
 
 53— «5 
 53— tS 
 
 53—45 
 
 53—45 
 51—45 
 83-45 
 53-45 
 53—45 
 
 53-15 
 
 53—15 
 
 53 
 45 
 
 44 
 
 2S \ 44 
 29 30 
 
 30 
 
 Oet. 
 I 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 
 34 
 45 
 45 
 34 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 .W 
 
 5K 
 C- 
 
 .'■6 
 
 42 
 4« 
 
 52 
 
 46 
 
 48) I 59J 57} 
 
 48 
 56 
 50 
 48 
 
 42 
 
 48 
 
 m 
 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 48 
 
 47 
 
 42 
 48 
 46 
 42 
 46 
 
 44 
 
 46 
 
 44 
 
 42 
 32 
 41 
 
 26 lir>l kill- 
 infffrost. 
 41 
 44', 
 
 34 
 42 
 42 
 30 
 
 Snow at 
 
 niKht. 
 
 Sleet at 
 
 night. 
 
 Fro.st at 
 
 night. 
 
 Summary of Temperatures. 
 
 
 6.30 
 
 
 
 Mean 
 
 .Mean 
 
 
 
 Monthl> 
 
 
 a.m. 
 
 XiK>n. 
 
 (i p.m. 
 
 ma.\. 
 
 iiiin. 
 
 .Mui. 
 
 .Min. 
 
 mean. 
 
 July 
 
 58-5 
 
 73 
 
 72 
 
 76 
 
 ,M 
 
 84 
 
 40 
 
 (Vt-.'i 
 
 August 
 
 84-5 
 
 70 
 
 08 -1 
 
 7.3 
 
 50 
 
 91 
 
 32 
 
 62 5 
 
 September. 
 
 48-5 
 
 50-5 
 
 , 575 
 
 64 
 
 44-5 
 
 76 
 
 26 
 
 .54 -3 
 
 The maxiinuiu ti;iiipL'r;iliirr> in tlw iiliovc tuMc ;iii' imJoul)todly 
 too low, as it was not possible, owinj; to the mode of travel, to keep 
 a maximum thermometer continually set up, and the figures in the 
 maximum column are merely the highest recorded at the time of 
 observation. The July minimum in the summary is estimated and 
 is probably low also. 
 
 The instruments used were 10 inch maximum and minimum 
 thermometers. United States Weather Bureau pattern. 
 
 The instruments were set up under shade about 3 feet above 
 the grotmd. 
 
 221(l»-2 
 
18 OEOLOOIOAL snEVBT, CANADA. 
 
 Abstract of Meteorologieal Obwrvation, 1906. 
 UINNEDOSA. 
 
 Te.mf«batl'hii. 
 
 Max. and Min.T«mf. 
 
 1906. 
 
 July 
 
 .\ugust 
 
 ^September. 
 
 7 a.m. 
 
 ] 
 i 
 2 p.m. 
 
 7 p.m. 
 
 Mean 
 max. 
 
 Mean 
 min. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 ; Monti.. 
 < mean. 
 
 • 
 
 i • 
 
 .■ 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 58-3 
 
 550 
 
 1 46'S 
 
 ■ 
 
 ; 77-4 
 
 i 72-6 
 
 70-4 
 
 72-2 
 70-3 
 640 
 
 77-4 
 76-4 
 73-7 
 
 54-5 
 51 
 43-3 
 
 87-5 
 
 95-5 
 
 i 970 
 
 410. 
 : 332 
 : 28-5 
 
 63-8 
 637 
 38-6 
 
 STONY MOUNT.UN. 
 
 July 
 
 August. ■ . ■ ■ 65'6 
 
 September 
 
 HILLVIEW. 
 
 7 a.m. 2 p.m. I 9 p.m. 
 
 July S63 
 
 August 551 
 
 September. 47-3 
 
 75-9 
 75-4 
 73- 1 
 
 63-4 
 62-5 
 58-2 
 
 76- 1 
 75'8 
 74- 1 
 
 532 
 50-6 
 441 
 
 BRANDON. 
 
 87 
 970 
 980 
 
 420 
 350 
 280 
 
 64'U 
 63-2 
 59-1 
 
 7 a.m. I 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 
 
 •luly 80-8 
 
 .\ugU8t. ...j 57-4 
 September. 47- 5 
 
 76-6 
 
 67-8 
 
 79-5 
 
 ,51-7 
 
 91-3 
 
 38-5 ' 
 
 65-6 
 
 74-6 
 
 tt5-6 
 
 78-5 
 
 49' 1 
 
 950 
 
 350 
 
 63-8 
 
 72-7 
 
 59-1 
 
 75. 1 
 
 41-9 
 
 100 
 
 260 
 
 38-5 
 
BASINS OF NELSON A^ D CHURCHII.L KI\ KICS. li> 
 
 Abstract of Meteorological Obiervation, IdW.— Continued. 
 DAUPHIN. 
 
 Mean'. 
 
 KXTHKMK. 
 
 .Max. Min. ' Mux. Min. 
 
 luly 79-3 .55-4 910 41-0 
 
 -August 781 51-1 M-O 350 
 
 _ _ ' I _ 
 
 HIRTLE. 
 
 July i 78-3 ' 33-3 i 860 400 
 
 August ; 7.5-8 ' 490 i 940 340 
 
 ■<epteiiilMT I 730 41-7 930 2S0 
 
 1.1 
 
 .WVEME. 
 
 •'uly 84-4 54-9 970 j 42-5 
 
 August 80-8 530 1030 350 
 
 Spptpmber • 77.8 455 101-5 ' 29-0 
 
 1 
 
 DALE PARK. 
 
 July 76-4 5:)-6 870 410 
 
 August 74.4 52-2 94.0 36-0 
 
 .'September 73.7 47.1 yfl-u | 2^-0 
 
 _^ -- _ _ _ ' 
 
 The best proof, perhaps, that the clin.ate of this region, at least 
 as far north as Churchill river, is not too severe for the pursuit of 
 agriculture, lies in the experience of those who have made the experi- 
 ment. Of the Saskatchewan valley, there is no need to write, since 
 it is well established that ir the climatic conditions are quite 
 suited for the growth of ordinary cereal crops. 
 
 In the part of the region which is still mostly wilderness there 
 are necessarily few examples of actual cultivation to cite. At the 
 posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, which arc scattered through 
 
 22i»-a) 
 
20 
 
 UEOLOaiCAI. SUItVEY, CAXABA. 
 
 tlie fotintry, ^oine attempt is usually made, by the officer in (•llar^t•. 
 to cultivate at least a kitchen garden; and at a few of the post-, us 
 well as at missions of the Anglican and Roman Catholi<; clidrfhe*'. 
 in some cases more ambitious attempts at farming have been made. 
 Thus, at Stanley, on Churchill river, wheat, oats, and barley have 
 been successfully jtrown; in the Nelson River valley, wheat has been 
 gri>wn at Norway House and ai Cross lake, and barley has becni 
 grown at Oxford House. Ordinary garden vegetables are grown 
 annually at all the above-mentioned localities, as well as at Nelson 
 House on Bumtwood river, at Pukkatawagan on the Churchill, and 
 at the posts on the shores of Hudson bay. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL LANDS. 
 
 Although over a large part of the region, esiiecially in the 
 northern areas, the lands suitable for cultivation are not exteu-'ive, 
 very large tracts aggregating several million acres ihroughout ihe 
 southern and central parts of the area are well suited for agricul- 
 ture. Of these, parts of the southern tract along the upper pprts of 
 Carrot river and Saskatchewan valleys are already under cultivation, 
 and settlement is extending year by year farther into the unoccupie<l 
 portions. Before the completion of the northern branch of the 
 Canadian Northern railway, most of this land was too remote from 
 markets to bv attractive to the ordinary settler; now, however, a 
 large part of it can be reached bv roads radiating from the railwa.v 
 at different points, and is thus brought within the category of land 
 available for settlement. 
 
 Of this character is naich of the area comprised in the valleys 
 of Carrot and Saskatchewan rivers, though east of the Sipanok 
 channel most of the land in th?se valleys is too low, in reference to 
 the river banks, for proper drainage, and is subject to periodic floods 
 from the overflow of the water of the Saskatchewan, when the river 
 is in rtoo.l. Local weather conditions, though they affect the annual 
 rise and fall of the water, are not the governing causes of the periodic 
 floods. These floods are due to the melting of the snow in the moun- 
 tains, where the river has its source, and may be expected to be 
 better controlled in the future, when reforesting of the mountain 
 sides has gone far enough to check the sudden rr..-off. There are 
 areas suitable for cultivation to the north of Prince Albert, though 
 most if 'he land in that neighbourhood is light and sandy. Tracts 
 
BASINS OK NKI.SON AM> CIIURCIIILI. RIVKKS. 
 
 21 
 
 :■; 
 
 of limited fxteiit ofciii- iiln'iit thi' shores of iiuiii.v nt' the lakes and in 
 the valleys of the larger streams. 
 
 The most important spread of lands I'lipable of being cultivated, 
 beyond the Saskatchewan Valley area, is comprised in a basin under- 
 lain by lacustrine clays, which extends westerly from the Nelson 
 river to near Burntwood and Wekusko lakes, in west longitude 
 !>."»' 4r>' ; northerly to the southern shore of Southern Indian lake, 
 north latitude "(0° 45'; and southerly to the es<'arpn:ent which mp^ks 
 the northern edge of the I'alicozoic seJimeuts. The area of the basin 
 thus defined is upwards of 10,(tO<) square miles. Though this very 
 large area cannot be described as all agric\iltural land, it contains 
 about the proportion to be expected in a rolling country, of cul- 
 tivable upland and valley bottom with intersi)ersed areas of muskeg 
 and tracts that arc insufficiently drained. Near the centre of the 
 basin the clays have a thickness of upwards of n Inmdred feet; they 
 are thick-bedded and so uniform in character as to present the 
 apjiearance of lieing without stratification. Where unmi.xcd with 
 ■•urface humus the cla,y has a light buff colour and is unctuous to the 
 feel, and in the central portions of the area, free from gritty 
 particles. 
 
 From its composition, it^ homogeneous character, and the absence 
 in it of marked stratification, tosfctlier with the facts of its distribu- 
 tion, \vhi<'h cannot otherwise be easily accounted for, it is nferred 
 that the clay was deposited at the time of the last glacial retreat, 
 in a lake the waters of which were lii'I(i up on the north and east by 
 the ice walls formed by the retreating front of the glacier. On the 
 east the ice front seeir.s to have stood for a long period j\!st east of 
 the Nelson Kiver valley, and on the north during the same period it 
 formed a vi ry irregular line lying, in a general way. just nortb of 
 the Chnrchill valley ea-^terly to Southern Indian lake. 
 
 Clay-covered Basin. 
 
 The valley of Hurntwood river affords a good -tction through 
 the basin, and the following description of the country passed through 
 in the ascent of the river will give an idea of the general character 
 of the country- overlain by the lacustrine clays.' The river in a 
 tributar.y of the Nelson, flowing from the west into a long westerly 
 l>a.y at the southerly end of Split lake. 
 
 'See also Annual Report, Geol. Surv., Can., Vol. XIII, Pt. F.; Tjrrpll, '.902. 
 
s? 
 
 OKOI.OGICM, SUHVKT, CANADA. 
 
 The shores of the bay into which the river empties are made up 
 'or the most part of low. rounded ridges of gneiss, covered a few 
 chains inland l«y clay and .san<l rising to a height of about 20 feet 
 above the water level and beyond rising more gradually to about 60 
 feet, with occasional ridges of sand and clay that reach elevations of 
 70 feet or more. The forest growth is mainly spruce and tamarack 
 mixed with aspen poplar and white birch and varying in age from 
 quite young to 50 years. 
 
 Leaving the lake the banks of the river become higher, rising 
 with stoop slopes from water level to heights of 50 feet or more. • 
 They ar.j composed of siliceous clay with little o.- no appearance of 
 stratification. Wherever the protecting forest cover has been burned 
 o£F, the clay becomes readily water-soaked and imstahle, and small 
 landslides ore common. 
 
 Eight miles frcm the mouth, Odei river, a smooth flowing stream 
 of considerable size, comes in from the west on the left bank. It 
 occupies a well n.arked valley with bordering clay covered hills that 
 rise to heights of 150 feet above the river. A clay mantle covers all 
 the hills, except where an occasional cliS-like face of gneiss has been 
 exposed by denudation. 
 
 The clay, lying deep in the valleys, and covering the summits 
 more thinly, softens the surface contours and produces a country 
 without high relief in which the original, rolling Pre Cambrian 
 surface has been made more even by the partial nlling of the valleys. 
 
 A few miles farther up the river, above a series of short rapids, 
 the banks are low and rise gradually to heights of from 6 to 20 feet 
 above the water, extending inland with a moderate slope for 2 to 3 
 miles, where a height of about 100 feet is reached. Much of the 
 land along this part of the valley is, apparently, well adapted for 
 cultivation ; the clay is quite free from boulders and is mixed, near 
 the surface, with enough vegetable humus to produce a friable and 
 seemingly productive soil. The gentle slopes of the surface give good 
 drainage, and the open character of the forest and small size of the 
 trees, mostly aspen, make the country one easily cleared for agri- 
 culture. 
 
 Few trees are left that are larger than 8 inches in diameter, 3 
 feet from the ground, and these mainly in the low, swampy portions 
 which have escaped the fires that have swept repeatedly over the up- 
 lands. For the next 19 miles the river valley and the lands border- 
 
BA8IN» Of NKLSOX AM) 
 
 IlLIIillILL UIVKIiS. 
 
 ing it present tlie suiiic geiuTul U3i)eet. At this point the valleys of 
 the main river and (Jdei rivtT approucli one another, separated only 
 by a dividing ridge a little ovur ii ir.ile aeross and 150 feet high. The 
 ridge is clay covered to its tlut or gently rounded summit, where 
 low knolls of the underlying gneiss project here and there from the 
 clay cover. To the north, beyond the valley of the Odei the country 
 is rolling and forested and the hills ure clay covered to their tops, 
 rising by gradual slopes to heights of about 100 feet above the inter- 
 vening broad valleys, which arc from 20 to .'JO feet nbovo the ri"cr 
 level. 
 
 The forest is mainly spruce and tauiuraek of about sixty years' 
 growth, the larger trunks haviug diameters of from S to 10 inches, 
 but the general average size of the trees is not more than 6 inches. 
 In the valleys occasional white spruce and tamarack trunks attain 
 diameters as great as IS inches. These are trees tnat have escaped 
 destruction when the surrounding forest was burned, and their 
 presence affords good evidence that, but for the occurrence of 
 repeated tires, large areas would now be covered with trees of suffi- 
 cient size for commercial lumber. 
 
 For the succeeding 28 miles, the river, flowing in a rock-bound 
 basin, has the character of a long, narrow lake varying in width 
 from half a mile to over a mile. Covering the well-rounded ledges 
 of gneiss that form the actual shores, is the same mantle of clay, 
 forniing a country of very attractive appearance. A flat or gently 
 rising plateau, lying from 20 to 50 feet above the water, extends 
 back from the river for from 2 to 3 miles to another rise where the 
 general level is increased to about 100 feet. Oft recurring forest 
 fires have not only denuded this tract of its trees, but have swept it 
 bare even of stumps, so that now it is clothed with an open growth 
 of small birches, willows, aspen, and Banksian pine, with an under- 
 g^rowth of vetches, grasses, and small shrubs. Just above is Manazo 
 fall, where the river pitches over a ledge of gneiss with a vertical 
 descent of 30 feet. A lailway through this countrj might very well 
 cross Bumtwood river at one of the rapids below Manazo fall, where 
 the ledges projecting from the shores afford good foundation for 
 piers, and follow the plateau on the north side of the river to the 
 valley of the Odei, which could be crossed at a point near the junc- 
 tion of the two rivers. At this lower crossing fairly deep water 
 connexion with Split lake and the Nelson river, with their sturgeon 
 fisheries, would be sjcured by either river. 
 
-'4 
 
 OKOL.MIIC.VI, NUHVEV, CANADA. 
 
 Above Mana/o fall the river expaitda to form a long, narrow 
 lake for the next 10 miles of its iiiiwurd course. A similar, rolling, 
 olay-covered plateau exIeiuU back from both shores of the lake, 
 rising jfrncluiill.v 'rom the river to an undulating, higher tract, 
 perhaps KM) feet above its level. The forest i^ very open, allowing 
 the growth of a good surface carpet of grassee, vetches, and other 
 vesetation. Diversified as it is, here and there, by small open tracta 
 where the grass-covered surface is free of trees, this country, in 
 many places, has quite a park-like asiwot. 
 
 'throughout all the clay-covered region there is an almost entire 
 absence of erratics; for miles no perched boulders nor transported 
 material of any kind, other than the lacustrine 8e<liment3, are seen, 
 and the underlying country-rock is deeply hidden under clay deposits 
 of uniform character and great thickness. Where the wear of the 
 stream has expose<l sections of the <lny it is seen to be very homo- 
 Kciieous throughout and stratified, if at all, only in very thick beds 
 without conspicuous licdding-iilanes. 
 
 For the next 15 miles to Wuskwatim lake, the river ha» a quicker 
 descent and its course is broken by several small rapids. The sur- 
 rounding country is slightly higher than below, rising, in places, to 
 about 200 feet above the river and it slopes up more steeply from the 
 shore. From the south shore a clay-covered bench, one-fourth of a 
 mile wide, rises with a comparatively steep slope to a height of 130 
 feet, and extends back from the river for miles at about that level, 
 with a gently undulating surface, free from boulders or rock, except 
 very rare exposures of the underlying country-rock. The low, flat 
 land along the river is covered with a sixty-years old forest, mainly 
 of Banksiou pine and spruce. The higher plateau is wooded chiefly 
 with spruce from ti to S inches in dian.eter, with scattered Banksian 
 pines, poplars, and white birches. Partly burned stumps standing 
 here and there among the green forest, afford evidence of the passage 
 over this area of at least two tircs at short intervals apart and within 
 compcratively recent years. The areas of muskeg on the uplands do 
 not seem to be extensive, and no beds of gravel nor boulder ridges 
 were seen. Indians who hunt in this district report that a similar, 
 plateau-like stretch of eountrj- extends southerly to (Irass river, with 
 only gently swelling ridges and without high hills. 
 
 Wuskwatim lake, the next expansion, is 8 miles long by 4 miles 
 wide, with a long, irregular bny extciiiling westerly from its southern 
 
BAMNS Ob- .NKUSO.N AND CIIURCIIILI. HI\H(!*. 
 
 eiiii. Tlie water i» luit uliiclitly turbid frym siispendeil <i'diinent and 
 ubound^ ill whitcti.->h of jiood iimility and sir.a'l oturiieon. On all 
 iide* of tlio luke are JurKe urei's of neurly level, cluy land, extending 
 back from the shores at heifthts of from 15 to 60 feet above the lake 
 level for severnl miles and, beyond, continuing at a level of a little 
 over 100 feet. A mixed second growth forest, niaiidy aspen poplar. 
 covers all the upland, while on the islands and on the low flats that 
 border bays of the lake, white spruce and poplar with dinnieters of 
 12 inches form small groves, (irass-covered slopes, rising with very 
 gentle gradients from tiie shores of the lake, give the country u most 
 attractive appearanee an ' re.ide, it, apparently, well suited for culti- 
 vation, 'riie Indians of ilic section cultivate with suct'ess small 
 garden patches of potatoes. .Many of the bays of the lake are 
 bordered with sand lieai'lie". tiie tirst seen on tlie river, made up 
 principally of gari.els mid iptlier detritus of Pre-Cambrian rocks, but 
 <'onlainin)f also, in snuller amount, limestone pebbles clerivcil from 
 the Hudson Hay Paheozoic ba«in. 
 
 For the next IJO miles up the river beyond Wuskwadm lake, the 
 bordering country is of the same general character, clothed, for the 
 most part, with a niixeil second growth from 10 to 30 years old, but 
 with, here ami there, i-lunips of white spruce with tall, straight 
 trunks a foot or more in diameter. Charred stiiinps, still standing 
 liere and llier(>, bear evidence that over large areas in this region the 
 loicsf, before beiny burn<>d over, was made up of trees of large size. 
 
 Fooipriiit lake, the icxt huge expansion and the most northerly 
 l>oini reiiciied by the river, lies in N. lat. 5.">° 45'. When the lake 
 was visited in .Inly, I'.tlo. fields of potatoes, planted by Indians on 
 its shores, were lookinir remarkably well; the vines were 11 inches 
 in height and were about to blossom. To the north of the main lake, 
 broad expenses of flat land ii'ud back from the river on both sides, 
 rising, within a distai\cc ol a mile from the shores, to 50 feet above 
 the river. The greater part of the low, flat land and practically all 
 the high land lias been burned over within 20 years, and is now 
 "•lollied with an open, mixed forest of small trees: the surface is 
 frro from gravel and boublers ami is carpeted with native grasses, 
 inelixling such good meadow forms as the blue-joint {Calamagrostis 
 Cnncuhnsia and ('. hypcrhorea). and the wild rye (Elymiis Jasysia- 
 iliiiin). The open character of tlie forest permits a somewhat 
 luxuriant growth of these grasses inixeil with vct<'hes. strawberry 
 
s« 
 
 r.KOUXIICAL MIKVKY, lANAl'A. 
 
 viiK'i'. an. I otiior pluLt-. aiiJ l.rokon \<y cluiniw of currant and uoo»o- 
 hrrry uikI otiipr slirul's ami biiiiluM, 
 
 The IuikI lyiiiir t.> tlio s-nitli of the ii;<)»t northerly bend of the 
 river rise* with a <oinpari\tiv.-ly 8<efi|) *\'>\^' from the shore to a 
 heiBht of ti(t feet olM)ve the river, and extend* ^...uthwnrds in the 
 form of a level, rlay-covere.l plain with, at tiie surface, about 5 
 inches of friable elay-loniii xoil well mixed witii .leeayed veRetable 
 matter, jjradnaily mertfiiiK. «lo\viiwur.l.s into unmixed elay. The 
 plateau ha* n Rently roUinw; surfaee, the l.oltoniH of the hollows, 
 many of whi'-h show :>mall area* of mnskeK, lyini? at levels 40 feet 
 lower than the 8umu:its of the ridges, and the highest land reaching 
 not more than 100 feet al.ove the river. For the first 6 miles 
 south of the river 'he ureas of musketr, whieh are not sphagnum 
 swamps but rather of the nature of grassy marshes, are compirs- 
 tivelv in-iitfnifieani in extent, the higher land, wooded with Banksian 
 pine^ IKiplar. and sprure, and diversifie.1 by nuiriy open, (trassy glades, 
 largely preponderntint?. Deyon.l this limit, however, a broad belt of 
 wet. grassy, marsh land extends southwesterly aeross to the heads of 
 th» brooks running into Grass river below Wekusko lake and forme, 
 for this part of the basin, the western limit of the clay-covered up- 
 lands, thouRl •■- the valleys of the riers and along the flanks of 
 their hord( nn . l.-.ls the clay land extends n;uch farther west. 
 
 Concerning the whole of this extensive spread of clay-covered 
 land, which extends from the valley of Nelson river westward to 
 Burntwood and Wekusko lakes (west longitude 09° 45'), northerly 
 to Southern Indian lake (north latitude 50" 45'). and southerly to 
 the edge of the limestone escarpment, an area of about 10,000 
 square uiiles, it may be said that it is everywhere characterized by 
 a heavy, clay soil entirely free from boulders. The lacustrine clays 
 forming the soils of this region are composed of the rock flour 
 scoured from the surface of the rocks by glaciers and carried in sus- 
 pension by glacial streams to the quiet waters of a great lake, where 
 they were deposited. The process of sedimentation being carried on 
 almost continuously and little influenced by periods of flood, the 
 clays are in very thick beds or almost massive. To the north, along 
 the section afforded by Burntwood river, the clays are highly cal- 
 careous, while to the south, in the valley of Grass river and in the 
 Saskatchewan valley, they are but slightly calcareous. It may be 
 that the material was planed from the surface of the limestones of 
 
BAitl.NM Ol .\Kl,.«O.V A.NU tJilL'llcail.l. KI\«.1J-. 27 
 
 tlic lluilsoii nay l>ii«iii in (fi't'Uti'r iiiiiouiit iit the iixrtliL'rii portiMU uf 
 till' uri'U tliiiii ill lliL' ■...mill rii |"prticiM, wIuto llio \vi.-ierl.v trt-ndiiiK 
 Klix'ier would \n,*' ;iliiiii«l iili..(.'ctlior ovtT I'rc-Camlirian rockn, bikI 
 tluit on ihii uccount llm iinrtlurM >'lu.v« iirc inort; liinlily ciilcuroou* 
 than tlio iiuutlittrn i>nt'->. Tlii* ilitTtTPiu'L- in tlir coiLiiosition of the 
 I'lay* i« of prai'ticiil iiii|iiirliiiiio iiiuiiil.v frnir. tlif I'.ict that it indi- 
 cutt>!) that till! soiitluTii c\:\y* nru i>rolmhly well suited £.>r hriek 
 making, wiiili' the northmi chi.v* are only ilonhtfiiily so. Tiiore i.^ 
 no distinct surface soil I'liiirly .'I'lianihle from the clny riuhsoil; the 
 one nierKf's ttrudually into the ■.llur, the eluyiy I'liiiriicier of the noil 
 heing !ilron(;ly nppari'iii wherever the shallow coNer of decaying 
 leaves and veiretiition is serniiod away. Generally, from 5 inches to 
 over a foot helow the Jiiirfaco. the day is deep brown in colour from 
 the admixture of decaying} vciretahle matter, and quite friable, and 
 rootlets of even the smaller veKetntion reach far Ik'Iow that level. 
 On some of the ridges, where forest fires have been fre<iuent, the 
 lipht biiif coloured day, without any oiipreciable coloration from 
 vegetable n-.atter, conies to the surface. The rolling character of the 
 plateau generally provides fair drainage, but over contiiderablo areas 
 in tiie central portion, which lie far from the valleys of the larger 
 streams, there are large tracts that have not suKicient slope to ensure 
 the proper flow of the surface water. In most cases these areas are 
 so situated that they coi-M be draine<l without much difficulty. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF ROUTES OF TRAVEL.' 
 
 Except a small part of the southwest which lies in the half 
 wooded country, the region under consideration is too densely forested 
 be easily accessible by cart or t)ack train. The rivers and lakes 
 form the highways of travel during the season of navigation which, 
 over most of the district, extends from early in May to late in 
 October. Owing to the steep gradients, rapids, and falls of most of 
 the rivers, and to the necessity, on many of the routes, of crossing 
 by portages from one watershed to another, boats must be used that 
 are conveniently carried or dragged overland. For light travel, the 
 bark canoe of the Indian, or its improved form, the Cedar, basswood, 
 or canvas-covered canoe of the white man, is best suited, since it is 
 manageable in rapids and is easily carried on men's shoulders 
 
 'Geological notes referring to these routes will be found under detailed description 
 uf rivers and lakes. 
 
2S 
 
 «lKOt.O<»ICAI. !«irKVKY, rANAI>A. 
 
 (PUtp V ) For hfiivv tfBiniH.rt the m..r« ttiMnirly huilt tn.! larger 
 boot, know., n. tW Y..rk Wnt. um-,1 generally by tl... fur brig.de.. 
 i, well 8.1apt«l. It i. prop..lled by .weep, or by *«il. on .n:ooth 
 water «n.l i. polc<l or towed with u traoking lino up the .w.ft 
 ..urrent. of the river.. Where portage, u.u.t U, made '^e boat « 
 .Iragged overland with the help of .kid. and roller. (Plate XVUl). 
 r„ tho winter .eaxon >.now..h.«. and dog-train* offer « mean, ot 
 travel, that though ^.mewhaf h.boriou.. i* fairly .•x,Hditi"U.. 
 
 SMkatehJWtn Biver. 
 
 The river i* navigable, except during period* of low w»ter. by 
 shallow draught, high ,K,wer river steuu.er.. from the head of the 
 (irand rapid., at it. mouth, to Prinee Albert and beyond. R.p.d 
 current, tortuou. channel, between i.l.nd*. and .h.ft.ng wndb.r. 
 .. ake the aervicc. of a skilled pilot necessary for safe travel in the 
 prcent uniuprovcd .tuto of the ..hunncl. Improvement*, that are 
 now under contemplation by the government, will remove many of 
 llu- difficulties of navigation and make the river a fa.rly good water 
 
 ' ""*Thc trip dovvustrcan. on the river by small bout or canoe i. a" 
 easy ..nd delightful one. The continuously rapid current makes the 
 l.bour of pad.lliug li^ht, and all the rapids may be run wUh ea.e 
 except Orand rapids, just above Lake \Vinni,«g, wh.rh .. passed by 
 „.e«„g „f a trau-.way 'M u.iles long, or by running part of the way 
 „„,1 ...aking a portage s7 chains long. The ascent of the r.ver, on 
 the other ha.ul. is n.ost laborious: the crrent .s too strong for 
 paddling and the water is too .leep genera, -or pol.ng; tracking 
 Lust be resorted to for aUuost the whole d.naucc l-Hween the Pas 
 „„a Prince Albert. For tracking, which is the method use.l m 
 ascending all swift flowing rivers iu the northlan.l, a long, hght 
 towMopP is used; it is manued by part of the .Tew, one remaining 
 aboard to guide the boat: the trackers tru.lgiug along the rough 
 .horc and climbing uun.y obstacle., tow the boat upstream at the 
 rate of a fast walk. 
 
 Carrot River. 
 Like the Saskatchewan. Carrot river is mucl, mnrc easily des- 
 ocndcd than ascended. Fron« it, .nouth to the Bed Karth Indian 
 reserve above the Sipanok channel, it is deep and slow flowing, and 
 
IIAi>l» OI-' NKI.MD.N A.Mi I'lll'KI'llll.l. KIVK.I(». 
 
 •J'.t 
 
 moy Im' tmviTvil ri'licr way with I'ui* by UjiiI or <'i(iiii<' ainl i'M'ii bv 
 tmiill liiuiiclic*. Kriitii tlio rcniTvi' iipwunii it cun l><' trav«tle<l uuly 
 by fiiriue, oml with <liffii-nlty, nwiiiit to *linliiiw water iind oointantly 
 n<«-urriiiff rit|ii<U. 
 
 Churchill livtr. 
 
 AliMiK iii>> (Nirtiiiii ut' it-* foiirse alM>ve NortJierii Iii<iiuii lukc, tlip 
 ('liiircliill tuki^ tht< form of u I'haiii of lake-like ex|>Bii'<ion«, many 
 of tiiem of lurgn extent iind (|iiitF worthy the niiine of lake*, with 
 nhort. coiiiKM'tiiig Mrctcheii of rupid wiiter. 
 
 For this ilistiiiice, rxfi'i't 'he tM) mile strutfh U'twwn Ueiiideer 
 rivi!r and Neinei rivt'r. which in roufrh, the river afford* a goo<i 
 route fur cunoes or lH>at'<: the portagen are ^hurt, and lake expan- 
 «ion-t are almost eontiiiiioiis. -o that the river may In- a«'ondcd or 
 <lctteeiule<l almost e<|iiully eu.'iiy. Leavinit Stauley, on a downstream 
 trip, & irilen of i|uiet water lead« to Grave rapid, deaccnt 4 feet, 
 which ig passed iiy u )>ortnKe about half n chain long on an island 
 which divides the rapid, llelow the rapid the river expands into an 
 imvular hike whicii extends easterly for li miles to I'ine rapid. 
 The lake is divided uhnil midway by ii narrow, tortuous portion 
 with II swift current, below which I'npid river, the outlet of Lac La- 
 KonKc coiiw's in fnnii the south. 
 
 Fine rapid, where the descent i« 7 feet, i» passed by a (Kirtuge 
 three chains loiiir, on the rittht bunk, leading to Drinking lake. 
 Island iMirtaKc. 10 chains loiip. leads, past a rapid with a descent of 
 7 feet, to Keg lake whicli extends easterly for "^ miles, divided into 
 several channels by loiitt. narrow islands. From the end of the lake 
 a crooked, river-like stretcii, 'J miles in length, extends easterly, 
 broken at the head and foot l,y rapids, neeessitnting portages of H 
 chains and 2t! c-halns. respectively. Keg rapid, the upper of the two, 
 lias a desc-eiit of 7 fwt, and (Jrave rapid, the lower, upwards of 16 
 feet. Tn. .e or Island lake, a beautiful stretch of water averaging 
 a mile and a half in widtli ami dotted with islands, extends easterl.v 
 for 13 miles to Frog porlam'. wiiere it tunis abruptly to the north 
 and continues for 5 miles pi'st Perch brook, a large stream coming 
 from the north, to a narrows with two short stretches of swift 
 current. Thence northerly, an expansion known to the Indians as 
 Mannwan lake forn^s o lonir. narrow lake with Kettle fall. 17 feet 
 high at the lower end. l?y u poi'tiige of 4 chains, the expansion is 
 reached into wliicli Reindeer river fall'. The river forms the York 
 
30 
 
 OEOLOOICAI- SURVEY, CANAIIA. 
 
 boat and cnnoo route to lleindeer lake, and is thus described by 
 
 Tyrrell:— 
 
 ' ' The Reindeer river and the Churchill rivjr above it flow in 
 one continuous valley, whirh the united waters leave by what 
 appears to be a gap in the hills to the east.' ' For the first 6 miles 
 Reindeer river forms a narrow bay of Churchill river; it is then 
 broken by a rough rapid known as Deer rapid. For the next 32 
 miles to Steeprock falls and portage, the river fills the bottom of a 
 valley between hills from 200 to 400 feet in height, and has the 
 character of a long, narrow lake rather than a river; for only in 
 three or four places could current be detected. On both aidea deep 
 bays frequently indent the shore. Seme of the hills are rugged and 
 almost bare, though most of them are covered with foi-ests of aspen 
 .... Below Steeprock fall there is quite a heavy rapid, and at 
 the fall the river flows in several channels between islands wooded 
 with spruce, tumbling 15 feet over a band of gneiss. The portage 
 is over a hill, rising 40 feet above the water at its lower end, com- 
 posed entirely of light grey compact clay, apparently without 
 boulders. In the next 18 miles, the river widens into several small 
 lakes, and the banks rise in gentle rocky slope, the knolls of bare 
 grey gneiss peeping out here and there through the covering of 
 poplar woods. Between the knolls, the surface is underlain by light 
 grey till. Then for 7 miles it flows in a regular well defined channel, 
 winding through a low bottom-land wooded with small spruce and 
 tamarack, behind which rise the rocky ridges.' 
 
 ' At the upper end of this well defined channel the water rushes 
 between high, almost vertical, rocky walls, forming what are known 
 as Manitou rapids, where canoes ascending are passed with difficulty 
 over a low. rocky island in the middle of the stream and then 
 paddled with all possible speed across the rushing current to an eddy 
 in a bay on the eastern bank, failing to reach which they art 
 engulfed in the heavy waves below.' 
 
 'Above Manitou rapids the river opens out into a small lake 
 with rocky shores. Passing from the southern to the northwestern 
 angle of this lake, the stream is again encountered as it descends 
 about 16 feet in two distinct falls on a rocky ledge ... On the 
 north side of the falls are cliffs about 50 feet high of orange coloured 
 stratified sand and gravel .... Above Whitesand falls the river 
 opens out into another small lake, on both sides of which are sandy 
 terraces 15 feet above the water. Above this lakelet is a short 
 nretch of current, at the head of which is a fall of 8 feet. Canoes 
 reach the quiet water above it by a short portage across a bare island 
 of grey gnei»s .... This island is known as Rock portage, and 
 the open water to the west of it is the southern end of Reindeer 
 lake.' 
 
 'Gtnl. Survey, Cansda, Vol. IX, 1896, Ft. F. 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND CHURCHIT,!. RIVERS. 
 
 :n 
 
 On Churchill river, at the foot of tlie expansion into which 
 Reindeer river falls, is Attik rapid with a descent of IS feet. Below, 
 the river is rather rough for 60 miles, with many bad rapids, includ- 
 ing the long Winfego rapids at the foot of Wintego lake, Mussen- 
 akeigen, and ^Itikoman rapids. Ten or twelve portages are made 
 along this «tretoh, the longest about half a mile in length. 
 
 From the end of the rough water stretch, at the mouth of 
 Nemei river, to Pukkatawagan, 120 miles below, the Churchill flows 
 for almost the wliole distance through lakes, and only four short 
 portages are necessary. Between Pukkatawagan and Southern Indian 
 lake, a distance of about 1!^0 miles, the lake expansions are larger, 
 and include Granville lake, 50 miles or more in length. In this 
 distance four short portages lead past rapids and falls, one of which, 
 Granville fall, above Granville lake, has a nearly vertical descent 
 of 25 feet. 
 
 The course throuirh Southern Indian lake follows the eastern 
 shore for about GO miles to the outlet. Missi fall, just below the 
 lake, has a vertical descent of IS feet. 
 
 The portion of tiic river between Southern Indian lake and a 
 point 20 miles above tlie mouth of the Little Churchill has not been 
 explored. Of the 2." milts above the j\mction of the Little Churchill 
 Dr. Bell says:— 
 
 'I ascended the Churchill for a distance of 2:$ miles (following 
 the stream) from the mouth of the Little Churchill. In this distance 
 it averaged about one-third of a mile in width and had high banks 
 of clay on alternate sides. Numerous rapids were met with, and 
 the total rise in the above distance amounted to 173 feet, or at the 
 rate of 71 feet per mile . . . . ' 
 
 ' The distance from the juni'tiou of the Little Churchill to the 
 mouth of the river, according to ray survey, is about 105 miles in a 
 straight line .... A considerable stream enters from the lift 
 side at 20 miles below the Little Churchill; but with this exception 
 the tributaries are apparently all small. For the first 25 miles, in a 
 straight course, below the point just mentioned, the river bends 
 about a good deal, but from thence it makes only two, nearly straight 
 reaches to the sea. From the forks to the end of these the average 
 width of the river is about half a mile and few islands occur, but in 
 the last reach islands are numerous, and the width, for a consider- 
 able distance, is upwards of 2 miles. The tide extends to the foot 
 of the last rapid, a distance of 7 or R miles from the open sea, the 
 intervening section tormiiiK a lagoon about 2 miles broad. The 
 mouth of the river, which is bounded by solid rock, is leas than half 
 a mile wide, and the point on the west side projects some distance 
 
32 
 
 OEOI.OOir.\l. SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 beyond the other. The fine harbour of Churchill lies immediately 
 within the mouth of the river.' 
 
 Three milea below the mouth of the Little Churchill, the mam 
 river is usually left and the route by w«y of Deer lake is followed. 
 For the trip downstream the main river affords a good route, without 
 portages, though with an element of danger, from the low, yertical 
 walls of ice which form the banks for the greater part of the year. 
 
 "In order to reach the head-waters of the Deer river, we left 
 the Great Churchill 3 miles below its junction with the Uttle 
 Churchill. Here we made a portage a mile and « <!""*" long ma 
 due east course over a hill having an elevation of 300 feet abpve the 
 •river. This portage brought us to a lake half a mile in diameter 
 with banks of peat from 3 to 7 feet in thickness overlying perma- 
 
 "*" ' From this lake another portage 90 chains iu length over a peat 
 bog was made to a lake a mile and a half long by half a mile wide. 
 Then, by a third portage one mile long over a short and steep mor- 
 ainic hill 100 feet high, followed by a mossy, black spruce swamp, 
 we reached Deer lake, the head-waters of the Deer river. 
 
 'Deer lake runs northwest and southeast; it is 2 miles long 
 by half a mile wide, with low banks of moss. Morainic clay hiUs 
 having an elevation of 300 feet above the lake are seen 3 miles to 
 the northward. Lower morainic hills occur all along the upper part 
 of the Deer river for 30 miles down from Deer lake. 
 
 'The Deer river is 110 miles in length, and runs in a nortn- 
 easterly direction. It is very crooked, and its swift, shallow watew 
 occasion many rapids, which we often had to wade with our loaded 
 
 *'*""fxhe river from here down to the Great Churchill flows over 
 limestone: numerous large fragments of limestone were seen all 
 along, and with our paddles we could feel the solid rock in many 
 places at about 3 feet under water.' 
 
 ' As already stated, the whole country has been overrun by hre. 
 Bunches of spruce and tamarack that escaped the fires were fre- 
 quently met close to the water's edge.' 
 
 ' At 62 miles down from Deer lake we came to the open, mossy 
 plain which extends northward to the well wooded banks of the 
 
 "^"'^iSSlnce from the mouth of the Deer river to the Hud«,n's 
 Bay Company's post called New Fort Church .1 is 22 miles in a 
 northerr airLtion. This part of the Great Churchill is 2 m.ks 
 wide with a swift current to Mosquito point. Here the river narwws 
 to one mile, forming a short, swift rapid nmning into the shallow 
 tidal lagoon at 7 miles from the mouth of the river. ^ 
 
 >Geol. Su^^•., ("anada, Summary Riixirt, llKMi. 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND CHCECHII.L KIVEUS. 
 
 3;] 
 
 'The post is situated on the west bank of the lagoon 3 miles 
 from Mosquito point. The tide runs out for nearly a mile in front 
 of the post, leaving a mud-flat strewn with numerous boulders, 
 some having a diameter of 7 feet. Tlie lagoon, when full at high 
 water, is over 2 miles across from the Company's landing, 1 ut at low 
 tide the river runs in a channel one mile broad, cut through sand 
 and mud, to Churchill harbour.' 
 
 'Fort Churchill is the most southern harbour on the west coast 
 of Hudson and James bays for ships drawing over 20 feet of water. 
 It is nearly 2 miles long and from half a mile to three-quarters 
 of a mile wide. Several soundings were taken and 'M feet of water 
 was measured at low tide within 300 yards of high water mark on 
 the west bank. Sand and gravel, with boulders, form the river be<l.' 
 
 ' The west bank of the lagoon and harbour, from Mosquito point 
 to Old .. ' 'Tc' ill or Prince of Wales, at the mouth of the river, 
 is bar "d Hills of quartzite rise to 100 feet above high 
 
 tide. . . tAception of a few square chains around Sloop cove, 
 
 3 miles up from the mouth of the river, the Hudson's Bay Company 
 and Mission have taken nearly all the habitable ground on the west 
 side. This consists of an old clay and sand beach about 800 yards 
 long by 200 yards wide.' 
 
 ' At a mile and a half up from Battery point, the Hudson's Bay 
 Company have a whaling station which is situated at the foot f tlie 
 rocky ridge. From this point old beaches made up of clay, sand and 
 gravel are seen at different levels running in a southeasterly direc- 
 tion, the highest attaining an elevation of 50 feet above the river. 
 This side of the lagoon had a more inviting aspect than the opposite 
 rocky, hilly shore.' 
 
 ' The route most commonly used to the lower Churchill follows 
 Nelson river to Split lake and thence reaches the Churchill by way 
 ot the Little Churchill.' 
 
 ' ' On leaving Split lake we made a portage at the head of a bay 
 3 miles long by half a mile wide, lying in a northerly direction 
 from the Hudson's Bay Company's post. This portage, which is 
 one mile and three-quarters long, lies mostly through swamp and 
 leads to the shore of a small lake 40 feet above the level of Split 
 lake. We followed its outlet through a low, swampy country to 
 Assean lake, a total distance of 2i miles in a northerly direction. 
 In this last there are ttvo narrow clay ridges running east and west, 
 having an elevation of 15 feet above the water.' 
 
 ' Assean lake, which lies east and west, is about 12 miles long 
 and has an average width of a mile. Its shores, generally rocky, 
 mostly gneiss, are well wooded with black spruce, tamarack, and 
 white birch. A fire that occurred two years ago ran from its south- 
 eastern end for several miles eastward.' 
 
 •Idem. 
 22106—3 
 
84 
 
 GEOLOGICAL BUEVEY, CANADA. 
 
 'The Ouatawi river, entering Asaean lake at its eastern 
 extJhy, S small and crooked. We followed >yo Ouj^tawMak^ 
 a distance of about 14 miles on a north course. This lake is aooux 
 aSes long by haU a mile wide. Grey gramte w't^ ;°\>»t«i 
 
 rf W..k.i««.k. to for « »il.. in « -O'the-lj d,H»Mn 1. .M o»« 
 
 country for 4 miles, ilere ^i^e '""^ '' , ' , jj ^ear the outlet 
 long and one and a luaf e^ -^«- ^rS r^tly with black spruce 
 fwu^S^Ss in'llt'i- for 200 feet above the level of 
 
 ^'^'^-^tt;s;i:^dte^ru^^th:£po|^ 
 
 Zmldelpa^sS ZS^Sioh strong rapid giving a total fall of 
 70 feet in "d^f^'^^f f „n^'Tr"om here down the river only two 
 portlJer^errmXi; C^J one measuring U chains with a 
 
 *°*'^. \f!ui miletelow this last portage, a cross-section of the river. 
 . ,, In TuW 14 when the water was at medium summer level, gave 
 taken on July IJ ™ ^ « .^^^^ ^, ^^e mean volume.' 
 
 ' ^°^-=^i mSfs of swHt current from this point brought us to com- 
 paratS^tm ^aU ^^^:^^ J^^^t^t^ ^" 
 ::Z^^rZ::Ui:^^^tl SXtance if 45 mUes from 
 Waskaiowaka lake.' 
 
BASINS OP NELSON AND CHUBOHILL EIVEE8. 
 
 35 
 
 'The country on both sides of the Little Churchill 8o far, ia 
 generally rocky or swampy, with black spruce, white b'rcL, and tama- 
 rack of small size. At the forty-second mile, the Switching river 
 comes in from the west. This river has an approximate volume of 
 76,000 cubic feet per minute.' 
 
 ' Beds of peat of from 2 to 8 feet in thickness, overlying perma- 
 nent ice, were noticed at several places in this last stretch.' 
 
 ' On entering the Recluse lakes the east shore follows an ezpan- 
 riion a mile and a half long by a mile and a quarter wide; then 
 occurs a narrows a mile and a quarter long, leading to the northern 
 part of the lake which runs east and west for 4 miles and has an 
 average breadth of 30 chains. At the narrows the Hudson's Bay 
 Company maintains a winter station, supplied by the Split Lake 
 post' 
 
 ' From the forty-seventh mile, at the outlet of Recluse lake, we 
 made two short portages and ran a strong rapid, giving a total fall 
 of 20 feet in a distance of half a mile. The last portage on the 
 Little Churchill was made at a point two and a half miles below 
 this rapid. From here the general course of the river, which is nearly 
 due north, keeps a uniform width of about three chains with a swift 
 smooth Cvirr.jnt to its junction with the Qreat Churchill, a total 
 distance of 126 miles from Waskaiowaka lake.' 
 
 ' Gneiss and granite are seen in many places, particularly at the 
 portnges on the upper part of the river. There were no rook expo- 
 sures seen below the last portage. 
 
 ' At 80 miles down a good ' of the country was obtained 
 from the top of a clay hill, 75 . ^ve the river. From this hill 
 
 the Little Churchill could be see., t "ng through a valley about 
 6 miles wide to the foot of morainic . ■ hills which rise to 300 feet 
 above the river. 
 
 'From this point northward the country, which has been over- 
 run by a firo that occurred forty years ago, is now partly covered 
 with bunches of second growth black spruce, tamarack, and white 
 birch,' 
 
 Prince Albert to Chnrchill Birer. 
 
 A wagon road, 80 miles long, leads from Prince Albert north- 
 erly to Montreal lake. For the first 30 miles after leaving the 
 Saskatchewan the road is in fairly good order; it follows gradually 
 rising, dry ground to near the head-waters of Little Red river, pass- 
 ing on the way through fairly good land with light soil, alternating 
 with broad bands of almost pure sand. For the rest of the distance 
 to Montreal lake the road is rough, and crosses a number of long 
 muskegs that make it almost impassable in periods of wet weather. 
 Montreal lake is about ?8 miles long by 4 miles wide. It has an 
 
 22106—3* 
 
36 
 
 OEOLOOIOAL SURVET, CANADA. 
 
 elevation of 1,600 feet or more above the 8ea, and is surrounded by 
 hills that rise to elevations of about 2,000 feet. The river, except at 
 periods of low water, forms a fairly easy canoe route, since, though 
 it is broken by many rapids, they can all be run going down, or 
 poled coming up, except two, one passed by Montreal portage, 2} 
 miles long, and another by High portage, 10 chains long. The river 
 flows into Lac LaRonge, from which there are two principal con- 
 nexions with the Churchill, one by the four portage route to Stanley 
 and another by the outlet, Bapid river, which falls into the Churchill 
 8 miles below Stanley. On Rapid river two rapids are passed by 
 portaging, the lower one, near the Churchill, having a descent of 
 61 feet with one vertical pitch of 30 feet (Plate V). 
 
 Bonte from Cnmberland Lake to the Chnrchill. 
 
 For more than a century the route by the Saskatchewan to 
 Cumberland and thence by Sturgeon-weir river to the Churchill 
 gave access to the northern interior and to the Mackenzie basin. 
 By it goods for the fur trade were brought in and return cargoes of 
 furs were carried out. Although the strength of the current makes 
 poling and tracking necessary for a part of the way and also occa- 
 sional portages, the route on the whole is an easy one and is used by 
 York boats as well as canoes. 
 
 From the Saskatchewan the route traverses Cumberland lake 
 and its northeast extension, Namew lake, and follows Stnrgeon-weir 
 river northward. The lower part of the river, to just below where 
 Goose river falls in from the east, is swift flowing and is passed on 
 the upward trip by poling. The first rapid is met with half a mile 
 above the mouth of Goose river, where a portage is made over flat 
 limestone ledges. From this point to Amisk lake, the river flows, 
 generally with a swift current, between banks of clay and silt from 
 10 to 15 feet high, but falling away to low land behind. At a few 
 of the rapids on this portion of the river portages are necessary, but 
 most of them may be ascended by tracking or poling. 
 
 Along the southwest shore of Amisk lake, which is followed to 
 the inlet, are almost continuous exposures jf flat-lying or gently 
 undulating, heavy-bedded, magnesian limestone, underlain by thin- 
 bedded dolomites. The disintegration of the lower, thin-bedded 
 strata causes the formation of cliffs that rise, two or three chains 
 back from the shore, to heights of from 20 to 40 feet. These are, in 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND CHURCHILL BIVER8. 
 
 37 
 
 many placeg, flanked by outstanding, detached, tower-like massei, 
 while the intenening gpaco is covered by a very rough talus of large, 
 an^lar blocks from the cliff face. 
 
 The cliff continues in a northerly direction up Sturgeon-weir 
 river, forming the south side of the valley as far as Spruce portage, 
 3 miles above the lake, while black and white biotite gneisses are 
 exposed, at intervals, in low rounded ledges in the bed of the stream. 
 To Spruce portage and for a few niileij beyond, the banks are low 
 and the river winds throuRh a low vailcy-bottoni. Kocky ridges form 
 the banks of a stretch of quiet water extending to Scoop portage, 
 where the stream falls over smooth ledges of gneiss. Long stretches 
 of deep water and moderate current continue to the foot of Mirond 
 lake, brdten at intervals by rapids which are passed by I^af, Birch, 
 Island, and Corneille portages. Traversing Mirond lake. Pelican 
 Narrows post and mission, situated on the north shore, are passed 
 at 12 miles and the head of the lake reached 7 miles beyond. Three 
 portages follow in rapid succession and Woody lake is reached, 
 which receives at its head the overflow of the Chuichill, with which 
 it is connected by Frog portaj^e. 
 
 Grassberry River Boute. 
 
 An alternative route from Cumberland lake to IVliean narrows 
 follows Grassberry river, a tributary entering Cumberland lake at 
 the northwest end. 
 
 From the Saskatchewan, the route follows the narrow, winding 
 channel of deep water which forms the only navigable portion of the 
 western part of Cumberland lake. For 20 miles Grassberry river i? 
 a shallow stream, flowing for long distances witli swift current over 
 flat-lying ledges of limestone. The banks are of friable clay that 
 seems to constitute a good soil. Windy lake, the first expansion, is 
 connected with Suggi lake above by a short stretch of swift, shallow 
 river. Both lakes have the smooth outlines that generally charac- 
 terize lakes lying in the limestone area. 1 i miles of swift, shallow 
 water, broken by many rapids, intervene between Suggi and Ache- 
 niuni lakes; and similar short stretches of river connect Acheninni 
 with Bigstone lake and Bigstone with Limestone lake, from which 
 Deschambault lake is reached by a long portage. 
 
 Deschambault lake, a body of water upwards of 60 miles in 
 length, is made up of a northern portion, lying within the Pre- 
 
88 OEOLOOIOAL 8UBVXT, OANAOA. 
 
 Cambrian area, of mogt irregular outline and dotted with islandi, 
 and a aoutbem portion, situated in the limestone and drift covered 
 area, that i» characterized by rounded outlines and a large expanse 
 of open water unbroken by islands. Wapawekka river, a shallow, 
 rapid stream draining Wapawekka lake, falls into the northwest bay 
 of the lake. From Deschambault lake one short portage leads to 
 Mirond lake and Pelican narrows. 
 
 XiniuinK Biver Sonte. 
 
 The Churchill is reached from Cumberland by another route 
 branching from Sturgeon-weir river at Goose river, and following 
 Goose and Athapapuskow river and Pineroot river W Ilississing 
 lake and river. Though somewhat shorter than the others as a route 
 to the lower part of the Churchill, the shallowness of the water in 
 the rivers traversed and the great number of portages necessary, 
 make it less desirable even for lightly loaded canoes. 
 
 Rontei to Beed Lake and Orasi Biver. 
 
 Reed lake is most easily reached from Cumberland by way of 
 Goose river and lake and the Cranberry Lake route. Although it is 
 necessary to make one long portage leading to Cranberry lake and 
 to pass a number of rapids on the rivers traversed, this route is not 
 a bad one for canoes. A shorter but more difficult route leaves tlie 
 Saskatchewan opposite the Pas by a good ioad 13 miles long leading 
 to Atikameg lake, from which a short portage leads to Cormorant 
 lake. From Cormorant lake, the inlet, Cowan river, is followed to 
 its head. The stream, in its lower part fairly large, becomes gradu- 
 ally smaller and eventually is lost in a broad swamp which must be 
 crossed to Reed lake. 
 
 'Bumtwood and Grass Bivers. 
 
 Good canoe routes through the section of country lying between 
 Churchill and Saskatchewan rivers are afforded by Bumtwood and 
 Grass rivers. 
 
 The first drains Bumtwood lake, from which Nelson lake on the 
 
 Churchill may be reached by a portage from its northwestern end. 
 
 From Reed lake an easy canoe route leads to Bumtwood lake by the 
 
 way of File lake, which is reached by a 3 mile portage, and File 
 
 ■For geological notes aee detailed description o filv«7s and lakes. 
 
BABINH OF NELSON AND OIICBCIIILI, BIVICBM. 
 
 39 
 
 river. Burntwood river, which ii more fully described eliewhere in 
 this report, ia a stream of large volume, and is used as a York boat 
 route from Split lake to Nelson House in west longitude 90°, and, 
 although rapid and broken by many falls and rapids which necessi- 
 tate portages, may be navigated by canoes to its head. 
 
 Grass river flows from Keed lake as a river of considerable size. 
 To the first expansion, a distance of 6 miles, the currt-iit is generally 
 swift and in places rapid; two portages are made past falls of 10 
 and 5 feet respectively. Ten miles of quiet water, where tho river 
 has the character of a long, narrow, rock-bound lake, lead to a river- 
 like portion where the current is strong, terminating in a rapid, 
 down which the river descends 48 feet to Wekusko lake: a broad 
 expanse of moderately clear water with bold, rocky shores, whicli at 
 its southern end touches the base of the high escarpment; mark- 
 ing the northern edge of the belt of Ordovician limestone. Below 
 the lake for nearly 20 miles the river has again the character of a 
 narrow lake, with high, rocky shores and an almost straight courae. 
 Just below the end of this lake-like portion, three heavy rapids occur 
 where a belt of schists crosses the valley. 
 
 ' ' Below these rapids the banks for a mile and a half are formed 
 of a more or less open terrace from 10 to 15 feet above the water. 
 Then the river turns sharply and flows for 5 miles southward on 
 the east side of a high ridge of dark green schist, probably altere<l 
 diabase. From the foot of the ridge it swings round again in an easy 
 curve towards the northeast, passing some hills of dark green, highly 
 altered diabase which rise in the middle of a wooded valley.' 
 
 'At or near these hills the river enters a country of 
 
 lower surface contour, underlain by Laurentian granites and gneiss, 
 though these rocks are usually hidden by stratified Lake Agassiz 
 clays. From the bend the river winds between low reedy clay banks 
 for 7 miles to a series of three rapids with descents of 12, 15, and 8 
 feet, respectively, over grey or reddish gneiss • • • • __The second 
 and third of these rapids are known to the Indians as Kanisota (or 
 the Two) rapids.' 
 
 ' For 10 miles below Kanisota rapids, the river has a gentle 
 current and flows between sloping banks of light grey clay, wooded 
 with white and black spruce and Banksian pine. The surrounding 
 country seemed to be a level clay plain, more or less completely 
 covered with swamp.' 
 
 ' At Wapikwachew (or White Forest) rapid is a barrier of 
 medium grained, light grey, gametiferous granite, and a similar, 
 though lighter coloured granite again outcrops at Stickago (Skunk) 
 
 'Geol. Surv., Canada, Annual Report, Vol. XIII, 1890. Ft. F. 
 
40 
 
 nFOLOOICAL BCBVEY, CANADA. 
 
 rapid, throe miles and a half farther down the stream .... A 
 mile and a half down stream i« WapithtiRow (Whitewood) falU, one 
 of the hi({he«t on the river, whpre the water tumble* 40 feet over a 
 
 ridgo of evenly foliattd dark grey hornblende jrneiii ' 
 
 ' For 3 mile* farther to the mouth of iletiihto river, the river 
 continues to flow with decreasing current which is interrupted by 
 two slight rapids over reddish or grey gneiss. Metishto (Sweat 
 tent) river is stated to rise within a short distance of the northwest 
 arm of Mooso lake, and to flow northward with a gentle current to 
 within a few miles of Wekusko lake, below which it is a nar.ow, 
 rapid stream difficult to navigate with canoes. From here to Setting 
 lake, Grass river i« wide and currentless, with greenish milky water. 
 A short distance below the mouth of Metishto river it crosses the 
 end of Metishto lake, which has rocky shores, and then it continues 
 north-northeastward for 7 miles in a straight valley a quarter of a 
 mile wide between wooded ridges o' gneiss, the banks of the 
 channel being everywhere low and marshy. It then turns eastward 
 
 and cuts across the north end of Pakwahigun lake ' 
 
 ' Setting lake or as it is locally known, John Scotts Inke, is a 
 long and comparatively narrow body of light-brownish water, extend- 
 ing in a northeasterly ami southwesterly direction. Its southwestern 
 end was not examined. The widest portion of its northern end is 
 divided longitudinally by a chain of gnoissic islands. The shorts 
 are for the most part composed of a beach of smooth grey gneiss 
 striking with the long axis of the lake, overlain by a few feet of clay, 
 which is wooded with a forest of small poplar or spruce and lurch, 
 much of which has been destroyed by fire.' 
 
 ' Grass river flows out of the northeast end of Setting lake over 
 Sasagiu (or Golden Eagle) rapid, which has a descent of 12 feet. 
 The rock is a reddish-grey gneiss, striking N. 15° E. and dipping 
 N. 75° W. at an angle of .30°. Below this rapid the river opens into 
 another smoll lake 4 miles long, the western shore of which is com- 
 posed of vertical, thinly foliated, dark-grey hornblende gr 'ss, inter- 
 foliated with bands of medium-grained white granite. the foot 
 of the lake is Pisew or Lynx falls, with a descent of -i -t, first 
 over an abrupt fall and afterwards down a steep, brok rapid in a 
 narrow rocky channel.' 
 
 ' Below Pisew falls the river flows in a very direct course north- 
 northeastward for 23 mill's to the south end of Paint or Manuminan 
 lake, though for irost of the distance it is without appreciable 
 current. Generally speaking, it follows the strike of the gneiss, 
 except at the rapids where it crosses ridges of gneiss. Its banks 
 usually rise in gently rounded slopes to heights of about 100 feet, 
 and consist of rocky rii res of gneiss covered with a thin coating of 
 soft brownish clay without pebbles or boulders. The summits and 
 sides of '' 'se hills are generally wooded with small poplar, but 
 through t poplar and down close to the bank of the stream are 
 some scattered groves of large white spruce.' 
 
BASINS 09 NEUON AND CHUBCUILL BIVKUM. 
 
 41 
 
 From Paint lake a route leadi through Wintering lake and 
 Landing lake to the foot of Sipiwesl. lake on KeUon river. Below 
 Paint lake, for SO miles to ita mouth at the Grand rapid* of Nelson 
 river, the river forms, for the greater part of the distance, a chain 
 of straggling, irregular lakes, connected by narrow river-like 
 stretches with more or less current and occasional rapids. 
 
 Nelson Biver Route.' 
 
 Flowing from the north end of Lake Winnipeg, the Niison 
 exponds a few miles below, to fum Playgreen lake, from which it 
 flows by two main branches made up of muiiy channels. For the 
 first 100 miles of its ceurse, to the ft^ot of Sipiwenk lake, the river 
 retains this divided character; from Sipiwcsk lake it flows in a 
 singl' channel. 
 
 Leaving Lake Winnipeg there i» deep water navigation, on the 
 West branch, to the north end of riayj?reen lake, a distance of about 
 60 miles; and on the East branch to Sea-river fall, a distonce of 40 
 miles. Other unbroken stretches of deep woter occur along the 
 course of the river; one extends the whole length of Cross lake; 
 h.nother from the head of Ripiwesk lake to (Jrand rapids ; and another 
 from the foot of Grand rapid.-* to below Split lake. Tlie Knst branch 
 ia mcinly used as a canoe and boat route to Cross ami Split lakes, 
 and the country tributary to them, though the upper portion, to a 
 point 9 miles below Sea-river felU, forms part of the main route, 
 via the Hayes river, to Hudson bay. The chute at Sea-river fall 
 (Plate XI) is generally run by loaded boots, but it is necessary to 
 unload and track them up the current. Below the fall for 6 miles 
 the river is dotted with small islands, and becomes gradually wider 
 to the High Rock, where the channel followed by the Hayes River 
 route branches off to the right. From High Rock to Pipestone lake 
 the river flows in a number of deep, canal-like channels between, 
 rocky islands, the current is generally strong and in places rnpids 
 and falls occur; past three of these portages are necessary. From 
 the head of Pipestone lake to where the river flows from Cross lake, 
 navigation is unobstructed. An intricate network of channels 
 connects Cross and Sipiwesk lakes. The current through these 
 channels is swift, and portages past rapids and falls are made at 
 Ebb-and-Flow rapid, Whitemud fall. Bladder rapid, and Chain of 
 
 ■For geoloBical notea ae« detailed description of riven and lakes. 
 
49 
 
 ORorOOIOAL IIUKTKY, CANADA. 
 
 Rockt rapid. Vat i !«• ext 105 miles, through Sipiwetk like •ml 
 down the strptch ol lo»i. water extpmliiiK to (Jrand rapidf, though 
 the current .i tlTotn jik! ■ on rapid in places, no portagei are made. 
 At Orand rapid* a port of 1» cliaini is necessary, but the next 
 
 to Split lake, may be run by canoet or 
 
 o head of navigation, the river descenda 
 
 , It IK'i mile-: the rapids are nunieroua 
 
 luiitiy porliiKi-'. IJirthday riipids are 
 
 A (iuU lako. and UuU rupida just b.>liiw 
 
 little raiid, at thf -it . 
 boat*. From 'dii 1 I ■ to 
 470 foct in a <■ u' .'•■• ..' ^ 
 and rougii and ■ ■■ - Mt 
 passed between h Ir iui<i iiii 
 
 Oull lake. Kelt 
 wiiich are tho t 
 extreme head ot i 
 
 ra, 1 
 
 nd Long Spruce rapid* follow, Irlow 
 le rap! 1. tho lower one marking the 
 
 111 11 l"(.i .ii'i ■ ay. 
 
 i;^ . ^'"r Bonte.* 
 The Hayes Ui r rout . . < the .lays of the lirst explorers, has 
 bc-en the avenMc ■ comu. . n b.nveen the lu.rthern part of 
 Hudson bay and hf int. rior. '•" it the Hudson's Bay Company 
 brought from the bay annually tl ■ k'r.at .piantity of goods used for 
 the fur trade of ilit whole inferior ...untry, and it is still used for 
 tho more limited oommunieution tl.Mt is maintained between Lake 
 Winnipeg and the bay. 
 
 Leaving LuKo Winnipeg, the travelled boat-route to York 
 Faetory ..n Hudson buy follows the Nelson river to High Hork, 
 below Sea river falls, where it diverges and continues by a series of 
 lakes and streams ly'iuK to the east of the Nelson. Tho distance is 
 about 300 miles an.l the total descent from Lake Winnipeg about 
 710 feet. 
 
 "Notwithstanding this considerable amount of fall, in going 
 from Norway House to York Factory, the difficulties of boat naviga- 
 tion in descending are not great, but are more serious in returning. 
 In the downward journey it is necessary to haul th.. boat over dry 
 grotind only three times, muuely, at the waterslir.l of the Echima- 
 mish, the Robinson portage, and the Trout fall. These portages 
 measure 2S, Vm. and -'4 yanls, respectively. All the otlur rapidd 
 are run by York boats, and incstly with a full cargo, but at some of 
 them more or le<s of tho load requires to be carried past by land. 
 In the upward journey there are in all about twenty demi-charges, 
 or hauling places, and in addition to the three complete portages 
 which require to be made in going down, there is a fourth, the Island 
 
 portape. about 40 yard> in lensrth. 
 
 "■ForadoseriptioDome rocks occurring along the route see detaUcd description 
 
 °' "Hj"rSul-v''ey; Canada, Report o( Progress 1877-78, Ft. CC. 
 
i 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 'C 
 
 I 
 
 s 
 1 
 
 5 
 t 
 
 i 
 1 
 I 
 
 9 
 
 2ai(«-p. 4j. 
 
BA8IITB OF HEUSON AND OHUBOHILL BIVER8. 
 
 43 
 
 'The boat-route leaves the east channel of the JNelson river 25 
 miles below Norway House, and turns up a small, swampy, and 
 marshy stream called Echimamish. In the interval the river is full 
 of islands, and would average about a mile in width, including them. 
 The shores are rather low, but not often swampy. The banks consist 
 of a light coloured clay, with gneiss frequently appearing under- 
 neath it, and forming the points and smaller islands. The timber 
 consists of spruce, tamarack, Banksian pine, white birch, aspen, 
 balm of Oilead, and willows, with a little balsam fir.' .... 
 
 ' The Cree word " Echimamieh " signifies a channel in which the 
 water flows each way. Its course is eastward, and at 28 miles in a 
 straight line from the east channel, there is an abrupt termination 
 of the western part, at a low rock called the Painted Stone, 28 
 yards in width, which forms the watershed of the channel (see Plate 
 VII). Hairy lake and two dams, with a rise of about one foot at 
 each, are passed in the above interval. The boats are unloaded and 
 hauled over the little watershed, and launched into what is regarded 
 as a continuation of the same channel. The Whitewater river, 
 which discharges Little Lake Winnipeg, joins the eastern Echima- 
 mish on the south side, at 7 miles from the watershed.' .... 
 
 ' Around Rainy lake, and on either side of the valley of the 
 Echimamish, low domes of rock occur occasionally near the route, 
 and ridges which appear to rise to a height of 70 or 80 feet are seen 
 
 in some places at a distance of 2 or 3 miles back The river 
 
 flows successively through Robinson, Pine, and Windy lakes. Robin- 
 son portage, the most formidable one on the whole route, occurs at 
 the foot of the lake of the same name. The carrying-trail, which is 
 as wide and smooth as a good wagon road, passes over the light grey 
 clay soil which prevails everywhere in this part of the country. The 
 descent iu the river, between the extremities of the trail, was ascer- 
 tained by the aneroid barometer to be 45 feet.' 
 
 'A swampy lake, without any name, extends for some miles 
 eastward from the foot of Robinson portage. Seven miles below this 
 portage the river enters a narrow and nearly straight ravine, with 
 walls of gneiss from 30 to 70 feet high, through which it flows for 
 a distance of 7 miles to Pine lake, two rapids occurring in the 
 interval. The south side of Pine lake is bordered by small hills, but 
 to the northeastward a low tract extends all the way to Windy lake, 
 around which the country has a slightly undulating aspect. From 
 this lake the river runs northwest, or at right angles to its usual 
 course, and at the end of 4 miles fall;* into the head of a_marsh on 
 the level of Oxford lake. Here there is a chute called Wapinaipinis, 
 or the Angling Plaoe, with a descent of about 6 feet. The marsh 
 referred to opens by a narrow strait into the southwestern arm of 
 Oxford lake.' 
 
 ' Oxford lake runs northeast and southwest, and has a length of 
 about 30 miles, with a maximum breadth of 8 or 9 miles. It contains 
 many islands, and is much subdivided by long points 
 
H-^CWSWBB^fH? 
 
 44 
 
 OEOLOOICAt SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 Oxford House, a post of the Hudson's Bay Company, is situated on 
 a rising peninsula formed of lijfht grey elny, at the northeastern 
 evtremity of the lake. This lake is also called Holey lake, or more 
 Ufoporly, Deep-hole lake, from a small conical hole on the north side, 
 nne mile west of Oxford House, which, according to the Indian 
 belief, has no bottom, but is in reality only CO feet deep. The exten- 
 sion of the lake beyond Oxford House is called Back lake. 
 
 'From Back lake the water passes southeast, to the head ot 
 Knee lake— the distance, in a straight line, being U miles. 
 
 ' Knee lake has a totr.1 length of -iO miles. It consists of two 
 principal expansi..ns, eacli running northeast and southwest, con- 
 nected together about mi.lway between the inlet and outlet by a 
 narrower portion, about '.. miles in length, running north and south 
 The lower part is the widest, and has a maximum breadth of about 
 6 miles. The whole lake is studded with islands, but they are parti- 
 cularly numerous in the central part, which is a elosely-crowdcd 
 
 archipelago A few small hills are seen at fe head of the 
 
 lake and at some other localities ne.-r its shores, but with the=e 
 exceptions, the country presents all ar.i.ud a low "">! '""-'^f "^ °"*- 
 line The soil consists principally oi l.ght grey day an. brown, 
 gravelly loam, but n^ar the lake, on the northwest side of the lower 
 expansion, much of it is sandy. Wolverine nver which iorms part 
 of the canoe route to Gods lake, enters the northeastern extremity 
 
 of the upper expansion.' ...,_- 
 
 'Knee lake discharges at its northeast estrom.ty mto Swampy 
 lake. The connecting riv.r runs northeastward, and has a length of 
 10 miles in a straight line. It has a considerable descent in the 
 
 lower half of its course ,,. -i i „ .„j 
 
 ' Swampy lake is a narrow strip of water 10 miles long, and 
 has the san-.e northeast course as the river above and l.elow it. Its 
 name is d.Mived from a point composed of [leat on the northwest 
 side about half-way down. The surrounding country is ^low. but not 
 apparently swampy. This is the last lake on the route. 
 
 ' From Swampy lake to York Factory the nver curves regularly 
 round from a northeasterly to a nearly northerly course. • • • • • 
 
 ' Leaving Swampy lake, the river, for 10 miles, tlows through a 
 labyrinth of small islands. Although the banks are k.w, there is a 
 very considerable and tolerably regular descent in » "^/''f ."f «' * '" 
 river being broken by a great number of rapids, all of which, how- 
 ever may be run by boats. The bed of the river, and the innumer- 
 able small islands, are mostly formed of angular blocks and frag- 
 ments of gneiss At the end of the stretch so full of islands 
 
 da? banks first make^their appearance on both sides, and continue 
 
 all the way to the sea.' ... v u i,„. or. 
 
 'From Brassey hill few islands occur in the nver, which has an 
 
 average width of only about two chains. Several '^P'''' ""J ^^t 
 over ledges of gneiss underlying the day occur in the first 13 miles 
 bilow Erassey hill. The last one. at the end of the above distance. 
 
BASINS or MELSOR AND OIIUBCUILL BIVEK8. 
 
 45 
 
 or 109 milea above York Factory, is called The Rock, from a con- 
 ■iderable exposure Lcre of dark grey, rather coarse gneiss' (Plate 
 VIII). 
 
 'The character of the river changes at The Rock; and from 
 that point downward no more rapids occur all the way to the sea. 
 The stream is shallow at low water and runs with a swift current 
 to the head of tide-water, about 9 miles above York Factory. The 
 gravelly or sandy beach which is exposed during the summer nearly 
 all along between the foot of the clay banks and the water, affords 
 good walking for the n-.en employed in tracking loaded boats up- 
 stream.' 
 
 ' Clay banks, with an average height of 70 feet, are continuoua 
 on both sides of thn river along this portion of its oourseL Marine 
 shells, chiefly Saxicava rugoga, derived from the upper beds, were 
 noticed all along this section of the river.' 
 
 * The Shamattawa appears to be a larger stream than the Hayes 
 
 river with which it unites The river has an average width 
 
 of about 10 chains as far as the " Penneygutway," a small stream 
 from the left, 24 miles above York Factory. Below this, the width 
 is one-quarter of a mile, but increases regularly to half a mile, and 
 opposite York Factory it has become one mile. About a mile above 
 " Penneygutway " the river prives off a channel on the right, which 
 is of considerable size during floods, but is nearly dry at low water. 
 It merges again about 3 miles above York Factory, and is here 
 called Ten-shilling creek. In descending Hayes river, the clay 
 banks diminish in height from an average of 50 feet at the Shamat- 
 tawa to 27 feet at York Factory.' 
 
 ' Along the stream above described, from The Rock downward, 
 islands are almost entirely absent, until the head of tide-water is 
 reacheil. Here three wooded islands occur in succession, and below 
 them is a chain of low islands near the southeast side, covered with 
 grass, and affording abundance of hay for the cattle kept at York 
 Factory.' 
 
 Nearly every part of the region covered by the map may be 
 reached by canoe, though in the case of portions traversed only by 
 the smaller streams, travel is necessarily slow and difficult, owing to 
 the shallowness of the water and the number and length of the 
 portages. 
 
 GENERAL GEOLOGY. 
 
 Geologically the region is underlain by a central complex of 
 rocks of early Pre-Cambrian age, which has been reduced by an 
 exceedingly long period of erosion to the condition of a peneplain. 
 Overlapping this central complex are three separate developments 
 of sedin:entarj- bods, ranging in age from, probably, upper Huronian 
 
46 
 
 OEOLOOIOAL BOBV«T, CANADA. 
 
 to upper Cretttceou.. In the northweUern corner flat-lying .and- 
 .tone*, known a» the Athaba.ka .and«oneB and considered to be of 
 upper Iluronian age. overlie the Pre-Cambrian ; encroaching on th. 
 old rock., from the Hudwn Bay ba.in. to the northea.t. are P.teo- 
 «oic sediment, ranging in age from Ordovician to feilur.an; and to 
 the .outh. the ancient complex is overlain '•^ •"-«">^«^l.r'" 
 beds which inclu.le Crdovician magnes.an limeatones, Silurian 
 „.ag;ie.ia„ limestones, Devonian limestones, and Cretaceous sand- 
 stone, and shale.. 
 
 Table of Pormationi. 
 
 roatTcrtlarr ' 
 •ad BMcnt. 
 
 Recent alluvium, marine cl.ys.Iacu*- 
 I trine claye, boulder clays. 
 
 CraUcMiu, 
 
 A'io6ror«.. 
 
 'Grey calcnreous shales; oil-beann« and 
 containing, among other marine ro»il». 
 Oitrea conu'tta and Inoceramut prMom- 
 alieu,. the remain, of fishes, probably 
 Enchodui ihumardi and many Foram- 
 inijera; with bands o( limestone and 
 overlaid by interbanded clay iron-stone 
 and shale. 
 Dark grey shale*. , , 
 
 Loosely coh.rent white, quarts fndsand 
 sandstones with scantr. of lignite. 
 quartioMc sandstone with Pyntous 
 nodules and hard, purple, npplc-marked 
 sandstone and conglomerate, contaimna 
 rarbonacoous m&tu-x probably repre- 
 senting carboniicHl impressions of com- 
 minuted vegetable matter. 
 
 Buff coloured magnesian limestone, sand- 
 stone, and conglomerate: containing 
 Alrypa reticular it and cnnoid stems. 
 
 OrdOTklan. 
 
 Pre-Cambrlan 
 
 Light yellow-buff coloure<l magnesian Ume- 
 stones, weathering » hite or very nearly 
 so. Fossiliferous. A ist of the pnti- 
 cipal forms is given elsewhere in tne 
 report. 
 
 ,. , . T', ilk-bedded dark buff magnesian lime- 
 
 GaUna-Trenlon |T ""J^^J^^^Sthin-bedded.lightcrcoloured 
 
 I fine graine.l magnesian li.nestones 
 
 I underlain by red "»«"«»'"".'""!• 
 
 stone, and coarse white and red sand- 
 
 .,W«.t.S«n-i.^e....Whir^d^d^Uj^^^^^ 
 
 I in thick, horisontal beds. 
 
ad- 
 
 
 
 
 
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 22106—11. 46. 
 
BAatWB or NEMOn ASTD CnUROHIU. IIIVEM. 47 
 
 Tabb of Tonutioiu— Cond'nuwi. 
 
 m-CMiMMi 
 
 —CumUnmd. 
 
 Rcornt tllavhiai, mariac rlajri, Uca»- 
 
 trinn el»ys, bouldi r clay a. 
 
 taiirmMm Bk)tit« maita gneiH, hornblead* gMiu, 
 
 I anipnibolito, graaodiorita, «te. 
 
 Orentitle (?) I 
 
 (Lac LaSono* •crict). , . Qtiarti dioritcs, pyrouaitea, amphibolitea, 
 quarti-dloriu (Miiwa aad itchiiti aaii 
 I erpratalUoe limraloaea. 
 
 KttuaHr Chlontie aad hornblenda iohiata, dioriUa, 
 
 I hornblenditaa, MipcntiBe, etc. 
 
 /pnaonf I Graaitca, pegmatite dykca, diorite dykea. 
 
 Igneons. 
 
 Under Ifjrneous are included grunites which ore con^iidered to be 
 newer than Laurcntian, as well a« many dykes that cannot be lepar- 
 ated in the mapping. Certain diorite or diabase dykes seem also to 
 be later than the Laurentian, possibly upper Huronian or Keween- 
 awan. 
 
 Pre-Cambriu. 
 
 A very large part of the area under consideration is underlain 
 by a complex of old Pre-Gambrian rocks, most of which have the 
 lithological characters and associations of the Laurentian which 
 covers so large a portion of northern Canada. Included in the Pre- 
 Cambrian complex, however, are rocks which from their lithological 
 character and general aspect and '■oniposition seem to correspond to 
 the Grenville aeriea of eastern Ct a<la; others which correspond in 
 like manner with the Keewatin of the east, and others, involved with 
 the Keewatin in the general folding, which Sfem to be lower or 
 middle Huronian. 
 
 In addition to the scries above referred to, all of which have 
 been very intricately folded and which form one complex of rocks, 
 a series of flat-lying sandstones, which occupy a broad basin to the 
 south and east of Lake Athabaska, are considered, for reasons that 
 are given in subsequent pages, where these rocks are described under 
 the heading, Athabaska sandstone, to be referable to the Pre- 
 Cambrian and to about the horizon of the upper Huronian. 
 
48 
 
 OKOLOOICAL SUnVIT, CAHADA. 
 
 OriBTiUi (t). 
 A •erie* of ro..k<i exposed on the ihore* of Lno LoRorage and in 
 it* neighbourhood have curtnin distinctive charuoteri.t.*.* which 
 •erre to differentiate them from the granitoid gnoi»tet which make 
 up tiie broud expanse of tJ.e l-re-Cainbrian: and whi.-h al«. .erve 
 to corrt-lute thm with the (Ironville aeries .>{ catteni Canu.la. Thff 
 roclti of tlie soriea are all intensoiy metan.orpho»cl ; the prinoipal 
 rocks represented are shturcl and schistose granodioritcs or Knei>.s.e 
 and schistose «iuartx dioritcs; massive and schistose pyroxenitea; 
 hornblende schists; crystalline limestone, and a metnmorphic cal- 
 ciferous rock which in many ways resembles a sediment; the whole 
 occurring in a series of sharp f-lds wid. a general north and south 
 trend but over areas of considerable size lying in ii nearly hori- 
 zontal, gently undulating attitude. Inf.d.W with the rocks that 
 resemble m closely those of the (Jrenville, are coarse and fine gne.ssM 
 with quite the general aspect of the gneisse. that have come to be 
 recognized generally as Laurentian. 
 
 IM laBoBge and Adjoining Segioni. 
 Occupying moat of the shores of Lac LaRonge and ita numerous 
 island., r. the .erie. of rock, above referred to, that from their 
 lithological character, seem to be differentiated from the gneisses of 
 the broad expanse of the Pre-Cambrian which ha. been classified a. 
 Laurentian. In the Summary Report for 1909 these rocks were 
 briefly described under the name, Lac LaRonge .eriea, and their 
 similarity to the Orenville serie. of the east was pointed out. The 
 rock, are principally quartz-diorite gneisses and schist, and horn- 
 blende schists, with .mailer area, and bosses of pyroxen.te, horn- 
 blende diorite and serpentine, and with onfc band several chains wide 
 which can be followed for upwards of 10 miles, consisting of crystal- 
 line magnesian limestone with conformably underlying it, an impure 
 phase of the limestone, made up mostly of calcite but with rounded 
 grains of quartz and feldspar, as well as some pyroxene, scapolite. 
 and sphene. It has the appearance of having been, originally, a 
 
 sedimentary rock. 
 
 To the west of the lake, on Nemeiben river, a large boss of 
 coarsely cryatalliue pyroxenite forms a prominent ridge, rising from 
 low land. The rook consists mainly of aupite dialloge and accessory 
 feldspar and pyrite. Along a shear zone, occurring near the east 
 
■AHITS or IfKUON AMD OUUIOHILL BIVKIia. 
 
 4ft 
 
 tide of the ridge, it ii quite •chittoM in structur* and i» in placos, 
 highlr impregnated with lulphidee, principally iron pjrrite but partly 
 dialcKpyrite. \ tomewhat limilar bu*» forina a amall island in tb« 
 lake »uuth <>t Moow point. In this case, tmall veini of atbeatoa 
 ocfur in it. The rock* itrike about N. 20° E. and dip generally, 
 •xcwpt on rhe ea»t shore where the direction it the revene, westerly 
 at angles ritnging from 3(»° to vertical. They probably occur in a 
 series "f overturned folds, along the axes of which occur belts which 
 ara quite highly mineralized. Along these cones, in 190R and 1909. 
 many mining claims were staked by prospeeton who balierad or 
 hoped that they vore gold bearing. Asts^rs of mate nul from nearly 
 all the belts Were made, and in no case was the gdld content found 
 to be more than a tr^tce.' 
 
 The zones consist of quartz-feldspar aiLists, many of them 
 mineralizerl with pyrite uud a little chaVnpyrif*, und all highly 
 altered and showing calcite, epidote, and a variety of minerals that 
 are the protlucts of alteration. Mostly thn sclii ts s»w ii to !mvi h ■ n 
 derived from rocks having originally tho 'onuirriitiori ot tjuartz- 
 diorites. Except in the case of the crystalline limc^ltno jnd tlie 
 calciferous, metamorphic rcM'k underlying it, tlirr.; doc not seem, 
 in the thin sections examirie<l, to be anything to strongly indicate 
 that the rocks were originally sediments. All are, however, so ;nuch 
 altered, that tho evidence on this point is of little value either way. 
 
 KeewatiB, 
 
 Many small areas of rock that, from their lithological character 
 and relationship to the granite gneisses, are considered to be refer- 
 able to the Keewatin, occur throughout the area mapped. A number 
 of these areas are situateil at the southern edge of the Pre-Cambrian 
 area where it is overlapped by Paleozoic sediments. They are 
 roii(?hly triangular in shape, the base of the triangle being formed 
 by the edge of the overlying sediments and the apex by the tapering 
 end of the belt which fades into the gneisses. The shapes of the 
 areas are such as to make it seem probable that they are tongues 
 extending northward from larger areas or perhaps from a continuous 
 area of these rooks, concealed beneath tho ilat-Iying sediments and 
 protected hy them, from the denudation that, during much of the 
 
 ■Summary Report, Geol. Surv., 1908, pp. 80 and 92. 
 •Summary Report, Geol. Surv., 1909, pp. 1S5 and IM. 
 
 2210»-t 
 
50 QEOLOOICAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 time that ha. elap8ed since their deposition, was actiYe in the 
 
 northern area. 
 
 Enumerated in order of their occurrence, from west to east, the 
 area, that are considered to be referable to the Keewatin are: a 
 narrow belt, extending easterly from the south shore of Wapawekka 
 lake- an area 60 miles wide which appears from beneath the Ume- 
 rtone cover at Amisk. Athapapu.kow, and Cranberry lake.; similar 
 areas at Reed and Wekusko lakes; one crossing Grass river below 
 Wekusko lake; a small area at Pipe lake. Burntwood river; an area 
 of very irregular outline at Cross lake on Nelson nver^ which is 
 probably continuous with a more extensive belt crossing Oxford and 
 Knee lakes; ami, in the southeast comer of the district mapped, a 
 number of small tracts about Gods lake and Island lake and a long, 
 narrow belt, which has been traced for upwards of 100 miles along 
 the upper courses of Severn river. 
 
 The belt on Wapawekka lake is a little less thar. 4 miles w.de 
 and trends east and west. To the south it is overlapped, in it. 
 western part, by the flat-lying sandstones of the Cretaceous and in 
 its eastern part is cut off by a bright red i»t'""^« '"'=''• T^l'^^ 
 ha. the composition of a nuartz-diorite. the bulk of the rock be ng 
 composed of plagioclase feldspar, quartz being abundant and b.ot.te 
 accusing in quantity amounting to about 10 per cent of the whole. 
 • The rock has the aspect of a granite. . . . , , 
 
 The rocks of the belt are mainly massive dark, green. sh-black 
 quaru-diorites, sheared in places to form schists; hornblendites. 
 hornblende schists, and quartz-Jiorite .cnists and fine gneisses. 
 Along the south shore of the narrows a very highly altered rock, 
 which is used by the Indians for the manufacture of pipes, crops 
 out in low cliffs. In appearance it is a soft, light coloured, greenish- 
 grey rock dotted with small, bright red spots. It seems to have con- 
 fisted, originally, almost entirely of hornblende with accessor, 
 feldspar and magnetite, but is now strongly chlontized. To the 
 north, it is difficult to fix the edge of the belt. Quartz-d.orite schist, 
 and schistose rocks bavin., the appearance of dacites are interbanded 
 with fine gneisses, the gneissic structure in the rocks B'^'^K f f* 
 apparently somewhat gradually, to a granitoid structure until the 
 gneisses assume the appearance of so-called Laurentian gne.ss«. 
 
 The Amisk Lake belt, where the rocks are ^P^^fd about the 
 shores of that lake, is made up of various forms of schisU that are 
 
BASINS OP NKL80N AND CHURCHILL RIVEB8. 
 
 51 
 
 i 
 
 characteriatic of the Keewatin, for the most part homblendic and 
 chloritic, and massive diorites, with, in smaller volume, rocks of the 
 quartz-porphyiy tyrw and soft, grey, calcareous schists. The schista 
 are generally standing nearly vertically and strike, fairly uniformly, 
 north and south. Where the rocks of this belt are exposed farther 
 to the east, in Cranberry and Athapapuskow lakes, they have been 
 described by Tyrrell * and Dowling.' On Athapapuskow lake, Dow- 
 ling found mainly chloritic and hornblende schists and massive 
 diorites, the general trend of the rocks being about northeast. 
 Towards the more northerly extension of the area, along the outlet 
 of the lake, quartz porphyries cut the schists and there occurs a 
 band, west of the quartz porphyries, of well marked conglomerate 
 with pebbles of red jasper, that is probably of lower Huronian age. 
 Acid intrusives cut the basic rocks at many points. 
 
 On Cranberry lake, Tyrrell deacribes the rocks as consisting 
 mainly of 'chloritic and scricitic schists, altered from diabases or 
 clastic slates, cut by massive diorites ond gabbru.' 
 
 The Reed Lake area and its extension down Grass river and 
 about Wekusko lake are, like the tract to the west, underlain mainly 
 by various dark coloure<l schists and diorites, but include quartz- 
 porphyries and other acid intrusives. 
 
 The exposures about Reed lake are for the most part hornblende 
 schists and massive, altered, dark green dioritc-like rocks. On Grass 
 river, below the lake the Keewatin is represented by massive quartz 
 gnbbros and coarse diorites which cross the river, in a belt about a 
 mile wi.le, at the falls. At the first lake-like expansion of the river, 
 which occurs about 6 miles below Reed lake, tlie Keewatin rocks 
 form a very narrow belt with intrusive ret! granites on both sides of 
 it. From a i)oint opposite the inlet, northerly, for several miles, the 
 rocks of this belt form a narrow fringe along the shore, the praiiite 
 whieli lies to the east, or a red felsitc which scorns to be a marginal 
 phase of the granite, coining to the shore from place to place in 
 ii:asae3 and tongues. An interesting conglomerate, which holds 
 pebbles of red felsite, quartz-porphyry, white quartz, granite, and 
 banded red jasper, forms part of the belt, indicating that, probably, 
 Huronian strata arc folded in with the Keewatin. The conglomerate 
 on the Pineroot river, described by Dowling,* seema to be of similar 
 
 'Geol. Surv., Canada, Annual Report Vol. XIII, 1890, Pt. F. 
 •Geol. .Surv., Canada, Annual Report Vol. XIII, Pt. FF. 
 •Geol. Surv., Canada. Annual Report Vol. XlII, p. 33 FF. 
 
 2210e-(i 
 
5f OKOLOOICAl, 8UBVKT, CANADA. 
 
 Character. The exact relationships of the ^"kI"'""';*.^^' ""^ 
 .nade out. It seems to be invaded by the feh.te.wh.ch fonn a 
 marginal phase of the main gra..ite mass, and wh.ch are m places 
 auaHrphyrics. but includes pebbles that seem to be qu.te s.m.lar 
 to the felsites and quartz-porphyry. 
 
 The matrix of the conglomerate is made up of rounded part ctes 
 of quartz-porphyry and felsite. cemented by i..terst.t.al cry.talhne 
 quartz and chlorite; associated with the -n^^"-^**.'"'^ "^^ 
 Lly merging on the one hand into it and on the other .nto qua^ 
 porphyry is a breccia composed of irregular masse, and .maUer 
 Kn^ts of quartz, feldspar. apHte. felsite. and •^-'^'P-^^J^; 
 arranged in a promiscuous manner in a ground-mass of the »me 
 
 ^"Tetnglomernte in its extension along the -ike northe'.y 
 becon:es s.hi.to^e in structure, and passes upward* .nto a fine 
 grained, quartz epidote rock, containing carbonate, wh.ch may 
 originally have been a limestone. 
 
 This narrow belt, which skirts the sides of the lake expansion 
 and continues down the valley of Grass river, or.ns a <^r.n^^^ 
 band between the Keewatin area of Reed lake, referre.1 to above, and 
 L larger area of these rocks exposed about Wekusko lak*. The 
 rocks about Wekusko lake are. for the most part d.ontes and sch.sts 
 derived from them, but eu,brace al..^ many other rock types char- 
 acteristic of the Keewatin. including hornblende and staurol.te 
 "hist, and nacreous, silvery ^.ists .lerivc-d from ac.d .ntrus.ves. 
 The recks of this area are cut ^ a great number of O-'tz ve.ns, 
 which vary in width from mere gashes to ve.ns several feet w.de. 
 None was observed to carry valuable mineraU. 
 
 The belt which crossed the river below Wekusko lake ,s separ- 
 ated ^rom the lake area by a broad band of granite and gran.to^ 
 gneiss The .urfaoe is here largely drift covered, and few exposure, 
 are scon alo,.g the river. Tho^e which outcrop are hornblende and 
 chlorite schists and diorites. . , , j 
 
 Like the last named, the small area crossing P.pe lake and 
 extending easterly, just south of Burntwood river, is made up ma.nly 
 of chloritic and hornblende schists, and has apparently a trough-hke 
 structure, infolded in the enclosing granitoid gneisses 
 
 Pipestone lake and part of Cross lake, Nels.n river, l.e .n the 
 western extension of a long telt of Keewatin rocks wh.ch extend. 
 
BASIXa OF KELSON AND OHDBOHILL BIVEB8. 
 
 eastward to Echimamish river and beyond, for a ionc diatance down 
 Hayes river. Tlie rocks exposed about Pipestone and Cross lakes 
 are principally cfaloritic and hornblende schists, diorites, and a con- 
 glomerate with schistose paste and pebbles of granite and diorite 
 principally. The rodcs of the belt are described in greater detail 
 in the portion of Uiis report dealing with Nelson river and the Hayes 
 River route. They seem to occupy, towards the granite gneisses, the 
 same relationship generally observed in northern Ontario, that of 
 areas infolded in the granitoid rocks but also invaded by them. 
 
 Of the areas in the vicinity of Qods lake and Island lake, owr 
 knowledge is derived from notes made by A. S. Cochrane, accoir- 
 panied by a set of specimens and a map.' The information ia not 
 sufBcient to allow of the exact mapping of the areas. The rocks 
 seem to consist mainly of hornblende and other scliiAts and diorites, 
 and they seem to have a very irregular distribution, but whether 
 they occur in a number of small unci^imected iract« or form two 
 principal areas, it ii< not possible to say. Mr. Cochrane noted the 
 occurrence of serpentine on the north shore of Island lake, and 
 found very strorwr magnetic attraction at an island wt-.ch he calls 
 Iron island in the same neighbourhood. 
 
 The belt of Keewatin extending from Favourable lake to Sandy 
 lake and down Severn river, was mapped by A. F. Low, who describes 
 the rocks as consisting mainly of chloritic and altered hornblende 
 rocks, with talc and hydro-mica schists. They were found in several 
 places to be highly magnetic and to contain large quantities of 
 pyrite." 
 
 Haronian. 
 
 Included in the areas uf Keewatin rocks mapped, are certain 
 conglomerates, which from the fact that they hold pebbles that seem 
 to have been derived from the Keewatin — for example, pebbles of 
 banded jasper — are deemed to be younger than Keewatin, and, there- 
 fore, Huronian; they are folded in with those rocks and co attempt 
 has been made, on the accompanying map, to separate the two. The 
 large spread of horizontally bedded coarse sandstones which overlie 
 the folded part of the Pre-Ccmbrian in the noi thwest comer of the 
 area mapped are considered, for reiisons which will b<> given iu 
 following pages, to be correlated with the upper Huronian, as that 
 term is applied in Lake Superior geology, or with the Keweenawan. 
 
 'Oeoi. Surv., Canada, Report of Progr«iii 1878-79, Pt. C. 
 •Geol. Surv., Canada, Annual Report, Vol. II, 1886, Pt. F 
 
54 
 
 OKOLOOIOAL SHRVKY, CANADA. 
 
 Athabaika Sanditone. 
 
 A tract of upwards of 4,B00 square miles in the comer of the 
 area mapped is covered by beds of nearly horizontal sandstone; this 
 forms tho eastern part of an extensive tract of these rocks lying 
 south and east of Lake Athabaska. The sandstone was first described 
 by R. O. McConnell from exposures observed by him in 1888 at 
 Pointe de Roche and at another point 7 miles oast, on the south 
 shore of Lake Athabaakm.' McConnell deiKsribed the rock u 
 a silioeous sandstone which is ' usually coarsely granular in texture, 
 but parses occasionally into a fine graine<l conglomerate It- wlour 
 varies from white to dull red. Its bedding planes have bf «» «W't^': 
 ated, but its general horizontal attitude is betrayed by the textural 
 dilTerences. It is- cut by two systems of jointage planes, and. in 
 weathering, breaks into huge blocks, 8o«e of which contain several 
 hundred cubic yards of material.' 
 
 He noted the resemblance of numerous fragments of red and 
 green, mottled sandstone occurring in the vicinity, to that found at 
 Sault Ste Marie. He used the descriptive namf. Athabaska Sand- 
 stone and concluded that it probably belongs, from its general 
 char^*r and position, to one of the divisions of the Cambrian. 
 
 The p*rt of the area appearing on the map-sheet was outlined 
 by J B. Tyrrell in his exploration of the country between Atha- 
 baaka lake and Churchill river, in 18»-2.' Tyrrell s^:- 
 
 ' This iH an extensive =eriea of generally horizontal red sand- 
 stone and co.*lomenue, resting over th- uneven surface of the 
 AXan grani^. and gneiss. . . . ^be for.at^ is everyW^je 
 «uch the .a.uc in this district, consisting ''h'^fly /f^«/;^^*' 
 moderately coarse grai.ied. <T«art.o.c .andstonc. ^t *ome plac*. 
 ne*r the base of the ^ric.s, e..j«..,a»iy on the north shore of L*ke 
 Atl^fcaska the rock iKjcome* a --oarse ,..>ng!omeratc with well rounded 
 ^£ of w^.i". clastic quartzit* lik. th«t of the neighbour.ng 
 lluronian rodw." „__^___ 
 
 r«M« river »iirf Athst*** ' 'r' V ' t^-" V„l ^ 181»^1 P^Tsi D 
 B«rv.. Canada, AnnuBl Reput' N.w ^^*^^^"i;Z T^Am \\il Vf> 17 -l** 
 
 eitendii«forl6niiU-»iU<««tl««'««nr' '»J'j'>'''»' ' . A,A^f.^^\ ^ w i ch f-^rni 
 c™«h...l .,uartiitc. in w»'»^,'~^» ''4'*''* ' '^ji^™ , , *f^ thT,«-..,.. Tyrrell 
 . wide ,..VB<-Ii»«' "".h »,""^''"'>'/r™.,iL .i^n^J^LUd *ith h .ut*- qiarti- 
 no^» •» .-.ttwivf ^-vclopmont of hrmaUte^ a^I^T^A^^ tli. -Lilf of th. 
 ite br«M!«i», which WM acen to extend a loi« di»t»«« a^m* -low 
 quartiite. 
 
BASINS OK NKLHUN AND CIIUBCIIII.L R1VEK8. 
 
 55 
 
 'In other places, bs on Wapnta lake, it is a fine groined, thin- 
 bedded, red, shuly suudstouc, muttled with rounded spots of a 
 greenish-grey colour.' 
 
 ' It is almost everywhere nearly horizontal, the exception to the 
 rule being slight and local. It was not found to bo cut by erup- 
 tive rocks except at one point on the west shore of Cree lake where 
 a dyke of coarse, liglit green, uralitic diabase has cut through it and 
 alters the sandstones on both sides to a bard quartzite.' 
 
 ' On account of the generally horizontal position of the beds, 
 and their similarity in character throughout, it was impossible to 
 determine its greatest or total thickness, but near the east end of 
 Lake Athabaska cliffs of sandstone rise on the south shore to the 
 height of between 400 and 500 feet, giving a vertical section of over 
 400 feet at this point.' 
 
 Tyrrell also states that in IhO.'J * in the country northward, 
 toward Chesterfield inlet, simiinr sandstones were found overlying 
 the Archtean associated with <iuartz-porphyries, diabases, etc., like 
 those of the Keweenawan rocks of Lake Superior. The likeness is 
 so pronounced throughout that there would seem to be little doubt 
 that the two sets of rooks belong to the same geological horizon.' ' 
 
 The boundari*** of the part of the Athabaska sandstone area 
 appearing on the n:ap were fixed by Tyrrell, who found all along 
 Stone river from Black lake easterly to a rapid three-fourths of a 
 mile bfllow the mouth of Waterfound river, occasional exposures of 
 sandstoiip. all ver>- similar in character, generally horizontal and 
 undisturbed, and none showing any great thickness. About Crooked 
 lake the lUfaaures arc cimi'ealed, so that the inuuediate contact of 
 tlie sandstoiip with the underlying gneisses which are exposed just 
 ab<M-e the lake was not here seen." 
 
 The eastern boundary of the sandstone which skirts probably 
 the west shore of Wollaston lake was assumed from the occurrence 
 there of angular masses of sandstone, which are absent from the 
 <lrift elsewhere on the lake, togn or with the general sandy char- 
 •eter of the surrounding 'ountry.' 
 
 Similar Handstones, associated with intrusives of various kinds, 
 t.»«r« been foun>1 to cover many extensive tracts in other parts of 
 lu/f^tiern Can-ada. Those include a largo area west of Chesterfield 
 inlet; tin area aboat the cast end of threat Slave lake,' and one 
 
 'Idem. 
 
 'Idem. p. W. 
 
 •Idftn. p 1*8. 
 
 T-ci.!. 8ur\-., Caiu»a«, Annual Rppt. (New Seriwi Vol. IX. 1R96. Piirt F. 
 
 •Geo! ??urv.. Canada. Annual R«T>t. (Nhw Spriwl Vol, 11. l»Ml, I'lirt B. 
 
 ^-wl, .><v.rv., Canada, Annuiil R.iit. iNVw S«ri««) Vol. XII. WW, Part A. 
 
56 
 
 OEOLOOIOAL 8DBVET, CANADA. 
 
 extending from the eastern tide of Great Bear lake to Coronation 
 tulf and the ahorea of the Aictie ocean.' 
 
 The bed* are described in greater detail by Tyrrell in writing of 
 the Chettcrfield Inlet area:— 
 
 'The Athabasca sandstone* and conglomerates represent the 
 basal portion of the Cambrian in the northern P^'t "^ »»'^ '=»'«»^ 
 shown on the accompanying map. They cons.«t of 400 feet or more 
 of reddish, thick-bedded sandstone or conglomerate, often showing 
 false-bedding, and are comparatively unaltered and "n^urturbed over 
 large areas. In some places, as on the islands near the northwest 
 shore of Doobaunt lake, they dip regularly at a moderate angle. 
 
 • The rock varies from a coarse conglomerate to a fine-gramea. 
 ted, mottled sandstone. The pebbles in the «°n8l?'n"''»«,l f",'''V- 
 funded and wafrworn. and consist almost entirely of 'J'te f "^ 
 quartzite like that of the Huronian. The occurrence of QuarUite 
 Jebbles to the almost total exclusion of pebbles of ^?'f'''l^^ 
 would indicate that these Cambrian strata were deposited off a shore 
 composed very largely of Huronian quarteites. 
 
 ' The Athabasca sandstones are cut by dykes and massMof both 
 
 acid and basic eruptive rocks. The acid eruptives were fi"tj°et 
 
 with in a hill of red quartz-porphyry at Teall point, on the weet 
 
 shore of Doobaunt lake. A similar massive quartz-porphyry forms 
 
 a heavy east-and-west-dyke some distance farther north on the shore 
 
 of the same lake, and in the vicinity of the dyke the ."""O""^;^ 
 
 conglomerate is very much hardened, so that it breaks indifferent^ 
 
 thSh the matrix or through the pebblee. In places the porphyry 
 
 contains little or no quartz.* _,, , * ti,« 
 
 ' Towards the north end of Doobaunt lake, the orthoclaae of the 
 
 porphyry is replaced by plagioclase. thus forming an andesite or 
 
 dacite. This andesite is largely developed, and seems to underlie a 
 
 large tract of country along the Doobaunt river between Lady 
 
 Marjorie lake and the Forks, and again it was found on the islands 
 
 towards the east end of Baker lake.' 
 
 'Dark green basic eruptive rocks, chiefly, or perhaps exclu- 
 •volv in the form of dykes, are more or less extensively developed 
 tnroughout the area covered by the Athabasca aeries, often altering 
 these rocks into a quartzite or quartzitic conglomerate. 
 
 'On Doobaunt lake, and on the Doobaunt river near the torts, 
 most of these dykes are of more or less typical diabase, showing 
 Xic Btructur? with interlocking lath-shaped crystals o p agio- 
 case between which are crystals or crystalline masses of augite, 
 often altered to chlorite. Apatite and iron ore are also usually 
 present.' 
 
 ~Geol. Sui^«n»da. Annual Rept. (Kew Scrie.) Vol. "i »'««i»''KL?c 
 GmI Surv.. Caii»d», AbbuiU Rept. (New Seriei) Vol. XII. 1«». Part C. 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND OUUBOHII.L RIVKR8. 
 
 57 
 
 'The heavy dyke, cutting the conglomerate at the gorge above 
 Grant lake, hat a much newer appearance, being composed of a dark 
 pitchstone with gleuy matrix, through which are scattered many 
 minute feathers of iron ore.' 
 
 'The heavy diabase dike, crossing the TcUoa river at Loudon 
 rapids, cuts the surrounding acid eruptive rocks, and is clearly 
 newer than them. In roost cases, however, the acid and basic erup- 
 tive rocks weie n-^t seen in contact, and their relative ages were not 
 determined; but since the latter arc also common in the Tluronian 
 and Laurentian, it would seem probable that some are older, and 
 some are newer than the acrid eruptives.' 
 
 ' Though fos»iU were carefully looked for in the Athabasca 
 sandstones, none cuuld be found, so that the age of this formation 
 must be determined un stratigraphical and lithological ground* 
 alone.' 
 
 ' That they are separated from quartzitcs of the Iluronian 
 (Keewatin) by a great unconformity, is shown by the fact that the 
 conglomerates are composed largely of rounded and waterworn 
 pebbles of these quartzites, which had, therefore, been altered, 
 hardened, and recemented with interstitial silica before they were 
 broken down by meteoric agenciea, and carried out into the water 
 off the shore to form the later conglomerates. They are also cer- 
 tainly older than the flat-lying Cambro-Silurian limestones which 
 were seen on Nicholson lake, for, though the two were not seen in 
 contact, pebbles and boulders of Trcntou limestones were found in 
 many places, evidently derived from other outlier;) of the limestone 
 than the one seen, and none of them showed any signs of alteration 
 from contact with the numerous trap flows that cut the sandstone 
 and conglomerate. Therefore, since they hold a position uncon- 
 formably above the Huronian and below the Cambro-Silurian, they 
 may be assigned with probability to the Cambrian. Lithologically 
 the whole terrane presents a remarkable resemblance to the red 
 sandstones and Cambrian quartz-porphyries of the Keweenawan 
 rocks of Lake Superior. This resemblance is so strongly marked 
 that small specimens of rocks from the shore of Doobaunt lake are 
 usually indistinguishable from specimens from Lake Superior. The 
 two terranes are regarded as holding similar positions in the geologi- 
 cal time-scale." 
 
 Tha question of the age of the Athabuka sandatons has been 
 aomewhat fully dealt with in the reports already cited. The authors 
 of theae reporta, together with Sir J. Richardaon, Bell, and Mc- 
 Connell, are agreed ae to the probable correlation of theae areas with 
 th« Kew«enawan of Lake Superior ; the correlation being baaed mainly 
 on lithological similarity but being also in accord with their strati- 
 graphical position so far as t^is has been determiatd. 
 
 'Oeol. 8»tv., Canna*. Ann. R«pt. (New Seriw) 1896, P»rt F. 
 
58 
 
 OEOLOOICAL 81RVKV, OAWADA. 
 
 There Mems to be great probability that ro<-ks of about the 
 age of the AthabMka aanditonei or of Animikie and Keweenawtn 
 aKo occur under the Paleowic sediment* near the .horei of Hudton 
 bny. Though they have not been reoognifod in place on either the 
 ^eldon or Hayc«. the only rivers whiih have been examineM. the 
 prosence in the valley» of these rivers of great numbers of boulders, 
 which closely resen.ble the rocks of the Kewecnawan and AnJmikie, 
 makes it probftHo that the ledges from which they were derived are 
 concealed beneath the drift or occur somewhere in the neighbour- 
 hood. Bell records on the lower stretches of the Nelson, "boulders 
 and pebbles of the drift of this neighbourhood are made up largely 
 of the rocks of the suppose.! equivalents of the Nipigon series of the 
 east coast of I'-dson bay. Specimens of almost every variety of 
 these strata may be picked up along the banks in this part of the 
 
 Joseph Robson. describing an exploration of the lower Nelson 
 made by him in 1745,' says:— 
 
 'As wo walked along the river we saw many »t°f/« J" "^nrt 
 and colour like a cannon ball; and upon breaking them against 
 laier tones we found that the inside looked like iron. Up anothe 
 river, a few miles eastward of York Factory, there ,s a bank abound- 
 ing with these round stones.' 
 
 This description of Robson's applies very aptly to concretions 
 which are common in the Animikie of Lake Superior, weathering 
 out from the slates on Kaministikwia river, to form shingle 6 inche. 
 
 in diameter. ^ , . , 
 
 Ordorieiaa. 
 
 A belt with an average width of about 50 miles, made up almost 
 entirely of magnesian limestones of Ordovician age. extends from 
 Lake Winnipeg nearly to Lac LaKonge. To the south it is overla.n. 
 apparently conformably, by beds of limestone which resemble closely 
 the Ordovician bcls but which contain a fauna that establishes their 
 age as Silurian. To the west a heavy cover of recent sands an-l the 
 overlap of Cretaceous beds, which at Wapawekka lake lie dirtotly 
 upon the Pre-Cambrian surfae. hide its possible extension. 
 
 A complete section of the beds is nowhere seen at any one 
 locality, since they lie nearly horizontally with a gentle slope south- 
 westerly, or are broadly undulating^ 
 
 iGeol. Surv.. Canada. Report ot Progress. »f^2». 'JJ-5^-. _ „■■.:, ,„ lyi'A and 
 
 Hudson'B Bay Company. London, li 52. 
 
BAaiRH or NKIJION AM) CIIUKCIIILL BIVKiU. 
 
 50 
 
 Another area of Urilox ician rocks ovcupic* the nortbeMtern part 
 of the area covered by the map-sheet. They fortu part o{ the broad 
 expanse of I'ala-uzoic sediments that extends from the basin oci^u- 
 pied by Hudson boy and James bay, inland over the Fre-Cambrinn 
 peneplain. Tho width of the belt is greatest in the region to the 
 southwest (if .1 limes buy, where it extends inland upwards of 2M 
 miles. In the lower part, where tho belt is broiido^t. tho Onlovician 
 is entirely concciileil by the overlap of Siluriun and Devonian bt-ds. 
 Where tho belt npin-ur^t uiion llie area of the map tho width i* about 
 125 miles, nearly 100 of which are underlain by Ortlovician. 
 
 Both in lilhologienl elmractcr and in their fossiU, the roeka of 
 these two, now wid«'ly sfparnteil areaH, closely re^cmlilo one nnotlier; 
 it, therefore, se<'ms probiiblo that at one time they spread widely 
 over the peneplain surface and formed a continuous sheet. 
 
 Tho southern area is made up principally of maKnenian lime- 
 stones with, at tho bfl-<e, rather coars*!, white and dull re<l san'Utoncs. 
 Tho limestones ar»', lor tho most psirt, fossilifcroiis, and are separ- 
 ated from tho conformably overlyinfi Silurian liu:e»tone» solely by 
 this means. 
 
 No complete section of the beds whh aceii at any one place, and 
 
 the gently undulating attitude of tho strata makes it difficult to 
 
 construct a full section from tho exposures outcropping at points 
 
 widely separateil. In the ncinhbourhood of Ooniii'rnnt lake and to 
 
 the west of it, tlie succession seems to he, in descending order: — 
 
 40 feet Very thick bedded, rine-craiaed dark buff eokwred, nioa- 
 
 amian liiiiestone. 
 
 IS " ... ConipArt, ypllowiali buff, miidcrali^ly tliirk tmlded ill' 
 nt'ian limrstone, with many iinprrMioM of I' 
 roilrd alirllfl o( cephalopod*. 
 
 6 " . . Thill IxHliIrd, hard, line yellow-buff moaneiiian liiiii'^tonp, 
 fine-finiined nnd ahowinc conchoidal fracture. 
 
 9 " ... Thick lieildcd, hard, yellowish, maanesian limeatone, 
 hrrnkinff. on cliff fuces, int^i ruuahly diHooidnl pieces 
 o( .rreoular ahapt's. 
 
 6 " Thill liedded, line, red niarbloU, Imiwn-I'iff mantncsian 
 
 liiiieati'ne with the leiturt of a litlniiiraphie atone 
 and nudular at the liaae. 
 
 3 " Thin beddnl, reddish macnesiaa limestone, wrathering 
 
 very rollen »nd Htaineil with irim oiidi'. 
 
 8 " Thin biilded, riihlish, (wiily disintearatinc ninsnesian 
 
 limes time. 
 
 20 " Red nnd white mottled or blotchy, iinpurn, MinKne.iian 
 
 llmestiine in anmcwhat heavy b<!<U. 
 
 IC " or more <>( dull rvd and white coarso, soft ituarts sand- 
 
 st4>ne. 
 
60 
 
 oiouMiOAL rxfrnm, oahaoa. 
 
 th. Ordovlci.n rock, ol M.nitob. in the Annual Report of th. 
 G.ologie.1 Survey for the ,•« 1898. pp. 48 F to 68 K 
 
 Th. following .peoie. «. reeonW by Tyr~U from th. rock, of 
 th. country north of the SMketchewn, which are cone.dered to b. 
 of .imilar .je. To the., ere .dded . few otUr »V^'> J^*^^ 
 bf Mr. Whiteaves in . collection made .t Cormorant Uke. .nd by 
 Mr. Percy Raymond in a collection from Dewhwnbault lake:- 
 In the limeatone.:— 
 
 B»e»ftacuiiUa oweni. 
 Colnmnaria alveoMa. 
 Colnmnaria (PalaeophyUum) rugota. 
 Slreplelatma rohtutum. 
 Colapoecui canad$n»i: 
 Siictopora acuta. 
 Orihii Ifludinaria. 
 Leptocna unieoatala. 
 Pledamhonites tericea. 
 Vinoholus parviuf 
 Cyriodonta, .p. 
 Jfaclurea manitohtntit. 
 ljio$pira, ip. 
 
 Murchitonia or Loxonema, sp. 
 Trochonema or Pleurotoma-ia. ip. 
 Orlhocerat, sp. 
 Endoceras suhannuMumt 
 Triptoeera* lamhii. 
 Qyto-erat tuhmamillaluml 
 Bunuuie. <renton«n««. 
 Cfcetrunw pleurtxanlhemu*. 
 
 In the sandstones:— 
 
 Ctenodcnia suhnasutat 
 
 Pleurolomaria, sp. 
 
 Uurchitonia or Loxonema. 
 
 Helicotoma, ap. 
 
 Bueania hueHiit 
 
 BeUeroir^on, sp. 
 
 Orthocxra* aemiplanatum or planoeonvexum. 
 
 Endoceras (Narthecoeerat) cra$»uiphanatum. 
 
BAIIiri or RBLSOIf ARD CUCROHILL HIVKIM. 
 
 61 
 
 To these the following wurc added from collections mtde at 
 Connoraat lake, identified by Mr. Wbiteavee, and at Deachambauk 
 and Suggi lake*, identified by Mr. Percy Raymond:— 
 
 From Cormorant lake : — 
 
 PiUceolu$ (Cj/clocrinut) $ptukiif Eichwald. 
 
 tZaphrmtU affinU, Billings. Teate, Lambe. 
 
 Npttopota hiUing$ii. Nichobon. Teate, Lambe. 
 
 tLahtehia ohioentis, Nicholson. Teste, Lambe. A frag- 
 ir.cnt. 
 
 Rhyncholrema, sp. 
 
 Slrophomena deltoideaf 
 
 Strophomena trtnlonensitt 
 
 Fleurolomariat 
 
 Ophilelaf 
 From Deschnmliault and Suggi hikes: — 
 
 Platytlrophia lynx, Eichwald. 
 
 Rtctptaculitei oweni. Hall. 
 
 CUonychia, sp. 
 
 Northeut Boundary of Ordoricitn. 
 
 The Ordovieian limestones terminate northerly in most places 
 in almost pcrpondicular cliff faces from 20 to 40 or more feet high, 
 the lower parts of which are hidden by a talus of huge blocks of 
 limestone which have fallen from above owing to the undermining 
 of the cliff by the weathering away of the lower beds, which, in some 
 cases, as at Amisk laku, consist of limestones that are thin bedded 
 and less resistant than the upper beds, and in others, as on Ballan- 
 tyne bay, of easily disintegrating quartz sandstones. 
 
 In a broad zone near the edge, the limestones are intersected by 
 many cracks along joint planes, some roughly parallel to the cliff 
 fronts and others extending back from it almost at right angles. 
 These fractures have been widened, probably largely by the expan- 
 sion of ice within them, until some of them now form miniature 
 gorges large enough for the passage of a man, in which the passing 
 traveller may find ice in midsummer. Huge quadrilateral blocks are 
 thus separated ly these gorges from the main body of limestone. 
 This feature strongly impn sse<l Alexander Henry,' who thus speaks 
 
 ■Travels and Advmtura in Canada and the Indian Territories between the year 
 1760 and VTIt, by Aleiander Henry, Esq., 1809. 
 
■HiriMMililiiiflMWai 
 
**C«OCOW MMIUTION TBT CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHAUT No. 2) 
 
 S'«" Eo,l Mom SIrMI ' 
 
 ("6) 2aS - 5M9 - fo. 
 
OKOLOOICAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 Of it in a description of a trip through A,nisk (Beaver) lake in 
 
 ^"^i7recro«inK B«.ver lake the wind "^ i"U*nt TntVt'h^ -o^'- 
 which°I h"nit^i«H«l brfore Tak,n« my ««n I^we ^^^^ ^e^ ^^ 
 
 in EAarch of Kame; but I had nor; a"''"^!; v,» r«a§on of Tnase« oi '^x"'' 
 l"Cnd the 'country .«l°'<fVr°.^irns ^me wC^ trf > "I^^TT^TA 
 which were scattered m „»11 <l\f"="°"f '.„ Se air and then suffered to f^l 
 u V al if thev had been ttrst thrown ">*"»"« rn^tt I at last ascended the 
 
 ""Th. Had.o» Bay belt .f Orioviof.n i. .>po.ed on th, riven 
 
 -"^rr :'.r:'r;r:. .™ .< o.e.«.„ ...«,.,. 
 
 position, -hey ue m :u fose liferous, and 
 
 the most part horizontal. Many of '^' ^^J^ ^^^^^^ion was 
 from th.se occurring at the three 1— ^ ^^f;^. ''^tL fossils 
 made by Dr. Bell and ^'^^^^^' ^iT^^lH, beds as about 
 geem to be sufficiently diagnostic to fix tbe a^e « Ordovician. 
 the same as that of the Winnipeg limestones and Ordovici 
 
 Silurian. 
 
 are exposed at many points along ^lagnesian 
 
 ,apids and ^^-';^'^l^,,'^^:iLr.lr.6. of light bufi 
 
2'.'11Ki -p. fi2. 
 
BABIIiS OF NELSON AND CHUBOHILL BIVEK8. 
 
 63 
 
 tnd atruoturally conformable Ordovician (Plate X). On the map 
 the boundary between the two is arbitrarily drawn to include on the 
 one side all the measures known to hold Silurian fossils, and on the 
 other those holding Ordovician forms. So far as seen, there seems 
 to be no stratigraphieal break between the two systems. The rocks 
 of the two seem to have been laid down under pretty much the same 
 conditions; lithologically, they are very similar, and both lie in a 
 horizontal or gently undulating attitude. A much closer examination 
 than has been possible would, therefore, be necessary to separate the 
 two systems with exactness. 
 
 In the region under consideration the Silurian, occupying, as it 
 does, the low valley of the Saskatchewan, is concealed over large 
 areas by surface deposits of boulder clay and recent alluvium; it 
 is best exposed at Grand rapids at the mouth of Sa^atchewan river, 
 and at that place the most comprehensive collection of its fossils has 
 been made. For a description of the section exposed there, with 
 lists of fossils, the reader is referred to the detailed description of 
 the river in another part of this report.' 
 
 In the northeastern part of the area mapped, bordering the 
 shores of Hudson bay and overlapping conformably the Ordovician, 
 is another belt of magnesian limestones of Silurian age. They form 
 part of a gradually widening band of strata of this age, that extends 
 southwards, down the shores of Hudson bay and James bay. The 
 rocks are described in greater detail in the section devoted to Nelson 
 river, since only on that river are the rocks exposed. On Hayes 
 river the lower stretches where, presumably, the underlying rocks 
 are Silurian, show no exposures of solid rock. Many of the rivers, 
 crossing the belt farther east, give good sections of these rocks, and 
 from them large collections of fosfils have been made.' 
 
 The south boundary of the belt of Silurian is, therefore, fixed 
 on the accompanying map from the outcrops exposed on Nelson 
 river. On that river the lower 62 miles, measured in a straight line 
 from Beacon point, are entirely through drift, and show no solid 
 rocks in situ; above this point, for 6 miles farther up the river, 
 occasional exposures of horizontally bedded dolomite outcrop from 
 the banks, the upper one rising from the water in a sheer cliff 30 
 feet in height. 
 
 ■See aUo Geol. Surv., Canada, PaliBOioio Foasils, Vol. Ill, Part III. 
 •Geol. Surv.. Canada, Pitlieoioio FossUs, Vol. Ill, Part IV. 
 
 i 
 
Q4 OEOLOOICAL 8UKVEY, CAHADA. 
 
 The POck is a fine-grained, soft, magnesian limestone of 
 yellowigh-grey colour, generally somewhat earthy ""'li^P^y"*? 
 some beds apparently a tolerably pure dolomite. A few of the beds 
 are a foot or more in thickness, but, generally, the rock is qu.te thin- 
 bedded. The only fossil observed was an obscure Feniamerous. the 
 species of which could not be detennined.' This fossil is abundant 
 in some of the beds, and its occv. ence fixes their age. 
 
 SeTonian. 
 
 Rocks of Devonian age were recognized at only one place in the 
 region, namely, on the south shore of Lac LaEonge; and, there, they 
 occur in the form of angular blocks and debris, makmg up the 
 shores and banks, and have not been proved to occur in place. From 
 the mode of occurrence of the loose material in the banks and floor- 
 ing the bottom of the lake, there seems to be little doubt that the 
 rocks are in place underneath. To the west, in similar relation to 
 the overlying Cretaceous beds, strata of this age have been recog- 
 nized south of Lac LaPlonge, and it seems probable that the Lac 
 LaRonge beds represent the extension easterly of the western area. 
 To the east, also occupying a similar po-tion, like rocks have a wide 
 development about Lake Winnipegosis. 
 
 The strata at Lac LaRonge comprise buff-coloured, magnesian 
 limastones, calcareous sandstones and conglomerate, in which 
 pebbles of Huiestone and quartz are cemented by a calcareous, arena- 
 ceous paste. 
 
 Fossils collected at the Lac LaRonge locality were submitted to 
 Mr. Lambt, of the Geological Survey, who says of them':— 
 
 'The Lac LaRonge fossils consist of mature and immature 
 specimens of Atrypa reticularis, L., and of portions of the stems of 
 crinoids. Some of the mature specimens of the brachiopod show the 
 " marginal frmge," so well preserved in a number of the examples 
 of this species from the dolomites of the Winnipegosis district. The 
 fragments - f crinoid stems agree in form with those from the Win- 
 nipegosis region, refe-red by Dr. Whiteaves to a species of 
 Ctenocrinus. They are of Devonian age, at about the horizon of the 
 Stringocephalus zone (middle Devonian).' 
 
 >Geol.Turv.. Cansda. Report of Pnw^>,«IJ7-J':& " *^^- 
 iGcol. Surv., Canada, Summary Report, 1909, P- io». 
 
BASINS Ol. XH.stiN AMI ( IIIIK IIII.I, KIVKKS. 
 
 (i.. 
 
 Cretaceoui. 
 
 The Cretueeoiis Mjvtion fxpose«l uloiig the south shon- of Wapuwekka 
 
 la»e is made up principully of very pure, white, qiuirtz xand, in plaoe*> 
 
 go loogely coherent as to resemble a rcront sand dopiwit and in plaee;" 
 
 indurated so us to form n linrd s.iin<istone and even a quartzite. 
 
 Layers occurring irregularly in the sand are nearly black from 
 
 carbonaceous matter which coats and cements the grains of quart?:. 
 
 In the most southerly exposures these layers arc represented by 
 
 bands of fairly good lignite. In other irregular layers or streaks the 
 
 grains are cemented by iron oxide. Lenticular patches of coarse 
 
 grit and of conglomerate very irregularly bedded and running 
 
 irregularly into the sand also occur; the grit is made up of grains 
 
 of quartz similar to those, making up the sand but of larger size and 
 
 cercented by iron oxide, and the conglomerate encloses, in a similar 
 
 u:atrix, larger, white, calcareous pebbles and nodules of ironstone. 
 
 The sands in many places show conspicuous false-bedding. The 
 
 grains of quartz are fairly uniform in size, 93 per cent passing 
 
 through a BO-mesh sieve, art well roundtnl, e.xcepting the very small 
 
 Rrains, and have a frosted appearance, like ground glass. 
 
 At the most southerly point in the lake the section expo3e<l is, 
 
 in ascending order: — 
 
 2'— 0*. . .Concealed. 
 
 6' — V . .White quarti und. tine, indurated, streaked rusty. 
 r-V. . .Lignite (Plate XIX). 
 
 I'—V. . .White quarti aaod with some carlionaciious matter. 
 I'-KT... Lignite. 
 
 17'— O". . .White quarti sand, false bedded. 
 6'— 0*. . .Sandstone (an indurated form of the sand). 
 
 After an interval of about 3 aiilea without cxp<j»iures, the scarped 
 banks of sand come to the shore and continue to form cliffs for 5 
 miles. The same white quartz sands, with conspicuous fal8c-be<]- 
 ding and with, here and there, bands nearly black from carbonaceous 
 matter coating the quartz grains, and rusty streaks that follow the 
 irregular bedding, continue for 5 miles farther. At a point 6 miles 
 past of the section given above the following sect'im war -.ensured: — 
 
 20'— v.. 
 3'-V.. 
 
 O'-S". 
 2'— «'. 
 
 S'—V. 
 
 t5'-0V 
 22106-5 
 
 . Concealed by talus. 
 
 .Rusty grit and conglomerate with ■>='hitc calcareous 
 
 liebbles and pebbles of noduUr iron stone. 
 .Carbonaceous sand. 
 Irregularly stratiBcd sandstone occurring in lenticular 
 
 patches. 
 . Rusty grit and conglomerate veiy irregularly bedded 
 and running irregularly into the sands and mergimc 
 upwards into the -. 
 White quarts sand, 1 - rf v!?e. 
 
M 
 
 OEOLOOICAL BCKVBT, OAKADA. 
 
 At a number o( pl«e«. «hore th, K«n»a b«,k. wen, .b«nt. their pl~» H 
 f.,M '>V «^;o- j- -;«;„'-l^^^^^^ ,Hat .tm-.ikein .tructur. but 
 
 S^S'roU^'irr.«mbU«-^ri:^.n.bri»n 
 , ...t-. l«t..f^^S-^d evenly laminat.^^^^^^ <='•>' 
 
 Whether thwe last mentioned .ectioiw are irregulariy diitributed 
 basal bed. that are absent or concealed in the other .ect.ons, or 
 represent a later rearranKcn.ent of the materials of the general »cc- 
 ,ion. oocurrinK in interval* where the .ands have been eroded away. 
 
 was not ascertained. . , . ., i 
 
 The exposure* set>m to be best correlated with similar sands 
 which occur over a wide ar.-a farther west, where they are known a. 
 the tar sand.. The t,r san.U, which are well «?-«'> "^^''^.^^^ 
 baska river and at other points, have been described by McConnell 
 and others, and it is pretty well established that they are of Dakota 
 
 Tho Cretaceous sediments of Wapawekka lake apparently over- 
 lap the Pala-ozoic. and rest directly upon the rocks of ^^e I-te-Cam- 
 brian complex. They were not found in actual contac with the 
 underlying rocks, but are separated, at the eastern end of the cl.fi-. 
 bv an interval of low land only 800 yards wide, from '^^^'^^j' 
 massive, hard. dark, fine-textured quartz-dior.te. ^hat is evidently 
 Pre-Cambria„. and probably belongs to the Keewatiu ^msion of the 
 Pre-Cambrian, since it is followed by chloritic and hornblende 
 schists and diorites that are of Keewatin character. At the we..tern 
 Tnd tf the cliffs low land intervenes between the Cretaceous sanj 
 and exposures of Pre-Cambrian gneiss; the Pre-Cambriar 
 cases showing the effects of stress and folding that everyw 
 acterize these rocks, while the Cretaceous beds show 1. 
 effects of pressure and lie about in the attitude ,n which 
 laid down. Sections of Cretaceous rooks were seen onlj . ne 
 
 carped banks along the south shore of Wapa..kka lake Inland 
 
 from the sand cliff a plateau extends southerly for several miles to 
 
 the slopes rising to form Wapawekka hills. 
 
 IP aces on the plateau surface the white Cretaceous sands 
 
 come to'the surface, looking like low snow drifts -ng J'oug^ f;^ 
 
 scanty vegetation: butjoMh^n^os^^ar^^ 
 
 tOttawa Naturalist, Vol. XII. 1898-99, p. w. 
 
BA8IN8 OF NKL8U.N ANU t'lIURCIIIl.I, RIVKKM. 
 
 07 
 
 hides the uiulerlji.ig si'ilimi'iil!'. The greater part cif the drift is 
 made up of rea^wirtrd sniuls drrivj'l from the Cmtaceous b<>ds, but 
 it includes ns well bouldpr;* from flic Prc-Cambridii. Steep ridges 
 and low rolliiiR hillK, trendiiiK (innillel to the faee of the higher hills 
 and apparently of moraiiiic origin, ri.-tn here nnd there to heights of 
 100 feet or more from the pliitmiu (■urface. They are made up, so 
 far as observed, of well roiuiilcd boulders exclusively of Pre-Cam- 
 brian rocks. 
 
 A partial section of Crctni-enus rocka making up the Paskwia 
 hills was seen where the rocks nre exposed in gullies worn by streams 
 descending the northerly facing slopes. An estimated section alonff 
 these gullies, compiled mainly from exposures observetl in the trench 
 worn by Nabi (man) river, is as follows, in ascending order: — 
 
 3i (eot-40 feet.. Thick betldeU, soft ip-ey aronaoeous oU-ahale or thin- 
 badded aandstono, holdins the ronudiM d fiahn 
 which aeem to be £ncWiM ikumardi, larxe bi- 
 valves, /nocrramiM labiatut (Hchlotheiin)anafara- 
 minitera.. 
 
 V-V Compact, impure limestone with many easts ot 
 
 Otlraea amgtita, Conrad. 
 liiOfeetormore.Soft, fissile, light grey (aimoitt black when wet) oil* 
 shales, holding the comminuted remains o( Ashes 
 and many {oraminifera. 
 15 feet Clay iron-stone in bods 6 inchrx to one toot in thick- 
 ness divided by thin partinKx of shale. 
 
 10 feet Soft, fissile, grey shale that aeema to be similar to 
 
 the oil-shales below. 
 
 Overlain, to the surface, by 10 feet or more of l)o\ilder clay contain- 
 ing many boulders of limostnne nnd n few of Pre-Cambrian gneiss 
 and granite. 
 
 Mr. Whiteavee, who examined the fossils from the section given 
 above, expressed the opinion that they were probably oi Niobrara 
 age. 
 
 The fossils enumerated have a wide range in the Cretaceous, 
 but in northern Manitoba Enchodus shumardi is most abundant in 
 the Niobrara formation, which with the underlying Benton makes 
 up the Colorado series of the upper Cretaceous. The occurrence of 
 great numbers of foraminifeni in the shales is also characteristic of 
 the Niobrara beds of northern Jfanitoba. 
 
 , The thickness of the Niobrara in ^lunitoba has been computed 
 to be from 130 to 200 feet, comprising grey calcareous shales, which 
 pass downwards into the shale of the Benton. 
 
 The base of the section given above lies at a height of 400 feet 
 or more above the bed of Carrot rivor, where, at the rapid above 
 22106-^ 
 
68 
 
 OKOI.'MJICAI. (•ritVKY, i;AN.\I>.\. 
 
 Red Ettrtl. Indian r. -i-rv.-. It-lm-* are oxj^wmI tl.nt arc Hiougl.t to 
 r,.,.rm'r.t the Dukotu .livUion of the upiH-r Crctuceou*. 'Ihe.v 
 .■oMsist o{ 5 f«-l .'f viT> *..ft .|.i.irtzo:H, sBiuUt-iR. .i.-eplv MaiiuM with 
 iron oxide. lyiiiK in umli»tur»»«l h.avy bcdi that show fal«ebeddin«. 
 und hold aodules and irn-gular masses of iron pyritt*. In place* th.- 
 .andntone heeomct. u tine ironglon.erate in .-.rtain layer* with i^hhle, 
 of gneiM and other rocks, and in place* it .ontains carbonac-eous 
 material rt*«mbliiig the comminuttMj ren.ain» of plant*. The toft 
 nandttonc i» overlain by hard, white quart* sandstone with distinctly 
 red-purple tinge, which i* strongly ripple-marked on some •urfaees. 
 Fifty mile* farther up the Carrot river from the rapid at which 
 th« .anditone* are exp..-<l and at an elevation of about 400 feet 
 nbove that poin'. grey oil-shales .mite similar to those of Paskwia 
 Hills section form the low scarped banks of the river. 
 
 There is thus an interval of 400 feet or more between the 
 observe*! beds of Dakota sandstone and those of Niobrara shale. A 
 gr«.t part of this interval, which on the side of the Paakwia hiU. and 
 in the valley of Carrot river is covered by deposits of boulder claj 
 and by later stratified sands ar.l clays, is without doubt occupied by 
 the shales of the Benton, fr hales which, from their relative eleva- 
 tion, would fall into this (rap and which he considered to be of 
 Benton age. were observed by Mr. J. 3. Tyrrell in the bed of the 
 Saskatchewan Iwlow Birch islands.' 
 
 Post Tertiary and Seeent. 
 
 Post Tertiary and Recent dei^sits have a wide development 
 over the region. espe.-ially in the soutl .ten. part where, over 
 large areas, thev completely conceal the unat lying. solid rocks. 
 
 Boulder clay forms a widespread mantle, extending inland from 
 he shorts of Hudson bay. in an unbrbken sheet for about 160 miles. 
 Along the rivers flowing to the bay. Koo.l sw^tions are afforded by 
 the scarped banks which, in places, rise, with almost cliff faces, to 
 heights of from 80 to 100 feet above the river. In the interior the 
 mantle has been generally ron.ovcd by ero.ion. but remnants re.nan. 
 here and there in the Churchill and Saskatchewan valleys and at 
 other points. Scattered irregularly over the n-gion are other deposits 
 of glacial origin, comprising morainic and other accumulations of 
 boulders and gravel. 
 
 'Information communicated to the writer by letter. 
 
B.tHI.VH OK XJ.I^O.V AXI> I'llt'Rt'lllI.I. KIVKKtt. 
 
 (I)> 
 
 l^uiistrine clay* cover Iutki' iirciiit witliiii ilie diitrii't. Tlkcy 
 Im-IoiiK to the BRA of the decliniiiir Kl»cicr<<, wht-ii larKo lake* extended 
 southerly from the rftrcntiiiK ice front iiml were fed lurKcly by 
 strcain.t flowinR from the meltiiie itlai'inl iop. (!arryin|r, a* they did, 
 large aiiioiinti^ of aii!(|m>iii1(h1 scdiiiiciii. ilii- wnti-n* of ti.foe lake* 
 rapi 'ly «ilti>d up their lin«iii-« uiid foniiwl tlie tliiek dcpo«it« of clay 
 that Of i!ow widespread. The priiicipnl aivn of tlie»e clay* lie* west 
 of .\el*oii river and north of the SH-tkntehi-wan; it is described more 
 at length in the sections of thii« report deroted to agricultural lan'.l 
 nnd to Humtwood river. 
 
 .Murine duys have a wide distribution in tlie northern part of 
 the district. They tM-cur as iimull, isolated iirei)«, overlying tho 
 boulder clay of the Hudson Bay slope. The*e without doubt are the 
 reninuntH of a once eontinnou<< «lie«'t, wliieii <'overed the region 
 extending inland from the bay to diKtaiuvi; of I'M) miles or more. 
 
 On Churchill river nnirine fo^itiU have been found up to an 
 elevation of about :i.50 feet above the sea, ond <>imilar days extend 
 farther up the river, though so fur «« oS'*«'rved, without fossils. On 
 Xelson river shells w<'re found in the chivs at an elevation of about 
 '200 feet, and the clays were ob^erved at points considerably higher. 
 Fossil shells nr<> quite plentiful in most of tlie XwA*; from those on 
 Churchill river the followinir were collected: — 
 
 Mya arenaria. 
 
 H. Inmcala. 
 
 Saxicaca lui/ona. 
 
 Teltiiia proxiina. 
 
 Pecten islaiKlicim. 
 
 Cardium islaii'lieuin.' 
 
 In the region bordering the Imy, further to tlie east, the presence 
 of thes« clays has l)eon rccogni/.eil on all tlie rivers explored; on 
 Winisk river they have been foinid at an elevation of a'.jout 350 feet 
 above the sea,' and in a branch of Alban.y river at an elevation of 
 •3S0 feet.' The depression of the land, !n reference to sea-level, 
 during the period immediately following the deposition of the 
 boulder clays was, therefore, at kast as much as 3«(t feet, and prob- 
 ably a little more. 
 
 'Geol. Survey, Canada, Rtpo:t of ProgroM, 1878-79, p. 21 C. 
 -Ceol. Survey, Canada, Vol. XV, 1892, pp. 104-lM A. 
 'Ueol. Survey, Canada, Rpport of ProRn-ss. 1871-72, Pt. C 
 
 1' 
 
TO 
 
 OBOt-OOICAL Ht'BVtV, CAJi.VUA. 
 
 Recent .lluviu.n form. th« U.w Una., bordering the ri^-er. .iid 
 Uke.. In n..ny c.«e. Midinicnt.tion i. now going -.n .ct.voly ; tbM 
 i. specially truo .-f .he lower part of the v.lley of 8«k.tchew.n 
 river, where l.k.-. are being .ilted up r.pidly «nd. gener.Hy. aggra- 
 dation ii going on in « viry marked manner. 
 
 DETAILKI) UESCRIPTION OF «TVER8 AND LAKES. 
 
 Helton River. 
 
 The Nel«)n river, flowing from the northea.terly corner of Lake 
 Winnipeg, expand. 4 mile, below to form P>«y«'««' -^^ ^^^ 
 the .hore. of which are many expo.ure. of redduh. Wot.t. gne.. 
 generally w,>ll foliated but in place* granitoid .n structure. A thin 
 mantle of clay cover, mo.t of the .urfa*. .nd the underlying rock 
 onn be Men only here and there, where the clay ha. been removed by 
 denudation. From Plnygreen lake the viver flow. '« »;» ";»'° 
 channel., one leaving the lake in fo.- .mall br.nche. about 10 m.le 
 down iU northeast .hore. and the other flowing out 35 m.le. farther 
 north. ?rom the extreme end of the lake. The mo.t direct branch 
 of th^ fir.t named channel i. commonly followed by boat., and by it 
 Little Playgreen river i. reached, where the ^-^^J^ ""'^^ ^^."^^ 
 where i. .ituated Norway Hou.e. a well known po.t of the Hud.on. 
 Bay Company. 
 
 Much of the .urface surrounding Little Playgreen lake i. clay 
 covered, but expo.ures of rock are .u«Sciently numerou. to indicate 
 that biotite ff«ei.«». varying from granite, to well foliated gnei-e.. 
 underlie the whole. From the .ake down to High Rock, about 8 
 mile, below the Sea-river fall, expo.ure. of similar gneiMc. are 
 common, the foliation preserving a general uorthea.terly .tr.ke^ 
 Below the river follow, a great number of canal-l.ke. rock-bound 
 rLannel. between islands, the shore showing almost continuous 
 ..osure. of .imilar gneisses disturbed «nd cut by many irregular 
 masse, and veins of pegmatite. At the rapid next above Pipestone 
 lake occur exposure, which indicate at lea.t four d.^rtmct age. for 
 the rock.. A well foliated, biotite gneiss which enclose, 
 block, of a fine black hornblende gneiss, is invaded by a bard, 
 compact quartzoee rock, probably a quartz-dioriie, and the whole 
 
2210C-1.. 7it. 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND CHURCHILL RIVERS. 
 
 •I 
 
 previously enumerated set is invaded by a dyke-like tontrue of 
 dark blue-grey, fine dioritc, which cuts the country-rock clearly and 
 sends long, narrow arms into it. Well foliated biotite gneisses, 
 striking about east and west, continue to Pipestone lake, where a 
 broad belt of chloritic and hornblende schists, diorites, and con- 
 glomerates is infolded in the gneisses, to which it conforms in strike. 
 The conglomerates arc made up of a chloritic, schistose matrix 
 enclosing well rounded pebbles principally of granite but including 
 diorites. Near the northern edge of the belt, ledges of a very highly 
 altered chloritic rock, probably derived from a hornblendite, occur. 
 This is the rock used by the Indians for pipe bowls, and gives the 
 lake its name. 
 
 ' On the southern shore of the main body of Pipestone lake the 
 prevailing rock is a dark green, laminated, calcareous, hornblende 
 schist, with vein-like streaks and lenticular patches of white quartz. 
 It ru IS N. 70° W., and dips southward at an angle of about 75°. On 
 nn islet about a mile off the central part of this shore there is a 
 ><>fter horiiblendic schist with lamina* of white calcspar and ''Unchcs 
 of ((uartz and chlorite, associated with a glosey-surfaced cluoritoid 
 schist. An island about a mile to the northwest of the last is com- 
 |K>sed of mdflsive grey, rather coarsely eryirtalliite diorite. The 
 islands in the outlet of the lake consist of green hornblende and 
 mica-sehiflts, with irregular veins of bluish-grey quartz conforming 
 with the stratification, which here runs N. 70° W. and dips north- 
 ward at an angle of 80°. Along the strait 5 miles in length, which 
 connect* Pipestone lake with Cross lake, the rocks on both sides 
 consist of grey mica-schists witli pebbles of different kinds and 
 rounded Rrnins of quartz either closely crowded together or scattered 
 sparingly through the mass. At a point on the south side of the 
 strait, iiikI 2 miles from Pipestone lake, a conglomerate band 
 occurs in the midst of a grey, rather soft and somewhat fine-grained 
 mica-schist running N. 55° W., dips W.E. angle 80°. The pebbles 
 in the conglomerate range from coarse sand up to the size 
 of a child's head. Most of them approach a spherical form, and 
 consist of tine-grained, hard, grey syenite. Others are of white 
 
 quartz, nnd are also well rounded.' ' On the eastern side 
 
 of the (Iii(liai!> Reserve island and adjacent, smaller islands, from 
 Otter island to Bigstone point the rock is a dark green calcareous 
 hornblende schist with some fine-grained mica-schist of the same 
 colour. The strike is S. 60° W., dip southeastward, angle 85°. 
 At Bigstone point the Laurentian gneiss begins. A dark grey, 
 coarsely cr,>-stallinp, massive diorite occurs «long the narrows on the 
 east side of the Ifeserve island, and the opposite point.' ...... 
 
 " Two miles farther north, a light grey, massive quartzite was found 
 
72 GKOLWJUAI, SUnVEY, CANADA. 
 
 ,,11 l.ofh sides of the same olianuel. The extreme north point of th<» 
 IJestrvf ishinfl is fornuMl „f ii ilnrk sroy (fiiiiiito or srnnitoirl miois- 
 iii which tho liiiiiiiiatidii i< vrry ..lH-iir<\ A small dyk.; of tiiu- 
 jtraiued. dark jrrcy dolomite riinniu^' X. r," \V. here <Mit.s this nx'k. 
 Orey mica schist wn* found on all the inland- visitcnl in the wostcni 
 part of f'ros* lake botwfcn th« Reserve island and th<> oiitlots.' . . . 
 ' The northwest shore of Trnss lake is formed of Laurentiun Rncis-." 
 
 Just beyond the northern edge of the belt, on Cross lake, oecur 
 altered red granites witli somewhat ojialesoent, bluish quartz, that 
 resemble closely eertain granites occurring along the contact with 
 Keewatin bands in Rainy River district, Ontario. Between Cross 
 lake and Sipiwask lake the river is dividefl up into a number of 
 cliannels, flowing with rapid eiirreiit between bare, sloping ledges of 
 biotite granite gneiss and interlaminated coarse white and tine black 
 Siiieiss. in places garnet-bearing. These gneisses are cut here and 
 there by intrusive red granite and, at one place, by a dyke of hard, 
 line, nearly black diorite. 
 
 From a point 2 miles below Sipiwesk lake the low gneiss hills, 
 rising from both shores, are quite bare, and a few miles farther on 
 the banks become low and sand covered, with only an occasional 
 exposure of gneiss protruding through them. Below Clearwater 
 river and continuing to Split lake, biotite granite gneisses in low 
 rounded ledges form the banks, with intervening depressions between 
 the ridges covered with clay. 
 
 Dr. Bell, who made an examination of the iwrtion of the river 
 below Sipiwesk in 1877, thus describes it:— 
 
 ♦ The whole of the waters of the Nelson river appear to have 
 come together in this stretch for the first time since leaving Great 
 Playgreen lake. The width now averages about a quarter of a mile 
 or rather more, with a depth of from 40 to 5n feet. The current 
 runs at the rate of about 3 miles an hour in the middle, except at 
 two ver>' narrow parts where it is considerably greater. Owing, 
 apparently, to the cf)nsidcrable depth of water across the greater 
 part of the bed of the stream, strong eddies are found on both sides 
 which greatly facilitate the upward navigation of this part of the 
 river. 
 
 ' The remarkably straight north-and-south stretch of the river 
 is reported to stretch as far as Split lake. Its eastern bank consists 
 
 'C,m\. Stu'V., Canada, ftpport of Progress, 1877-78, pp. 19-20 CC. 
 
BASI.NS OK XKL80.V AND CHURCHILL KIVKKS. 
 
 almost entirely of drift day, whili; gneiss is exposed nearly ail along 
 the we:t side.' . . . . ' Trnp appears at the extremities of points on 
 either side and in two or thno small islands. The dolerite is 
 divided by joints parallel to it^ course and is very friable. It is 
 coarsely crystalline, and has a dark brown colour near the surface 
 owinj? to the presemc of o.xidn of iron, but some fresh fractures 
 show a dark somewhat greenish-grey colour. In some parts, white 
 calcspar and conipnct olive coloured serpentine are <levelopi'd in thin 
 sheets in the numerous longitudinal joints and also in the horizontal 
 and vertical transverse partings, so that rectangular pieces of the 
 dolerite, which crumble out, are completely encased in these minerals. 
 Small streaks of magnetic iron, running parallel to the wall-*, arc 
 found in one part of the dyko. . . . .' 
 
 ' In some places the gneiss immediately adjoining the dyke on 
 either side has been altered and jointed parallel to the walls, by the 
 
 action of the trap ' 'Both the gneiss and the harder points 
 
 of the trap, forming its walls, are rounded and striated by glacial 
 action.' .... 
 
 'At a point on the west side of the river 2 miles above the 
 inlet of the lake, a great dyke makes its appearance, and is probably 
 a part of the same one which crosses the stream 3 miles farther 
 up, forming the Chain-of-Rocks. The dolerite is hero of the same 
 character, and contains the same peculiar serpentine as the dyke 
 along the straight stretch of the river just descrilKsl. Along the 
 Litter stretch and also along the shores of Sipiwesk lake and the 
 river above it, dark grey, finely crystalline dolerite is frequently 
 seen in the form of dykes of greater or less width anrl also as patches 
 filling angles in the rocks of gneiss overlooking the water. On the 
 sides of the straight stretch these dykes generally run parallel with 
 the main one, but some of them follow the southwestward course of 
 the stratification of the gneiss, and diminish in size in receding from 
 the river as if they were offshoots from the great dyke.' ' 
 
 Split lake and the river between Split lake and the sea were also 
 explored by Dr. Bell, who thus describes the rocks encoun- 
 tered' : — 
 
 'Between the Grand rapid and the western piirt >>( Split lake 
 the gneiss is partly reddish and partly grey and hornblendic. The 
 strike varies in different places from S. 60" to S. 80° W. It is 
 cut by a number of dykes of dark coloured diori •>, some of which, 
 just below the junction of Grass river, are very large. They have a 
 ireneral north and south trend. On the nortii side of Split ake, 
 opposite the two inlets of the Nelson, the gneiss is cut by numerous 
 dykes of all sizes and running in many directions. Below Chain-of- 
 Rocks rapid on the northwest side of the river, dark grey quartzite 
 
 'GpoI. Surv., Canada. Report of Progress, 1877-78, pp. 15-16 CC. 
 =Ibi(l. and Geol. Sur\-., CiinadB, Report of ProgrR-w, 1S78-79, p. 27 (.', 
 
74 
 
 OBOLOOICAl. SURVEY, CA>AD*. 
 
 and homblendic Bchist occur, and aUo a d^'^^^f 7. Xmlro^ 
 
 ret e3;rd'al Hufonian (Kecwatin), but beyond f is ^'^ 
 It, may «^ ':""""^ , • ^ gneiss, consisting of the horn- 
 
 {^:nr:nrinire;,uXrrniftin. w^^^^^^^^^^^ of ,uart. 
 
 iH;h%:tner"a!^'^:>-^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 quartzose layers. Towards the west end^e stn^e«^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 west, but t«-h«'« .>V •*, ^i^^f :;Sring T^^^^^^^^ 
 Huronian character just described ^ j;^™* .^^ „„ ^^ inland 
 the lake, a green homblendic rock which was '"^^f °J^„, ^o be 
 near the east end, may be ^^ }^\^^'^Jf^. rocks in this part of 
 
 S„ti4 s'S.;r„ £rl.S, .rs. d.pp4 B. «. H. 
 
 angle 60°.' 
 
 The portion of the river between Split lake and the northern 
 edge of the fossiliferous dolomites of ^^^«"<^^°'^,^''':'7:•'•^"f 
 reports.> is occupied by Laurentian gneisses and schists ex^pt a 
 short stretch of river at and below the lowest Gull rapid, where a 
 small area of what appear to be Keewatin rocks occur. 
 
 < At a point on the north side about a mile below tW^japW ^ 
 coarse grey^nnca -^"t. -t^^trings -^^^^^^ 
 
 •Ibid. 
 
BA81.>S OF NKL80^ ANU CUUBOHILL RIVEK8. 
 
 ing into dark grey quartzite, ribboned with streaks of white quartz 
 and no feldspar. The dip is N. 10° E. angle 80°. A finely crystal- 
 lized diorite, probably fo/nnng part of a dyke, was observed at the 
 sides of the rapid. The Laurentian gneiss in the section which has 
 been indicated presents some variety in composition, colour, texture 
 and in the character of its stratification.' . . . . ' Sorcetimes the 
 gneiss passes into hornblende or mica schist. In a few places the 
 latter is studded with garnets, and it generally contains veins of 
 (iiiirse, light coloured granite.' 
 
 Between Split lake and fJull lake the river is wide, and flows 
 with a moderate current except just below Split lake, where there is 
 an easy rapid about 2 miles long, and at about midway between the 
 lakes, where two short rapids occur. The bordering country along 
 this stretch is generally level, though an occasional ridge of clay 
 gives to the surface a slightly undulating character. Gull lake is 
 iihout 12 miles long and 4 wide, and contains a few islands. Biotite 
 /tranite gneiss is the only rock exposed. Below Gull lake the river 
 begins a rapid descent, und for the next 40 miles its course is broken 
 !>>• many falls and rapids. 
 
 The most westerly exposure of Palseozoic sediments noted by 
 Dr. Bell occurs on the southeast side of the river, at the foot of 
 Uroiid rapid, where a finely arenaceous, light bluish-grey dolomite 
 outcrops. It holds fossils characteristic nf the Winnipeg limestone, 
 and is, therefore, of Ordovician age. 
 
 For 2 or 3 miles below the first exposure of limestone, gneisses 
 <K'cur in the bed of the river in low knolls. 
 
 lodges of dolomite lying horizontal or gently undulating pro- 
 trude from the clay banks here and there, down to the Third lime- 
 stone rapid, where bluish-grey, drab and buff, somewhat arenaceous 
 (inlomite is exposed in horizontal beds. Beds of crumbling buff and 
 sreyish dolomite form n cliff 12 feet high at the second limestone 
 rapid. They lie horizontally, but, a mile below, occur in gentle 
 undulations. At the First limestone rapid, 8 miles below, 20 feet of 
 liuff coloured fossiliferous dolomite is exposed oi both banks of the 
 river. The lowest exposure of limestone found in place occur" 2 
 miles above Pakwahagan river, or C2 miles in a straight line 
 Beacon point. Between the limestone rapid referred to abova a 
 the lowest exposure outcrops occur here and there, and at one place 
 ti miles from the lowest ledge form a cliff rising 30 feet from the 
 water. 
 
76 
 
 SEOLOOICAL 8URVBT, 
 
 fAXAKA. 
 
 "At bU Uie foregoing localities the r.).-k luis u yollowi»h-grey 
 colour, is rather fine-grained. »oft and generally earthy, althougl. 
 some of the beds appear to constitute a tolerably pure Jlo'-f ;^ " 
 it thinly bedded, with the exception of a ffw band*, a foot or more 
 i' Thickne.., at the last locality. The o. f.-l "^'-'J-lj^^- 
 obscure perJamerus, which was abundant m oue of the beds b,,t 
 none of the specimens were sufflcientlv well prc.prved to identify 
 the species.' 
 
 For the lowest 60 niiler* the river flows in a valley excavate.1 
 
 entirely in drift, and no exposures of the ,m<lerlying rooks outcrop. 
 
 Of the lower portiou of the river. Dr. Boll says - 
 
 ' The mouths of Hayes and Nelson rivers are separated from 
 
 each other by a low tongue of land, called Beacon P^'"*; / f^ 
 
 shallowness of the water and the low, «7""»°"»"?„'^''"«^^' ^^J''t 
 shores ererywhere in this vicinity renders it difficult to draw a 
 definite linT between land and water. Extensive .hoals extend f^ 
 miles out from the extremity of Beacon point and from »»>««*">*» 
 to the north and south of the estuaries of the two rivers. Owing 
 to these circumstances the outline between tlie land and «ater is 
 widely different at high and low tide. The d.fliculty of mapping 
 the shore accurately is increased by the fact that the sea i. receding 
 at an appreciable rate, and also from the ..roimistanee '-bat the tides 
 are of very irregular heights, owing to the shallowness of ^fe water 
 for long distances in all directions and the great effec which the 
 wTnds consequently have in increasing and dinnui.hing the rxse and 
 
 *" ''The mouth of the Nelson river at high tide has a breadth of 
 
 or 7 miles opposite the extremity of B^»^7 P«'"*,' ^"^ st To St 
 rapidly having a trumpet-like outline, and for the first W »«« f * 
 p' he wfdth is from 3 to 4 miles. It continues to narrow gradually 
 to Seal island at the head of tide water, or 24 miles from the 
 extremity of Heacon point (at high tide), where it is only one mi e 
 and a half broad. Above this, it varies from half a mile to a mile 
 and a half as far as we went (90 miles up). 
 
 ' When the tide is out the greater part of the space between the 
 banks in the estuary of the river is dry. and oonsists ot a dreary 
 stretch of mud-flat- dotted with bouiders. oou.t. ut.ng a oont.nua- 
 t on of the shoal- artl.cr out. A narrow ohaunol with a somewhat 
 r^guar depth of water winds down the centre of the er-vry^ 
 F^^m the soundings which I took, it appears to nave an a^xTuge 
 depth of from 2 to :5 fathoms at low tide from a point abreast o» 
 l£ou poin for about 20 miles un. At the month of the river the 
 onlTnary Bpring tides amount to about 12 f.^t. and the neap tide, 
 from 3 to 5 fathoms, may be found throughout the whole distanoe. 
 
 ■Geol. Surv., Cannda, Report of Progress. 1877-78, p. 12 C( '. 
 
BASIX.S OF XKIXI.N AMI illi KCIIII.l. I!l\I;|j<., 
 
 'The nhallowest pint of tlio rivt-r wliiih w»> soiiikIimI wax ubroaxt 
 of Oillamg and Seal islamic*, or just wliorc the tide cuds and tho 
 proper channel of the river bi-giiis. Here the water was only about 
 10 feet deep. Hut from this point upward, as far as we went, the 
 averagre depth of the eentre of the river was found to be 20 feet, and 
 sometimes our soundiuRs showed over 30 feet of water. In this 
 seetion of the river the vcloeity of the centre of tiie streatn varietl 
 from about 2 to miles an hour, aceordins to the experiments 
 which were nmde witii the submerged tops of spruce treee, in order 
 to ascertain the rate, nt least approximately. The swift parts are 
 short, and the mean velocity may perhaps bo taken at from 2} to 3 
 miles per hour and the average width at three-fourths of a mile 
 between the water n.urKins. 
 
 ' A short rapid occurs a few miles below the highest point to 
 which we explored the river, but it does not appear too swift to be 
 surmounted by streams. Above it the Indians report no obstruction 
 for about 15 miles, when n cascade, called Limestone falls, is reached. 
 The Nelson river may, therefore, be said to be navigable for river 
 steamers to a distance of about 100 miles from the sea. 
 
 •The distance from York Factory to the extremity of ISeacou 
 point is about 5 miles. In going towards the latter the banks gradu- 
 ally diminish in elevation from 27 feet at York Factory to the level 
 of high tide at Beacon point. They consist of stratified greyish clay 
 combined with more or less tine sand. Below high tide the beach 
 in the above interval consists of a muddy, bluish clay with rounded 
 pebbles and some boulders, and contains marine shells wlr.ch are 
 tolerably plentiful 
 
 'As already stated, the shores about the mouth of Xelson river 
 are very low and flat. Banks of clay, at first only a few feet higE, 
 begin to appear on both sides about 10 miles above the extremity of 
 Beacon point, and. in osi-ending the river, ihe banks of clay on 
 either side gradually rise till a point is reached about 54 miles, in 
 a straight line, from Beacon point, where they are nearly 200 feet 
 in height, and above this, as far as observed, they maintain about 
 the same elevation either in-.mcdiately overlooking the river or at a 
 short distance back from it. A layer of peat, averaging about 4 
 feet in thickness, was observed almost ovei-ywhcre at the top of the 
 bank on either side anU extending inland. At Flamborough head, 
 a prominent point on the northwest side, 19 miles from Beuoon 
 point, the clay bank has attained a height of 126 fr It consists 
 of hard, gravelly, drift clay, with some boulders at t bottom, and 
 drab coloured, stratified clay towards the top. At am. near the top, 
 marine shells are abundant. 
 
 'About 35 miles farther up, where the bank in the southeast 
 side has reached its maximum height of nearly 200 feet, it consists 
 entirely of thinly-stratified, yellowish-'irey, fine, elayey sand or 
 sandy eloy, the thicke-t Ijeil not exeeeding 7 inches; while others 
 
78 OKOLOOICAL SUBVBT, OAWADA. 
 
 are only an inch thick. The .hicUcr «nd tanner bed. 'Uei^.tc^ 
 
 groat regularity in •«»? n'Vr* ifJ. t ten in a^rpen.licular 
 vicinity the whole depth of »»»« f J^J'^^'; I'^^/^uX. of cliff 
 wwll. which fornii » f?^°""*°/''*7* ,?' ^roiect inR edge, -f bed. 
 .wallow., their ne.t. being m.dt under tl^ P™£'"/„,Xi.i, bank. 
 
 ti..lj ki»h. while Ik. ««.« »"» ni uo •' wriM- From th. 
 
 from being worn away by the force of the ice. 
 Borntwood Birer. 
 The Burntwood river for its whole course flows over P'«C|"n- 
 
 ,lo„S . .n.MB 0. „m^,ition of diorit^ mtond.ng 
 
 ri 1«" , IS XiM» f.o„ tUe .ou...... Tke- .. CO. 
 
 3k at Pipe lake. Continuing up the river above Manazo fall. 
 
BASIKB OF MCLflO.V AND CIIUKCIULL BIVKKB. 
 
 79 
 
 eoarw white and lino black giieioAe* occur intorbanded ao aa tu 
 present n stratiform appcaruncp, the coarser white cutting, however, 
 and eiiclouing a* broken band«, the finer black. The dips vary from 
 4C^ to 00°, and the strike kecp« n general northeasterly direction 
 with many minor deilections to about the foot of 0|iegano lake. 
 .Mong the lake the dips become lower, and above it the gnnis!ic'< 
 occur in low undulations or are horizontal. Many of the fine ban>U 
 are highly garnctifcrous, and hold crystal* an inch or more in dia- 
 meter. 
 
 The rock surfaccn pre all v-cU glaciated, the stria; showing an 
 ice-movement from the east. 
 
 This low undulating attitude is held by the gneisses occurring 
 about Wekusko lake, where also the finer bands are garnetiferous, 
 and up the river for several miles to beyond the Witego rapids. 
 Approaching Threepoint lake, though the stratiforn^ appearance is 
 still marked, the dips are not so uniform and become, in places, a* 
 high aa 80° and 90°. For 8 miles above Threepoint lake the rocks 
 are mostly concealed by the clay cove; occasional exposures indi- 
 cate that the underlying rock is a gneiss, poor in mica and in certain 
 bonds garnetiferous. In some of the ledges exposed along this 
 stretch, the gneiss has an even grain and would make a good quarry 
 stone. 
 
 Between Wekuako lake and Threepoint lake the strie are lighter 
 than they are to the east and west, and their direction is about 
 southwest. Banded, more quartzose biotite erneisses are exposed 
 in numerous ledges along the stretch of river below Wtmapedi 
 brook and above it to Moosenose fall. The rocks dip at high 
 angles and the surfaces are heavily glaciated, the originally 
 rounded surfaces of the ledges being planed off flat as though with 
 a smoothing plane. Striae show an ice-movement S. 20° VV. ; occa- 
 sional, lighter striffi have a direction S. 45° W. Quartzose biotite 
 gneiss, not so conspicuously banded and with the biotite content, 
 small, is exposed in many places in the river bed, and fonr.s low 
 ridges along the banks to above Bushy brook. The ledges for a few 
 miles along this part of the river valley and beyond, at Apisk rapid, 
 show very little evidence of glatiation; the surfaces are unplaned 
 and rough, little cliff faces are common, and rotted rock covers some 
 of the ledges. 
 
 Westward to Bumtwood lake and about the shores of the lake 
 the gneiss has a stratiform appearance from the occurrence in 
 
HO 
 
 OKl»I.<M>ir\l. MKVKY. «.\.NM>A. 
 
 .nHf^r (n.fi*« "f b«u.ls "f auo bUok Bm.i»» or .chUt. Below Hurut- 
 wo,Kl lake the hilh are higher iind ure b.re. the cUy coer be.ng 
 rf^trifted to .urfu.-.^ under TO feet ubovc tlie river. Above Humt- 
 «ood l«k.. the river i. continued ... File river, flowing into the h.ke 
 from the »o..th. Along File river the gnei«e. .re very mnrkedly 
 httnde<l. «n.l huv a -tn.tiforn, appeuran<-e: the dire-tion of d.p .« 
 very uniform about X. H0° K.. the strike following the «ume d.re<- 
 ,i.,„ „. tl... river v«ll..y. For a di.tanee of 5 milet below Limestone 
 Point lake the dip. on the right bank ure at higher angles than they 
 are ..n the left bunk, aud probably indicate an overturned fohl o^ 
 ,K,rh«p. a fault along which the river flows. Above Lime.tone Point 
 lake al»o the Mrike n.-.ord* with the river valley in d.reet.on and 
 the dip-, are at higher angle* on the right bank than on the left. 
 
 On Lin.c-itone Point lake occurs a small outlier of light, yellow^ 
 buff magne.ian lin.csf.ne. containing obscure organic rema.ns and 
 resembling litholoKicully the lime.to..e of Trenton uge to the .outh. 
 f«,m which it i. ^-puralcd by a gap of 2.'. mile-. The outlier ,». .n 
 the main, flat-be.lde.1 or gently undulating, but in places i» very 
 sharply folded and crumpled. 
 
 Continuing up the river toward* File lake the gneisses have • 
 stratiform appearance owing to the occurrence in the coarse b.otite 
 white gneiHS. of hard bands of fine black hornblende gneiss or schist, 
 which gradually increase in volume in proportion to the coar^ gne.ss 
 as the lake is approached. Where the rocks are horirontal or nearly so 
 the semblance of- the intcrbanding to stratification is strong, though 
 the eonr.e gneiss plainly cuts the schist-. There is a gradual passage 
 from coarse biotite gneisses with narrow enclosed bands of annph.- 
 bolite through a /.one in which the schists occur in increasingly 
 broader bands to an area-surn>unding File lake and extending 
 southerly to Keed lake-where diorites and amphibol.tes only are 
 
 seen. 
 
 Churchill River. 
 
 Throughout almost the whole of us course within the area 
 mapped the Churchill river flows over ro<.-ks of the Pre-Cambrian 
 complex; the exception is where, near its mouth, the river enters 
 the Hudson Bay Pateozoic basin and flows for a distance of about 
 150 miles over Ordovician limestone. The highest point on the river 
 reached by the writer was the head of Rock lake. The part between 
 the head of Rock lake and the western boundary ..f the map-sheet is 
 
Il,\!«l\i. «>!• M.I.HON AM> I III l|< HIM. Ill\ K1I». 
 
 »l 
 
 tlum ile^i-'riU'il liy T, rii«<'<it. I>.I..S.. wlm mu'lc ii •iirvc.v of the 
 river in the your lh"i>*:-- 
 
 'A* m» paM Miit»rl.r from th« hMd of Bear I>litnd Ukn th* Rrwn timWr 
 beromnt mora ararra, tha hanka riaa highar Rnd ara in manr pUcpn rorky 
 and bare. Tha rorka ara cnaiaaoid, tha Htrika balny iilmmt iitiiformlr u 
 faw dvi^raaa rant of north, wbila thx dip i% vnriabVo. In manv iiliiri-t 
 mainctir iron ora in iirawnt in the ro<'k<, raiiaina a variation In th.- 
 darlinalion of tha naadia Homptlmox iininiintina to 10°. Romi-t I mrx for 4 
 or S Mntioni in KiiirfMNion the vuriation of tha nmlla woiilil h<> t or .> 
 dagrpaN too -niiill und thrn perhuiM for u "imilar diotancr, twi larnr. 
 Kvan ill lundy |i' «hara tha rorka do not »pM>ar at th<> loirfaca thrri> 
 
 ia thii vuriutiun. ..ue dip and fori'f Mavm to \m mm'li ' <« aflactad by 
 local f'HUHpH than tha darlination. At tha northwmt anui. of HIark Ih-ar 
 laland lake a ctrpam railed Whitvfiih river flown in from tha north. Thi* 
 ia the Htri'i'm mentioned altove which is reached by the Indiana with 
 canoeH from I'ine river via u «erie« of Ukei. In croNaiiig Kim k Bear 
 (aland lake and followintf the bout route it ift impoHHible to determine 
 which li mainland and which iit inliind, the entire body of water beinit 
 made up of narrow channela and deep baya. In crosNing the lake we ran 
 two rapidx. It waa aomething new in our experience to Hnd rapid* In 
 the middle of a lake. It would take a party an entire aeaoon to determiin- 
 the extent, outlines, ami iolandti of the ao-called Black Bear ialand lake. 
 
 'Thirty-aix mile* from the commencement of the lake we reached the 
 outlet where there ia a fall of ft feet, paxxed by Kirch iHtrtiige on the right 
 bank. Near the northeast end of the lake n stnond stream lonien in from 
 the north, alio called Whitefixh river. By .rarelling up thin atream one 
 day, in canoea, a lake called WhitetiNh lake ia reachml. A mite from the 
 foot of Birch I'-irtage we cami to Trout lake which in followed for 10 
 milea to Trout falU. About a mile and a half aor.tb of Trout fallN a 
 itoutherly oranch forks off and joiiix the main Htreiim again in Dead lake. 
 Near the head of Trout falls a htream comes in from t'le north, called 
 Trout river, and this expands at a short distance up into another part 
 of Trout lake, larger in extent than that crossed in travelling through the 
 country. After passing the Trout falls, in a distai: • of 7 miles there are 
 that number c' rapids, 3 of which are passed by vortages. but mav be 
 run with conoes by persons acquainted with the river. At the foot of the 
 rupida und where the southerly brunc!i comes in from Trout lake, the 
 stream expands into Dead lake, iwme spruce and pine are seen in this 
 purt, but no timber .suitable for merchandise. Pophir and birch form the 
 prevailing timber. On many of the ro<ky hills the timber has been 
 burnt and the bare rocka stand out prominently. 
 
 'PuBsing down stream from the outlet of Dead lake we came across n 
 series of rapids known us the Devil's rapidi and Big Devil's portage. Most 
 of these rapids are dangerous in consecinence of Imulders, but are all 
 usually run except at Big Devil's iiortuge. At the foot of these rapids the 
 stream expands into a lake culled Devil's lake which tcrminutes at Otter 
 portage where the water descends some 20 feet to Otter lake. This 
 rapid is passed by a portage on the left bank. Following Otter 
 lake some 1.1 miles we come to Rock portage, better known as the 
 Mountain and Stony Mountain portages. This latter brings ns to 
 Eock lake' which extends to Stanley, where a Church of England 
 mission and a Hudson's Bay Comiiany's post are located, at the 
 south end of the lake. The Company call their post Rapid river, but 
 Rapid river proper joins the Churchill 13 miles farther east in Rapid Kiver 
 lake. Near the mouth of Rapid river on that stream is a fall of over 
 30 feet. There is not much arable land in the vicinity of Kock lake, but 
 where there is surface soil it is generally a clayey loam of goo<l quality. 
 Mr. Moberly, in charge of the Hudson's Bay Conipany's post here, kindly 
 supplied us with vegetables from his garden. 'There had been .lo frost 
 yet up to the middle of September to cut down the potato vines which 
 were as green as during the earlier parts of summer. This locality seems 
 to be entirely free from summer frosts.'' 
 
 'Se.TpiaU' XII, 
 
 «T. Fawcett. D.I,.S., Annuul Report, Dcpt. of Interior 1«>W. pp. 79 SO. 
 
 22106-6 
 
 
Hi 
 
 ItKOUMlCAI. miKVKV. lANAHA. 
 
 About th« .hoiM of Rock lak« (Pl«to XII) •« b^nW, oom» 
 and fin* !!>•««»• dipping »outhwMt at anglM tafylng from »«nr tew 
 to 70». and In place, lying quite Hat or gently undulating. The Una 
 gntUt it 3 wMl foliat«l. nearly black, hornblende gnelta or achUt. 
 
 It „r* in irreifular bnn.N in the eoame white lilotlta gnelii and 
 
 it rut by it. Hoth are «ut by later intrutiona of coarae ra<l pegma- 
 tite. In certain band* the fine dark gnelta is .potted with large 
 oryatal. of feld.par and In other band, with namet.. Along the 
 weatern .hore. of the lake and of Ouncoat bay a aeriaa of fine 
 gneitae. and hornblende .chi.ti. .Imilar to thow of the weatern part 
 of Lav I.uU.-ng.". dip northwest at high angle.. Like the Lao La- 
 Ronue ro<.k.. thow gneUae. are in certain belt, hearlly rolneraUie<l 
 with iron pyritea. 
 
 IVlow Stm.ley and continuing pa»t (Jravo rapid* and Orare 
 lake, similar «i.o hornblende gnci.ie. with interbanded fine, hard, 
 r.Mldi..h dioritc ttncUte* cKcupy the shore, dipping northweat at 
 angle, varying from 46° to HO'. Theae Interbanded achi.t. and fine 
 Cnei.M^. forn> a broad belt or ..-rie» of belt, coming up from the 
 wuth and terminating northerly beyond the river valley; one belt 
 bend, to the eait. and in it the river ha. it. channel eaaterly to the 
 mouth of Reindeer river, where the belt, •./li.iring to the north, i. 
 followed by the valley of Reindeer river. Lithologically *»>•">«» 
 of the*e belt, rewmble in i)lace^ both the grc.>n «!».. . member of 
 the Keewatin and the gneLw?* of the Orenv-le wrie.. In them a 
 band of white ery.talline limctone wa. traced along the left l»nk 
 of Rapid river for a distance of M mile., .triking northea.terly 
 towards the Churchill river. In the hurried examination of the 
 .hore. of the Churchill the fcand we. not M!en. but Dowling' record, 
 the occurrence of crystalline lime«tone on the Churchill in thia 
 vicinity— without doubt a continuation of the same belt. 
 
 At Pine portage a bright red biotite granite, which ia gneisaic 
 in places, cut. the gneisses and forms most of the wuth shore of 
 Rapid River lake. The north shore of the lake, between the banda 
 of fine gneiss and schist, is occupied by coarse white biotite gneiia, 
 with bands of hornblende schist, which, though they have the appear- 
 ance of being interlaminated with the coarse gneisses, are cut by 
 then;. The whole series of gneisses and schists are cut by many 
 dykea of red pegmatite which are probably connected wit h the intru - 
 
 •Anniua Bep. G. 8. C. Vol. VIII. ».. 100 D. 
 
7, 
 i 
 
 « 
 
 C 
 
 $ 
 
 -i 
 
 22100 p. H2. 
 
BASINS OF NKI^ON ANI> CIIURCHIM, lUVKK.S. 
 
 sn 
 
 sion of red granite. Below Pine portage the strike swings somewhat 
 abruptly to the east, and along Drinking lake bunded, qut'rt/.ose. 
 biotite gneisses strike with the course of the lake. At Keg portage 
 and at Grand rapids a mile below, the finely micaceous, fine, black 
 hornblende gneisses occur as broad bands, in places quite chloritic 
 and in places weatherinsr rotten and rusty. The bands, like the 
 narrower bands above, though they have an appearance of inter- 
 lamination with the coarser gneiss, are intruded by them. Fine, 
 banded, dark biotite gneisses occur along Island lake to Frog 
 portage, where hard, quartzose, banded, biotite granite gneisses form 
 the low barrier over which the water of the Churchill spills in periods 
 of flood and flows south to the Saskatchewan. 
 
 Along the northeasterly trending stretch between Frog portage 
 and Kettle fall the river follows a belt of fine, black hornblende 
 biotite gneiss which is schist-like in certain layers and invaded at 
 intervals by course white gneiss in the form of sheets or sills. Con- 
 torted gneisses of similar character outcrop at the inouth of Rein- 
 deer river and continue down the river through Wiiitego lake and 
 rapids. The fine, black gneisses or schists arc almost continuously 
 exposed along this portion of the river; in some layers they are 
 garnetiferous and in other layers show distorted crystals of feldspar. 
 They lie at all angles of dip and, at the rapids, are horizontal. The 
 invasions of coarse white gneiss are few, and preserve the sill-like 
 or sheet-like character so often noted in them elsewhere. 
 
 Down through Pita lake and below it the coarse white gneiss 
 is in larger proportion; it, in all cases, cuts the schists, but the two 
 present, especially where they lie at low angles of dip, as in most 
 cases along this part of the river they do, an appearance of stratiti- 
 cation. On down past the mouth of Nemei river the relationship 
 Mntinues the same, and the semblance to stratification is, in places, 
 very marked. Below the mo\ith of JCcmei river the fine, black 
 gneisses are much contorted, and are cut by many veins, sheets, and 
 irregular masses of coarse white gneiss, and both are cut by dykes 
 of pegmatite. Similar fine black gneisses, with coarse while pre- 
 serving towards it the same relationship, occur all along the 
 northerly-trending section of the river to the elbow at the mouth of 
 Loon river. About Sisip lake and down the river to Pakkatawagan. 
 there is the same stratiform interbanding of the two kinds of gneiss, 
 and the finer black has many crystals of garnet in certain bands. 
 The coarser white cuts the finer black, generally in broad bands but 
 22108-6J 
 
84 
 
 GKOl-OlilCAI, SIWVKY, t ANM'A. 
 
 in i-lufos iu ma-^se, ol irrogular slmpc. There i- um change in the 
 ehnracter of the r.-ek-^ expose.1 uU.ng the shore-^ .luwn to NeUon lake, 
 liaiids iu the fine gnei.^3 all along from the month of I,o,.n river t.. 
 N'eUon lake are ahundantly garnotifcrniis. 
 
 Below Nelnon lake the gneisses, tliough han.le.l, ha\e not the 
 Htronply stratiform appenranee that eharaeteri/.es them above that 
 lake. A red granite, in places quite gnoissie in structure, cuts fin.' 
 black gneiss and is interl.anded with it so as tn produ.'e a fine, hard. 
 )un.ded red and black or dark grey gneiss, the s-'rey gneiss liav.ni; 
 the composition of a quartz-diorite: in thin section it is seen to be 
 ' a coarse grained, holoerjstalline rock containing plagb.clase (rath.-. 
 l,asic\ quartr., grecu hornblende, and biotite; the ferro->na«nesian 
 n.inerals n.aking up approximately -W per cent of the rock, and the 
 quartz iu subordinate tpiality.' 
 
 Down ini-t ^•ishwustia rapids bande.l, tine, hard gneisses arc 
 the prevailing rocks oxposetl. They are cut by dykes of red pegnv.- 
 tite which are probably <'onnceted with a larg.' area of red bv te 
 granite and granite gneiss which occurs in the vicinity. A quart/.- 
 diorite of massive character and dark colour i .osed lor several 
 n-.iles along the shores. It .een.s to merge, on u.c one hand, into a 
 fine black gneiss or ^-bist not distinguishable from tb.e fine bamls 
 in the gneiss, and on the other, into a coarse red gran.toi.l gneiss. 
 Examined in thin sec'lion this rock was found to have a -coarse 
 graine<l granitoid texture and to contain quartz (abundant), plag,..- 
 ..lase (albitc to andesiiie), orthoelase. micro.-line. br.nvn Inot.te. an.l 
 titaniferous magnetite (altered to leueoxeue'). 
 
 The relationship between the gneisses, granites, and diorite- 
 ..xposed along this portion of the river was not plain, l^tuch of the 
 ...umtiv is hidden under a cover of friable lacustrine clay, through 
 which \long the shore of Opachuanau lake, ledges and sharpl.v 
 angular blocks of red granite protrude. .Many of tl.e ledges wher.. 
 thev emerge fr..m the clay cover show fr h-fractured surface-. 
 
 Southern Indian Lake. 
 
 Mnch of the northern and western port...,, ..f Southern In.lian 
 lake is underlain by int.rlamiupte.l coarse white biotite gneiss an.i 
 fine black gneiss, generally an amphibolite bnt in many cases having 
 biotite mica as a plentiful constituent. Thong., these rocks exhibit 
 stronglv the appearance of stratifi.-ation, the coarse gneis. h tli- 
 

 e 
 
 •J-JIlHi -p. St. 
 
IIASIXS OF M I.SO.V AMI 1 llllii llll.l. KIVKKH. 
 
 •^.1 
 
 '1 
 
 yciiiiKi'i- ol' the two anil in oviry ciisu Ix'iir- tu thr liiuT the n-latitm 
 .■f nil intrusive bocly. 
 
 On the southern iiml ciHtLrn -ihons tin' cxpo-iiro;, ulthuUKh thoy 
 liiivf the nppeiirani'c of (rnfis-c", inclndc, liko the rm'k-i of Churchill 
 livor jnst iihove, uf wiiii'h tin y iirc in imit ii rimtinuation, intru.-fious 
 .if si'venil liitferent iigfs very iiitricatfly niinplcil. Many have the 
 lunipooition i>( granodiorites and i|iiart/.-dii>riti' srni'isse;!, and otliers 
 of alkali granites. Nearly nil are quite well foliated and many are 
 finely so, and might he (le<(Tihe<l as very tine gnei^>ses or sehist:*. 
 
 An intere^tiiifi' ^eric-^ of int(>rl>andeil tine gneisses occur about 
 naif-way up the ea-t shore. They have very iiuieh the appearance of 
 a stratified series, and ineliule beds which have a somewhat dose 
 ri-setnblance to congloinerates of sedimentary origin, though, with 
 little doubt, they have originated from the stretching and sunderiiiR 
 of banded gneisses. 'I'lie ciicIoscmI pieces are ovoid or, in places, 
 nearly round in shape, and arc nearly all derived from fine reddish 
 „'iieisses, but a few are of glassy quartz resembling vein quartz 
 (Plate XIII). Bands in the gnei^s in the neighbourhood are quite 
 siinih-r to the ii:atcrial of the gueissjc pclildi-. ami little lenticular 
 veins of quartz in th(> saii:e rocks resemble the quartz pebbles. Aaso- 
 eiated with the pseudo-conglomerates and, like them, folded in a 
 somewhat intricate manner, are fine, banded gneisses and hornblende 
 -chists, the schists having the composition of quartz-diorites. The 
 examination of thin sections of these rocks afforded no evidence that 
 tlicy were of sedimentary origin. The material of the matri.x 
 iiii'losing the pebbles has a fine-graine<l holoerystalline structure and 
 -leiii- to be an aplitic i)hase of a biotite, alkali granite. Mr. 
 Kiinecke describes it as made -ip of ' iinartz. microcHne, albite, 
 |irobably orthoclase, biotite, phlogopitfi, and magnetite. The consti- 
 tuent (..'vsfals of quartz and feldspar have closely interlocking edges; 
 tlioy show no sharp crystal faces. In places magnetite lias been 
 :i!tcred to hematite an<l feldspar to kaolin and muscovite (sericite). 
 Miotite and magnetite do not 4ake up more than .'> per cent of the 
 vohnne. The rock is decidedly acid and alkaline. Biotites show 
 I'irallel orientation; <piariz show sligh* strain: tpiartz veins are 
 "liented in the same direction as the elongation of the biotites.' 
 
 About the central part of the lake and on the bays extending 
 to the south, the land is covered to a considerable depth by deposits 
 "f clay, which are evidently continuous with the extensive area of 
 laiiistrine i-lays to the south. The east shore, north of the point of 
 
86 
 
 OBOLOOICAL, SURVEY, CANADA, 
 
 outflow of the river, is Lharacterized by extensive deposits of sand in 
 the form of plateaus 75 feet above lake level, and by irregular hills 
 and dunes of loose, shifting sand. These deposits probably rcprasent 
 the marginal Bceu.nulations of the glacial lake before referred to, in 
 which was laid down the thick mantle of clay which covers so much 
 of the land to the south. 
 
 Hayes Biver. 
 Ilnyes rivyr. forn.intr. us it did for n.nny years, the main route 
 to till- interior fron; Hudson bay, was traverW by i.any of the early 
 explorers, some ..f whom in their j..urnals give brief notes upon the 
 roeks cncountere.1. In hiter years members .,f the staff of the 
 (5eological Survey have passed over the route, an.l the followmg 
 description is compiled miiinly from their reports. 
 
 The part of the route extending from the Nelson across to Knee 
 lake and down Hayes river to the Rock is briefly described by R. W 
 Brock from observations made during the trip to Hudson bay of 
 His Kxcellency Karl Grey in the summer of 1910. 
 
 "From Lake Winnipeg to Hairy lake, on the Echimamish, the 
 rocka are the grey granite and gneiss cut by red granite dykes an.l 
 rimatUe. At the'inlet of Hairy lake, on the -uth shor t^ , 
 9 the coarse red biotite granite, cutting a coarse feldspathic rock 
 hat appears to be anorthosite. The latter rock -nsjsts prvnc^pal y 
 of feldspar (labradorite) in square or rounded crystals, about which 
 fre wrapped thin, long augite crystals, giving it the aPPe^;-"- ° 
 eopard rock. Other facies of this rock are white, like 1"; *;'*«• ^"t 
 made up of long feldspar crystals with a square cross-section. The 
 red granite, and probably the anorthosite also, holds inclusions of 
 [arge size-ioO feet or greater-of a nacreous m.ca-sch.st and of the 
 
 "'%nThe'Echimamish about 8 miles above Hairy lake" the rocks 
 supposed to be Keewatin first made their appearance. The hrst 
 e™,re seen was a banded quartzose schist standing on edge._ Its 
 gene appearance is suggestive of some of the Keew.U.n uon- 
 formation rocks. A similar rock was Seen at the forks of the creek 
 At^he first dam a tuff-like rock, containing feldspar grains, and 
 sktv rocks that might be ash beds, are encountered. At the second 
 dam Ua somewhat massive chloritic schist with coarse nuca and 
 q .rrtLse schists. The dip of the rocks appears to^J-'J-fj; J"^, 
 lets of reddish, smoky quartz occur in all hese rocks. \t the t hurt 
 dam coarse grej gneiss reappears, followed by red ?^-f bands o 
 Painted Rock porUge Uic^^nehs »_ well_W^ed^ jlari^^ 
 •G^rSurv:; Dept. of Mines, Canada; Summary Report 1910, pp. 18-20. 
 
BASINS OK NELSON* AND OIIUROIIILL RIVBKi*. 
 
 s: 
 
 augen gneiss alternate with chcrty quarts, or pegmatite bands, liio- 
 tite and hornblende schist bands also occur. A small dyke of lanipro- 
 phyre cuts this rock. The chert and hornblende schist renenibles 
 iron formation, but the gneiss bands, which are from half an inch 
 to 3 inches wide, form the bulk of the rock. Ciranite and gneisses 
 continue down the Ilnyes river past Ilobinson portage to the half- 
 mile portage by which the canoe route leaves the river. On tliis 
 portage is a dark hornblende schist, somewhat contorted and faulted, 
 and seamed with quartz veinlets and ]iegmatite and aplite dykes. 
 Across the lake from the east end of the portage is a well jointed 
 phyllite. These rocks continue on the canoe route for about 5 miles, 
 when the Laurentian granite and gneiss come in, and through Pine 
 and Windy lakes and the first !> miles of Oxford lake only granite 
 and gneiss were seen. At the south point of the west bay of Oxford 
 lake the gneiss is cut by a 20 foot lamprophyre dyke. An island 
 about 2 miles west of Sevcnmile point is composeil of diorite or 
 diabase, somewhat squeezed, and in places epidotized and showing 
 the pillow structure that is common in Keewatin greenstones. The 
 feldspar and coloured constituent are, however, still distinct. 
 
 ' At the first portage ahovo Trout falls ' is a greyish 
 porphyritic rock with feldspar phenocrysts one-half inch long. At 
 Trout falls is a micaceous schistose rock with small feldspars. It 
 resembles a hornfels, but is almost certainly a squeezed igneous 
 rock. Bands and small lenses of a gabbroidal rock are included in 
 it, and it is veined by somewhat rusty, watery quartz. 
 
 ' At the entrance to Knee lake a disturbance of the compass 
 was noticeable, due no doubt to magnetite on the south side of the 
 inlet, which Bell describes as " interstratificd with grey siliceous 
 and micaceous schists running about east and west." As we sailed 
 dt)wn this part of the lake no opportunity was presented of person- 
 ally exan.ining these rocks. Through the glass the rocks appeared 
 to be mainly greenstone or massive schist with some quartz veins. 
 At the beginning of the Narrows the rock is a schist with greenish, 
 cherty " eyes," varying from one-fourth of an inch to several feet 
 long. They resemble t)ebble3 somewhat, but are evidently the rem- 
 nants of bands of chert, broken by pressure. Inland is a massive 
 greenstone showing pillow structure, with calcite filling some of the 
 cracks. 
 
 ' Near the end of the Narrows the rock is a preen sericite schist 
 with lenticles of calcite and dolomite, which on weathering give the 
 rock a pitted surface. It resembles a contact metamorphosed lime- 
 stone. 
 
 ' In the Narrows a small island which I did not see, called 
 Magnetite island, is reported by Richardson to consist of " mica 
 slate highly impregnated with magnetite, iron ore, and having its 
 thin layers impregnated with layers of that mineral." Bell describes 
 
 'Sec Plate XIV. 
 
 i 
 
S8 
 
 r.KOLOOlCAI UiVEY, C'ANAKA, 
 
 it as consisting of "line ui'-ed magnetic iron in thin layew. 
 interlaminatwl with others ot quartzito and mica schist. The rock 
 is twisted and oorruRated and breaks with a splinty fracture. , 
 
 ' In the lower expansion of Knee lake the rock is a greenstone, 
 probably diabase, squeexed and in some places epidotized with a 
 well marked pillow structure und cut by quartz veins and dykes of 
 syenite porphyry. On the itlnn.ls near the lower end of the laVe 
 the rock U u mica schist with nalcitc and d..lomite bands cut by 
 some fair sized quartz vein*. 
 
 ' These supposed Keewatin rocks continue tor u whort distance 
 below the lake. Here the grey gneiss reappears and continues to 
 lielow the Rock, below which only drift is exposed. 
 
 ' This band of Keewatin roi-ks, it will be noted, extends with a 
 few intermissions from a short distance up the Echimamish to below 
 Knee lake. Similar rocks are mapped by Tyrrell on Pipestone and 
 Cross Jake on the Nelson, and it H'cnis probable that they belong to 
 the same band. . »u 
 
 ' The rocks seen bv the writer had a marked resemblance to the 
 Keewatin, and so far as relationships were observed, ^^ley *«[ « """^ 
 suggestive of this. The chcrty masses seen strongly resembled those 
 of the "iron ore formation" found in the Keewatin of the I^'=e 
 Superior district. The descriptions given by Richardson and Bell 
 of the occurrence of magnetite are also suggestive of iron ore 
 
 formation." , i i * ,i,„ 
 
 'No minerals of economic importance were observed, but tne 
 Keewatin and Iluronian belts aro worth prospecting. It is in these 
 that the Sudbury, Cobalt, Porcupine, and other camps of northeiii 
 Ontario occur. The quartz veins seen were " hungry, but it is 
 encouraging to find quartz so common, and promising veins might 
 be found by prospecting.' . 
 
 • Mr J B. Tyrrell reports arsenical pyrites and copper pyritei 
 in the Pipestone Lake area on the Nelson river, and a mica deposit 
 of possible commercial value on Cross lake. 
 
 • Mr. Wm. Ogilvie, of the Department of the Interior, has 
 informed me that galena carrying 25 ounces of silver to the ton has 
 been found on a lake north of Nelson House near the divide between 
 Burntwood and Churchill rivers. , , f • 
 
 'Iron deposits of importance may occur in the bands ot iron 
 
 ore formations. , , , , e »i 
 
 ' It is perhaps worth noting that among the boulders from the 
 drift along the lower part of the river banded jasper hematite ore, 
 like that of the Lake Superior deposits, occurs, also basalts and mela- 
 phyres like the Lake Superior copper rocks, together with beautiful 
 porphyries and perthite. It is difficult to say where the boulders 
 came from, as both westerly flowing and southeasterly flowins 
 glaciers passed over this section, but these rocks might be almost 
 local and perhaps underlie the Silurian. They are known to occur 
 

 i 
 « 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 22100 p. 8H. 
 
BAKIXh ok NM.M.N \m, I III k.'MITI. MI\KRH. 
 
 80 
 
 oil th.- iii-t •■..ii-t nf llm]>..ii bus. iiNo .oiilh ..f Juiiip^ bay an.l i( 
 Wilis not ii.;prt.bi.l.l.< that tlity alio friiiK.. the w.^t .-oonf; in other 
 
 word», JhHt ihi< iriiroiiiiin fornit a big ba 
 
 in much ili< 
 
 wo hinduil ill ih- north immtry to Port H 
 
 fill in which the buy njtfl 
 
 ><preiul, 
 
 ii,i- way a* it «loiw iilH)iit l.tilco Siiixrior. Whernvcr 
 
 iiro formation 
 ««'<iu to Iw wide- 
 
 II. 
 
 rock* were no .ible, lo that ifj distrilMiiion wouj.l 
 
 iron 
 
 ' lluiliton bu.v hiii n Iciiuth ot' ul 
 Thp 
 
 . — - ..Jm>iiI !NN> iiii'rt i.iiil u inuxiinnni 
 
 WKlth ot ttlMt luiU't. Thp i'a*l .•n.iKt. which \* ip.wcd of I'rc- 
 
 *"«inl.riun twin, h rugKcl. but the we*t con^t from thn month of 
 Kiil>ert river at tho head of .Tiiino^ ;>nv. to |h,. month of Churcbill 
 it low and H.if. bcin»f nndcrhiiii by f it lyintf I'liluo/.oie rookt. At 
 nbb tide wid.'. often bonl.lcr stnwn, i ind flutf un« cxposml. From 
 Churchill iiorlli the I'reCiiinbriiin rocks obt.iin and the count 
 becomes riiKRcd. 
 
 'York Factory it Mtuate.l on the narrow point of lund which 
 he* between the iiioutln of Ifayes and NeNon river*. Hoth have 
 tunnel-*ha|K>d montim o|)«.ninK northea»tward. the Huyc* beinK about 
 ;t miles ucros4 .md the Nelson about 15, but rapidly imrrowinK up 
 ittream. 
 
 'The se<linuiit brought down by the rivers, particularly by the 
 Nelson, has silted up the mouths of the rivers and formed a'huRe 
 bur, that extends for many miles out to sea. As the Xebton is one 
 of the large rivers of the world, it may Im' ex|H'cted to maintain a 
 well murked ehunnel throujfh the bar. but the Hayes is rapidly silt- 
 ing up with the material discharKed by the Xelson. 
 
 'Fort Churchill is situated at the mouth of Churchill river on 
 a tidal lagoon enebned by rock ridges, that form a tine, well pro- 
 tected, though sonu'what lircuinseiibed. natiinil harbour. It lies 
 within the barren grounds, but only a -h.-rt .li-fane.. beyond the 
 northern limit of the fore-t. On Ix.tli sides, a <vk feet above high 
 lide. are dry, sanoy Huts, part- ..f an obi raised beacb. Several other 
 KHivel beaclies are lound on the -i.les of the bills nnd up to their 
 
 sumn;its. The-c raisc.l Ix-aclics are als „rk.d iVatures along 
 
 Iludson vtrait uinl ail tli.> way <b>wn the Labrador .-oast. The rocky 
 ridges that enclose the lugo.oi ris.. to hciglit- of from tiO to 100 feet. 
 
 and are con;posed of a nia.sive ar-e-nraincd. fcld-i>utbie. nrkose 
 
 quartzite. In the <iuartzitc are a few irrcynlar iimirtz veins up to a 
 foot in width and a few small iicgniatitc dyke-. From the physio- 
 graphy it is impos-ibli' to say whether the bottniii of the lagoon' has 
 thi<'k mantle of gravel and thii- would be <.a-y f. di'ipcn by dredg- 
 
 ing, or whether it has prai-tieail 
 |)ossible that it lius the former.' 
 
 pH-k llOtti 
 
 i: liot it is ipiiti 
 
 Hayes river, below the foot of Knee hike, after a .ourso of about 
 10 miles broken by several rapi.:., expands to fo'in a long, narrow 
 lake known as Swampy lake. Helow for 1!) miles the river flows 
 
90 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 through a labyrinth of small islands. The bed of the river and most 
 of the islands are formed of angular blocks of gneiss, and letlges of 
 gneiss outcrop at many of the rapids. From the foot of this stretch 
 and extending down the river, clay banks appear on both sides of 
 the river. 
 
 "Bras.sy hill .... the only hill known to o.xist in the whole 
 region, is a remarkable, isolated mound of gravelly earth :ii)2 feet in 
 height. Its summit lies three-o.uarters of a mile east fro,., the river 
 and 4 or .5 miles beyond the lower termination of the labyrinth of 
 
 '* ""' The clay banks arc about OT feet high where they begin, but, 
 in descending the river, they increase by ;'^«',f«V*"-^- I, fVoMet 
 neighbourhood of the Rock ami then gradually < imnish to 60 feet 
 at Fox river. An average section of these banks in tl?^ mterxal 
 consists of 50 feet of hard. Idui.h or yell..w.sh-grcy .Irift clay m 
 which the pebbles are not couspicuous as components and bo"We" 
 are rare, overlaid by iJO or :iO feet of stratiHcd bluish .-lay with oeca- 
 .^ional boulders. In the last nile. before rcu-hiug J"^ "-'/J^; 
 river winds, with great regularity ol distance ^^''"' ^^^'^ ° '^*'"J' 
 between banks about 80 feet high and three-fourths o « nule "pajt^ 
 They consist of 40 to 50 feet of drift at the base and 20 o 30 ftet 
 of stratTfied bluish clay, or the same thickness of yellowisl.brown 
 gravelly earth at the top, with occasionally a bed of gravel between 
 
 *'"'"''From Brassy hill to Fox river, few islands occur in the river, 
 which has an average width of only about 2 ^mins Several rapids 
 and chutes over ledges of gneiss underlying the day occur m he 
 tirst 13 miles below Brassy hill. The last one, at the end of the 
 .Jbove distance, or 109 miles above York Factory, is called the Rock 
 rom a considerable exposure here of dark grey rather -a'^ «"« «*^ 
 Gneiss was last seen in the bed of the river about ..miles below the 
 Roctand it is supposed that the Palaeozoic basin of Hudson bay .s 
 entered upon in this neighbourhood. ^ . , ,, , ., ,. 
 ' The section of the route between Fox river, from the lett at 
 75 miles from York Factory, and the Shamattawan from the right 
 at 50 miles from the same point, has a width of about 3 chains. 
 (Hay banks, with an average height of 70 feet are continuous on 
 both si.les ^f the river, an.l marine shells c liieHy 8ar^cava rugosa 
 .ierived from the upper beds were noticed all along this section ot 
 
 'Along the stream above described, from the Rock downwards, 
 islan.ls are almost entirely absent, until the head of tide-water is 
 reached Here three woode<l islands occur in succession, and below 
 them is a chain of low islands near the southeast side, covered with 
 
 •Geol. Surv., Canada. Report of Progress, 1877-78. Part CC. 
 
BASINS OF NKLSOX AND CIIUBCIUI.T, KIVEHS. 
 
 91 
 
 jrrass and nffonlin? nbiintliincc of hay for the cattle kept at York 
 Factory. 
 
 ' Tlie unaltered Pala-ozoic liiiipstonos are not exposed on any 
 p» r of tlie above route, and tlipir existence under tlie drift from 
 ifMr rh. Rock to York Factory is only inferred from the prevalence 
 Ci Hmpsto,-.L '-rig in the shingle, from the absence of oliier mota- 
 i''.rpiiic I')ok^. i.nd from the peneral character of the countrj', whi<'h 
 .cicmMci (hf; rtlons the lower part of the Nelson river, where these 
 iv)'-ka a"!i'Bll^ crop out.' 
 
 Sonndings in Hayes and Nebon Kivers. 
 
 Joseph Robson,' surveyor to the Hudson's Bay Company, made 
 a series of souiidiiips in Nelson harbour about the middle of the 
 eiKhtcenth century. The book in which they are published is out of 
 print and rare; the records of these soundings are republished for 
 con;parison with soundings now being made by the Hydrographic 
 Surviys Brmicli. since the cou.parison may be of value in establish- 
 ing the rate at which silting is taking place and as evidence for or 
 against the reported rising of the land about Hudson bay within the 
 historic period. 
 
 ' Monday, the ISth of July, 1745, fifteen minutes past seven in the 
 morninK, set sail in the Factory's long-boat, in company with Captain 
 iowler, from on board the Sea-horse pink, then lying in Five-fathoni-hole, 
 to sound and discover Port Nelson river. At thirty-eight minutes past 
 seven, abreast of the beacon that stands at Five-fathom-hole, the water 
 fallen one foot; a neap tide, wind N.E. a fresh ga'e; course from the !«>«- 
 con S.E. by E, one mile and a quarter ; sounded from four fathom and a 
 half to eleven feet; the beacon bore W.N.W., distance one mile «nd a half. 
 Nine minutes past eight, altered our course, steered N.N.W. one mile and a 
 quarter, sounded from eleven feet to two fathom, being across the channel 
 that leads into Five-fathom-hole in Hayes river; this channel is of con- 
 siderable breadth. At this time of tide we found two fathom and a half 
 in the best or deepest of the channel and close to the north sand sounded 
 three fathom and a half; ship and beacon in our bearing S.W. half W. 
 distance one mile. Twenty-one minutes past eight, altered our course, 
 steered S.E. by E. three miles, crossing the Fair-way into Hayes' river; 
 sounded from two fathom to six feet; sounded two fathom and a half in 
 the best of the channel; tlie beacon bore W. by N. distance three miles 
 and a half. Four minutes past nine, altered our course, steered N.N.W. 
 two miles and a quarter, sounded from six fathom to nine feet, being 
 from side to side of the Fair-way into Hayes' river; found a considerable 
 breadth of channel, where was two and a half to two and a (luarter 
 fathom at that time of tide; the beacon born W.S.W. distance three miles. 
 Twenty-nine minutes past nine, altered our course, steered S.E. by E. 
 one mile and a quarter; sounded from nine to ten feet across the entrance 
 of Hayes river; sounded two and a half and two and a qiiarter fathom in 
 the best of the channel ; beacon bore W. distance four mile«. Forty-seven 
 minutes past nine, altered our course, steered N.N.W. tive miles, sounded 
 from ten feet to five fathoms and three-quarters in this course. At six- 
 teen minutes past ten, we had three fathom water; being on the north 
 side of the sand that parts the Fairway into the two rivers Nelson and 
 Hayes, from whence we had three fathom water; the ship in Five-fathom- 
 
 ' An account of six years residence in Hudson l)ay from 1733 to 1738, and 1744 
 to 1747, by Joseph Robson, London, 1752. 
 
!t2 
 
 <;KOI,«)<il(\\f, SI KVEY, CAXAKA. 
 
 holo. bore S.W. half W. distance hve miles but at the .nd of thi» cour»e 
 where we had five fathom and three-quarters, the ship bore b.fa.W. dis- 
 tance six miles. Sixteen minutes past eleven, altered «'"-.';°'"''*V «!!;!U 
 N.W. one mile, sounded from five three-quarters to six fathom ; the »hii. 
 bore S. by W. distance seven miles. Thirty-three ra-nutes past eleven, 
 altered our course, steered W. four miles, tried the tul^of ebb by brinK- 
 inu the Jolly boat to a grapnel, the tide run E. one knot and a hat. 
 At twelve hove the low: the boat's way was two knots ar. a h;'/:.'""^ 
 knots run ofl the reel ; soun.led from six fathom to two and a half the 
 shin bora S bv E distance e ght miles a.id a hf'f. At one altered our 
 
 o us^ s'teered'^SAV. half a mile, to try to deepe , ,,r water^t "ow beKan 
 to be a thick foK. the wind blowing fresh at ...•:,.; sounded from t«o 
 
 "thom and a half to eleven feet. Thirty minutes past »"«•. «'t"?i./" ^ 
 course steered N.W. two m e» and a half; sounded from eleven feet to 
 four fithom and three-quarters. Forty-five minutes past one altered our 
 
 ourse?ste"ed W. two miles, soun.led from four fathom and three ..uart.is 
 to two and a half. Eleven minutes past two altered onr ^o^f • «««|'f 
 
 ^^z^ ^?;::'s.^^<^?e^.^^t^e/|\vip^?'i^^;^d 
 
 nine luiuuies y~2i,„ 't „_„*. «ovon feet the second cast seven fathom, the 
 
 hTd ca" t ^«h fSthom and rhalf) to fourlfathom; the foj being gone 
 
 we'founfwr'were fSr or five -»»- '"'•j" ^'''ifiJVo try "re" chLnneT, 
 
 ■mmmmmm 
 
 msmmsm 
 
 two fathom to six feet. Wwlun tnree or lu Within three or 
 
 the north end °ffr'lJ,„? four feet spring tides about eight feet. Seal 
 neap tides flow here about tour '/"•,J'''J' « viamboroueh head bv com- 
 islaSd is about three ■"^If^?",'^ » iL*'!^',^;? of Sea^^^^^^^^ 
 putation Thirty minutes PB^t3eye^,abrea8t^rw .^^^^^.^ thinking, to 
 two to three f^'hom. We passea oeai am. ^^^ ^^ ^^^ knowing 
 
 sail UP a stream we met ">"« • °i"y*inK the tops of stones above water, at 
 where the d^P's* «ater «as a"^ «^^^"f„*g«gi Pjand. where the water was 
 fc hT^M ^"d'laT;5/d *jrf»^^^ past eight; pitching 
 
 iTU on the N'-|Pont of «.'■-« -^^^^^^^ ^„,,^^ ^„, , „,„t round 
 
 look np the '^"«'^' 'Jf 'T"? , .'u -^en wo turned back, we might have 
 ri,rd"VtriSn%^atJl^e^|ffart.^^^ 
 {':k1:ifi'\rthfK\Vrennwn^rhVnW shore of the river, to 
 
BASINS <l| NKI.SON A.\l> < 11 1 lie IIII.I. I!l\i;i:s. li:', 
 
 observe the flats «t low water. When we were 6ve miles below V\am- 
 lower "^^nHtfAl.'^ ''jS!*""* "" 1° }^^ ♦"P »' '^e bank, where we saw thV 
 water; flood at thirty minutes past five this afternoon. From the place 
 ^ntZ nn*'**^ *"* ^'i^'^ *'^°"*'* °? ♦''e lowet end of the middle Rronnd. and 
 to the outer point of woods on the south shore, it bore K. half N As w" 
 TjS. T" 'iu "'""■^^wp saw plainly there was a eh.innM on the north 
 
 ch1rn.;o'J''.>n7h'""n' ''?.*''?/°IV*'^ t^'^l °' ^J"" ""'l'"^ «'»">"•= »« thought the 
 ha f r , u- t " r.*'' r^.* *'lf ^'*- »"'' " 1"V elo»e to the shore, within 
 lowernn^ if Jl ^'^'t ?^ ".= "» thP way from two to three miles above th- 
 mile^n W„ *i f '".'• l"Vi^ "u" *? FlamboroiiKh head, and from twoorthre.. 
 H er tuL,}^^ f f M *^^- ^'"^ '""rt. the <li»nnel is in the middle of t'o 
 ri\er. leiKlniB out of the river s mouth. 
 
 1 ■ "l"'' is, north shore lies 42 decrees N.K. and S.W. and is a sand from tlif 
 Height of three-quarters flood to lo- water mark; towards hiRh water 
 mark dose under the bank, it is full of largo pebble stones; there art- 
 several small creeks along this shore, where we found tenting poles left 
 l).v the Indians who had lieen there to ftsh; it -thundered and rained much 
 while we were upon this journey. Between Seal island and Flamboroiigh 
 liead there are largi parcels of fine trees growing close to the river side, 
 tilteen minutes past eight we got to our tent, having suffered much from 
 the muskettos. 
 
 'The captain and I judging these islands very proper to make settle- 
 ments upon, the le-^ser island being as we apprehend an extraordinarv 
 tiiie place for a fort to secure that river, I made a parHcular survey of 
 tliese islands, as follows:— 
 
 1 '^^ednesday morning tiie 17lh, surveyed Seal island, and found its 
 length 21 chains or L.-iSe feet. Its breadth 4 chains or 297 feet. Its cir- 
 cumference at higli water mark 62 chains or 4,092 feet. Its perpendicular 
 height 86 teet. Its form resembles a long oval. Its height from low 
 water mark makes an angle of .33°. Length of the slope 2 chains 40 links. 
 
 J ^iS"5 -j"" »"t>"r round the island, from 2 to 3 fathom on the N.W 
 and W.h. sides; the S.W. and S.E. sides lie to the main river, being slin;il 
 water near the island, but at half a mile from the island the water is 
 deep; between this and the larger island above it, there is two fathom 
 and a half and three fathom water, where a vessel may lie safe both in 
 winter and siimmer, and a vessel of eight or nine feet water may get up 
 safe to this place. At the N.K. end of Seal island, on the main shore, is 
 a very hne low bottom, where grow a parcel of as fine trees as I had seen 
 in the country, close to the river; we cut our names on the trees in the 
 y-E. end of heal island. The breadth of the water that parts Seal island 
 from the larger island above it is 8 chains or 176 yards; this larger 
 island IS about three miles in circumference, the west" end being as high 
 as any land thereabouts; neap tides flow here, about four feet and sprini; 
 tides about eight feet; but the chart of this river will best show th- 
 situation of these islands. Along the river side are the stones alrcadv 
 mentioned, round as cannon balls, which when broke look like iron. At 
 tprty-hve minutes past eight, almost high water, we made sail to go down 
 the river wind S.W. sounded from the N.i;. corner of Seal island from 
 three fathom and a half to five feet; from five feet to four fathom and 
 three-qnar*' .- just above Flamborongh head, then eleven feet, then thiee 
 tathom then two fathom just Iielow the head; water fallen half a foot 
 !• rom the head downward the shore lies X.E. by N. and S.W. by T. nearlv 
 the channel lies within half a cable's length of the shore; the least sound- 
 ings down this chiMinel were ten feet. The water fallen a foot about one 
 mile and a half above the foot of the high land in the north side of the 
 river; we stood o9 from the shore near a mile and sounded two fathom 
 len stood in and shoaled gradually to nine fe.t; we stood oft and on 
 
 eral times, and found the bottom near level; sounded oB shore a mile 
 louud twelve feet water, then stood in shore, the water slioaled gradually 
 to nine feet. At forty-five minutes past ten. we were a little below the 
 
 fh^ mL^i i','^'' I'l'"'- 'J"!^. ''tool' ".^'"'"'^ l^", ••"■"• 'onnd the channel in 
 t nL? • 'ii."*'"!jj'."''"'. f'tfiom to three fathom and a half, half a mile 
 broad; in the middle of the channel four f.ithom and a half, soft day. By 
 working down this ch^.niiel, towards the river's mouth, we found it steep 
 
9-i 
 
 (lEOUMllCAI. sruVKY, CANADA. 
 
 on each »idc, when we stood into t,-o fathom and » half before we putthe 
 htim a lee: ere the boat was stayed she shot into ten feet »»♦»'• ^^."^ 
 ,e came pretty far down, seeminnly without he "r" \"'°"*»'; ** '"^ 
 into two fathom and a half on the south sue, then stood *»,">« n"*^,;'™ 
 till we soundH four fathom and a half, then to the ""»tl">«^d ,♦! *^ 
 sounded three fathom, then to the northward till we sounded e.ffht fathoms 
 Md a half in the lest of the channel. The channel is deeper here than 
 farther out, for as we came np we crossed the channel three times J'thout 
 this place and had only six fathom. From eight fathom and a half wo 
 sto^ to the 8 eastward about three miles, saw a point or r.dKe of stores 
 onthe south side, distance three^uarters of a mile, sonnded three 
 fathoms- th=8 point of stone dries four or five feet perpondu ular. and 
 TO.ms to'l.e two orvhree miles from shore; hut there are flats that dry at 
 W water all the way to the shore, so that a man may walk from these 
 itones to the land: then we stood northward : the water deepened little in 
 half a mile. When we had stood a mile northward, we saw stones dry 
 on the north side, distance three^uarter of a mile; *°°'>ded three fathom 
 anH nhalf to foiir fathom (now we were almost as far out as when we 
 8teertdN.W across the channel in RoinR up the riyer. and. had six 
 fathom) Then we steered E.S.E. two or three miles. KeepinK thrM 
 S horn neaJ the south flats, towards low water (it was »». 7*" 'l^^"^ 
 we were hereabouts in our progress up the river) made a little trip to the 
 norurward to dee'^n out water: wind at S.W. » /"^ Set 'au'The wa? 
 for the ship, which we saw veiv plain in tive-fathom-hcle all t"^'?? 
 after we ha<i passed the point of stones mentioned above, and «ot aboard 
 at tifteen min-tes past seven in the evening. 
 
 In connexion with the proposed utilization of the mouth of 
 Nelson as a principal hnrliour on ^iudscn bay. the average 
 dates of openinR and closing of Hayes river, at York Factory, for a 
 series of years is of interest. Dr. Bell has published ' such a record 
 for the years 1828 to 18S0. From it the following summary is 
 
 made : — 
 
 1846— Earliest opening ^laj' "• 
 
 1851— Latest closing Dec. 9. 
 
 Average date of opening May 19. 
 
 Average date of closing Nov. 20. 
 
 or an average of six months during which the harbour is open. 
 
 Since the foregoing paragraphs were written the Report of the 
 Department of Naval Service for the year ending March 31, 1911, 
 has been issued. The following excerpts relating to the navigation 
 of the bay and straits arc taken from the report of William J. 
 Stewart, Ilydrographer, published on pages 32-41:— 
 
 • He (Captain Bartlett) fnrnishes the foUowinK intercstinu report on 
 the trip, particularly on the ice conditions met with:— 
 
 • Ice conditions. Great numbers of iceberg were met with alouK the 
 Labrador coast. These bergs are reported by fishermen to be much more 
 numerous from the coast to 20 or 30 miles ofl than farther out. Probably 
 the best course for a vessel, makinn from Newfoundland to Cape Chidley. 
 would be about 50 miles off the Und^ 
 
 iGeol SurvTowada, Repo' - Progress, 1879-80. AppVII. Table showing 
 dat-s^the^nhig and closSg of Hayes river at York Factory, compiled from 
 authentic records by William Wood, Meteorologist, York factory. 
 
■II 
 
 BASINS OK NKIXl.N- A.NK (11 IKCll ll.L 
 
 KIVKI.'S. 
 
 !i; 
 
 point of Coats island 
 
 Portlurw^ ??V.fi.l/K,°'"i>^'°'L'",'i''?" ■9''*»''""1 f""" *»"" mission at 
 
 ini'.j"'*''*^''^"""!*-. I* "'«> »l>l'f"rs that this yeir the ico ?n^n«on 
 and adjacent bays had broken except ionHlIy early (almut JulV imw 
 
 th%'lIst''filTaL'^/'r'";" ""t' 'ioii '""•"-''^ to e^tir th"eU'''"i?b^f.*rs t 
 which i lnTe?TlWt hT;..ii" ^'*®'.°" *'"* ••"*• ™"o»PondinK to that on 
 on the ict? Burwell. dog teams were still crossinu the harbour 
 
 . rfi'SL'*''""»'"'i''°r*.^"'"';^"- •'^''y '»• •'"'"'•V field ice was encountered at 
 • distance of about SO miles. This had pparently set out Si tWvn 
 
 &"'fc,VeStlJ^h"isTJ'^'"'''^'''?l5.'^ °r^" '»- 
 V i. ^J'*"t of this held was about 60 miles after whi<.h n ul,o^» 
 
 of '»"P"at'vely clear wtter was passed through n.itl"o,,m of Jufy 
 
 :,!^^*°j "'^i'"'"/'' "^» *■»« ^'^ »•'♦''• This kept the sh p to the south 
 
 •In°?he !ln? •* """T^^y to '•»'«"don any idea of making Ashe inlet 
 
 heaviln'„rc{IXNtn^\C"frt%t.a?i%r *^'*"" '''' »••"'- ""-" 
 
 «^«-rS'--^""^^^^^^^^^^ fe*rst"rSlt*-r^n V-rlt^'^f 
 
 l^ttA^&'ctrr'VtXrsrreZr- "'■'- '-" '•'"- ^-'"'^ -.Vr! 
 
 After a short spell of clear water off Cape DiRires about 40 miles nf 
 
 heavy ,ce droye the vessel tovard Nottingham iSland. "^ 
 
 -oo .T?" J . "''" j""'"'<t be^n passed, the southern poii 
 was steered for and course set for Churchill 
 
 l»ro.»^°^"l*i5''^°'!!'' °I\.^"K^- •^•' "'''P '♦••'"■k the outer edde of the 
 I "^^La* ^f'"* "'** *'*•> °" ♦•»« "•'o'o voyage. This, for a distance of 
 about 200 miles, was continuous. This ice was not very helvy for a vessel 
 ^ar^'r VT^^^t-d. but called for considerable skiu'^n the part of C^pt 
 Bar*'. H, the icc pilot, in finding leads. m ^ «. •^opi. 
 
 'There beinif no indication of clear" water on either side it was re- 
 c^tiotieAn* \' direct a course as possible. The ship was^ldom 
 fM^r war "through'' '''"''"' "" **"" ^""tinnous pounding necessary to 
 
 r'i.„',Ti!'n ^'"'^ was suddenly cleared on the mornins of ulv 2*th, and 
 Churchill was reached the same ni(fht without further de y 
 «i.oi '*u "'"■ ^''^::^'' I'aviuK been visited, the vessel kft the latter 
 Placs on ths evening of July SO, on the homeward voyaRe. Within a few 
 »„ ?v, \ on*^'"' ,^®'*°° *''^ •'*"^'^* »«• y** ""et wag encountered, and 
 mJ»^.J^" fS- ™'i*\ l"J. P'"" headway was made. This haviuK been 
 cleared, nothing but light ice was met, either in the bay or strait, until 
 
 fhi'arr"i"^?£'"*)?"r'^*'"- .Y''*>* "* *'"^''°'' "* l*"--* Burwell awaiting 
 the arrival of the Earl Grey the ice set out of Ungava bay before a mod- 
 erate southerly breeze, and Burwell harbour was completely filled. The 
 ice v^s, of course, loose, but made boat work impossible at times. 
 f ft e Burwell was left upon August 9, and within an hour the ship 
 for the first time encountered ice that stopped her. This had evidently 
 ♦W ~fY,'i'^ ^^^l^ '", "J?*^'' *".*"■. *''« """^ carrying its own ice to meet 
 Ifc! ff^ ™ 'i"^ ■t'"'>'i"f'',.°rj?y straits on the ebb. When the strength of 
 the tide made itself felt, the ice holding the ship was loosened and by 
 keeping close along the sontheri, shore of Gray strait. Cape Chidley wm 
 rounded and course set for s.uithward. The pack was apparently very 
 heavy up to the Button islands. i Ki.iemiy >ery 
 
 • Wfc'; ?" ^^'^ ^^l^ '**'■'' "" "'* '■''*"'■'> a'onR "'« Labrador coast. 
 
 ■tr.if numerous bergs were met with in the .'astern part of Hudson 
 
 strait, none were seen in Hudson bay itself, and iJeptain Bartlett informed 
 
 me they are practically unknown there. ■■■•"• m™ 
 
 It would appear from the above remarks that vessels mav expect to 
 
 w«'trtb'rJSe.t K f ''""'^ *" C''"^'""- but Captain BartleU's o'^n'." 
 Tn^i # ?*w • J "J °,"'' experience was exceptional, and that s I-.,, 
 spell of light winds ha<» .otributed to the packing of the i" Persdir- 
 
06 
 
 «iK<)UH;lCM. slItVKY, < AN.MiA. 
 
 ally, I cannot see why this should be bo, as the ice forms and breaks a»a> 
 Velr bvyear, .orae years (as the present. 1910) exceptionally '•'''ly, nu 
 doubt but it must be met some time d.irinic the naviRation season. LonK 
 spells of wind in one direction minht hold it in the bays and nlets for 
 wme time! but it is not likely that these ^v^inds would be ""^^""t'"'!""';"^ 
 to keep it there until frozen in auain. Therefore. ""^ 7«t 'r* « fth oS 
 the bay must he prepared to meet ice. Whilst none of that met » '"> on 
 this vo^ge could'haie been dangerous to the »;''"'««'•,",!«'''?" '""If^S^ 
 specially constructed vessels now tradinsr in ♦''"..^"trict I am of the 
 opinion it might be danRerous to a ship not so built. I certainly <«•«>« 
 th nk any cargo vessel of ordinary construction »;ould »'»"»*<'".»'''''.*" 
 find or force her way through the laree field "^t Wore Church U but 
 would have been obliged to remain in the ice until it was loos«-ned by 
 
 "'"■uSder^the" weather conditions which prevailed whilst the Stanley 
 was in the bay. a ship might wait an indefinite peri<«l for the >ce to open 
 up aRain In the event of a strong breeze which would eventually dis- 
 per«. it the preliminary would bo a heavy packing to leeward, whi. 1. 
 
 '"''J'UXgW the' aCeVemarks "ice" is to be taken to mean ice field. 
 and not bergs. 
 
 WEATHU CONDITIONS. 
 
 • The StanUu was exceptionally fortunate in «'«*''''!;,j;''j'® \';„";±;l' 
 hRv and Strait nothing more than a moderate breeze being ' J.l*' ^°"?- 
 But as a general rule, in the strait and bay proper "o lasting heavy 
 weather neld be anticipated during .Tnly and August, '>Itho"'5pd bv {he 
 vidnity of Nelson river, heavy "northers" •» August are reported b> the 
 Hudson Bay vessels, sometimes lasting from 36 to 48 hours. 
 "' A considerable amount of fog was mot with, ' '• %'{ .'•°"''' ^^/Xa,! v 
 with the light winds prevailing during the voyage. This fog was usually 
 in tliB vieinitv of ice. but not necessarily so. .... 
 
 '° .Temperatures in- the bay and strait were not low the a.r averaging 
 lietween 31° and 40°F.. sea water between 30° and tO 1- . , . . • 
 
 'Owing to the uniform temperature of the water, ttle can be judged 
 from ths as to the vicinity of ice. This was also noticed after '"'•■"r "K 
 the straits of Bel e Isle, that is t-^ say, that the --older currents hax inR 
 been entered, the prJxi^ity of even large l...r«s made Uttle d.florcnce t.. 
 the temperature of the water. 
 
 OENERAL NAVIOATIOS. 
 
 ' Apart from the ice question which it will be .seen is by no means 
 insurmountable, the dangers and difficulties of the navigation of Hudson 
 strait and bay arise chiefly from the inaccuracies of the charted positions 
 of the salient points, and from the proximity of the magnetic polo, with 
 the conseouent eflect en compasses. . 
 
 • As the whole of the Hudson Bay cliavt appears to be more or less in 
 the nature of a sketch or running survey, great caution would naturally 
 be exercised by the ship masters in making land. , , . , , 
 
 ' From my experience on this voyage, the land and islands are in 
 some cases 15 to 20 miles out of longitude. This may be modified when 1 
 have reworked the many observations taken, biit in any case it would bo 
 unwise to attempt to make any land except in daylight and clear weather. 
 
 'The Button islands southern shore of Gray strait, and the land 
 l)etween Cape Prince of Wales and Digges island, as shown on chart, bear 
 little resemblance to the actual coast. King and . .Toy islands do no 
 exist, and Charles island lies much closer to the mainland than the chart 
 
 shows. ^^^^^ ^^^^ endeavoured to run a line of soundings on the outwar<l 
 voyage, but having a schoor^r in tow, and being so besot by ice, ♦•"« was 
 impossible. When able to t'o so on the return from Port Nelson to Cape 
 Digges I ran an almost coniir-m.... line, soundings being taken at inter- 
 vals of 10 miles in deep water, and ,5 miles in shoalcr water. 
 
TIASIXS OF XKI.SUX AXl) Cll lltCMILI, l!l\ Kli« 
 
 07 
 
 .-^^.^''j r''',''''^^.*'"! .'"■•■** l'"*'"'"''" n' Hudson Bay i.aviKation, tli* 
 reported local attraction and inaccuracy of the compass, I found notliina 
 
 r?jr.l V '"! *V' .'ir""v"'["n- }" °"'' •"■ ♦»" "'««^«''< only. »"<' "hen in 
 close proximity to the high land (Cape Chidlcy and Cape DiKRca. for 
 Wi,1"r* ' '°l\"^ ■ deviation of two or three deifreos from the normal. 
 j!I. # ii'" ".'»'''"■■;'!« «'»'rs. Halifax and Strait of Belle Isle. I had very 
 carefully adiustcd the comnass of the Stanleu- wh; •. was excellently 
 placed as fa.' as the ships magnptism was concerne., and had reduced 
 the errordue to ship to such small amounts that almost he whole of the 
 compass error as found by ohservntion in the bay could be accepted 
 as due to variation, as opposed to deviation. 
 
 • iioiiiK e.\ceptionally fortunate in haviiig clear sun and stars, my 
 observations for error were almost hourly, and showed that the chauRe of 
 yariatiop. though rapid, was normal, but the lines of variation will not 
 quite agree with those shown on admiraltv charts. For instance the 
 line of no variation ' lies about 30 miles east of that shown on chart. As 
 stated above the proximity of the maRnctic pole (and consequent small 
 value of horizontal force) renders the nee<Ile .sluRRish and mi altcr.ition 
 ot a few decrees in direction of the ship's course is not immediately shown 
 by the compass. 
 
 'As the chart stands at present, continuous observations for compass 
 errors are necessary. This is only in accordance with the ordinary 
 practice of seamen, and I think that when the lines of equal variation 
 have been correctly charted (and positions rectifiedl no more difBculty 
 will be found in tlie navigation by account than is experienced in the 
 ai>proaches to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where the rapid chanse of varia- 
 tion nocessitat€>s hourly alterations of the course. 
 
 ' It may be remarked that a liquid compass was found to be almost 
 useless, especially in the western portions of the bay. 
 
 TIDF.3 AND CCKRENTg. 
 
 ' As far as could be observed from the high water marks alon« the 
 coasts passed, the H.W.F. 4 C, was much as shown on chart. The many 
 deviations from the course, made necessary to avoid ice. prevented any 
 reliable data beinu obtained as to the set of the currents, except that, as 
 would be expected, a strong tidal set was felt in and out of the liays and 
 indentations of the coast. In Gray strait the sprin-r tides are so strong 
 that it is advisable to time the nproach to I)ick up a lavouring stream. 
 
 Forts Nelson and Churchill. 
 
 ' Until the results of the detailed surveys are in. it is difficult to give 
 an unprejudiced opinion as to the relative values of For* Churchill and 
 Port Nelson as ports, and I can only take the point of vie* of a master 
 of a vessel making these places for the first time without local knowledge 
 Or pilot's assistance. 
 
 ' When making Port Churchill, having obtained good sights for lati- 
 tude and longitude at 5 p.m , and later picking up soundings, I proceeded 
 until 1! p.m.. when the distance being run down. I hauled to the south- 
 ward for the port. Fog came down and I anchored for the night. When 
 the weather cleared about 10 a.m. the following day. the beacon at the 
 entrance to Churchill harbour was seen, the harbour easily entered and 
 a comfortable anchorage picked up. 
 
 ' I give this detail to show the facility with which the port can be 
 made. 
 
 ' Churchill harbour, although of not very great extent as it at present 
 stands, appears to me to be adapted to easy enlargement, the eastern shore 
 having good water close to. The entrance is narrow and I do not imagine 
 any sea could get up that would inconvenience loading operations along- 
 side wharfs, but the heavy tide and current from the Churchill river 
 running against a strong breeze makes boat work difficult at times. 
 
 22106—7 
 
!l*< 
 
 OKOI.OOIC.M, HI|tVl;V. CAXADA. 
 
 ' Th»> liind in tlip vi<init.v of Cape Clitirrliill U rwk.v with r-tiilitcd 
 trrrs, tliv liiKlirxt part of thin Inml Ijeiiig; nlioiit 100 frot al'nvo H.W. 
 
 ' Thp diiiiKPrs shown on Admirnlty rhnrt No, 863 a» hoinK off Cu]<f 
 Churchill arc locally stated to br- much nearer the land. 
 
 ' IlaviDR left Churchill on July 27, I proceeded to Nelson lioad^i. 
 
 ' The land in the vicinity of Cape Tatnam and the westerr nhore in 
 very low, the summit of che trees beini; certainly not more th ■ 50 feet 
 above H.W. The Rround on the opproach to Port Nelson or Yt rk Uoaiiit 
 was found to Ije very foul. 
 
 ' Four fathoms of water was picked up with no land in BiRht, and 
 eventually anchored in nine fathoms in a position where the trees were 
 only visible from aloft, and a beacon which is situated near the entrance 
 to llayes river and the summit of which is 80 feet nbovo H.W., was jii-it 
 visible from the ship at a heiRht of 40 feet above the water. Althouxh 
 only 80 feet high this beacon can be seen some time before any other si^n 
 of land is visible. 
 
 ' The day followinir my arrival, I ran with a launch to Hayes river 
 and found that a drying flat of sand and boulders extends about tliree 
 miles from the shore, less than 18 feet of water for a further four miles, 
 and less than 30 feet for an additional three or four miles. 
 
 ' The current from the N'elson and Hayes rivers is very swift, a streat 
 volume of water beinv dischamed into Nelson Koads. When this current 
 combines with an ebb tide and sets aaainst the heavy northerly Kales 
 which prevail here in AiiKust and September, a very bad sea is raised, 
 especially, as may be imagined, inside the five fathom line of sounding. 
 The Hudson Bay vessels have found difficulty in making, and holding, their 
 positions in Nelson Roads and on more than one occasion have been 
 obliged, after waiting some days for favourable conditions, to abandon 
 all idea of discharging. They have then carried their cargoes on to 
 Churchill, from whence it had to be drawn by dog teams during the 
 winter. The usual procedure for the Hudson Bay vessels is to close the 
 land as much as possible on the rising tide, and on their signals being 
 observed by officials ashore, to steam out and anchor at a distance of about 
 18 miles aiid await the boats. 
 
 ' In August, 1909, one of these vessels experienced a northerly gale of 
 48 hours duration, during part of which she was steaming full speed with 
 both anchors down, with a heavy sea breaking on board. After remaining 
 in the vicinity for ten days, and being unable to work, she proceeded to 
 Churchill and there discharged her Nelson cargo. 
 
 ' After leaving Port Nelson anchorage I sounded my way out to the 
 northeast and carried good water for some miles until, at an estimated 
 distance of from 12 to 15 miles from Cape Tatnam, I suddenly picked up 
 10 fathoms and thought it advisable to haul due north. The ground in 
 the vicinity of Cape Tatnam is reported locally • i be as foul as that on 
 the western tide of Port Nelson.' 
 
 "As a result of ifr. BechaiK^'s survey ut Port riiureliill, I licg 
 to offer the following report " : — 
 
 'Churchill harbour is situated in latitude 48-56-10 N. and longitude 
 91-10 W. and about the middle of the west shore of Hudson bay. 
 
 ' The approach to Churchill harbour is very well marked and com- 
 paratively easily picked up. The first landfall (aproaching from Hudson 
 strait) is Cape Churchill, which stands well out from the low west shore 
 and in contrast to the shore south of it, may be approached to within a 
 comparatively short distance. From this cape to the harbour is a distance 
 of 3S miles ond a vessel may keep close enough to have the shore in full 
 view until Eskimo Point and beacon at the entrance are made out. 
 
 ' This clear approach is important and in marked contrast to the 
 approach to the whole shore from near Cape Churchill to James bay, 
 wnich is fronted by a shallow band many miles wide. 
 
 'The entrance to Churchill between the 18 foot contours is 1,100 feet 
 wide and has as much as 90 feet of water in it with not less than six 
 fathoms outside. 
 
 ' The harbour itself is in two parts, outer and in.ier, but the latter is 
 ■0 shallow as to be useless and ininr'ons to the formei-, in that it furnishes 
 
BASIX:* OF NEI.»O.V AND CHL'BCHII.L UIVERS. 0!) 
 
 .half square miles most of wl.ich. however i/rery shallow The area 
 not smtable for more than three or four TesseU i,T"er.iorp, 
 
 luo west shore of the harbour is another noinf nt./,i,f s luui » * i 
 .nd t-r„.;„atin«.in a small island «nd?he rem&fold' Fo"?? /•' 'nc^'of 
 
 botto^"i •-'iic^i;!^'aryi; *^rx^;^^tr:^rj-^';^;l--' ^''^ 
 
 ' Thi- ranse of the sprinir tides is about IS feef nn^ »i,, _ .. 
 through this entrance with a vel.H^itv of G m les ner ho„r L fh" /."-''?'* 
 and 2i milM per hour on the floml. \s reZrked in h^h.^J^n**'" *"'''; ' ''^ 
 report the inner harbour is very lovKonml allows a larlvJ ""'"'''."' "''" 
 to be impounded furnishing a supply%h;t m ,st escairduring7he°jM ''*'"^ 
 cause heavy currents. The harbours m«ht be seon^ttfJ^ K? *'"', ^.'''^ and 
 thus provide a wet basin above and cut ofl tl.rsu3y fnr thl "^'^^'^^ ""'' 
 rents at ebb tide. supply for the strong cur- 
 
 SnEI.TEII. 
 
 'The entrance being narrow, no sea of -nr consennen^^ „„ 
 but when n rther.y tp northeasterly gales blow^ someTa stn'ke", ^h"" '".' 
 shore for a short distance inside the entrance and creates «n,f.,' f *■*• 
 able condition for vessels anchoring ofl the R N W M P nit umomtort- 
 with the ebb tide. A vessel anchoring closerun^rthTe/r*''"';''"'^ 
 experiences little inconvenience from sea or tide aoH in ff*""* "'""■«' 
 suggested for the wharfs and piers a vessel would suffer Sone Th'"V*'T 
 
 In 910, floating ice first appeared from the river on October IS n,„i 
 the hiirl.our was closed on December 5. The sun^v nart^ , ' ?' ■ 
 Chur^ ■ II on July 25, and no ice was seen afterwards first snnw ^nf"^'"" 
 on Se„...mber 9. but the season was reported tX an unt'sualTrshoTonT' 
 
 „ " -^' ? T"-^ "^ ^^'■' ^'""■'^'^""■^ surve.v at Xelson river, I l,.,, to 
 offer the fallowing report": — ^ 
 
 "Tort Xelson is situated approximately in latitnrte wjm t„>r*i j 
 long,h,de 92.35. west, or about 120 miles south of Port c"i^eh"lT*'' """^ 
 fn .9° f 'f ■''"? ^I'y "'^ "»' encountered and the vessels were uAable 
 hnitll;" ,.■■''"' '"'l' ^'" ""KH^Hc observations as intended A track wal 
 
 "?^ViS" ™ """^^ »' ^"* <^'"-'>"'- '«e^;h^c\"^„rv:Sbi:°ra's 
 
 . '-^^J!'* present lime anchorage is taken ud at a irreaf >tUfi>n»o t. „ 
 
 hi^^waTe " J^"'"-'""'? ?."^ ^"'?'"V"l ^'•'P' "" ^" »* c1o?J?s*p^ s We^'on'tr 
 ./} i*"" *l*'5"?i *''•? P"/' »t York Factory and when seen they leav» 
 and anchor about 18 miles from Point Mar"h. 
 
 22I06-7t 
 
10'> 
 
 (iKiiI.iMilr \r. sritVKV, c.WADA. 
 
 ' I.«!<t vp.itoii wliiMi tippi'iiai liiiiK Ni'Niin livrr tn put llii- vluxiiicr uti 
 tb« station for her »ork, the iitrjmpr S/iinlrj/, with her in to*, run into 
 'thnllow WBter (4 fiithon:.'!) thon mnvod out to 9 fathonisi and fixt'il litr posi- 
 tion S4 10 miles from lund where iiothiiiit I'ould be xeeii from llie ilcck and 
 only a few trees iind the hesron on Mnrth Point from the Crii»'« Nf«t. 
 
 ■ After heioniinn Bi(|Urtintod with tlie locality an I prwuriiiii i< pilc>t 
 th« « liooner wax piloted at hi|{h wiiter to an an'horrt'te jii't nH the poni- 
 tion -wliited for the outer railway wharf. 
 
 ' Owinu to the jjreai ilitficiilties encountered very little «iirviviiia that 
 can be phiied on \m]h'\ was Hone. The xrentest lalmnr wax u('oe««ary to 
 get ashore with niateriiil for «i(cnals and owing to the low bi'nrh ih^se had 
 to >>e large and high th«t they might br »eea a few miles off. The windi 
 and seas were very heavy and in the expo'<ed situation working from even 
 • large well eovered-in Inunch ran impossible. 
 
 'If very little of a definit> nature was ascertained, a good ileal of 
 information that will be of material assistance next season was obtained. 
 
 ' .At a point IS miles from the Wacon on Marsh point ami tlie sane 
 distanre from Sam's creek, there is a ilepth of only ten fathom-. Thi> 
 water towards the river grailually shoals and the river channel ihvi'lops 
 until at a point midway l)et»een Marsh |>oint anil Sam's ireek. a l)ar is 
 reached over which not more tlian 21 feet can be carried. Here the 
 channi'l at low water is about UUO yards wide, the hanks on eitlier side 
 drying at low water. Inside, the channel deepens again anil cimtinues 
 for seven miles to the position selected for the outer wharf, where only 
 17 feet water can be found and the channel is about 600 yards wiilf. 
 
 ' <>b-ervations for tides show that springs rise 16 feet and neap 10 feet, 
 and the tides flow and ebb nt from 2 to 3 knots, 
 
 ' nf course, this information is all gathered from cruisin>,'_ a' out in 
 bad weather, when circumstances made it impossible to fix one's lo-itiiin 
 for transfer to paper and when the survey work is completed it may have 
 a different appearance. 
 
 ' There is one thing certain that the survey is no child's play, the 
 roadstead is exposed to every wind that blows and every sea that runs, 
 the currents ano cross currents are strong, the shores are so lnw that 
 nothing can be seen from boats and all locations must be determined from 
 the previously ascertained position of the ship. 
 
 Ice began to form, coming down the river oi. one tide and up on the 
 naxt, on October 31, and gradually became worse, each day making navi- 
 gation more hazardous. 
 
 ' Until fiirther and proper definite inform tlion is obtained, no opinion 
 can be oxpre.sed as to the suitability of this port for a terminus. 
 
 ' On September 12, it was decided to s^nd the schooner to Halifax ami 
 continue the work from camp until the ice would render movins about 
 dangerous. 
 
 'The schooner, therefore, sailed, arrived at the »e-liwn entr'"" to 
 Hudson strait on the 15th, and at the eastern entrance on tlie 21-t. 
 experienced strong gales and snow storms and thick weather, a!mi 
 the way. Twelve icebergs were seen oil Ungava bay. The vessel reached 
 Brigus, Newfoundland, on October 7." 
 
 Saskatchewan Kiver. 
 
 The Saskntchewati takes its rise in ninny streams flowing from 
 the eastern s^luiios of the mountains. Tliese form the north and 
 south branches, which unite 26 miles below Prince Albert, to form 
 the main river which has there attained nearly the full volume which 
 it carries to Lake Winnipon. The North Saskatchewan, on which 
 are situated Prince Albert and Edmonton and many smaller towns, 
 has a length to its junction with the South Saskatchexvan of 760 
 miles ; and the South Saskatch^-wan, with Saskatoon, Medicine Hut, 
 
IIV-»I.\S ol NKI.suN AM. . Ill UniMt. IIIVKII>. 
 
 101 
 
 l-.ilil.ri,l«.., nii.l CalKiiry uI.iik it, o.tirs... i- S(!5 niilt.*long; tl„- main 
 S,.-katc|».«„„ fr..„, tl... f.,rk. to Uki- \Vitmi,H-tr I* ;J40 mil... j.,,,^, 
 'I'll.- riv.T, lr„m far ,.l...v,, tli.' tMrks, tl„w. Ik-Iw...... hijfli .r.nvv,\ 
 
 l.miLs „f ,.|,,y, s,. ,V,., „r m.^rt- ii. hvleUu with Irt.. an.l therf -hurt 
 Mr.t.lu-, tl„. sit.... i.rolml.ly, of „1,1 ln„.l-li.los where th.. hiKh h.nd 
 
 Ii..- I.-. „r -JO diuin. ha..lc aii.l t)ie iimi ...lial,. Imnks nr,. imt „,„re 
 fliaii 10 fVvt abov.. the wal.T. The- *P,.ti..n i.n,„h,.,1 l,y th.. ...arpf,! 
 
 hutik. .h„w, ,...,.„,i„„„l bouKli.M M-atterc.l through the »aii.iy clay 
 nml, for many mil,... „ very por^iMrnt, h.pri/nntal hnn.]. f..ri.K..l of 
 flutt..ii..,l i„.|,|,|,.. „r |.„nl.li.r. lying at intervals .,f a few foot trm 
 oil., anoih-r. -tan, Is n,it pn.iniia.nily alnnjr its face ot n heitrht. near 
 tl... lurks u( „!,„„t 1" f..,.t .,l,,v.. th.. wat.r; .1.. tcH ..r ii.„re u{ light 
 yelL.w .,n„iy ,.l,,y „v,.rli,.. th-. l.„iiM,.r hand. The even flistrilmiio,; 
 of th..„. l.„i,l,|..,-. ^iv... ,h.. in.|.r...>ion that lluy wcr.- .Iropp.-.l hy 
 flo.iting i,-,.. iri,„l noti..(..i very similar ..on-litions on the .^oiith 
 Saskatrhowan. below the KIbow.' 'Two ti.'r* of l.onl.lera, i.ppar»tt.<l 
 by an interval of ■•(, (,','t, are vi^ibl.. in the ..lay ..IIITh lower ,lown the 
 riv.i. \\li,.r.. tirst noti.-e,! th..y were about l.'. fc>,.t above the water. 
 As we ,l,.s<...n.le.l the riv..r. tli.-y were seen to rise abov. its level 
 pre-i.-rvMifr evidently a ii..arly horizontal position. The lower tier 
 consists of very larj:.' frnjfnu.nts of water-woru limestone, pr.iiiite 
 an.l (tneisso,,! bouhlers; above this is an in.lurnte.l san.l. containing 
 pebbles: this is siip.riiiii.ose.l by an extremely tine stratitie.l c' y. 
 breaking up into exc-..ssiv..ly thin layers, which envelop detncne.l 
 particles ot saii.l. small p..bbles. ami a^'-rregations of particles of 
 sand. Above the tin... st.atiti...! ..lay, yelb.w ..lay and stratifi..' sand 
 occur. The fine clay must have been di-posited in very quiet \ ■; 
 a inicroscopic examination, subsequently ma.le. faile.l to reveal .,;iy 
 diatomaeeae.' 
 
 Below the forks, tiio river becomes very strikingly beautiful, 
 with long stretches where the higher land slopes down to tlie river 
 Hats ill gentle, gras.y hillsi.les, clothed with an open growth of small 
 aspeii and Banksiaii pine. An alternation of low, rounded, .stable 
 banks and high, ste<'p, and unstable walls characterizes the streU'h of 
 river ilowii to below Nipawin reiid. The width is a little less than 
 one-fourth of a mile and the current swift. Helow the rapid the 
 banks have ii:ore gradual slopes and the current is not so strong; 
 the eiuiniu.l widens and becomes shallower, and many sandbars and 
 islands ajipear. For a short distance, where the river contracts at 
 Tobin and Squaw rapids, the banks arc again steep and high, but 
 
 ... '^''">i«'ia" Kcil .-.ver ami A»iinibuine and Snskutrliewan Expe.litiun. H Y 
 Hind. London, liitiO. • » . 
 
 ^fl 
 
103 
 
 OEOLOOIlAI. NI:RVKV, CANADA. 
 
 Lt'low (lip rapids fnll iiwujr to a liciglit of 10 fuet or ]e»» and continun 
 low to the month. This lonsr stretch of river-valley extending to 
 <!raii(l rapid* near the inoiilli, has the ehorufter of an ••sfuary, in 
 which the low, flat land U broken only hy a few ridtfc «f bouMe/ 
 clay; of these the most |)ri>uiinent ore those through whirh the river 
 breaks at the Harrii're below Tenrin(f river and ut the Pas. The 
 elevotii'H of the land aiiovo tlie Keiieml river level is not more than 
 li» feet, und in inniiy phiocs is niuoh lese, so that in perioiis of flood 
 the river ovorflowi its banks and spreads over nearly all this low 
 l.ving lent!. 
 
 The low, flat country forms a broad bolt along thi? part of tlie 
 river, extending northerly from the river for 15 miles, and southtrly 
 for 35 miles to the base of the I'asquia hills. Through it the river 
 flows easterly, with a moderate curnnit, and along certain stretcheii 
 a rapid one. Many islands divide the current into various channels. 
 
 About forty years ago, at a jioint 33 milei* above Cumberland 
 House, the river broke through the 2 mile wide barrier of low land 
 sepurating it on the north from the channel of Candle river, n large 
 iitreain draining Candle lake, and flowing, in a course roughly par- 
 allel with the Saskatchewan, into Cumberland lake (Plate XVI). 
 The break occurred during the period of the spring flood, the water 
 fjUowing the course of an old canoe portage leading from one of 
 the sharp northerly bends of the Saskatchewan t" a southerly elbow 
 of Candle river. 
 
 At tirst a small stream, the overtl.iw has yearly increased in 
 volume by wearing aw 'v its banks, until now, at low water, the old 
 Saskatchewan channel rries but little water, and vessels of all 
 kinds, even flat bottomed scows, follow the new channel. The great 
 increase in the volume of water now flowing in what was Candle 
 river has caused the stream to break through its banks in many 
 places, and to carve out new channels through the low land, so that 
 now tiie water follows n.an.v meandering courses, which reach Cum- 
 berland lake through nii.utha situated at various points along '^•2 
 miles of its southern shore. FIven after reaching the lake the water 
 keeps to a river-like channel, skirting the northern shore and separ- 
 ated from the lake by long, narrow, wooded islands that form an 
 almost continuiius barrier, the gaps between them being few niul 
 narrow. The water rejoins the old channel of the Saskatchewan by 
 the Bigstone and Tearing rivers, the two old outlets of Cumberland 
 
BASINS OF NELSOX A\D CHUBCUILL RIVEBS. 
 
 103 
 
 lake, now. however, augmented by the increased volume of water into 
 rivers with broader and deeper channels than formerly. The 
 water of the Saskatchewan always carries a large amount of sus- 
 pended, silty n-.atter, and, from the greater abrasion along the new 
 channels, pours into Cumberland lake a still more murky flood. The 
 sedimentation due to this, together with the wearing down of the 
 outlet channels by the increased flow of water through them, has 
 already made the lake so shallow as to be navigable, in low water, 
 only through tortuous channels leading to the two outlets (Plate 
 XVII.) 
 
 Another channel, known as the Sipanok, by which part of the 
 water of the Saskatchewan flows across to Carrot river, breaks 
 through the right bank about 9 miles below Squaw rapid. Except 
 at extreme low water in the Saskatchewan a good volume of water 
 flows through this winding channel, which has a length of 60 miles. 
 At the Saskatchewan end the banks are about 15 feet high but 
 gradually become lower, until at the Carrot river they are only a few 
 feet above low water level and are flooded at high water. 
 
 Between the Pas and Cedar lake many winding channels leave 
 the main stream and form, in places, a network of streams meander- 
 ing through the low, swampy land. The first outcrop of the under- 
 lying, solid rock occurs at a point 37 miles below the Pas, where 
 shelving ledges of magnesian limestone appear in the bank of the 
 river. At Kettle point, 21 miles lower down, are exposures of similar 
 limestone. Outcrops of magnesian limestone in low, horizontally 
 bedded ledges, occur at intervals through Cedar lake and down to the 
 mouth of the river. At the upper end of Cedar lake the estuarine 
 character of the valley is most marked; the river is divided into 
 many channels, with interlacing, connecting branches which 
 meander through low, swampy land, forming a maze of islands 
 covered with reeds and rushes. 
 
 Except to the south, where the ridge separating the lake from 
 Xake Winnipegosis rises to a height of nearly 100 feet, the land 
 adjoining Cedar lake is very low and swampy and wooded only with 
 small willows, which form fringes along the river banks. Between 
 Cedar lake and Cross lake one rapid occurs with a descent of about 
 6 feet; and between Cross lake and Grand rapids are two small 
 rapids, both descending over flat ledges of limestone. At Grand 
 rapids, the principal fall on the river, the descent is in the vicinity 
 
104 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SUi; . EV, CANADA. 
 
 of 100 feet in a distance of less than 4 miles. This portion of the 
 river has been described in some detail by various travellers, parti- 
 cularly by Fleming," Klotz,' nnd Tyrrell.' By Tyrrell the_ geological 
 section is thus desc.ibed: — 
 
 " Ascending the Saskatchewan river from the point where it 
 empties into the west side of Lake Winnipeg, the banks for n short 
 distance are low, but they almost immeiliatcly rise to a height of 
 15 feet and maintain this height up to the foot of the rapids at a 
 distance of 2J miles from the lake. Tliey are generally sloping and 
 covered with grass, but they appear to he composed entirely of a 
 light yellowish-grey till, while the little bench at the foot of the 
 abruptly sloping bank is strewn with n:any irregular fragments of 
 white limestone. 
 
 Just above the Hudson's Bay Company's post, on the west bank 
 of the river, an old abandoned channel joins the main course of the 
 stream. It varies considcnbly in width, from n quarter of a mile 
 at its mouth to about 200 yards a mile farther to the south, where it 
 again joins the main channel of the river. At this latter point its 
 bed was 5 feet above the level of the surface of the river in August, 
 1S90. A short distance from the upper end of the channel a small 
 stream begins to flow down the channel, and after babbling through 
 and among the irregjilar, angular stones with which its floor is 
 covered, falls into the bay at its mouth. In season* of flood some of 
 the water of the river is said still to flow down this channel. Its 
 banka are from 40 to 50 feet high, but are throughout coveretl with 
 trees or deciduous plants. 
 
 On the east side of the old island, which is cut off by this aban- 
 doned chanr.el from the high land to the west of it, the river is in 
 some places still cutting down its baftk. At one place a few hundred 
 yards below the head of the old channel, a low exposure of Niagara 
 limestone is seen close to the edge of the river, rising at its highest 
 point to 2 feet above the water. Its bedding is essentially horizontal 
 and its surface is smooth and glaciated with strongly marked parallel 
 grooves bearing S. 2° W. 
 
 The rock consists of a brecciated magnesian limestone, the 
 pebbles in which are milk white, very compact, though rather soft, 
 and highly argillaceous, breaking with a vitreous fracture. The 
 matrix, which is much harder but less compact, and often slightly 
 porous, is yellowish-grey, and breaks with a stony fracture. The 
 rock is rather thinly but irri ., iilarly bedded, and along the edge of 
 the water, weathers to a light yellow, while the upper part, away 
 from the water, weathers to bluish-grey. No fossils were found in 
 this band. 
 
 'Report on the Exploration of the Country between.Lake Superior and the Red 
 River Settlement and between the latter place and the Assiniboino and Saskatche- 
 wan, by S. J. Dawion, Esq., C.E., Toronto, 1850. 
 
 >Dept. of the Interior, Canada, Annual Report, 1884-85, Part II. 
 
 •Geol. Surv., Canada, Annual Report, Vol. V, 1890-1, Ft. E. 
 
 I& 
 

 ^1 
 
 J- * 
 
 I I 
 
 ■f. 
 
 3 
 
 22106-11 101. 
 
ft: 
 
deposits ^presented on the t lot J te Jul f ""%P'f-tooe„e 
 portion of the cliff weathers to a n fk whhe Th T 1 "" ''^^" 
 upper till and the stratified clnv Unn^Zu ^''^J'"*' ^'^t^een the 
 
 to rnerge almost inipercetibir nto the ot'*^' '^.'.""V'^''^''^'"'^ 
 become larger and fewer i, .In, „' r . °"'.^'' '^^''•' '''^ Pebbles 
 distinctly stratified. X ^n 1 below t".f> > "'l^'^ •^''^/l-^ - -ore 
 and passe, downwards into a fine7ravll %V%^''''' ^^' "* '^' ♦"P 
 partially covered with debrfs ZtZt ♦ J ? '""'"'! ''"'' "^ '"1 » 
 clearly seen. A considerabrflow of / ' ■'''' ^^ ''"**°'« ^^« 
 sandstone, and the bank belowT ?, ^*'^^^^ ^'■'"" ^'^^ band of 
 consisting of angular W„,ent„/ r'""^ '"'''''''^ ^'"» 'l'^^'"' 
 derived from close at hand ""''"""' •""•='> °^ ^^^oh i, 
 
 of t.rK:tC:Sgr 1°:^:^'' '^'^-'^-j'*!! ^^^ --p^ion 
 
 with debris from the<e surf.ee Tnf '"*'"V?'^ ^''o^'^- '"^ covered 
 are scattered along th^ edi,f tSw'?' '":l ''°"'''^" •-""' P-^^bles 
 of limestone. 15 Lt in Slh .s 1 inr' ^^ '""^ ^''^' •'""'^^^ 
 surface of the limestone Tilf L ,1 ' , K J!J ^'-'T *'"' ^^^^'^'^'^^'J 
 till. It is strongly glaciati^ thplM '"'f^'^^^'' '" t^e bottom of the 
 striie. ^^ glaciated, the sides being everywhere scored with 
 
 the o^d":h?" Uo"X%'r:fnrl -'^ T''-^'"''' ''^ "^"^ -'■» ^f 
 coloured . ' crop out It thTT"* FT' " ♦•"'•^-bedded, buff 
 
 number of . .„ IZ ZculX !%V^' ''"''''' ''^'^''"^ " ^"«« 
 side of the rive a dStion o.lo""'' /b^" "os^ing to the south 
 
 band is again s*^„. witlT Zckness of 217%!'- ^^"'«-"- 
 
 ;5^;i;:^;S:;'^f-i.i™^^S o/ih!t- ?ri^! 
 
 is ^ore vellowir;nd r If V t'"T'!-, ^"^ ^°'^* «* *be bottom 
 
 I'avosifes niagarensis. 
 Alveolites niagarensis. 
 LyeUia papiUalaf 
 Halysites catenulatus. 
 Orthis, sp. 
 Euomphalus, sp. 
 
 
 
 *' 
 
 *''.' 
 
 I 
 
 k-j 
 
 i 
 
 f,' 
 
 
 ■t 
 
 - 
 
 # 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
106 
 
 OEOLOOUAL Sl'RVEV, CANADA. 
 
 channel on the south side of the river. In one place, however, east 
 of this flat, the Pentamerus band is overlaid by 3 feet of white, 
 moderately thinly-bedded limestone. Continuing to ascend the 
 course of the stream, soft yellow or white argillaceous limestones 
 are occasionally exposed on both banks up to within a short distance 
 of the foot of the old portage. It is difficult to give an exact section 
 of the beds as, where they are unprotected by overlyinR, harder 
 rocks, they have been more or less completely unmoved during 
 Pleistocene times; and, where so protected, the foot of the cliff is 
 buried in a talus of angular fragments from the dolomite above. 
 They would appear to be from 40 to 50 feet thick, and the following 
 is the ascending section, as seen, the width of the first gap being 
 uncertain : — 
 
 Three feet of white, moilerately thin-bedded limestone (men- 
 tioned above). 
 Ten ( ?) feet, covered. 
 
 Eight feet of a soft, light yellow, argillaceous limestone, gener- 
 ally porous and containing a large number of impressions 
 of salt crystals. In places the bedding is moderately even 
 and horizontal, but generally it is hardly discernible, and 
 the rock breaks into very irregular, lumpy pieces. Lying 
 on the shore and derived from this band, are some nodules 
 of marcasite and red masses of ironstone. 
 Fossils are not plentiful on the south side of the river where 
 this band is best exposed, but a low exposure in the north bank, that 
 seems to be a continuation of that on tho south bank, contains 
 Strophomena acanthoptera, LepfocivJia, and Lepeiditia. 
 Six feet covered. 
 
 Fifteen feet of a thin-beddeJ, white horizontal, chalky lime- 
 stone, in places argillaceous, very light and breaking regu- 
 larly when struck with the hammer. It has a more or less 
 granular structure, occasionally approaching a sandstone 
 in appearance. One bed, near the top, was strongly ripple- 
 marked, and on the edges of slabs broken from this bed, the 
 action of the water that caused these ripple marks is seen 
 to have extended down from an eighth to a quarter of an 
 inch, and to be defined by a moderately even, horizontal 
 line. A thin band, a few feet below the top, was found to 
 contain a considerable number of fossils, among which the 
 following have been recognized : Favosites ni<tgarensis ; 
 Leptocoelia, sp.; Bhynchonella, sp.; Plerinea aviculoidea? ; 
 Pleurotomaria occidens?; Pleurotomaria, sp.; O.thoceras, 
 sp. ; Gomphoceras parvulum; LcperdUia coeca, and L. His- 
 ingeri, vars. egena and fahuUna. 
 The white, lower Niagara limestone is sharply overlaid by u 
 hard, tough, light yellowish, dolomite limestone, rather indistinctly 
 bedded. It is generally clearly fragmental and, toward the base. 
 
NELSON .VND CnL'RCICILL RIVERS. 107 
 
 contains a lanrn nni.i e ■ 
 
 appear to be ^:^o:Zi'l^:LuTZT "' '"'' '^'"^'^- ^--'^ 
 out and consequently Lv wte 'o , f cTiJ'T ''''^''"'' '"'"'"^ 
 abundant, and with thom wo, i.'""^'^''- t-nnoid stoma are fairlv 
 
 »rade?;; -rind isTeSb; ^"^o"' ^'^■■'"'"- of ^« feet, and 
 yellow dolomite, evJiX « tonl 'ZlL*'' '^.^''l' "^ " ''"'^- ^HttV 
 thin slabs. The only distinct foss, i^ 1 "« "^'"'^ '"""'''°« '"*" 
 occurs most abundantly „ the u'!/ ,'T ^^'m"'"""''^' ''»"'^'' 
 surface the appearance of man v T^ . ^•*?' """^ °f*en gives the 
 
 rock is mud, Snt^and Ss wirh' "'^'""'"u*' '"" ^«""- The 
 ture. " ^^"^^ ^"fh a smooth porcellanous frac- 
 
 which'th: SSe'rt^s 'rth^'^j'^"' ^^^^ -^'^^ *»>-«»' 
 
 abrupt cliffs that often overhan.: thl t„l"'^'^u 'r"^'' ^'""^'"^ *" 
 side the foot of the cHffTs in "ucJ, 1°^°' .¥°''- «" ^^^e ^ou'h 
 fragments, while to the north 1 -t"^, ""f V*"'"' "^ ""^^^^^ 
 water. """" *"^e it descends abruptly into the 
 
 ston^'aL'UX^Ty^^potus'SJdT •^^'"^"^^' ^«'-''- >"- 
 ately thin but unevL beds „'nd Z. ?'°"'''*"' ^"""''''"y •" '"o^er- 
 
 salt CTstals. No fossils we're oLTnedh'"^ k""^ impressions of 
 similar rock is e:«posed at a m.ml, ^ ^^' """ "" ^^^ tramway 
 arrade, and at height Hstng to 40 f^etahl'^'fA T' /''« "^^ »' tl** 
 the compact dolomite at the head of th^'^ 5' ^T' "^ *^« *°P "^ 
 LyelUa papiUata (?). and sev-ral "M "'"'^^ ^' ''^'e contains 
 
 large Stromatoporoids. It The I be t' '^:^^°^ '''''^'' ^''^ -"-'« 
 gravel ridges, on the brow of a lo,.i ,LlT^ '" " '"* '•"'""^'^ »'o 
 
 About half-way across the In '^' ^"''?'^ *''''"''^^ *•>« east, 
 exposes 2 feet of horlzTn" 1 '^ey ™te lalf "'^^^ ""'-"^ 
 tough but rather porous dokmif.r • ''f''*''ermg. thick-bedded, 
 adjoining is a coarse br^a'a in wl eh h""" Ku' """^ ""mediately 
 the adjoining rock, while th^ m.M^Vt '^•."'^ "« '^^"^ed from 
 quantity of coarse, well round" In, aH,"f' T*"'"'"^ « ^"^e 
 probable from its very local Tec lenoe^haT this i ' ^f «P-«r 
 in which case the origin of the sind7« "lat this is a fault breccia, 
 the only sands of tl, snn^e ehnrnn i '".^eresting question, as 
 
 St. Peter's sandstone, at h ' ,": ^f Z'p ''1 ''° '^'•'" ^'^ ^^e 
 nearest point at which the latter errlnh ^'"*"'=^"'' though the 
 lies 75 miles to the southwesr ' '''^" ""^'"""y observed 
 
 on the w;st^irD?;sL''s:2TaS ir^h" H^\^-^^^'^-^. 
 
 been derived from the base of t^ e Cret?.! ''hich has undoubtedly 
 more likely to have run down from alL' V/' u''" ^"""^ » """eh 
 squeezed up from below, the presence We' "' j'"'" *" ''"^^ ''een 
 existence of the Dakota 'sandstonTpevr trth T' ''l '^ ^' 
 «ros.on, of the great Manitoba escarpment" "'"^ ^^''^' ^^ 
 
108 
 
 OEOLOOICAI, Sl'RVEV, CAXAPA. 
 
 Carrot Biver. 
 
 I'arrut rivir. wliich jciins tlio Sflskotchcwnii 2 miles above the 
 Pus, ii a siirootli rtowiiip strpiuii <pf modornte current for 150 miles 
 above its inuiith. Tor this di^tniice the river is tlowing through the 
 very low Inml that characterizes the lower part of the Saskatchewan 
 valley, thouph, near the upju'r eti<l of tlie stretch referred to, the 
 banks become liiKhcr, anil at Ite*! Earth Inv'.ian reserve are 7 feet 
 aliove the common level of the river. A number of large, shallow 
 lakes adjoin the stream, se|iarated from it by a strip of higher, 
 wooded land a few chains wide, which constitutes the bank. This 
 narrow belt is beccjming higher year by year by the addition to it of 
 thin layers of silt depo-ited by overflow of the river, mixed with 
 driftwood and ruibirh carried by the tlood and dropped in the slack 
 current among the trees. From the crossing of the second base line 
 westerly, the steeply sloping front of the Pasquia hills rises from 
 the tlat land to the south of the river all along. The hills rise first 
 with gradual slope?, and higher up quite s. ply to a height of about 
 l.tiiKJ feet above the valley or 2,500 feet above the sea. The hills are 
 made up for the most part of Cretaceous sediments, though the base 
 is probably forn:ed of Palaozoic beds and the summit is covered by a 
 varying thickness of boulder clay. 
 
 The only exposures of rock in place, met with on the mountain, 
 were foinul in gub-bcs eroded by streams flowing dowu the hill- 
 slopes. They con-ist for the most part of soft, grey, fissile shales that 
 contain a considerable amount of bituminous matter, enough to 
 cause them to burn freely, with the emission of a strong odour of 
 petnileuni, when heated in the camp fire. The best e.\i>osures were 
 found in the valley of the Xabi river, where 140 feet or more of 
 thick-bedded, soft, grey bituminous shale or thin-bedded sandstone, 
 holding the remains of fishes, bivalves, and foraminifera, are exposed 
 in cliffs along the river; the species are characteristic of the Nio- 
 brara division of the Cretaceous. 
 
 Fifteen feet of clay-ironstone beds in layers 6 inches to 1 foot 
 
 in thickness, with shaly parting, overlies the shale and is succeeded 
 
 by 10 feet of soft, tissile, grey shale, similar to the thick beds below. 
 
 A varj'ing thickness of boulder clay, the boulders chiefly of 
 
 limestone but occasionally of Archa?an gneiss, covers the whole. 
 
 Xear the eastern end of the hills the bituminous shales were 
 also found in the brook valleys. Their occurrence here and in the 
 
X 
 
 £ 
 
 I 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 22I0<^^ p. log. 
 

 IIX-I.V. 
 
 "" '*""" ■''" -•"".,.„., „„,„, 
 
 It)!) 
 
 Tin. rir-t n,,,i,u t„.,.„^ ^ ., 
 •»•«.-..... h«. ...u i,. «av ,,;,;"":•,""• '"■''■"" --vc. where 
 
 ''".";"'"'" -^•-"■••rn rnil...,. ,i. ^ ' "'"■^^' " - —I L.v ,..o 
 
 :*"'"'\*— •"•"K *tre...,K; „f ,"':."/'" '- -f ^l.all.nv 
 
 «P"*e,l at the first rapid o..,,, /' ""' "'"'•■'•• '*''"' '-Ik.-* 
 
 »-.b- .»• iron .^vriteJ Vi: :;:;t "'"' ''"''''■"^' '"'"'- -■op 
 
 hori-ntally. and above ,1.': Z^ , '"" '" """'^ ^"''^ '.Vn« 
 
 •Juart.o.e .and^on.. strong ,? "'"■'."'"'■ ''''"''' '"' '""-'. P" I.I. 
 l^ t..e M, protrude f:!^^. t-M:^: "^ 'T '"^^"- "^ -"« 
 fine conglomerate, holding pebLieV ' "^^ ''''"" '"'^■'>" "^ 
 
 'n the .andatone, „„d falfe-bed i /'i T'l "T' °"'" '"^•''^- *-" 
 iorty feet of tough boulder c'l^V •'';'; :'""" '" '' '" "'«'"■ 
 >n.e„o„e. and gnei.. overlieThe .r .'"' '""'''"" °^ '">'"'^'--. 
 
 ^ f ng to the Dakota d'w.io '.;"?;; ^"« ^""'^^'o-^ -m 
 boulder clay underlaid by *an,I.t <- '•'■taceous. The ridge „f 
 
 'ap.Vl, on the C.rrot ver It;!;' ♦''"' '--^ ''■- 'on. .erie. o 
 <^''-«n. nn.I is said by the India .f, T'"'"^ ^"^"'^* '''^ S-'<a'- 
 - to cr„. it in the vieinit, ^ , i: n ";":*"" '" *'"«' "'-^ 
 «nd Squaw rapid.. ""'' "'""'^ »x^"*-een the Nipnwi,, 
 
 The rapi,ls, following tlie-.r,.»n i • 
 a total length of 11 „,,«!. anVrj 1' "' T,"". °' '''^ "-'' '"- 
 <^Iay for the lower 5 n.iles '""*'' '"^'^ ''"»•'» of boulder- 
 
 ~s::::ir:;t;rT"^ "v^^ 
 
 a luvial deposits that rise on 5 to f T", "" '"""'' '^ — ' 
 o^ the river and are flooded n't pe "d ' n • "> " *'" "''"""^ '--' 
 •nent-ehargcd waters on their rece'f ^^ "'"'"'• ^''''^" ^''^ '-''- 
 
 °f «ne silt. „i,H banl. o I cuT^l T"" "'T''''"^ ^''"^ " «"" 
 20 to 50 feet above the river le""; ''""t' ''''• '"'"^ ^-m 
 or from township 51. range 8 w 'o^ ri " '^ ""■'- ^««^er on 
 land of very e.xcellent qualit; is oul T", """■'■'''"" '^^^"-•''^•. 
 back from the river in the fortl of? , °? ,'"'"' '"''''■ '' -'-^^ 
 ;0 feet above the river with aTtler s ' ' ""'"^ "•'"^-" «° '« 
 The subsoil is the stratified clay tolrr.'""'' "' ""''" PO"'"- 
 that i, overlain by a deep btclc^oa ", "'' " ''•''"^*'-'- ^^P^-'t 
 
 -'.-^ht be cla^sed with the mixed ta" ". '" '"'"^' ">" "^"'^^ 
 n>.xed pra.r,e and wooded lands, and eveo- 
 
no 
 
 OEOLCKUCAl SLRVEY, CANADA. 
 
 v' . ro the ojjen growth of »miill |>opl«r» makes the (cction oiif very 
 ei b roiiRht liiider cult ivnt ion. The river ilong thi' part <«t it« 
 CO r-io i' not inure than abmit 25 miles from the Canii linn Xorthem 
 Ttiiwuy. 
 
 Tl,. Illy cxpo»uro« of linrii rock in aitu otlier than the anJ- 
 r -ru-.j I ! re do9cril>ed ooour iibout 40 miles ul>o\c the ]M Karth 
 •rve, where fissile, soft grey shalos, containing enough 
 matltT to cdiistitute a liiiuminous shale, are oxpo-ied in 
 J5 feet high. Thci-e shn'es dip to tlio » ithwest at a Inw 
 retr.jins ^f tishes, nml other foti'* I'onlii ncd in tlicni, 
 ■sc n>gpi iblanec to the Pas Jlountain beds, show thetn to 
 to the '^'' '"' 'ru division of the Cretaceous. 
 
 , iirionnl homesteads are met with, occupied 
 ,. I •', !, . , uy Norwegianji, who appear to make good settlers 
 ■fully raise grain and mixed crops. 
 
 1 1 ii.il !i'. 
 
 1 \\ i.iiiih ,1 
 
 I li t. jiIh , 
 
 ,,»fci.'. lil 
 ,.td tL- 
 W I 11- 
 
 .Vr-1 ot 
 
 Beindeer Lake. 
 
 The lake i» in the neighbourhood of 150 miles hn^M and, in the 
 northern part, its xidth averages about 30 miles. Frmii the southern 
 end, where the laki; is narrow, great bays run off on each side, which 
 liuve not been exi.lored, and about 75 miles if the east shore has not 
 l>«>en traversed. In the southern part the shores are generally pre- 
 cipitous and the liind rises to heights of from •-•00 to 4<W feet above 
 the water. At th,e northern end the Tand is low, sandy, and barren 
 and is without hills The forest growth about this part of the lake 
 U small and consists almost excUisivt-ly of scrubby black spruce and 
 birch. The soil cover is very scanty everywhere, though at a few 
 points small patches of clay occur. To the south the shores are 
 fairly well wooded, the forest growth including among other species, 
 aspen poplar, which is not found to the north. Islands in great 
 number and of all sizes fringe the shores and chains of them tra- 
 verse some of the wide stretches from shore to shore. 
 
 ' ' The rock near the northeastern part is chiefly a red granite. 
 On the western shore a reddish granite-gneiss with large porphyritic 
 crystals of feldspar is the prevailing rock. The foliation runs about 
 southwest, though local variations from this are found. Bands of a 
 whitish granite, which may be intrusive, are seen on some of the 
 small islands, as well as dark dioritic patches which also appear to 
 be intrusions. On the east side, t he same granitic-gneiss was seen, 
 
 'Geol. Surv.. Canads, Annual Report. 189S. Vol. VIII, Pt. D. 
 
BAMXh ,.,.. xj.,^,,^. 
 
 •nd nrnr P« 
 
 •^M' mtRCIlir.L KIVKItM. 
 
 ••rystaU „(■ f,.I,|,,,.,r ( 
 
 Wll'li..- tM,i„t fllr f,,l 
 
 HI 
 
 l)"ll(l!l. I|,t 
 
 ''*''■'« nrr,iti(r,,| ni,.r> 
 
 'i"'i"n i« iii.irp lii 
 
 KIlfiHi. Tiio .„ 
 
 ,!;'"'•'"' vf'in^ nC „ li^i 
 
 '"'•«. fho i'li 
 
 ^••^t »i,l,. 1,! mil, 
 
 >»•* irurii!»i\ 
 
 '1 
 srriinit 
 
 n »lu. form „f j,,,^ 
 
 irire 
 
 - - -^ • • ■ I 1 1 1 
 
 Iiirirti bi 
 
 of fl 
 
 ">*'. nnil i 
 
 ■« iiorlh „t" |»r|,.. 
 
 rriipd.d 
 •"'lite cut tha 
 
 t ." 
 
 ■'■n ««ai„ onn f...i„t „, ,„e 
 
 III* quartz «lnVli 
 
 '•o.ir.o in text„rp. „ ith 'tl 
 
 l".'i[if. It is in il„. f, 
 
 ■Tl 
 
 '"■ western slmr, 
 
 ft>u-> till- nr>|».iirii 
 
 I" p.'-ulin 
 
 inn of a 
 
 '^"•■'1. so that tl 
 
 from Vorn il 
 
 frrtiphic BTiuiil 
 
 r 'irrnn«oin(Mit 
 
 sliiml 
 
 •c'ion nnd 
 
 •* «ri' ni'.irly i,|| | 
 
 "' *"»lprii >li,,r,. 
 
 '.';," ;'",'"' «•"' f"llowod 
 
 (Jiat 
 
 <'ov.-r.i| «it|, ., .| 
 
 'ii«<p» ,,(■ i-,„.|i 
 
 '• 'fill in.l.iinii,.. ii 
 
 south- 
 10 nil iri.< roil* 
 
 with 
 
 •J siirfiiet l„uk /' 
 
 
 thick 
 
 '■""I the u.it 
 
 KVowth „f fl„. |it,|„ 
 
 |'^;;<_«r„Mhof Mn«ll,,,r„oe. tl 
 •Kiirk bfiufr P-iuTully 
 
 lu! in:nii'- 
 
 ■ , , r.""iii HI [lie Jiiflif v.. II,,..- - • 1 " " ■■■"•".> Plirpctpil 
 
 '^Inn.ls an> u»,i,illv hiVI, the ,, „. I f"""'*'*''- "■'-'■ Thouph the J 
 «^'<^" tlio ni»i„ «f..r..U ',1 """'"!"' '- >"'"'r..Ii.v still hi„l!ir »n 1 
 
 »outh. „n,l eMH>..i„!lv i„ ," ,,""'"'"""-• «"■ Mill ^rocn. To fho 
 t '« ..ainland on l„;„. i ] HI "•"■,"""• •-•"' "'" '"1'" for,,,! t" 
 
 tJ'«n nt the north, ^ivin^ th ,1 " r''!'"'^ "''"""'• '" ri.c hiJhor 
 "I'Peuranco. The ,!;nhor^Uo ' ,'" "",'"''>' " -^- Pi-'n efq e 
 .natnr... There. ,,,ruce. p.,, ;„,;,'•■, *""•''; '^ of a more v„He,| 
 m-Jde of the Jake popjir is r.ir - - '' '"■'; ^"""'' »"" ""^'h of the 
 prmcipnl tree. '" '•' "•*" "'"' «'■? small spn.eo is the 
 
 which extcm'l nor!hlll!it'L'i^i!'Z n T,'""^ ""^ ffrnnite-Rnei.. 
 
 »"J ->.E. At Thompson i-hi. l X " *"^'' ""«'" '"""ing .S.W 
 Vermilion poinr. the,- g ve plat ^'■^''' """^ '"■«''"' ""-'th of 
 
 We.8.e^ followe,! on th. .%r' ,i " TT "^ ''"'nl'l^'Mde mica 
 appron.Jiin^ .chists. These ' ' "'""' ''^' ^"'■'- la'"!nate,I b ..h 
 
 Kranire. and ■ r a coiwiderab c t "''''* "" ^•"""' »« «Itorna^ « | 
 ;»'0 rock i, a han.lcd s.^Hef' ,' ;;;e7 Tf'i '" i"^" ''"-ttpoi 
 broken ,nto by „,.. graphic ;r;nfn ',''', '^''' °^ '"''■''■''•h in 
 Ibomp^on inland tl,e hcd< r.,n\'%\v '''''!'"'' Previously. Near 
 short distan-.. arc found >lid iv twi I T"'' ''■ ■^^- »"" «»'"•» in a 
 "* f f '""' P«r.illcl strike to ,h.;;nV,n'"'tT"'- "'"'°""'' '''^'<''^- 
 nmn, CL T;'^;;: ^^-.f ■"'- ^rad.ia!;;n,rr..„. ,ro,n mini 
 
 ^•K., following iu a gc.iernl wav ♦!, . •, .'''"■■'' "^''r'.v S.W. o„,| 
 dark mioa-schist. i, errZd r?„ . "^"^ "^ '''« '"^"k^- A band of 
 20 nnle, S.W.. nnd al^"'h/"t"e^'^''" 'i"'!: ^'-sfs 'point , 
 many small dyke, of a quartzo!e « •""*" '^'""^^ *''« inland, 
 
 ■n which iron pyr res is C^dll-eZT'^:^ '^''"'*« ^'>'« fo"m 
 gTioiss on Campinp inland i .-i'^-, ^*"' ^' o{ fine-OTaine^ 
 a 80 found with'n.any v"„, oi iv ilf"''', '""" ^^'-*'« P^^^! - e 
 of the island „a„y If ^h^ ^'a e ve" "" ^ ''"''" *'"' ^e^'re 
 
 are very n,uch rusted and decern- 
 
112 
 
 OEOI.OOM'AI. SfUVKV, < AXAI>.\. 
 
 pose-l. Tho pyrites is fuinid to cntirm n sii:iiil luTciMitape of nickel 
 and triK-L'j of cobalt. At the north side of n siiiall creek on the west 
 shore. Southwest from CuiiipinK i-liind. tlie Indians report a soft 
 soaiwtone or scriK>ntin"Us rock from which they make puH-s, but a 
 visit To tlie locality did not result in finding this rock, which was 
 then said t.i be obtained in small pieces from tlie sl.on- and generally 
 under the water. The rock there was, however, a licht srreen sericite- 
 schist, and it is p(.s>iblc tliat unfoliated or less dcavable portions of 
 this n'inht be soft enough tor the purpose named. The stratipraphi- 
 cal relations of ibis baii.l with the surroun.lin? jincisses could not 
 in the time at the dispo-al of tlic parly U' nuide out, so that it is 
 probicmati.al whether this may be a sn.all area ..t hiphly altered 
 Iluroniau beds or not. Tlio next rock occurrinif to the south is a 
 dark narncliferous Ki'<'i>s. f.dK.wed by reddish frn.nitic gneiss to the 
 outlet of tlie lake." 
 
 Wollaston Lake. 
 • Wnllastoii lake is a large b.,dy of beautifully clear, transparent, 
 water Iving in a general nortb-and-south direction, with ft greatest 
 length of al)out 5.5 miles, and an approximate area of S<)0 square 
 miles Its contour is exceedingly irregular, its shoredine being 
 indented bv deep bays, and its surface dott.-.l with numerous rocky 
 islands Two tributaries were discovere.1 tlowiiig Irom the south- 
 west into its western side, while it holds the unique position, for so 
 large a lake, of being drained by two almost equal streams 
 which How in opposite directions.' Stone river, one of these, flows 
 to Lake Athabaska and the Arctic o.-ean, and Cochrane 
 river the other, t ) Ueindeer lake, on the Hu.lson Bay watershed. 
 Only the west shore of the lake has been traversed. The 
 bay of Wollaston lake, from which Stone river flows. » a mile 
 and a half long and three-quarters of a mile wide.' . . . the shore 
 is generally lined with boulders, but there arc a few litt e stretches 
 of sand ' " . ' The beach is a line of boulders, behind which the 
 count^^■ is low and wooded with small black spruce. Three miles 
 south of the head of St.me river is an esker-like r.d^e of sand and 
 boulders between 200 and .-'.OO feet high, lightly woode.l with IJank- 
 sian pine. Behind a little sandy bay near its -..uth end a deep, 
 mossy bog stretches up a gentle slope to the clge of a terrace of 
 rounded gravel 60 feet above the lake, marking an ancient lake 
 
 shore. , , , • i j 
 
 ' A mile southeast of this slopi";^ bog a long ami narrow island 
 lies in the mouth of a rounding bay. It is made up of very steep 
 esker-like hills and ri.lgcs 70 feet high of sand and well rounded 
 boulders between which a-e deep kettle-holes, occasionally contain- 
 ing small ponds. The sides of the hills are as steep as the sand will 
 stand, and their bases are fringed by rings of boulders. 
 
 • Following the shore onwanls for four miles, the first rock in 
 place met with was on a small island of red granite. The granite is 
 
•"">■>• -f wh .■!. nre of VtimK. ' '^ '•"^"■" ^^'"' Moulders. 
 
 Holun,I ,1k. b.n.,.l. ,-.0 radio stt^r, ''""'''.*""'^ ""-^ conglon.erate. 
 
 V " ^ ly plain woode. w , B nk trn-"""""^ ^r'" '" *° "" ^'^'-''■ 
 
 tl.- w.>,t sliore of Cree lakl ^''if """ P'";^ ^'""Inr to tl.e plain on 
 •liM'to angNhir. and their i-re^onpo I fn ! sa'ulsfone masses are 
 t-^-<i,er uith the pone "''11; ""V"" C"""-^"' """'• t"'^*'" 
 '■o-mtry, i, ...a-lnsivroW., ,;:.,'''''*" "^<'"' ^""ounding 
 ^"•■H- in the in,„„.dia,oSinit 'i," ."■'■""'^"''« "^ ^thahasea sand- 
 iH-r.. >h„ws that this lake will „? n r"":'"''*^ "^ ^''« *«"d^tone 
 wl.i.h «o have ras.ed I ::i ,,,';' ♦»'7»''" I-^e lakes through 
 m.d Pal«w.oic rocks. *" ^ '""^ "^ ''""""'' "^ f'^' Areluvan 
 
 n-^n^'ita'S.;;-,::!^"^^;!'";!:'-:" fTv^ r' '-^ ^^'"- 
 
 and it, hanks are ^^rown w th ,nr,! . -n " ''■" ' '^'°*" ™>""r- 
 
 I-t-n of a lonj,. narr. • ha \v "l "' '°'''-. '' "°^^^ ""« <''-^ 
 
 ' Wo folh.u. I . • '"' '"-"'•'"'' "^ -ai'l «■"! houlders ' 
 
 well foliated biotite-^leL:' ^k il^xt^r'tl T "' '^'-''''• 
 I.i..tia.. and is n,u-h broken Iv . 1 " '"^' ''"'"'^'' ""^ f"" "f 
 tite. lu surface ^ ' mooA a d lo*^:^"V"'" ?' "^"-^' ■•••^•' "^^""'■ 
 ing S. 10^ VV. ' ' °''' '"°"8 8'''^''>1 Sfooves, trend- 
 
 Of nLS^e;"!!:;'',^ -If ^Sr TT' ""^ '' 7 '^ « '°- ""- 
 
 biutite-^n.eis., wlni:.jurehrii „;•''''"*' '";-'"'-*i"»^ -^ '^-rk 
 
 bioru.K..eis. striking :^. '^H't \z S T";:: t 'il!;^ '-' -- 
 
 ....e. '^.:!;;; i^j;;;: 3 -'-"'«-nt view n:a. le had of the 
 
 -l.ile towards tl.e son hs ;;,,'." 'T^'^ ?".' """'' '^'""J*- 
 Its .hore-line is ven- irre' ,1, a n 1 .''''" "f *■''''" '''"« ^''''■''■ 
 
 hills thiniv wooded wi;;: ^''•""'' " "^^ '^'^^■' S'-"'ly ^lopi"« 
 
 of whi;:';;;:;;;r;::;:i :;:„r?:;;'\^::£'^^7;:^' - /-^ -t son. ..ints 
 
 to the east poi, t of a h «e «l?h 1 if f * """*' '''« "I'"' ''''^e 
 black, thinly foliated fin -^rai "T I u""^,' r""'°**'^ °^ S^*^^'"!**'- 
 
 '•vi.h the .nu.iss r ^onie ..!|. r:;":'^'*^"^ '•''• I"terla,„innted 
 
114 
 
 OEOLOGICAI, SLRVEY, CANADA. 
 
 From this island wo crossed for 3 miles to a sirnll bnro islnnd of 
 massive, very coarse, white frraiiite, consistiiiK chiefly of quartz and 
 orthoclase, with a small qiinntity of biotite, and black tourmaline in 
 larire crj-stala. A mile and a half farther on, is a large island of 
 similar white, but finer grainu<l, granite. Two miles farther is a 
 long bar of boulders, forming the north point of a very lai^e rocky 
 island or peninsula. A mile and a half farther south, wo camped 
 on a boggy spot at the foot of a hill on the south side of a point, in 
 north latitude 58° T 40". The hill is 250 feet high, . nd is composed 
 of a coarsely granular, red biotite-gneiss, foliated N. 65° E. 
 
 ' For 9 miles farther south, the shore is very irregular and 
 composed of similar reddish gneiss rising in hills from 100 to 300 
 feet in height, with a fairly persistent strike, N. 40° to 6.")° E. The 
 summits and southwest sides of many of these hills are covered with 
 sand and boulders. Wherever glacial striae were observed they trend 
 S. 30° W. 
 
 ' From here we turned southwestward for 8 miles, along the 
 strike of the gneiss, in a channel from a mile to two miles wide, 
 between a large island to the e.nst and the low shore to the west, but 
 whether of a large island or of the mainland was not determined. 
 This shore is thickly strewn with boulders, and low exposures of 
 reddish-grey gneiss were seen at but a few places. Some wooded 
 islands lying off the shore are low and chiefly composed of boulders. 
 
 ' From the end of this channel we struck westward, past some 
 red granite islands piled around with boulders, to a sandy beach 
 where Indians had lately been camped. High sand hills rise here 
 and there, and banks of sand, being sections of these sand hills, 
 occur at various places along the shore, but their faces are so covered 
 with talus that nothing could be determined from them as to the 
 structure of the hills. Among the pebbles found on the beach waa 
 one of white crystalline limestone. 
 
 ' From this sand beach we turned eastward for 3i miles, to a 
 point, and then southward down the west shore of Xekweaza bay, 
 which is 14 miles in depth. The shore is composed of similar red 
 granite and gneiss, and some of the islands lying off it are narrow, 
 esker-like ridges of sand. On the evening of August 23rd, camp 
 was pitched on the shore in north latitude 67° 48* 48", on a gravel 
 beach 10 feet above the lake. Just behind the camp was an old 
 gravel shore-line 5 feet higher. Towards the southwest was a swamp 
 lying on a bed of boulders, beyond which was a high rounded hill, 
 wooded with spruce and pine. Its centre consists of a reddish gneiss, 
 while almost all the surface is covered with a fine reddish sand or 
 silt, holding a large number of rounded boulders. 
 
 ' Nekweaza bay, running southwestward to the mouth of Geikie 
 river, is broken on its western side by many smaller bays, but its 
 eastern side seems to be more regular, and part of the shore near 
 tile main lake is nearly straight, terminating at the north in a low 
 
BASINS OF NELSON AND CIIITRr.nrT » 
 
 CHUKCHILL RIVERS. H5 
 
 point, ofT which is a series of U„„ i 
 
 centre of this bay a stlZ o tlZ^^^elTZ ''''""''■ ^"^"^ ♦he 
 to the eastern shore at the bof on. J *t i.*' ^'■°"' '"'" ^^^ "".outh 
 v.. ited seemed to be madeirp SX o/d '^; ^Y^'' "''•'='' -"« 
 the.r shape, n.any of the others are „frw' "'"'.• ^"''«'"« ^'O'" 
 !*• 25° W.. with their longest Tan-eteVn f """*,^''''- ^hey lie 
 mating to the general direction oH.p I ''•''."''"'' ''"'^ »P'''°'''- 
 observed on th. enstoru shore run S -W" V '' '*"*• '^''^ ^'^^ 
 to the side of the valley. •' °'" '"°»"e nearly parallel 
 
 to th?::s?i;/;,i: XrTfrrd'tv'^h ' *•" ^^'^^ -<' - «»-« bay 
 
 The larger ones and tl e „ „ te ^ Ta^''^'''' ''"-^atioZ 
 granite, and have bold shore* ^ ""^ Archaean gnei«s and 
 
 sic.; S::,^!!^ si;;: SLr'^itft -' ^'t '^'^ -« ^-h, but 
 
 .entrance trf CWpulsion bar^ere th^v nr'""?" °^ '^""^ «* *he 
 nearly 200 feet. East of the bay hfgher hfl ! „";'"'' '''''"'• "^'"^ *« 
 reaching 400 feet above the lake '*^^°' ''""® Probably 
 
 f..i.;s;r;i°'?:r' »r «*; t™ ■- «< ^"i^ .-.. «»; 
 
 weaza bay this is broken into hi „ i ''"* "?a' 'he mouth of Nek- 
 eastward the granite see no ve rell^^rl'^l ^^"'♦^' «"d then 
 "^ Pla-e. a slight foliatio,: warnoticed' '^' '^'''^"' ''^^' <''°"Sh 
 
 ' Southern Indian Lake 
 
 ■'•'^ ' -. % pc,„ Frrrr.,." "t":T ■■ 'n"" 
 
 Company, and gives, with som,^ Hn„, 7 Hudson's Bay 
 
 the part of the lake rav" rsed bv an e , ''"""'^' '""^ -'''»« ^^ 
 the Churchill river. thouTh tt lake tlV'T'"" "^ °' ^°- 
 width than it has by the exten, f ^^""'^ " """'» greater 
 
 islands of the larger pottsnror /"""' "' *'^ '"'^^ '<> f""- 
 extreme length of' e fis 2 tiZ T *'t ""* ^'•°- ^« 
 -los from the foot, it is 15 m leTt de^Mt^ 'T'T ^"'' « 
 
116 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 with a mantle of friable, yellow clay. Towards the north end, beyond 
 where the Churchill flows out, sand replaces the clay and forms level 
 tracts 70 feet above the level of the lake, extending southeasterly, 
 but broken here and there 'by low hills and dunes and showing ridgei 
 of rolled, coarse gravel that seem to mark old lake beaches. At the 
 very north end and down llv northwest shore for 20 miles the land 
 is quite low and covereil with a thick growth of moss and stimted 
 black spruce and tamarack. Into this part of the lake come great 
 herds of barren ground coribou, which on their annual winter migra- 
 tion couie into the north end of the lake from the northwest, travel 
 southwesterly down about half its length, and, if the snow is not too 
 deep, strike from there westerly to Reindeer lake. In winters when 
 the snowfall has been unusually great the herds partly break up, 
 large bands, in order to cscaiw the deep snow, turning off to the* 
 north again instead of following the customary circuit. A river of 
 large volume known to the Indians as Muskwesi (Grass river) 
 flows into the lake from the northwest at Grassy bay, about S miles 
 from the head, and two large brooks enter on the east side, one 12 
 mile.-: ::orth of the outflow of Churchill river and another 20 miles 
 south of it; in addition, smaller brooks empty into many of the bays 
 about the lake, but are much less plentiful on the west s'de than else- 
 where. 
 
 Beed Lake. 
 
 Reed lake is about 12 miles long and C n.iles wide. It cianlines 
 the features characteristic of the lakes of the Pre-Camlirian area and 
 those of the limestone area. 
 
 The northern portion of its basin, lying in au area of Keewatin 
 rocks, has a deeply indented shore-line and many islands, while the 
 southern portion, bordered by limestones, has a much more even 
 contour and very few islands. The land surrounding the lake is 
 generally quite low, and to the south is covered by a mantle of drift 
 with occasional low ledges of limestone. The northern part is char- 
 acterized by rocky shores with many irregular points and bays and 
 a great number of small islands. 
 
 The forest about the shores includes poplar, white birch, jack- 
 pine, spruce, and tamarack of 35 years' growth, with a few small 
 areas of older trees. Fish are plentiful in its waters and of good 
 quality. 
 
BAMXs OF NELSON- A.N„ CHV 
 
 Cormorant lake. 
 
 RCHILL RIVERS. 
 
 117 
 
 inp islmul.. except two of f^ "^" '''"^^'■- ^'''^ "^"'"in- 
 
 «ml lie near the shl" "^ "" ""■■ ""^ ''°"'^-^' -''. «- small 
 
 ^-t hi.l, „na oxteLL ou 71 " ""^ "'"^' '" '"^ ^''ff* « to 10 
 M'.t of the n,ai„,..:a;rL ;•;:::; r;- .;"7'-^Hke s,.e,ves. 
 the islands and part of th ^ '"""" '<^'^«-'°t y«a». but 
 
 covered with I'^o'; J.^ ot^rr-;"'^' ^'" ^''^ "^"'' «"•- "« 
 
 Ihe Imul ,n the vicinitv of the Ink^ i- „ ,. 
 
 •'•0 feet above the level of th; wa.e . "30^ 171 f' 7' """ ''"'"» 
 ea. .ide near the outlet rise, to a hei^I^f l^^^ fr' "" ''' 
 
 Atikameg lake. 
 
 rJ'^::: 't.:r 'rr 't '-t-' '^^^ •- « ^'-. 
 
 ''>"«- It has naZ .« e 7'n ,"\ ^'""^ ""'^ "^""^ ' '-'- 
 t''ou.h its expanse is b o Z C n t""*^'" " *'" '"^'^^ '«''«. 
 near the shores. Xo la^^e .,ren„, « ""^'' ""'P* " ^'^"- ^'"«» ones 
 be fed largely bv seepage th " " t7^'' '"'° ''' '"'''' "^'^'^ --- ^^ 
 to the south and sou'hTest ' ""'""' "''^^^ ^■'''^'' l*-''" it 
 
 Amisk lake. 
 
 wt 1' it :ii'"^^.:r:f hTf 't ^^ '^»'" ^« -"- 
 
 'f nds. but the northern hair^t rK 1,^ '°'^:" t °"'^ " ^'^'^ 
 ■^land around which the lake wraps In . T^ ^^ °"« '"«« 
 
 of the numerous class of lakes Xl '^'- '"'""^ '' °"« 
 
 the Pafeo^oic sedimenta.^ oeks Ivit? //'""^^'''^^ ^^^^ ^d.e of 
 the Pre-Ca„.brian. AH the northpr . ' '" *'"'"' """^ P""^ '« 
 wooded, principally whh spru 1 ! ' '" "' *'" '"''^ "« -«" 
 -e. The south shore and pi o5he""/T"" """ '^ °' ^-'^ 
 ^«.nesian limestones. whic^r:::Xt:-^-^ 
 
118 
 
 OEOLOOICAL 8UKVEY, CANADA. 
 
 ing the water. The rest of tlie shore lies in the Pre-Cainbrian and 
 ■hows generally smoothly sloping surfaces, though a part of the 
 country adjoining the east shore, wiiich is underlain by massive 
 diorites, is rugged and rises abruptly from the water with steep 
 ■lopes and in places precipitous walls. 
 
 The forest, over all the region surrounding the southern portion 
 of the lake which is crossed by the main boat route, hai been 
 repeatedly swept by tires; but to the north a large area is still 
 covered by spruce of good size. 
 
 Whitefish and lake trout are plentiful in the Uke. 
 
 GLACIATION. 
 
 The whole region covered by the map-sheet has everywhere over 
 its surface abundant evidence of glaciatiou by ice-sheets of vast 
 extent. Boulder-clay and morainic nnd other accumulations of 
 transported material, roche moutonnee surfaces and glacial grooves, 
 rtrisB and chatter-marks are among these evidences. Whether these 
 in any case record other than the latest phases of glaciation or not 
 cannot be determined, though it seems probable that they do not. 
 
 The records that are left seem to show that the whole area was 
 overridden by an extensive glacier that moved over it in a direction 
 a little west of south and that the eastern part was, at a later period, 
 traversed by an ice-sheet moving about westerly, and that, finally, 
 there were local sheets that moved in directions differing from the 
 first two. Striae left by the so\ithwt'5terly moving ice are the most 
 abundant, not only in the area under consideration but over the 
 whole country extending from Lake Athabaska to east of the Great 
 Lakes, and seem to indicate movement from a general gathering 
 ground that covered the whole region to the north. The south- 
 neeterly strite, though they keep a uniform general direction, vary 
 from the average direction by many degrees. This divergence of 
 direction, though in places representing the deflection of the ice- 
 sheet by local topographical features, in most cases represents changes 
 in its general direction. To illustrate, on Southern Indian lake, 
 two general directions are followed by most of the strise, namely. 
 S. 37° W. and S. 55° W., and there are strise about the south and 
 east shores of the lake trending about S. 70° W.; in a few instances 
 all three sets are found on the same rock surface. Along Burntwood 
 river and in the Grass River district, in addition to later, westerly 
 
BASIXS OF NE,80X ANO CLKCH.LL IMVKB.S. UJ, 
 
 Grass river, and just wm* nf .i.„ t> Wekusko lake ou 
 
 seemed clearly attrihutl\T Til ^ '''"'^ *'""'•' '^•'t' '»»» 
 
 east shore ofVou^rtd L^tk?' XH r,V°""' 7^" ^''^ 
 
 a snort dijtan.'o above thoy run about S lA" P . k i t, . 
 
 Inlro s 1A0 iir 1 nuoui n. ,ft» t. below Burntwood 
 
 lake, S. 10 W., and on Wekusko lake, S 8° W 
 
 Stri« that are thought to have been made by the glacier in it. 
 
 dy.ng stage and to represent n:ove.nents from lodl entl .^ 
 
 can ,„„,,„, trending ones seen on the east side of Lacir 
 
 -err,d.ng southwesterly stri., the southwesterly trending atH«Tf 
 
 Sr: : ^ktlo tl --^T"'"-'^ -^» "' upper 1^0^' 
 iver and Wekusko lake, overriding southwesterly striie Thprn i. 
 •Jowever between these a certain accordance of di^ "„ Ih h U 
 found also in certain stri« recorded bv Bell' and ^1. 
 rid^g westerly ones on Hayes river. whicTL t^t th^ "Je^^ 
 n.ade by lobes of an extensive sheet moving in that direction 
 
 btriK along the shore of Hudson bay at Churchill «nJ f *i, 
 
 •Report o( Progren, Geol. Survey, Canada 1)177 7» ~ 
 
 •Summary Report, Geol. Survey. crS^a," llio:^*' 
 
120 
 
 OEOLOOICAL SIRVEY, CASAPA. 
 
 Fort Churchill, contrasted with the TPell rounded hilh in the vicinity 
 of Churchill, conchuleJ tiint, though in the southern area the out- 
 ward movement succeeded a gencnil glacialion from the east, in the 
 northern area there was no evidence of an earlier westerly move- 
 ment.' 
 
 Boulder-clny is not widely distributed over the area; to the 
 northeast it covers a somewhot extensive area bonlering Hudson 
 hay. Over the Pre-Cambrian area it is represented by small accumu- 
 lations of boulders lying under the lee of southerly facing cliffs. 
 
 In the southern part of the district boulder-clay is foirly wide- 
 spread; in the Saskatchewan valley it forms the prominent ridges 
 at the Pas and Big Eddy, and forms islands in S««keram lake.' On 
 Carrot river, at the lower rapids the ri.er has worn its channel 
 deeply into boulder-clny, and in Ballantyne bay, at the northeastern 
 e<l«c of the area of deep superficial deposits, it forms high scarped 
 cliffs on some small islands. It occurs high up on the north and 
 east sides of the Pasquia hills, 1,000 feet or more above the Saskat- 
 chewan vulley. 
 
 Glacial Striae. 
 
 aOUTHCRN INDIAN LAKE. 
 
 South ehore Sta. 1 c o-o w 
 
 •• " 4 » 3r W 
 
 " U.'. 
 
 "33 
 
 " " 83! !!!!!!!!!!'' iii'.'.^ ■•■•• S20°W and 
 
 M "88 
 
 .. " M S 20° \V and 
 
 " 97;;;;;;;;'.'. ssrw to 
 
 •S. end of southeast bay o »r> ii- 
 
 Island in southeast bay S oS v 
 
 East shoie Sta. 138 ^IZJ 
 
 " 141 (old fragmentary) ^5?I!S, j 
 
 " "182 .'( 36° W and 
 
 " 2i«;::::;:: s»9°w 
 
 Northeast shore Sta. 284 t^^ 
 
 " " 294 827° W 
 
 West shore Sta. 416 q ,-, «, 
 
 " 458 sirw 
 
 " 5S3 
 
 Southwest shore Sta. 613 
 
 696 
 
 .ssrw 
 
 S54°\V 
 
 .s 52° W 
 S.M°W 
 SS6^W 
 .S M° W 
 S S6° W 
 S4rW and 
 
 S4rW and 
 and 
 S49°W and 
 SS2°W 
 
 S4r'W 
 
 S4rw 
 
 S 42° W and 
 
 S72°W 
 S82°\V 
 S72°W 
 S62°W 
 S 62° W 
 
 S59'W 
 
 S69°W 
 
 ■Annual Report Geol. Survey, Canada. Vol. IX. p. 177 F. 
 •Ann. Kept. Geol. Survey, Can., Vol. XIII, p. 16 FF. 
 
BA8IX8 OF SEL80N AXD CIU-KCUILL BIVE.W. 
 
 121 
 
 • HI H< HILL RIVER, 
 ."•luth nhon' of 
 
 <ininvillelnko ^ ,,„ ,. 
 
 (•ranvill,. fall ^ -']„ {;,. 
 
 I" '! ' "'""V < iriinvill.. full s .,.'„ f; 
 
 N.- ».n ak.. 10 ,„il.., north of Kllmw '^ T- (i 
 
 « tnii.., ,,.,, of i'ukk«ta»,Mn,n ...::: M!*; }{' 
 
 lM<K«li.ti)in' potiuBi' ■" " 
 
 (lunniat hny 
 
 V\II»K L\Kr. 
 
 Siutli<a-t .«horc 
 
 Nortli.-a..t shorp > 2.1' \V 
 
 S I"/' \V 
 
 "Tl RoroN-B tlH RIVER, 
 
 Sprurp p<,riu(jp , 
 
 '"^ \\ 
 
 BIOKTll.NE LAKE. 
 
 North shorp... 
 
 ■SltfW 
 
 miro.no Lake. 
 
 f'outheiMl 
 
 S 20' \V 
 
 DESCHAMBAI IT HKE. 
 
 North shorp. 
 
 Northwest shore S 1,5° \V 
 
 8 inihjg from wuih end: ■'■'.''.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'..'.',,[[; sltAv 
 S 30° W 
 
 NELSON RIVER. 
 
 I milealovp .xjpjwpsk Inkp 
 
 J iiiilPK al«>\p .sip,».p^k i^p 
 
 .Narrow.^, I -rogs lakp 
 
 1 Miilp Im'Iow Pipestone lake! 
 
 BlHNT«OOD RIVER. 
 
 3 ciiilps below Odpj river 
 
 ■^ miles alK>vp Klhow. . n,»»„, 
 
 9 milpd above Kllww *'■?,"" 
 
 Summit of Odei portajje .< 
 
 2 . lilies below Apussinarnasi lake 
 
 A.'^j II ^P*"""li:amaBi lake , 
 
 Middle of Apussigamasi lake 
 
 i "! ™ (TT •'ejd of A|Hi*igamwi lake 
 
 S miles below Manaw Wi .T 
 
 Birch lake- . , . 
 
 f»ji*''°iy* Wapishtigau' biw,k:..., . . , 
 
 1 mUe above fall of line above ... 
 
 !< \r H 
 
 > rii' w 
 
 S .58° \V 
 S .51° W 
 S 58° \V 
 S 52° W 
 
 S 56° W 
 
 S ir W and 
 
 later .S ST \f 
 S TT W 
 .V83*W 
 N63*W 
 VTTW 
 
 .ssrw 
 
 S«8*W 
 N82°W 
 
 Nerw 
 Nsrw 
 
 N62°W 
 N78°W 
 
12-! 
 
 OKOLOOICAL BUIIVKY. CASADA. 
 
 8 4I*W 
 
 S48*W 
 
 Foot ct < >|M«aiio Ukr • ■ 
 
 4 miln Ih-Iow Wwkwatim lake 
 
 5 miln abovp Waakwiitim lake 
 
 ThrM-poInt l»kr 
 
 I mil™ above Thiwpoint lake • . ^ ,^ „, 
 
 IA •• " " PI l§^ n 
 
 Jl .. " •• 8 IP W 
 
 WintiT portaav to Puqaia 5 !K S 
 
 1 milf iH'lowWIniaiiwIi brook (heavj ) 8 ^ Jj 
 lloo«n<«* fall >*«^Y'*1^ ^.,,v.. 
 
 MrtUMf.ll 2[*:W 
 
 Minrhik r«pi<l 2 11 S 
 
 a mil™ Ix'low CrindttoM rapid 2m»w 
 
 CjrimlBtono rapid 2 ?«• w 
 
 Muddy walcr river ... . " jS Jj 
 
 Moow porta«c .^ (ll«ht> ^ Ji u 
 
 C milm (..low l)ttck rapid 2 25. S. 
 
 • •• r* 38^ « 
 
 t .. " S4(fW 
 
 Avippitti riv<*r M 41 " 
 
 « miU II t»low Bumtwood hke (heavy ) S 21' W 
 
 ^ " " W 21 W 
 
 Foot of Uumlwood lake 2 SI 5' 
 
 Middleol Bumtwood lake 2 S. S- 
 
 Mouth of File river »* M " 
 
 nu RiviB. 
 
 a miles from mouth 2 S 5- 
 
 2 " " r* Vr n 
 
 On Hill 5 miles from mouth 22!IS 
 
 Foot of Limestone Point lake 2 S. «. 
 
 Head of File lake 2 SI 5- 
 
 Ea«t shore of FUe lake 2 ?2. 5- 
 
 Methylake .S ST W 
 
 OKAM RIVKB. 
 
 First lake below Reed lake at inlet. . . 2 i2I 2 
 
 First lake below Reed lake opposite inlet 2 ?S JX 
 
 Middle of first lake below Reed lake 'z^.Ui 
 
 Reied lake near oullit. ■•■•••• S Js. w 
 
 Foot of first lake tclow Reed lake 2 «S a 
 
 Head of Wekusko lake (heavy) g *. ^ »»" 
 
 Head of Wekusko lake, summit of ridge 8 JT W and 
 
 East shore, north end Wekusko lake ^'SIS i 
 
 East shore. S way up Wekusko lake S ^ W and 
 
 Yawningstone lake (with chatter marks) .. 
 
 A«rw 
 Nsrw 
 
 ssrw 
 
 ir-'iBANT tABI. 
 
 North shore, 3 miles east of inlet 
 
 North shore. 4 miles east of inlet 
 
 North shore. S miles east of inlet. ^ 
 
 Northeast shore a «* nf 
 
 Northeast shore, nearoutlet Bflrn 
 
 Northwest shore 
 
 West shore .■ ■ ■; 
 
 West shore, island near (with chatter marks) 
 
 8 7rW 
 8 78*W 
 
 Nsrw 
 
 S78*W 
 SS8*W and SSS'W 
 
 ssrw 
 S7yw 
 
 883*W 
 88PW 
 NTJ'W 
 
WMt •hoif. 1 niilr V ,J t i-.«^ . ■'* '*' * 
 
 srrw 
 i*rrw 
 
 tX«*«W*Tl« LA««. S* S3* w 
 
 2 mile* ioulhof 
 
 sscw 
 
 t*C UKOWOC. 
 
 Pi'^f'-y. "orth»e.t,horcol. „ „ 
 
 r «l'»y.n«tiihoreo( H l*" W 
 
 ••nd new north enil 2 »?* »' 
 
 <onh shore o( 8 rw 
 
 Nemeilien river. H aP W 
 
 Nwneiben l«ke. north bay oi »8rw 
 
 Trmitnitfroir.,.t,h„,r"'" « 3* W 
 
 ^^"^"hor. ^. •eh':[t^r"m:;k.).::.;;., .s??;? 
 
 wuth ihon-. . . . 
 
 North (hore HtTui 
 
 8 18* H- 
 
 Potholea. 
 
 depth of over 6 feot ; the Hm ia f ' , "k T '" °' ' '"^^ '">'• « 
 fall and 8 feet 1. ,« its 3 T^ ! t *^' ^'^' °' '''^ P'***"' 
 
 On the west sMe of "^ e ul n'"*"" ^"''*« ^-'*- 
 
 I-c LaRonKe. which is Ltd P thoiTr f ""^"''"^^ ""^ ''^ 
 .cction on a cliff face of b^nd Jbi„tV '^'^°'"' "PP*" '" 
 
 ward, into deep water Thov lie ."f f"*"!!,''"*''' "'^n^B down- 
 
 pt-Fi^-^sg""-- ^•"-^•- ^■'■»'«' ^^- vrxri^'i.^//i-//^r^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
134 
 
 OEOI.OOICAI. SIHVEV. CASAl).*. 
 
 about 7 feet of the pment level of the wai. r in the b«y. On the 
 west iicio of Footprint river, north of Thr.-.)" int lake, a poth..lo i» 
 txpo«c.l In half-section on the cliff face of itn.i-s it hai a diameter 
 of 4 feet and ii 6 feet deep. Tl« pretent rhann^i of the river i^ cut 
 to a depth far below the bottom of the p..th..le. The vali.yi or 
 gorges on the sidea of which the Lac Lallonge and Footprint River 
 pothole, occur are pro-glacial, or are earlier than all tbf rocordn of 
 glaciation that are prc«erve<l. since both the west trcndinff and south- 
 west trending striie occur in them. 
 
 Tyrrell hat reconlcd the occurrence of pothole* on an island in 
 Playgrecn lake an.l on tlw west shore of Wintering lake'; aUo at 
 tho third portage north of Pelicin lake, on the route to Churchill 
 river by way of Frog portage, where ' many of the potholes are clearly 
 pre-glacinl, the glacier having broken their northern and amoothly 
 rounded their loutheni edges. The southern e<lge of the large pot- 
 hole shows this iinoothing very clearly.' ' 
 
 In tho neighbouring area lying east of UVe Winnipeg. Tyrrell 
 •Uo records potholes in the valleys of Berens and Bloodvcin rivers. 
 In the case of Berens river, these occur on the southwest si.lo of a 
 rocky point where the rock descends more or les* abruptly into deep 
 water. 'The outer half of one is cut away almost vertically and 
 the face of the cut clifl is strongly scored by glacial grooves." 
 
 Potholes on the Bloodvein river 'show rims broken on their 
 northeast and rounded on their southwestern sides, indicating an 
 age at all events previous to the last glaciation, perhaps iuter- 
 glacial." 
 
 In the region north of Lake Superior, the occurrence of a series 
 of potholes on the east side of n steep hill of dark green hornblende 
 rock, li miles back from the lake shore, has been recorded 
 by Peter McKcllar. ' The western or mountain side of many of the 
 holes stand up above the front side, in some cases as much as 30 feet 
 
 Of more I" one place horizontal glacial grooves may be 
 
 seen on r. portion of the elevated, vertical wall of the pothole*." 
 
 It would seem most probable, from a consideration of these 
 facts, that the records that are now preserved in this area of the 
 
 'Ann Rep. G. B.C.. Vol. XIII. p. 80 F. 
 •aSS V^i. G. B.C. Vol. IX. pp. IW F-IM F. 
 •Ann RoJ. O. 8.C.. Vol. XI. p. 37 G. 
 •Ann. Rep. G. B.C.. Vol. XI. p. 43 G. 
 'Bull. Geol. Boc. Am.. Vol. I, pp. 5«»-S70. 
 
";;p;^^|n^.f M.,.«,-.fte„,^i^, g,,^^^. 
 
 I>ia«. Northern Knd of G, 
 
 Gl.ici 
 
»■• •«m«IM« JfMWl 
 
 tr No. :U>. 
 
BASINS OK NELSOX AND CIIUROIIILL UIVKKs, 
 
 ll'5 
 
 many diverfring dirt'otiiiiia of gluciiiti'>n may all bo i>scril«;<l to lute 
 stages of glacial time, ami that the |«»tlioles were formed at an t-uriy 
 inter-glacial period, for the amount of erosion that tix)k place after 
 the hollowing of the potholes and before the passage of the glaciers 
 which left the existing stri* mmt have raquired a very long time 
 for it» accompli'»linient. 
 
 The age of the potholes may even be pre-glacial; they may 
 'eprcsent worl; ucoompiishcd liy the '.•ur-cadps of a drainage system 
 which ofily here and there and largely fortuit .»isly cort9spon<1s with 
 that of the present, which a^ a result of profound erosion and of 
 ditferential changes of elevation lia< been almo-t entirely oliiinRed. 
 
 The absence in the '-iisp of some of the ;mthole«, of a filling of 
 matiTJals carried by the jjlncjer in it-- passiigc over them may be 
 explained by tlie fa<»t that they probably were filled with ice before 
 the glacier reaciw'd then; ami coiitinupf^ »<■ for riinic time after its 
 retreat. 
 
 LAKI-: AtJASSI/. 
 
 A very large area within the rei-ion covered by the map-sheet 
 has a surface mantle of i'iablo clay of i \cry uniform character, and 
 over large areas quite free from enclosed boulder* or gravel. 
 
 These deposit* show evidence, in their uniform composition 
 fiuni top to bottom and in the absence of stratiiication, of continuous 
 deposition, and are, therefore, considered to be deposits accumu- 
 lated by sedimentution in a lake liasin. These clays, in a part of the 
 area, notably in the country about the lower stretches of Hurntwood 
 river, are thick enough to completely till llie old valleys and to con- 
 vert a country of once rolling furfiicp into an almost level plain. 
 Along Kurntwood Hiver valley, which occupies part of a more 
 ancient trough, the clays now cover the hills to a height of 150 feet 
 or more I'bove the level of the river. Farther west, along the upper 
 courses of the sair.e river and of its tributaries, where the elevation 
 above sea-level is about 03.5 feet, the clay occurs only to a thicknea* 
 of a few feet in the bottoms of the valleys, and isolated depressions 
 amo'ig the surrounding hills which are not ccnnectod with the river 
 valleys, are free from it. Xo distinct beaches mark the edges of the 
 ancient lake where the clay thins out in this diie<tioii, a feature 
 perhaps to be e.xpected where the valleys seem to represent long, 
 narrow arms of a lake in which rlu; water wouM be coniparatively 
 undisturbed, and which were occupietl by it fur a shurt time only. 
 
136 
 
 OEOLOOICAL SURVEY, CAXA1>A. 
 
 1 
 
 At about \V. longitude 07" where the bottom of the river valley 
 h about 4H0 feet above sea-level, the clays in the volley f^n. to have 
 tluir preatest thickness, and from that point westerly as the valley 
 gradually rises the thickness of the clay diminishes, and in W. longi- 
 tude im\ at an elevation of 935 feet, its western edge is probably 
 reached. 
 
 On the northern and probably al^o on the eastern side the shore 
 line does not follow a contour of tlie surface, Mnce in these direc 
 tions the water of the lake was held in by ice burriers formed by the 
 fronts of tlie receding continental glaciers. The lacustrine char- 
 acter of those clays was recognized by Tyrrell* and Dowling,' who 
 describe tl.eni as they oicr over a part of this area, and attribute 
 th.m, without doubt corrctly, to glacial Lake .\gassiz which Upham 
 had before trace.1 northward from Alinnesota through part of Mani- 
 toba. 
 
 Ill a report on iu)rthwe-t«rn .Manitoba, Tyrrell de5cril>es the 
 b*>acht- iif the we-fern sliore of the lake in their extension iiorth- 
 w*rd alonp the fu.cs of the escarpments formol by the Hiding. 
 Duck, and Porcupine iiiuuntHin?. On Duck mountain he found the 
 high.-.t strand to have a height above sea-level of 1,3«0 feet. The 
 measurements of strand lines by I'pham in .Minnesota and southern 
 ManitoU e8tablishe<l a rate .•!' progressive elevation northerly. ..r more 
 exaetly north-northeasterly, for the upper l.ea( he= averaging about 
 one foot to tlie mile or increasing from about ri inches in Minne- 
 sota to over a foot in central .Manitoba. Tyrvell.^ highest beache= 
 on ©\iok mountain seem to indicate that the rise per mile continues 
 to Increase through northern Manitoba. The oeeurrenc- of marine 
 clay* in the valleys </f rivers draining into Kudson and James bays* 
 at eleven uns of about 40<) f.-et above sca-levet affords further and 
 poeitive' evidence of this f^t-glaci*! elevation of th*- nortlien. !>ortion 
 of th« cutiiient. On the Poreopine mountain the highe-t >vel« at 
 jrhich tl>eso beaches were .i-serred by Tyrrell and Dov*!4««f «r«-re 
 slightly lower than tb." level of the bifhefct beaches on Du* m^usi' 
 tain. 
 
 ■ Geol. SttTT.. ImmU Annual K.port, Now .-^-ne^ \ t,', ^Jlh %, ^yy 
 
 K-..1. Surv., CaniMla. AnnuJ Ropoft 1^ '^ Vol. l\ ft t. 
 
 Hi .■>. V. .\nnual R«-p.wi. N.w tiervm tiW Pt. J- 
 
 Dept. ..( Mines. Gel. Surv. Branch. l»IOJ*»t* ^V'-' '^•*°^- 
 Gcol. .-^urv., Canada. B'p. (A Protresn, 187S-t, It. « 
 
BASIXS OF NEf*iiv .VI. 
 
 .>LI.»u.N AM) CIIIKCIIM.L IIIVKi;s. 1^.7 
 
 Which "pi;:^ ::.;;::":-" ^^ -i^- -^ r„iM .„.. ...i 
 
 Kv a ,hi,.k n.a„.Io of L'^ i.., / ''^"f "^•'"-nn w„s .,ill ...v.rcd 
 lake. '" '' ^""""'' ♦''« ""■•"'«••"■ l>""nd:.r.v .,f ,he 
 
 t..o 'i;:'z;t: :;:;^:,;':/::."-;" -^ '"^ ^-^""^"-- - 
 
 "'"Oh res,ncte.l lake af r ^"'"''''";«»'°" ^vhiel. went „„ i,. a 
 
 of .ho 01.1 so eri ;: ^b r;T" Y '""^" '"' •"^''■^^- "- '--• 
 
 Ph-Bhed. *"" •'"^""-^ ♦'"■ ^''••^■""■"n '""i been .necm- 
 
 Moo-unh:;:;;!:; ;!:;:;::;';:;:;:'; ^^rf-"-- -- 
 
 a.trihutnhle to thi. pel?- •'".''"'"""'• "'"' «"«'"• '•■ bo 
 about laWoef and ' , I , ' '''"''''r'''' "* '""'-^ '''^''^ "'»" 
 ■iown prior to tl" el t ; ; ,• 'r''; 'V'" ""*'""' "'"'^ "•- '-'^ 
 
 ECONOMIC OKoLOGY. 
 Although n.i niinernl in.lu-tiv w v,.t • 1 
 
 Ao part of the regi.„ ha, 1...., e!,,..,... ,,„,',' '^" '>-'I'T-"u.nt. 
 ""f yet l.een even ■ -i,e,l l,v ,1, > " ' ''"^'''''' ""'' "'"■' "t it has 
 Keewatin ..„d H n.ni ^ r !k ""l"';'"'- '"" ''''"''' '-"« "^ 
 
 -Porienoe .„i„ed inZ / ':i.;;:r^ /" "T' ''"*^'^^' ^-*" '••« 
 example in the Cob-.It ,„ I P elsewhere in Canada, for 
 
 Rain.:River di trt n":;;:":" "7" '" ""^ ""'"""'" ^'">- -^ 
 
 ^-ii„, prorni^in/fi; ';y :" ^'-•;'"-- -«' belook.I „pon a. 
 
 tbe newer rock. L ollii:' /^ ^Ji -': ""'"■^"^- '" 
 promise, and the di.eover^• of ,1.. ' "^ °* ^«"'« 
 
 Albert. n,„, I., f^ o:^h\ ^X'''^^ -«'•"-''' -n'rince 
 imporUnce. '^ "^ '^"•"■' "^ oon.u.ercial 
 
128 
 
 OEOLOOKAL HIRVEY, CANADA. 
 
 O'oW.-There l.avo Weiu =o fur o» known, no .li.coverics of gol-l 
 in .inantitv »«tfioicnt for n.ininif. but n.oro thorough prospectrng of 
 the area* of Kcowatin rm.-k* may yet reveal its presence. In Ontario, 
 whore the area, of .in.iU.r ro<.k. have U-en n:ore eh)sely examinci, 
 thev have in n.any eu.o, Uvn foun^l to .•ontain «oM ,n suthe.ent 
 quantity for .MonoM.ie n.inin^'. a.M in a few ■■..se. in bonan/.a 
 
 amounts. . , ^^ i • i 
 
 ,S-i7irr.— .Mr. Urock. in tiie Summary Report ot the (.eologi-al 
 
 Survey, 1!M0. states:— 
 
 'Mr Wni. Ogiivv, of the Department of the Interior, ha, 
 infornie.1 me that (.'aiena. earryin^ J5 oun.v< of silver to the ton, 
 U, been fou..! on a lake nor-h of XeWon llou.e. near the .liv.le 
 between I'.umtwoo.l and fiiur.-hiil rivers.' 
 
 The speein.en was examine.] by F. G. Wait, of the Mines llraneh. 
 who reports: -The sample, whieli weit'he.l but - grannr.es. was sub- 
 mitted to a-say and fiimd to cuiitain:— 
 (iold — none. 
 
 Silver-at tile rate of l'4 ozs. 10 dwts. to the ton of I'.iXK) lbs.' 
 Cop/xr.— C'baleopyrite has l„.en found at a numlwr of luealities 
 within tlie area e-vered by the ii.ap-^heet, tlun.gh nowhere in quan- 
 tity sntheient for its eommereial development. It has been recorded 
 from Lac LaRonge.' from File laU.'.' and from Nelson river'; also 
 the writer found a sample of ^ny . -pper in p,..^e^si„n of an Indian 
 at Pukkatawagan on Churchill river, which he allegcl, probably with 
 truth, he had found on the shores of a small lake south of the 
 Cliurehill a short distance to tlie east.' 
 
 Vo''/^'/.''"'m.-Samph.s of n.olybdciiite have been found in 
 po.-c.s*ion of the Indian, from time to time.' and rounded, erytal 
 aggregates of that mineral were found by Tyrrell in re,l pegn:atite, 
 at a point on the shore of Little I'laygreen lake just below where the 
 NcNun river tb-ws from it.' Hobbs notes its occurrence on the 
 
 Ecliimami-h river.' 
 
 Iron -Tiiough ir..n-ore has not been found in quantity, the 
 occurrence of tJie rocks, which characteri/.e the iron-bearing portion 
 of the Keewatin, known as tjie^ronjormat ion. has heen m3toJ^at 
 
 .Sumii^«^<^t of Oe<.l. Survey 190S p. 92. 
 'Sun.miiry Report of f.col. Suncy. 190rt. p.95 
 '(;..<.l. Surs-.y. Canaau, \pl.>IU, 1900 p. 24 F .iti.l .A I . 
 •Summary U.-port of Clc<)l. »""«>"• t'**"*'",*^ „ ^ 
 
 •Cu-ol. Survey. <»n'«l». ?>""'?»?■ •^Tv'i^wiS^'d Ifl Ci 
 'li™l. Survey. Cana-la. .\nnual Ueport. \ol-^'. l"*'^' P- >" '-■ 
 ■Gm\. Survey, Canada, Summary Report, 1MI», p. .1. 
 
nAsi.v., „t .vKt.M.v AM. .11 litem I, 
 
 L l(IVEIt>. 
 
 I:.".) 
 
 «may po.nt« i,. ,hc region, or .h.-ir pr.s<.„oe ).hs b.^en nonjeotured 
 rom «b„orn.al .lefleo.ion. of ti.c n.gnetic nee^lle. and bouWe« ^ 
 
 no„„ given of a .n..„l..r o, „H...i,„..ns of rook oolleo.ed in 181> by 
 Abel E.lward,. ,„rgeo„ at the Red River settlement, while on [ 
 journey from Lake Winnipeg to York Faotorv A J!! 1 
 
 UUnJ ;^ V .1 . ,' •* " *°™ raetory. A •penmen from an 
 island m Knee lake ,. described as oxidulou, iron; 'the oo»pa», 
 doe. not traverse when passing this island ' ^ 
 
 ....e wt'"'""''" '"'"' " ■" "'""""•"'^ '" '«^«-- ^ '^' 
 
 newJU at • conslder.br. SsUnw HSviSi V^.^^'li '"•*'■' """ ,■»•«"•»'<• 
 in rMpMt to tbfl circnmstanw we watJh^ ^t^""* P""'""" 'nformatioi. 
 PerceiT«l that they were ai«ted V fl. Hi.??' '^°"'l'«?*s car,.fully. an.l 
 both io tb. .pprcSch to aSddeD.rtL« fr^™ '.r" »'*'"•»• hundrrf vard- 
 distance they beca^n. BradSullv mnrl »„fi ™ *''* '"^'^ !. "" d« rea»inic th« 
 
 they were r7nd7?M quite uS , and it wa^evident rhaJV.;'"'' "" '?"'""'' 
 netic influence was totally evpTM^red hV thJ ». ."' '^* Rencral max- 
 ore. When Rater's comfasa w^ held n/.r T. ■?5«"""*'<' attraction of tho 
 »id. of the island, the n^e dtnoed «n m^.k^.K f «">»'«'»'> tho N.W. 
 made to traverse by anT^jn,tZ^t „f°.^"K«„ I""! 'i" ""^ '°"^'^ "»* »» 
 compass abont thi?ty y^r^to t™e we^t ,.art „f fl •?»*<"» "><>»*»? the «.n.e 
 hpriK,ntal. truverHfS frMv Rnd ^S^ntS f^'fK* "'**' *t* "«*<11« »>«="""• 
 dipping needle r,-ariand^ on the Tw ^art^of t'he'",^;"/'"' ""^K^*"" 
 nearly as possible to thrmaRnet^, meridtan by th. S.l''''t! »*>"♦"«» •« 
 
 threl,*t"oV we'sT ''J?".:^' "•"» i"" >-"^ ".'i;str'„m^;Si'w^'SrrS^te/"to 
 
 str'^^r^t^'^M moved^'f?oSX W t-^Th.TE^lll?; ^^.^^V^^'" 
 Histant. and placed in the meri lian th. n^i ^ ' S*?"* ^f^*' T»'ds 
 remained steady ^ an ancle of «^' oSch^Sl^^nJ'TH *» traver«.. bnt 
 ment, so as to Rive a S E and NW d??ect ion "/„?!. i'"-!5f' ?/ f'"' '•>•*"'• 
 
 The,r d,r-.t,on i, extremely irregnlar, being much contorted • 
 
 In an npiw.dix to the same journal, by Sir John Richardw. it 
 IS stated that— 
 
 Bell reports, 'on the south si.lo of the inlet ^f Knee lake layers 
 of fine-grained magnetite iron are intcrstratifJed with grey .ilieeous 
 and micaceous schists rnnninp abr,nt oa.t and wc-t. . A small 
 
 iBlet in this current (narrows, and the western shore abreart of it 
 conmst of fine^ined magnetite iron in thin layers, interlami.aled 
 
 'Trans. Geol. See. <i( I>oBdo«. Nt. Srr Vol \ IS'I .T" 
 
 ... R*«T"g%*.!':.'^''^''^**''' '^'•" «*-" the y;i. ,M9. ». 2.. by Joh. ^^^^ 
 •Ibid, p. 303. 
 
i:JO 
 
 CiK<Jl.<MiI< \l. SI UN KV. CANADA. 
 
 with olhtTi. of tiuattxiU' uiiil iiiicu schist." 'A r^umiiK; of thi- ore from 
 .Vamietite inland wus KXumiiuMl by l»r. HitTmuuii,' who d.tpriMl it 
 at, ' Ma»«ive, ntnu-ture very fine ^anular, alnio.,t fonipuct. Laiuin- 
 oted. (!oloiir bliiish-irrey. Luxtrc dull. On eximiinution was found 
 to contain: nietallie iron. 4:> >**'< i)cr pent. This apiMMmon was 
 pt'rf«'Otly free from titnuie ucid.' 
 
 Beds of magnetic iron ore interstratitied in uilieeou* ilates are 
 recorded by Dr. Bell an ocetirrinif where Trout river full» into the 
 head of Kne<. lake.' Cochrane mentions finding the roeka very 
 highly niaitnetie at iiii island called Iron island, near the north shore 
 of Island lake.* 
 
 Low saya of the belt of Keewatin, which he mapped on the upper 
 siretehes of Severn river, that • The roeks in several places are 
 hiir:':y magnetic, and probably contain larne amounts of iron ore. 
 both disseniinated in small crystals through the rock and in large 
 masses.'* 
 
 Brock * noted the occurrence, at various points on the same belt 
 of Keewatin rocks, of beds which resembled strongly the 'ir)n ore 
 formation' of the eastern Keewatin. There can be little doubt, 
 therefore, that in the belt of Keewatin rocks which extends from 
 Ctoaa lake on the Xelson, through Oxford lake to Knee lake, is 
 incorporated a band of ro<ks of the " iron ore formation.' The 
 examination of a sample of the ore, quoted above, shows that .t is of 
 good quality though not very rich. It would seem that there is here 
 a tract of country that it would Ik- worth while to prospect for richer 
 deposits of iron ore. 
 
 Clay ironstone beds occur in thv ufiper part of the Niobrara 
 beds of the Cretaceous of the Pasquia hills, but the iron content is 
 probably too low to render them valuable commercially. An analysis 
 of a sample gave': — 
 
 Metallic iron 2«-10percent. 
 
 Insoluble niincriil matter 9-20 
 
 On the cast shore of South Indian lake a larcc, loo^.-. almost 
 sharply angular block of interhanded jasper and hematite was noted. 
 
 ■Gcol. Surv., C'wiadtt. Report o( Prcgress I877-<8, PP- 21 »nJ 22 <'C. 
 »Geol. Surv., Canada, Report of Progress, 1878"i*' P- i° J"- 
 KJeol. HuTv., fanada. Report of Progress, 18«-"»' P;™*,- 
 •Gcol. Surv., Canada, Report of Progress, 1878-78, 1^. <-. 
 »Geol. Surv., Canada, Annual Report, Vol. H. Pt, f . 
 
 "Geo). Surv., Caoada, Summary Report, 1907, p. 45. 
 
BANi.v.s m- \n,,,v .... 
 
 •"- " " .-i". -.^ ..;^: •;:! J :i r,;"" '^'" ' -- 
 
 •••-•".■.I. llu. , k, ,r„ «S i, " "'* '-"""ion-, was 
 
 '""•"'• ' i.l.niri,,n. .lu-r,. i, ,. , " *'"""' "' ""•• "re« 
 
 """• "»• Pro.,«..,iv.. va, : LSr'^ -'•'■•• •:• " -'• that n.aU 
 sulphur.' """'•''^ """"•« ^'« M.lph..ri.- aei,l or 
 
 ^v-plw:L']:;:.;:;,;:::^;' -^,;j '^^i- ^... the .., ,,„,, „, 
 
 Uif i-oal .,<.,.nrs i„ h.,riz.,„t.,i Uls i„ ,i, ' 
 
 ^-- ... „... j,..k„,., divi.io.. .,f .;";. V' -^ -"•<-".d .s„.u. 
 
 ""•f- .«v..r« i,. .....,,, „.„„,, ,, ': -'•'"<-->-. Carb.-naeeou. 
 
 «eam of any size is exposed Th; ^'""l"'..".- b„t only one 
 
 <•»• -"d for a .ii.an.rr^, ^ '^J ""^ "'-- the .c.rpe. f.ee 
 •he ...OS, ..,.,„..rb. hav of ,h . • [fr"", "' '■""■'"*^ '*''"'- of 
 
 " •"-! .I.i.-k....s of 4 feee : ; ^ "^^ ^r^'rV-- '"« -" has 
 « « i.K.h. sandy parting a'l.io XIX) ' V,' ' '" !''" '""''''' '»■ 
 the n.oM southerly „..ter..p. ,h.. thi.kne : i. t? !* ■ V^'^''^'- "* 
 •^Jean l,».M.ite. Xorthwe.terly tVom tl " ? ""'''^*' "^ ^'"■''>- 
 
 "1^" to thin o,.t. but. o«in« ,„ thi. 1 ;T ■ """■■■"" '' ^^""^ 
 
 the elitf face in .hat dire " o ,• l', -.roa.hn.ent of ..lu. on 
 
 A proxi,na,.. „nalv.il J)' T I" '^ """""''"•'• " 
 ".«de by F. v.. Wait .; t^, ILT^"' " V"""" "' ""^ '''^"'"■• 
 ^ave t^foilowin^ result.!- "'"'''• l'""«"'"-"t of Min.-. 
 
 ■G«.l. S"v.,7^a„a7a:^rn7r7-R;;;,- — — 
 
 22i(e- 91 ■ **• " ** " '^'' »"-' '«». P. 1.'.. ... 
 
 Mq 
 
ISS OBOtOOIlM StTKVKY, CANADA. 
 
 WoUture 1123 percMjt. 
 
 Volatile coraburtible matter 30-07 " 
 
 Fixed carbon. 84.HO 
 
 A.h 2300 • 
 
 100 00 " 
 
 t'oke, n..n-eoherent 67-80per -vnt. 
 
 Fuel riiiio 1 : 1-13 
 
 Split folatile ratio 1'88 
 
 Colour of ash— light orR tge. 
 Another analyaii wa- made by V Wait, of a laniple re«ei»ed 
 in 1907, and deacribci m from ai. uns-urreyed area northweat of 
 Cunibprland lake. Saskatchewan.' Ti.e samplr probably cornea from 
 the same seam or from a seam occurrinif in the lair.e Crefaeeoua 
 saiuUtone elsewhere in the neighbo.iThoo.l. The analysis g«f« the 
 following results: — 
 
 Moisture 13-25 p« r cent. 
 
 v'olatile cull. l»u*tibl.' matter 28-97 
 
 Fixed carbon 24-80 
 
 A.h 23-W ■• 
 
 Coke, noncoherent 57-79 percent. 
 
 Fuel ratio ^:M9 " 
 
 Split volatile rati' 1-76 
 
 These analyses show that the coal u a lignite of fairly good 
 quality, since it is probable that the high ash content is largely due 
 to included sand. 
 
 The fact that the coal ia cleanest at the most southerly expoaure, 
 in the bight of the buy. niakea it seem probable that the improre- 
 ment may continue southerly, and that south of the lake, where, 
 owing to the horizontal attitude of the beds and the lack of acatped 
 cliffs there are no outcrops, coal of higher quality may be found. 
 
 Coal, probably the same seam or a similar one, has been found 
 by prospectors at several points on the lakes lying at the head of 
 Bowtree river, south of Lac LaRouge. 
 
 On Athabaska river, seams of lignite 2 feet in thickneM l»ve 
 Uea noted in the so-called tar sands which, like the beda •■*r 
 
 consid.'rution, are thought to be of Dakota age.' 
 
 ~ ">G«)lT8iirT.. CaMwia. ▼<>• ▼. Pt- »• 
 

 4I 
 
 s 
 
 J 
 
 ailK!- p. 132. 
 
 ^■ri 
 
MiaOCOTY msOlUTION TBT CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 A 
 
 r^PUEDllVHGE 
 
 1653 Eajl Moin Street 
 ("6) 2M-59e9-ro. 
 
BASINS OK NKLSON AND CHVRCHII.I. R.VEKS. 133 
 
 of the Cre a e ;f tha W ." "* '"'"''" '" '"^ "* *^« ''--»'» 
 bearing horizons "" "■"•^*""*'^ '« '»"<>'"»•' ooal- 
 
 upwards of 150 feet anri H« .k ! f /^^ *^* '"»^e « thickness of 
 
 .^oubt. underlL tS h II ^^^^ '" *''"' *''^' -"J* ''ttle 
 
 a sa„.p,e of thi sha^ ^ en tl"' j'"'' "*""'• ^" '»"'^- "^ 
 
 of the Mines Branch.' D rt^nHf ^ ""'^'^ '''• ^^•'""• 
 result:- Panment of Mines, w,th the following 
 
 SuIpl,ate_ofan,.nonia.... 22-5 lbs. per ton. 
 The value per ton of shale would.' iher^rr'' '"•'"'■ 
 
 - -- -t:j:^'r^;X^^^-^a-^ating 
 Scotland, gave:- ^ Pumphewton Oil Company, 
 
 Sulphate of a.„,„onia. .. 76.Wlbs. per ton. 
 
 l-rude oil Anna- 
 
 T.. ... «>09»np.firals.perton. 
 
 Ihis would give a value of, approximatelv M ^n 
 
 Another set of analyses, ITbTM,,'^^^^^^ ton of shale. 
 Branch, of samples from bands of !)..f f t ""' "^ *^^ ^>'"» 
 Mines, New Brrnswic^gat an avlJat o^^'^ ''''''''' "' ^'''«'* 
 Sulpha, of ammonia.... CS. lbs. per ton. 
 
 r, v,i ■ *-^-^'mp- gals, per ton. 
 
 take„?sa^ ? "' VetrTy' iX:'''i' Ih^ '^'' "^ ''^--^ ^^ ^ 
 
 ing the sL^whr;trngr:i ;rdf^^^^^^^^^^ ^-- 
 
 to local conditions-is about |1.S6 per to^. itZ'T^lZT'"' 
 Mining and taking to retort, mouth. . gi nft ' 
 
 • Retorting '^ "" 
 
 Manufacture of sulphate of ammonia.'." .' ." ^ 
 
 aid : 
 
 ^« s^Lr'iir' ""«»« - «he Bi;„„i„o„: 
 
 $1 86 
 
 '"■ "il-^l'«le, of Xew B^^wi^ 
 
i:54 
 
 GEOI.«XiU'AI, srUVEY. f'.\XAt>A. 
 
 It will be seen from the figures quoted above that the sample 
 analysed does not indicate.' for the Pasquia HilU shale, a content of 
 sufficient value to warrant workinK. It must be said, however, that 
 ti,e sample analysed was taken without reference to its richness as 
 M>i oil-shale .ample, an.l that, in the 150 feet or more of the shale 
 underlyinK the hills, there may vor>- well be beds nuuh richer both 
 in oil and sulphate of ammonia. 
 
 It may be noted that in Manitoba the shales of the upper portion 
 .,( the Niobrara, which are hiRhly calcareous, arc used in the manu- 
 facture of cement. 
 
 .Vied.— Crystal- of mica 9 inches in diameter have bwn observed 
 in a pepmatitc vein' on Cros-* lake, but it has not been found any- 
 where in the district under conditions which give pron:isc of its 
 bi-ing of commercial value. 
 
 Salt.— \hont the base of the Pasquia hills, just north of the 
 edge of the Cretaceous escarpment, many saline >prings occur which 
 derive theii salt, presumably, from the underlying Silurian lime- 
 stone. A spring on the left bank of Carrot river, about 20 yards 
 back from the stream, just above the crossing point of the 14th base 
 line, has been long known to the Indians and used by tbcui in the 
 manufacture of salt by evaporation. 
 
 Henry, ascending the Saskatchewan in ISOS, records that at the 
 entrance to Carrot river • we found a freeman tented. lie had passed 
 part of the sununer up the river where there arc several salt springs, 
 and had made a considerable quantity of salt which he ha.l brought 
 to dispose of to our men on their way to the interior where this 
 article is not found." The water in the spring above referred to is 
 slightly milky in appearance, strongly saline to the taste, and gives 
 off a very noticeable odour of sulphuretted hydrogen. 
 
 Of a sample from this spring which he examined, Mr. Wait 
 
 says : — • 
 
 ■ As received the water, about one quart, contained a trifling 
 -luantitv of pale, brownish-white, flocculent, organic matter in sus- 
 ien-ion, which was removable by filtration. The filtered water was 
 clear, bright and colourless. To the taste it was strongly ^sa hne. 
 It was .ievoid of any distinctive odour and reacted neutral, both 
 before and after concentration. Its specific gravity at l--^ J-- ^^a^ 
 foundto be 1.034 ;jiue_watei^bein^ 
 
 Edited bv F.Uiot ( •onc»1 1897. 
 
IIAsr.Vs iM XKT.So.N A.M> 
 
 <'IMI;clIlLt. KIVKIts. 
 
 1:55 
 
 -" '« '^^'^''^:i^nZ^:!:izr:i:^j;:z^ 
 
 PotassH 
 
 Sfiilii very small quantity. 
 
 Ferrous oxide.. '»■*<■ quantity. 
 
 Litre truce. 
 
 HattncxiH.. small quantity. 
 
 Sulphurie anhydride ""'?" Quantity- 
 
 Carboni(^ aniivdride rather small quantity. 
 
 Chlorine... " small quantity. 
 
 Silica 'arKe quantity. 
 
 Ornanie matter.. ^"y "'nail quantity. 
 not detected. 
 
 of ferrous oarbo,!atr ' '' "'"»'"'=^""" "^"rbonate. and a trace 
 
 acid' hron.ine. iodine, baryta, or strontia or borio 
 
 .Similar .prints in nortborn .^r„ni,oba hnvo been utilized for the 
 - ^pnnjr is a little lower in salt content 
 
 but is hifrher than some. 
 
 nianufacture of salt. This s 
 
 than most of the spring,, i„ Manitoba 
 
 found pieces a. la J^^ ^:^"- "^"" V^''^'^ ^^^ '-«'". in tSW. 
 
 with bench .sand and fn 
 
 <VB and smaller particles, mingled 
 
 R. F. Harrington wh„ doscril.e.1 it.^' says- • ti,. , . 
 ■■' Pi.-ces, for the nu.st part ver,- irrecM lar ; '*'"""' ^"^ 
 
 'lit they ranged fron 
 
 pieces were smaller than a pea. 
 
 ^ centimetres lon« 2, * '''"rr^ ''^'"""■^- -^ (about 
 
 'Town. . Sone o t "" "^ '"*''' ^^"°" *" '^"'^■ 
 
 .night pe ■ it 1 T '■"' '''""'' "^ ^''^ ^^^" I^ake rosin 
 
 If M ; '""'■'"' ^"' "'"'""cntal purposes (beads etc ) 
 
 nud_poss^bly_t^ „^^^, ^^. '^^ ^J^^;^ 
 
i:5C 
 
 OEOLOOICAL SUEVKY, CANADA. 
 
 therp can be but little doubt that it has been derived from 
 
 one of the Tertiary or Cretaceous lignites occurring on the Saskat- 
 chewan.' 
 
 Olass Sond.— Quartz sand, that seems well adaptid for use in 
 the manufacture cf glass, makes up a large part of the Cretaceous 
 beds to the northeast of Prince Albert. Where they are exposed on 
 the shore of Wapawekka lake, they consist of horizontally bedded, 
 loosely coherent, white sandstone and sand, exposed in high scarpet 
 cliffs. The quartz grains are subangular and are fairly uniform in 
 size, about 93 per cent passing through a dO-mesh sieve. An un- 
 washed sample, collected from the face of the bank, was analysed by 
 Mr. T^verin. It gave the following result: — 
 
 SiO, (silica) 98-60 per <-ent. 
 
 YeO, (irrn oxide), A1,0, (alumina) 1-20 " 
 Other imp jrities 0-20 " 
 
 10000 " 
 
 The cliffs of sand are 30 to 40 feet high, facing the lake, and 
 are so loosely coherent as to be easily reduced and collected by the 
 hydraulic method. Washing, as may be seen from the analysis given 
 above of the unwashed sample, would render this sand very pure 
 indeed. 
 
 Lime.— Limestones, suitable for burning for the manufacture of 
 lime, are plentiful along a broad zone, just north of the Saskatche- 
 wan. They are the magnesian limestones of the Palseozoic which 
 form a broad belt between the Cretaceous escf.'pment and the Pre- 
 Cambrian, except where, in the western part of the area mapped, 
 the Cretaceous beds are lying directly upon the I're-Cambrian. In 
 that part of the area, a band of crystalline Kjiestone in the Pre- 
 Cambrian at the north end of Lac LaRonge is tiuite suitable for 
 lime making. 
 
 In the northern part of the area the rocks of the Palieozoic basin 
 cf Hudson bay are mostly limestones. 
 
 Claj/.— Much of the lacustrine clay of the district would probably 
 make good red bricks. The clays of a belt of country running east 
 from Cormorant and Reed lakes, and extending down Grais river, 
 seem to be ptrtieularly well adapted for this purpose. A pipestone, 
 occurring on Wapawekka lake, would probably furnish good material 
 for firebrick. 
 
BAH.Xs OK XKr.Sox ^.vn CHURCHIU. „,VK„s. 1,7 
 
 <'lav Laboratory. 
 Bmrt on T.0 Samples of Clay ^ImiUed ly Mr. Mclnnes. 
 
 to the presence of Lh fine ^Jj" '^" '^'*'* ""'""^ ^•"J^ --« 
 
 p« ^nl "" ^''""""^^ "' ''' ^-« "-"^t, n,ade from it was 53 
 The burning testa are as follows:— 
 
 Cone. 
 010 
 
 IVr rent fire 
 
 ''hrinkage 
 
 07 
 
 no 
 
 Fused, 
 
 J'lT cent 
 
 abiorption. 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 < olour. 
 • Red. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 NiirdncM. 
 Near Bteel 
 
 hard. 
 Vitrifip<l. 
 
 fuaetl. 
 
 m'^i'"t:, '"'' """""■" '"* " ■»» 010. 
 
 The .i, .kHnkV:.; 5 ."ttir ""' "'"' °"'"'" "~»-- 
 
 In burning it behaved as follows :- 
 
 ,. IVr cent firp 
 
 nTn- -shrinkage. 
 
 "10 J.n 
 
 1 tusen to a slag. 
 
 Pit cent 
 
 absorption. 
 
 24H 
 
 ( olour. 
 **aliiion. 
 Hrown. 
 
 Hardnts.-i. 
 -War .stpel hard. 
 
 This clay gives a fair common brick at cone 010 
 
 vitrifieitL:^?;:!:!^^ ;"^*«"« '- ^'^ --^-tu. of 
 
 temperatures. ^ ^'"'^ "' ''° °«" their vitrification 
 
 -rrirt;;^:—: -r;earthesurface. 
 
 ^-., ,3ve to be worked to ^z::^ :t^^t J!: 
 
138 
 
 OEOLOOICAI, sritVKY, TANADA. 
 
 Hiiihiiiiii Sloiir.-Thv il.ilnmitcs of tlif Onlovii-iaii uiitl Silnriaii, 
 which art' pxi>osfil ovir ii w.do holt of country north of the Su^tkat- 
 phewun, in iruiiy iiiw^ arc very ^iiitahlp for b'lildinK purpose*, and 
 oofur in IxmIs of ahnost any ch -iro'l thiclon>*i. In tlio Pre-Catnhrian 
 area many of the uranite^ arc MiituhU" for this purpose. A grunitH 
 whidi occurs on tiic firrt cNpan^ion of (Irass river, below Reed lake, 
 is of a very briKht red cohiur and even texture, and seisiuJ wtll 
 adapted for dressing anil polishiiit.'. 
 
"'I .vKi.suv A.\r 
 
 l^'lHRClirLt. i;IVKI!». 
 
 l.'.'t 
 
 H.iriiKin, Idirii.'I \\. 
 Il.niy. Ahvin.l.r 
 IlcaMii-, Sanm.-I. 
 
 Il'nry. Alixun.l. , 
 <'<>ni's, Kliiiii 
 
 Hrniy Ali-\an.|.r. ji' 
 
 'J'luiiiipMin. I);i\ M... 
 
 Mii.-K.nzi... Al.-v<n.|.r 
 
 Kranklin, Sir....lin 
 
 Edward: ,: : . , ^ 
 
 Franrlif ' :■. 
 lii'liards.. ,„ 
 
 Franklin. Sir .I..l,ii.. 
 
 Buik, (apt. 1{.\, 
 
 Hind. Hf-nrv. \,,i,\,. \i , 
 
 nrnLKMiRAi'irv. 
 
 ISJI) ■ ■'""' "I'l"""" ICarin.m. Andovr. 
 
 vi,.xa„,u:rH';'„o:',?,,,':',,>o;r '"*'"•'''■"«''> 
 
 'ISiPil 
 
 P.'nv 'TrJKlMi"'' "<-"'""'•"•' -■' «h" ««....• ("nt;: 
 '■"''('•in,:;'!;.^"""- •■•■■''-' '-.H,.,.n,ary l.y KIlio, 
 
 "^'"'orrN'ri/r.";'',''' ^''"'"•'- H..nry. l^ ,ra,l..,. 
 «m Iffi i^ 1 f ■ ''"'P-iny and of David Tliomp- 
 
 ( ;',np!m;'''l-V;:';!5M'''''" ""' '■■'""""•' <•' "•.• -«.',!: 
 
 ^■''"•'vlno""!;!;;'""""" "'"'•"' '"'"-■"•"•»ry l.y Klli,., 
 w.n Iiffi,- 1 ,. ' ""P"''.v«n( of Oavid Thonin- 
 
 (o.nl.'.t'.'-tz-Ku'""'' ""•' ^^""'-^ of'-ho'.:;:;;!:: 
 
 Kd.,.d_wi,h ..opi.,„., ..o„...,..„„.,j. ,„. KlHo, ,,.„„. 
 Voyaii.. from Montr.ul <,n thi- Rivn- «. i 
 
 a prrliniinarv arc-ount of tl,.. „1 -. ''"W-S/ witli 
 s.nf state of the fur trad, th' P"*''-'"''. »■"' P"- 
 
 [-»vork,.wk.Hu.S;'/i^^'^.;:^{i./-;;;:;> 
 
 xa'ati;;:'!;,";: •v!;;!,::^;,y';{;,^\'«2', ^^.m^r. 
 
 ^ Am..ri,.a in IH^J^lu, Xow'y Jk^'r^^^'""'' " 
 
 '"r;^;;;:^.ri^i-,-,^!i;^^-:!f'.ri^..ar..a 
 
 By .lohn Kranklin. (apt. K.N K R •^ M w >: . 
 
 of 
 
 '""^h;^';;!^^:r;!eKj^is?'-''-''or,..„f,,« 
 
HO 
 
 OBOLOOK-AI. »DIl"«Y, CANADA. 
 
 ItU-iby J.J. Am l.>ur .rf Sr , Vol. VIII. IHM, pp. rtt>-M 
 
 ScirfYer «. H Thr Wionip.|t c.untry anil roughing it witli »n ccUpm 
 
 rrf y. by n Koohi-ttcr fellow. H.mton, IM8. CI 
 Siirvi-i. CBniwIi. Report of l'rogr«.M Wl-TJ. 
 Hrport on the country bi-two-n l.nke Superior and 
 the Albiuiy river. 
 Kelwyn. A. K. ('... ,l)b»erv»lion» .wiwern Koeky Mt. Ho. »nil Cumberliind 
 
 (Irol. SiirM-y, Cnnur;'.. Report ol I'mgrew, U73-74. 
 
 Bell. Robl., Dr Oeol. Sun^y. CnnaJu, Report of I«n*nM. 1877-7I. 
 
 Report <in »n exploration ol I he tM.< I o«t m 
 Hudiion - Buy in 1«77. 
 Bell Robl, Ur C.eol. Surv.'y. <'iiniu1», IWtfl. !'t. O. 
 
 Attuwnpiakul ;in(l Albany river. 
 Bell Robt Or .Cleol. Survey. CiinttdB, Ann. Hvp. i.N'ow Seriw), 
 
 • Vol. XII, \m. pp 103-110 A. 
 
 Region about (ireat l^love lake. 
 Bell. Robt., nr Ceol. ^»ur^■ey. Canada, Keport of l'r<[gre» 1878-79. 
 
 Report on eiploration of the ( liuri'hill and Nelson 
 riverK. eir. 
 
 Bell. Robt., nr (ieul. Survey. Canada, Report of l'riwr..« W75-79. 
 
 Report on an ejploration belmein .laiiieK ' iv and Lake 
 .>>uni!rior and Huron. 
 Dswaon (i M .. Note on the oecurrcncc of Furniiiinifura coccolith*. ete. 
 
 in the ( 'retaeeoun rocki of Manitoba. 
 Can, Nat, Vol. VII, No, S, 1874. 
 
 Uawmn (i M Noted to aecoinpany a (ia>logical map. of the Northern 
 
 portion of rhe Uum'nion of Canada. Mut at the 
 tocky Mountain*. Cieol. Survey, Canada, Ann. 
 Rep.. 1888. I't. H. 
 
 'V' ('; a obnervation in the North West Territory on a i'>urn«y 
 
 aeroiM the plains from Fort (iarry to Roeky Moun- 
 tain Houw, returning by the SaHkatchowin rivet 
 and Lake Winnipeg. 1873. .„ , „ 
 
 Geol. Survey, Canada, Report of ProgreM, 18.J-74. 
 
 Klot« Olto, U.I.S Annual R. port of the Dept. of the Interior, Canada, 
 
 1884. 
 Report on exploratory «ur\-cy to Hudson bay. 
 
 Fawcett, Thoma- Annual Report of the Dept. of the Interior. 1888. 
 
 Exploratory survey of Athabasca and Churchill riviTS. 
 
 Barlow A. K On 1 ho origin ol some -VrchKan l./'ongl"merate9. 
 
 Ottawa NiituniliHt, Vol. XII, No. II, 1889-90. 
 low \ H B An. Sc. C.eol. Survey, Canada. Annual Report (.Vow Series), 
 
 Vol. Ill, I'l. II. 1888. 
 Report oil Kxplorations in James bay and Country 
 east of Hudson bay, drained by the Big, Great 
 Whale, anil Clearwater rivers. 
 
 I'pham, Warren Ueol. Survey. Canada, Annual Report, Vol, IV, 
 
 INJW-Stf, l>t. K. 
 Report of cxploriition ii( tlir (ilacial Lake Agassli. 
 
 McKellar, Peter On pot-hole-s north of Uike Su'-«rior unconnected with 
 
 existing streams. 
 Bull. Cool. Soe. Am., Vol. 1. 1890. 
 
 MeConntll, H. Ci Report on u portion of the district of Athabasca oo:n- 
 
 prising the country iHjtween Peace river and Atha- 
 basca river north of Lesser Sliivc lake, 
 (ieol. Survey, (Xanadu, .\nn. Hep. 'New Series), 
 Vol. V, 1890-91, I't. 1, pp. l-ti7 D. 
 
 Diiwling, I). B Report on a sur\-ey of the Ekwan river and the route 
 
 through Sutton Milk Lake northward. 
 (Ieol. Survey, Canada, Annual Ueporl (New Scries), 
 1901, I't. F. 
 
 Ru»t D Dr Ceol. Survey, Ciinmln, Contributions lo Can. Micro- 
 
 I'rila ontology, I't. IV, 1S92. 
 
' ».M. CHVHiiniLl. im-KH.. 14, 
 
 WhittAVM, J. y t I' w 
 
 F R 8 V ' •< » * '.'■>., 
 
 lUvfrlniiv ""won* o| i^k„ H mnipi.^ «nil 
 
 '"I III. I't [V luiiH -ri I 
 
 P»r.. of M..„it ',a and Ktw»,"|"T* '*"''''•'''«-•'•"' 
 ^, t.y U. II, l>.w)in«: H M,. '^- ■■ " "^ ■ """Piled 
 
 »n.l t(.e No^'v?"," •c,«:j'^,' ?f'' '•^■^<{— " river, 
 • w.. ovcrU,„| rouin, from II,, i"^""? ''»>' ""'l '"■ 
 
 I't. K. • '-"^''' -^""""l H..p„rt, \„|, XIII, 
 I'Xplomtion in the !V>ir<)in. • 
 Dowlia,, D » ,. '■' '^■"katohewM.iflSj""'"™ •*''*''>'• "f •»>« -li»trirt 
 
 r-''^-^"u-ri;ti'^^^^^ 
 
 Ml. J. Muoin.o,,, . , ,. . '^«* t^".;;). VoHi. 1 Wt •f^"""'" ""'^^' 
 
 Great Slave laico Ge^l s,?,„^"""7.'"'' 'honce to 
 
 (CarJ^riier) ^'*™"^''' Sunimary Report. 1907 
 ':™cter,-riveV,'"^»- «•"»-">■ Report, iflO., 
 ^jV.|Sn«e^'""»''''- ■"^""-•^ Report. .««, 
 
 White. Ja„.ea... .r'^'iT"''^'""''!^"''"^^^ "'"^"' """• 
 
 B«rp^.Uwre„ceJ.. ^he'^ /'•^""""-'"^-•'">»1». Oept.olthelnterior. 
 
 • *^- '^•^ Tt'^'^'e'' Nml. Ww""'*' '^""^ "f 'he Interior. 1908. 
 
 ^ trict. On,?;;^:"" "' •'^'"o""' »nd Thunder Bay di.,. 
 .°nd "^^ ^' '•^"^'""^'' *-I> '"' "' *""""• '^"'' '^"""y n^nel,. 1909 
 
 ' l"irr>l't """''"«"- -'^ «-ro,t are.,, p„,,i„„ 
 
 Mroi'r"N*!,T :iS"'"*-«^R™nch. 
 
112 
 
 (ifOI.tM.K M «.l ll\ KV. < \\ Mi\. 
 
 AiUmK, r. I* ■""I l*iirlii». 
 
 III). >.H 
 
 nfonmrio „ , 
 
 Ik'pi. i.( Mint". I I'll!. Survry Hriim h 
 MiiiM'ir No. «, l!Mlt. 
 
 l).i>i. ..( Mini". imuulH , .. 
 
 .I..int np.,rt on il,.. »ifuniiii..u< • " , "•^»'»^" 'f, Jl',* 
 
 ltrun.wi.k anil N"V.i Aolm. i.1m. on Ihr «lNh«l.' 
 
 inilu'try o( Sooilumt, lUID. 
 N.lHon riv'ir. Hc|»>rt mum H<i'>nniii"iinri- «urvi> . 
 
 Apli'iiilMT-ttrlolxT. im». 
 l).pt.o( l'ul>lii' Work", mil 
 
 lUport on TiiiilMr(i)n<lili.iii^ iilonu th. proponol r..«t.,. 
 
 .rf the Hu<l"<«n »»y railway. 
 KorrMry Bmn.li, l)«'pt...(tlielnieri<.r, IMl. 
 |).pt. i.» Mim-K, Cttnudtt, CwJ. Hurv. v Hmnrh. ."^uio- 
 
 mBry Kiporl, 1910. 
 Ukf W nnip<« to lluilxin liay. 
 H,e«»rt, 'Villiam J .. U.P"" "I thVTvp. of ,h.. N:.vJ S,rv ... t «n«i«. I»l I. 
 
 ""'"'uthurv'.' ""'' " '"" W..i.r l'ow.r. of ( ,.n,..l«, ( o.unu-.on of I on«rviition, 
 ( uniwU. IVII. 
 
 ,\ v.. 
 
 WU. H. « 
 
 K.r. 
 
 Mil<' 
 
 PiiWann, .1. K. 
 
 Hrock. H. W ... 
 
 U.S. K 
 
IKOIZ. 
 
 Acflrillf ur«l lrt,„|, 
 
 AmiMT '■"' "»*'•"••■■;■■:::;::;:: 
 
 ^'";/.»'i-, .luv iroii.torn. .. 
 
 ni»l 
 
 'M|.,lm|,.N ....','. 
 
 , »and 
 
 ^rpM*||i(,tI fivri*.. ..■.. 
 
 A,b^io: ."^^';' "•'•""H i,v TrriPii...:;;;;;;;; 
 
 Afh«bu.k„ .MM,;,,;,;;--;-'; '.■.'.■.■.■.'.'; 
 
 I'wi: 
 
 . . va 
 
 ■ W. ■£! 
 •1», I IB 
 
 . . ir. 
 117 
 
 ■ • no 
 
 ■ • MI 
 
 I.TI 
 . . !.«> 
 
 NX 
 If) 
 
 . 51 
 117 
 
 .. •i<-«;n|,(,„„ „, .v,,| 
 •"Ploralicn bv .. 
 fnsKlla collfTtH bv 
 
 gibiioKr.phv ""*"*""'• """ "•- ••■•■.■.•.:■.::■.: 
 
 ««. n.,_W., IU.T«« nvpr rout,. .Io^tVih-. ' 
 
 go'idins .to„p'°'^" "»'■»»•'-« ir„rfrj;„i 
 
 01 h.ilmur, Kcrl NVKo 
 
 on iiiilH |,v. 
 
 . ... !>» 
 . . . . 7*' 
 
 .i 
 • • • . M 
 »». i.w 
 ... ii» 
 ION. no 
 ... flfl 
 . . . i.% 
 
 ■ . . 1.10 
 • . . I.W 
 
 . .. 7» 
 
 Caribou ... 
 
 Carrot riv,.r.' ,' i,«,.,',i.i;,' ' ' ;; 
 
 Chu^r,',""- •^'"■Amb;,. 
 
 •• i'T". P'"" '""'i''^' ■.'.;.■ 
 
 ciiinar;".'.'""-" '■ '" ''""■..;:::::.•.•• 
 
 Cobalt""/"' "' P'-in"'-'-' Al'beVt 
 
 .. "*■ ^■,.°- '•sploration by 
 
 Jio-'-ercial pos^ibilrtir'^ ""^'■' "'•"^^"n" 
 «opper pyrites reported byTyrriil' 
 
 .wr:;:r&"j;^--t'^"'!";::::: 
 
 1«S 
 
 of . . . . 
 
 island. 
 
 116 
 
 ■ ■••ix. IO»i 
 
 i;i« 
 
 ••. lix 
 
 • .••■ :••<. ".ft 
 
 • ■ I'l, w 
 
 . lai 
 
 ■ ... irwi 
 . w 
 
 ... 101 
 ... R.i 
 • . . 1.1 
 
 • 127, 1.11 
 -.. 112 
 . 3. .VI 
 
 •.. 1»0 
 9 
 
 ... 88 
 . . 128 
 .. 117 
 
144 
 
 OEOI.OOICAL SURVEY, CANADA. 
 
 " P4«I. 
 
 " " fossils tahnlated by 
 
 E 
 
 Kdwards, Abel, iron ore fonnd........-- '.'..'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 1« 
 
 KlU, Dr.. referenrn to report on oil-nnale^ 
 
 F 
 
 7 
 
 fwtt. t!," dMcription ^ ChuVchilV '^er . ^ • »J 
 
 Fidler, Peter, survey of Southern Indian lake ^^ 
 
 Firebrick, material suitable for iVmmM!'' SaSs'.iii.'iiT. 118 
 
 Fires, forest ii, «, «, . . jjg 
 
 Fish, Amisk lake 117 
 
 " Cormorant lake llg 
 
 " Reed la'-e '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 9 
 
 Fisheries ., .. 48 
 
 FM9Tl8*'°°'^^.°"^ ••■•"••■••'6«V6lV62^^ '**■'*"■ lis 
 Franklin. Sir John,' magnetio iron ore found - 
 
 G 
 
 . , _ ., . 88,128 
 
 Oalena reported by Ogilvie • j 
 
 Geological work in area, summary ot '.'.'..... 127 
 
 Oeology, economic '■'■ 4.'i 
 
 general .••• 12* 
 
 Glacial striiB, list of llg 
 
 Olaciation ...'.'... 1*5 
 
 Glass sand 128 
 
 Gold : 138 
 
 Granite for economc use 
 
 H 
 
 Harbours, York I «cto-y and Ft. C>'"rchill ■ • ■• '^\% 
 
 Harrington, B. F.. find of amber described by g 42 86 
 
 Hayes river, size and character .. . • • • • • • .■.■■.■.■..■. ' 8S 
 
 " main rente to the interior !.88m 
 
 Henry. Alex!.' li'meitone blocks described by j 
 
 " " saline springs at Carrot river •••••• "J 
 
 Hoflminn, Dr."," descHption" of iVon or;,' Magnetite island: '. '. '. '. '.':.'..■ I* 
 
 Hudson bay, character of rocks at I 
 
 Hudson's Bay Company 
 
 X 
 
 w 
 
 Ice. Hudson bay 7 
 
 Indians 7 
 
 Inhabitants I 
 
 Introduction i ' i !.'..'.!.....'..!......'... 88. 1 28 
 
 Iron 
 
 J 
 
 ISt.lSl 
 
 Jasper 
 
BASIKs OK XEisnv a v.. 
 
 ""^ AM, CHl'H.Hn.L HIVKas I45 
 
 K 
 
 '''"'••'•"«♦' «f ^Lr bv P*«r. 
 
 137 
 
 r 
 
 ^^.^^: 'S^ °",^<^'*"r-:;:::::::;: « 
 
 ;, '••. aaai^Mn of oil-nhalp 64 
 
 J-'gnite ..; "■d •....".'.".'.' '33 
 
 hime, liin«Btoiie'«niV»fci.'i« '*• 
 
 "i?-. A. P.. °x"?lo"MV»' "■i2i 
 
 ■• •■ "W!? Sr'^::^^:;:;----"::::;::;:::::::::;;;:;;;; 3 
 
 M 
 
 M 
 
 McConnell, R. o Ath.i.. <. 
 
 Ma^^ite..." •■"l^ottr:*-:'--'-^'- M 
 
 ««:■-«• "MI, foomii^ojnichuVVhin ri;;; '■■■■■■■■'::::::^:ii. y^ 
 
 .. „ S"/'"' "ver .... 69 
 
 Mi<a CrosH lake -kelson rivfr 90 
 
 Moiyb&""*p»'*'^VTyrr,ii;;:::::::; •••••■■":::::::::::::."i^ 
 
 ; 88 
 
 128 
 
 It 
 -V«-l8on harbour. soundinRs in 
 
 „ 'i;.". size and characVr' •. 91 
 
 Nickel. K*ind^*ui^^*'.;^ ;;;;;---.":^:;:;:";:;;:;;;;;;:;-;;-».«.jo 
 
 112 
 
 O 
 
 ^K Car?:|"'K'!' '""' -'-•'" "^ «, ,^ 
 
 Pasqnia hill' V. .■.: ' '^ 
 
 ON 
 
 127. 133 
 
 P 
 
 Peat 
 
 R»rthite ; 
 
 Potholes " **'''I 
 
 pyrite«. ^indf^ruii: :::::::::: - •••■•■••••■■::::::::: m 
 
 in 
 
 &7at^teipt-V-'*««' " so n 
 
 H«^yi^ ^^eK-l^^e^^t'"""^:::::::::::::::::::::;: ,.5 
 ano6- ,0 ^•"""'""f^ i" J^euon h^bour:;;::;:;::::;:;;:;;;; ;; J? 
 
146 
 
 «K01.CH(ICAL SlIKVEY. CANADA. 
 
 I'tcir 
 
 13» 
 
 Salt 136 
 
 Sand suitable fM gliiw ....••••■ ....28,100 
 
 Suskatchewan nrer, eharBcteT of . 88. J2H 
 
 Silver in galena near Nelson Ho«»e... ^ 
 
 Sonthern Indian lake, character of rooks at "J 
 
 <■ " " described ••■•,• J'T'.iiL — ai 
 
 Stewart, Wni. -I., report on navigation, Hudson bay and straits.... ^W 
 
 Stone, buildinit ••.• •lUVi'.i'l.^tJ.i 131 
 
 Snlpliide, occurrence of xron-sulphide noted jj, 
 
 Sulphur, poBnible source of " ,„ 
 
 Snlphnric acid, possible source ol 
 
 6ti 
 
 Tar-sands, sand exposures similar to jj, 
 
 " seams of lignite in '"'^ ,^ 
 
 Temperature, tables of gf 
 
 Tilw^."'!!"^^^^■■i;voV2^:M,■2i:■»,■8^■1■ov.■il^ 
 
 Topography •• ..'.'..." 9.27 
 
 Transportation, means ol.... j35 
 
 Tyrrell, J. B., amber found by .^ 
 
 exploration by • ^ 
 
 micB. etc., reported by 
 
 W 
 
 Wait, V. <^ . analysis of <■»"'••;■■•/••• 
 
 assay of sample of galena........ 
 
 examination of saline water by. 
 
 i:il 
 
 12(» 
 
 IW 
 
 II 
 
 Water powers ■■:■■.■.■ yr-iiA-/,- {' '.'.".'.'. fiO. fit . 82, 67 
 
 Whitjeaves, Mr., fossils identified hy. ,,3 
 
 • • -^ '— of district 
 
 Wollaston lake, character 
 
 York bonis 
 
CANADA 
 DBPABTMBNT OP MINES 
 
 GEOLOGICAL 8UBVEY 
 
 B W. B«or«, Diurm 
 
 -ssxn.. USX or he^x hepohxs o. a.o.ooxc.. 
 
 Owing to delays incidental to 2'^- ."""' '' *'«™»'' '• ^"•• 
 
 «nd the memoirs have not hi T ***" -""«^ n^«n«i«. 
 
 number and. theXllolS iVt w' "^ *''''^' -^--' 
 vent an. m.oo„eoption, aH.„:'tZ'lt.^" "'^'"^ *° "^ 
 
Memoir 6 
 
 Memoin and Beportt PubUihed During 1810. 
 EEP0RT8. 
 
 SeDort OB • B»olo«lo«I rwonnaiisance of the reaion ^^^''Sf^,^' ut^ 
 Nation's T?"nIt!o"nUMnt»l railway between Lake ifiplRon and CUy Uke. 
 
 No. lfl»T. 
 
 MBMOIKS-OEOUWICAI, SKRIF.S. 
 
 Uamoir 1 No. I. Oeolotical Stritt. Oeolouy of the Nipinon Baein, On- 
 Hemoir l. By Alfred W. O. Wijaon. j •, „. „«, 
 
 Momnir 2 No I Ueotoaical Serien. Oeola«y «nd ore depooiU of Hed- 
 
 Momolr 2. "" J',J'i„4»'Di,trict. Britiah cSfumbia By CVsrlw CamwU. 
 
 Memoirs .\o 5. ""lojtcal Sfrie.. Pal»oni»o{d fi.he« frpm the AlVirt 
 Memoir . y Brunswick. By. Lawrence M. Lambe. 
 
 Memoirs .Vo. < Oeolofliffll Seri". Preliminary monioir on the I*wM 
 
 Memoir 5. .^«J^ Ncrdenskibld Rivers <-oal distri.t, Yukon Territory. 
 
 No\^'a?ohgicll'serit,. Oeolo^y of the faliburton anl 
 Bancroft area*. Province of Ontario. By Frank V. Adam- 
 
 Memoir 7 \ o"^ o" / Wr^l S^riv' ' Geology of St. Bruno mountain, 
 Priviuco of Quebeo. By John A. Dresser. 
 
 MEMOIRS-TOPOORAPHICAL SERIES. 
 
 M<«oir II No. 1, 7'.)noflraphicaI Sertej. TriannuUtion and spirit lev,.|- 
 Menoir 11. "«^^'^ ^^ Vamoiiver i-land, B.C.. 1909. By R. H. Chapman. 
 
 Memoirs and Reports Published During 1911. 
 
 REPORTS. 
 
 Report on a traverse tUroujih the -'""tj"" P"| »' * w ^o'will^n* ^No 
 ritoriee. from tac Senl to Cat lake, in 1908. By Alfred W. G. Wjlson. ?m. 
 
 "^Report on a P«rt of the North West Territories «J''«ine<> ^T the Winink 
 
 "<»R»%tnrj^Jo^^on;^arefad^^n1"t"h?ea.^^^^ 
 
 kaminu. By Virley B. Wilson. No. 1064. 
 
 MEMOIRS GKOLOOICAL SERIES. 
 
 Mamoir 4 No. 7. Oeologienl Serie: Oeoloirical reconnaissance •>on« 'J« 
 Memoir 4. i»o.^/. »^ ^^^ National Transoontinentel railway in western 
 
 Memoir ». NS'«!^e«lo^TcoYse;.«."lrhe Edmonton Coal field. Alberta. 
 
 Memoir ». Nf^fJ^O^oio^f^^l'serie.. Bi«horn Coal basin. Alberta. By 
 
 M.n,«<r 10 No lo. oSKcal Series. An instrnnental surjer. <>' _»»>• 
 
 sonthwestern Onti.rio. Bv .T. W. Ooldthwait 
 
ill 
 M.moir 15 sf't^^^Aieal ».H«. _0n • Tr.nton Echinod.rm Faun. 
 
 -» ^^Ei^f^W^^'^'- 
 
 rich RiM a>i»i»te<l by .Tosciih Kr*W. 
 
 Uamoir 14. 
 
 MEMOIRS-BIOLOOICAL 8ERIK8. 
 
 Mr. John Mn-oun «t ^rklry 5""{''i-„^'ST.'rB»rt'"h: 
 British ColumW*. By WilHnm H. D«U and F»nl B»rwn. 
 
 Menoin Published During 1012. 
 MKMOIRS-OKOUiOTrAL SRRIKS. 
 
 Memoir W -V"- U. GeMogiral .SVn... Southern Vamo :ver island. Hy 
 
 t?o'n;\f%e^pn"'l«vJ:''o:;?;vio.''°BT Charle, I). Waloott. 
 
 Memoir. Published to Date During 1913. 
 
 MBMOIRS-GK0I.OG1CAI, SKRIKS. 
 No 19, aeoloaiccd Series. B..thnrst district. New Brun- 
 Nr%: oloSiUal SS?".;. Whea.on district. Yukon Terv- 
 
 ,„,oir S: Vo"*«.- O«olo«ua, ,V.r;« Portion, of Atlin di.trict. B.O. 
 By D. n. Onirnes 
 
 Memoir 18. 
 Memoir 11 
 Memoir 25 
 
I l^ 
 
 li 
 
GEOLCH?r 
 
 From nutps un^l ftimns 
 Diip«ruamit of tlu* Int 
 mud /horn, tae^lmrati^m* 
 
GEOLOGY 
 
 o 
 
 N 
 
 O \ 
 
 w 
 
 K3 
 
 DEVONIAN ^ 
 
 o ' i 
 
 S ' SI LU MIAN <. 
 
 OROOVICIAN 
 
 1 < NCWEINAWANi?! i 
 
 3 ; I 
 
 LEGEND 
 
 K2 BanoB 
 Kl DakM> 
 
 Siimifmtpm 
 
 IttH 
 
»' 
 
 IfH' 
 
 UKT 
 
 lUU' 
 
 l«»l 
 
 It HI 
 
tfiiwjtliy 
 
 I LCoMwit.MHMnii: %M»mm.fkmirri tm i 
 W0I01CAL tURVIV 
 
OCOORAPHY 
 
 K^' 
 
I 
 
 t 
 
 3 
 
 HIwriN**)**! 
 
 A* 
 
 "1 
 
 LAUMtHTIAH 
 
 S'Brlaallad 1 1 1 ■»■» « »■ ''(M>M ( 
 •!■• *Mm lihiB I ■■■in i m* « 
 
 ! 
 
 M NIIWATIN 
 
 
 llroliafka 
 
 rrzi] 
 
 i:± 
 
 [:•:] 
 
 fill] 
 
 >0 I Hull I) 
 
 LA 
 
 
 r^ 
 
 n 
 
 itti^ 
 
^ ii ^X' 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 ,1 
 -I 
 
 i^., 
 
 jS 
 
 
 »<Mw A<M* M 
 
 
#■ 
 
 fnth»*ttM t t$Af0 
 
 
 
r*>«»ii tiN •III* 
 
 ll*«^sMii«l varMa 
 
 li«^trr«l nmrm^ ttf 4U**i»l MM* 
 
 Hvit^l tH l^rt «Im«v v« 
 
 Mmtn^tr Iff 30 ^ W^ M^ Innea 
 
in 
 
 (IHTM 
 
MAP riHA 
 
 HIx|>loi'o<i Rout ON 
 
 III the lower piuls of tin. (liHiua^r mvH of 
 
 lt< HILL \yn >ELSO>' RI\liUtS 
 
 MANITOBA AND SASK.VnilEW.VX 
 
 S«"hJ»*. iciilMo 
 
 Jm 
 
 W MILia TO I INCH 
 
(iBo'.(MfT ^rf (;BO(iKAnn: 
 
 
 < 1" »i' « »iii M' «Mnw« *r H Lifcfc u . 
 
 0COORAI»HICAL BASE 
 
 BATED GRADE «