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 GSOI^OGZCiLZ. SX7RVST OF OANAJDIL. 
 
 ALFRED R. C. SKLWYN, JMi.S., F.CJ.S., Director. 
 
 KEPORT 
 
 ON EXPLOKATIONS ON THE 
 
 CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS 
 
 AND ABOnND 
 
 GOD'S AND ISLAND LAKES 
 
 1879 
 
 / 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT BELL, M.D., F.G.S, C.E. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF PARLIAMENT, 
 
 X)-A.WSON BROTHERS, 
 
 1880 
 
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 ALFRED R.C.SELWYN.F.R.S. DIRECTOR. 
 
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 (dp A'.', 85. 
 
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 40 
 
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 43 
 
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 50. 
 
 Grty finely niicacfous ,/atf conghmerafe in which tlit pe/Nft ari- ahunJant, 
 
 nwll founded and cot,:p.js,d principally 0/ grey iyeniie and light £>ty 
 
 •iUiXrtziit. Strike F. dip .■>.■<:, S<... 
 C'-eyisk ,;-d gneiss. Stuhe 1-. dip X. <Z So ' St'iie X. 30 K . 
 ('f-'y A-neits. Strike F. dii .S" *: K5 
 MiciKt-oui grey gneiss, finely rihhoned. St> ikt M 
 
 Stria- S. 30 /r. 
 i<-:irs,- cry j;n,-iss. Strike X a E. dip / « 5. 
 Grey f;>u-;,s. ,\triht X 5 /; . 
 Dark ,:r.;-,iish grey/elsitic hornhUxdic sJinl. Strike X. 70 ;^' dip X la 
 
 F. -■: 65. 
 Ccarsf grev gtieiss. Strike X. u E dip f. it S. 
 Light rrddiiU and lery iiglit gr,y gneiss. .,(>,/,,■ A'. 
 "< rio. Stri,f X. 30 E. 
 Cnarsegrey i.„eiss. .Strikf X. i5 . W. dip X. i.. E. Stria- X. 18 E. 
 Dark gr,;.,„i,') grey yl-lsitit liornl'lrndii uhist. Strike A. sjA--- 85. 
 
 Stri.r X JO /(-: 
 
 Same as 11. Strike X. 16 /;: ,/// 90. Stria- X. ao E. 
 
 Dark gr,y gneiss. Strike .;. 70 E. dip S. jo li'. StHit X. 15 E. 
 
 Crt-en mica and hcirnhh'ide Sihiii. Strike S- 33 IK dip II'. -2 X^r 50. 
 
 Stri.r S. 8 ty. and V. 8 /;. 
 Ferruginous, dark colored, silicims.Jineiy crystalline hornblende schists. 
 
 Strike E. 10 .?. dip X. 10 E -cz 55. 
 Light grey coarse granite. Elates 0/ yellow mica in white -juartz and 
 
 felspar. Also, /ine grained dark grey micacecus gneiss. Strike S 65 
 E. dip S. 3$ IV. 
 Coarse reddish grey gneiss. Strike X. 63 IT. dip X'.-j,: A' - 90. 
 
 .Vi'»7> A". 30 E. 
 Coarse reddish grey gneiss. Strike S. 48 .€". dip north-east. 
 Coarse grey gneiss. Strike E. vo A', dip 5 -o /' -: 45 
 Grey and greyish red gneiss .Strike X. 45 E. dip X. 45 /;: 
 Dark grey feisitir schist -adth/ine lines 0/ it ratiji cation. Strike E 10 ,V. 
 
 dip X. lo W ^'_ 43. 
 Same rock as 21. Strike S. 7.. /r dip X w W. Slri,r A'. 
 Dark j,'rey glossy calcareous schist. 
 Grey, finely rihloned silicious state, fc'siti, and slightly calcareous. 
 
 Strike IK 15 S. dip S. i^ E ■-' 90. 
 Kery coarse grey gneiss and grey i'uarti rock. Strike X. i^ H'. dip IV. 
 
 Grey gneiss. Strike S. 25 E. dip E. js A'. 
 
 Dark greenish grey felsitic and hornlUndlc schist Strike S 27 W dip E 
 27 A-. 
 
 Grey calcareous slightly crystalline steatiU'c schist. Strike S. -,7 IV. dip 
 
 E. 37^. 
 Gneiss. Strike A". 70 H'. dip A' '.:o E. 
 Fine greenish grey gneiss. Strike E. dip X. -<: 3.;. 
 Greenish grey gneiss. Strike X. 40 A' dp X. 50 IV. Stri.r X. 
 Green epidotic hornhlende schist. Strike S. 70" IK. dip X. 20 // '. Stri,e X. 
 (hey gneiss. Strike X. if. // '. dip X. 5.) A" .•> Stri,/' X. 10 E. 
 Dark grey gneiss iviih veins 0/ green epidotic hornblende schist. Strike 
 
 E. dip X. -r 30. StriiK S. 5 (/•'. 
 Gneiss. Strike S. s,r, E. dip S. so IV. 
 
 Dark grey gneiss. Strike IV. ,0 X. dip S. 10 IV. -r. 45, Stricf X. 20 E. 
 Grey gneiss. Strike IF. 10 S. dip A'. ,0 1.'. -^ ■;:j. Stri,T X. A E. 
 Dark grey gneiss. Strike X. 20 IC. dip E. 20 N. <:t 85. 
 l^trike A. 18 E. dip E. 18 S. -' 80. 
 Very coarse grey gneiss. Strike E. dip S. --c. 45. 
 Grey quart-, rock. Strike E. 20. 5 ./■/ .\. 20 \\\ 
 Yellow pearl spar in quartz. Strike E. iX.dipN 8 IV 
 
 X. uyE. 
 
 Light t'luish grey calcareou.f j7lsit!c schd. Strike IK S X Stri.^ V 
 E. - ■ ^ ■ 
 
 Same rock as 43, and g,-cy gnei.'fs. Strike S. 65 IV. dip X. 25 IV <: 45. 
 
 Gneiss. Strike N. 45 E. dip. A'. 45 IV. -; 43, 
 
 Yello^v pearl spar inquarii. Strike H'. 20 .>r. dip S. ioE\ <i 85. Stria 
 
 X. :o E. 
 Grey gneiss. Strike X. dip IV. <: 45 .'' 
 
 Oey gneiss containing reddish and greenish spots. Strike IV. 15 A", di/ 
 X. 15 £'. -sc 60. 
 
 Line grained greenish gneiss. Strike h. dip cp. Siricc S. 26 JK 
 
 Soft grey schist full of grains 0/ clear riterous qttartz, with others of 
 
 iron pyrites. Strike E. -zi S. di!' X 3 '".<=; 3;. 
 
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]M^P 
 
 or 
 
 ^ND AND GOD'S LAKES 
 
 AND OF THE 
 
 CONNECTING LITERS TO 
 
 3XI^ORD 
 
 L^KE 
 
 FROM TRACKpURVEYS 
 By a. S. Cochbane, C. E. 
 
 Assist, to Dr. B3LL. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Scale 4- Miles to one [nch. 
 
 rrrrr 
 
 2 3 + 
 
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 THE BURLANO LITHOGRAPHIC CO MONTREAL 
 
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 63. 
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 65. 
 Cii. 
 (17. 
 
 C6. 
 
 (59. 
 70. 
 71. 
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 75. 
 
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 81. 
 
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 84. 
 85. 
 
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 ;V. 15 E. -C 6tJ. 
 line grained firetnish ^ni'i$t. strike h. <1il> jr>. Sfri.f S. afi "^. 
 So/l gny f.hiii full 0/ grains 0/ ,Uar r itfrout quartz, with otkitt 0/ 
 ironpyritis Striki' E. 22 S. t/iA N. JZ /'.-«; 85. 
 Iron isiiinJ. Sfrpttttine viiih ,aL^\r,- us joints ami hard terpentine rock 
 
 n/ii hright grten rolor. Stionf; Hitigii.ti. diiturhancr here. 
 Very dark grey diorite. Strihe .T. 1/ 5. di/> y. 13 /J'. 5tria A'. 6 E. 
 Crey ijuart^ rotk. Strike /(', ,/// 5. -r- -tS. Siritr N. 8 E. 
 Siiiritnn longlotnrrate. Strike A. //// ')<j 
 
 Micaceous grey gneiss Jinely ribboned, ."strike S. 43 E. difi A'. 47 E. 
 Crey/elsitic schist shinning very fine Una 0/ straiijiiatiim. Strike N. f<o 
 
 If.dip.V. y>E.-^ 85. .Strides. 70 it'. 
 Massive grey mica schist with glo.^sy spots. Strike £. 10 A', dip S. 10 W. 
 
 Same rock as No. 59. 
 
 llark s:>e,n cryiialline diorite. with catcspar .'n the joints, holds iron 
 
 pyrites and s»iali veins c/i/nartz. 
 I .neiss. Strike JV. 65 '^'. «'«/ A'. 27 R. Strict N. -^5 E. 
 u,-cygneis>. Strike S. (h E. dip N. jr. E Stri..- N 20 E. 
 Same rock asfsi. Strike H'. 15 ^V. ./// .V. 15 E. Stri.e N. 16 E. 
 Kearlyllai.k finely crystalline hornhleni schist. 
 
 Grey gneiss. Strike A'. 4? /^' 
 
 Very light grey fine grained granite . Strike N. 45 E. 
 
 Gneiss, i'lp Easterly ■. ^:, 
 
 Nearly fd.xck, finely cryslalliuc horuHer.de schist. Strike E. 10 N dip 
 
 N. 10 iV. Strut N. \t E 
 Darkvrry felsitic schist thickly sfn'ttedwilh whitish felspar, giving it a 
 
 po'phvitic appearaiitc. Strike ,':. dtp S. 
 .<;avie rock as 73. Strike X. to J- dip A'. 70 ;/'. «- ■ 45- Stride N. v.-, E. 
 Same r..ck as jv Strike N. i^ E dip X 1^ ''''-=;- ':.o. 
 •-ame rock as r\. Stride S. ( ■ /;. dip un, clain. S> >!ce N. 70 E. 
 Same rock as 73- -S^ '•''>' ■''' 5 ' E. dip A'. 3 ' A'- Stri.e X. s E. 
 Co>:'pact ./ark grec,!!.<th ^ >cy di'.yUe wilk ; little calcspar in the joints. 
 
 .-strike .v. '« /;". dip ~.)o. Stria: X. w E 
 .Same ioci,- as T^. Strike X- r'.. H: dip X. .4 ^'■- ■■-- 4S. 
 Fine graia.dgrey (" pepper and salt ".; gneiss. Dip Xorihw.ir.is ve>y 
 
 irrceiilar. S/ri.r A' I'A E- 
 .Same rock at 78. Strike E dip X. St rice X. 25 ^^• 
 .Same rock us 7S. Strike X. 25 E. 
 I ompact dark greenish grey diorite. Strike S. 60 E. 
 .Same rock as 80. Strike X. 8n E. dip X. .0 SV. Striae X. 35 E. 
 JMrk greyish green diorite schist. Strik.- X. 50 W-'. dip X. .\o E. 
 Cneiss. Strike X. 20 E. Strice X. 44 £■ 
 (ineiss. Strike E. .'itri.e X. 30 E. 
 Finely grained flesh colored gneiss. Strike N. 60 tV. dip X. 30 E. Strice 
 
 X. ,34 E. 
 Finely crystalline black hornblende scl:ist full of dull garnets ot large at 
 
 peas. Same of it micaceous and holding 1; r.mite pebbles. 
 Keddisk and grey gneiss. Strike S. 70 E. dip S- 20 /(' -- 70. Stri.Tf 5, 55 E. 
 urey gneiss. Strike X. 40 ii'.dip Westward &.-. StriiP X. 12 £. 
 tircy gneiss. Strike X. 60 F. dip. S. 30 /:. Stria- X. 20 £. 
 
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 (iKOl-OOIfAI- Sl'RVKY OV'FICE, 
 
 Mo.NTUKAi., Muy Itli, 1880. 
 Ai.VR&u R, C. Sei.wvn, Ksw., F.R.S., F.G.S., 
 
 DirfCtor of the. Geologiail Survry. 
 
 Sill, — My rcpi>rt, (ioiiUiiniii^- ii burniiKiry of tho rcsiills ol' tlio oiioru- 
 tiotiH of the Hottson of 1S71». is hoi'owitli rospoctfully submitUxl. 
 
 i luivc llio honour to In.', 
 Sii', 
 Your t)bediont servant, 
 
 KOIJIORT BKLL. 
 
 1S8025 
 
r*-, ^.■; *- 
 
 I * 
 
 ) i 
 
REPORT 
 
 ON EXPLORATIONS ON TUB 
 
 CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS 
 
 AND AliOUNI) 
 
 (;OI)'S AND ISLAND LAKES, 
 
 18 7 9. 
 
 sv 
 
 ROBERT BELL, M.D., F.G.S., O.E. 
 
 Before proceeding to wtuto the results of the work to which thin 
 report refers, I shall give a brief narrative of the season's operations 
 and mention the methods pursued in endeavouring to acconi})lish theM^ct^hod^ 
 objects we had in view. In 1878 I had made a track-survey and a 
 geoi 'gical examination of the l)oat-route from Lake Winnipeg to 
 Hudson's Bay by way of Oxford and Knoo lakes, and the rivers thence 
 to York Factory. I had also made topographical and geological sur- Previous 
 veys of the lower part of Nelson River, and of the upper part of the "'"'^^^ ' 
 same stream, from Lake Winnipeg nearly to Split Lake, leaving untin- 
 ished the central part. In 1879 I was to corui)lete this and to examine work for 1879. 
 as much of the Chui-chill River as the season would permit. In order to 
 accomplish this I proceeded, as before, by way of the city of Winnipeg 
 to Norway House, which I again made my headquarters for the season. 
 It is due to the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company that I should ^°nt o?'""^'" 
 here again express our indebtedness to thorn for their uniform kindness'"""*'-'"-^"- 
 and for the substantial assistance wiiich they often rendered, enabling 
 us to accomplish much more than would othervvise have been possible. 
 In this connection I must mention more part'ciilarly Mr. (Irahamo, the 
 Chief Commissioner, Mr. J. McTavish of Fort Garry, Mr. Wm. Flett of 
 the Stone Fort, Mr. Roderick Ross of Norway House, Mr. C, Sinclair 
 of Oxford House, :Mr. Linklater of Island Lake, Mr. J. R. Spencer of 
 Fort Churchill, and Mr. Joseph Fortescue of York Factory. 
 
(iKOT.OdrrAT- ><UnVKV OF fANAPA. 
 
 Assistant. 
 
 Men. 
 
 I was assisknl <luvii\<; the season l),y i\lr. A. 8. ('ocln-ano, who had 
 afcompaiiicd mo on a former survey, and through liis otlicionex^ as an 
 i'\'l)h)ivr tlie cxtcnl of our fu'Id-work was hiru'ely incirased. On my 
 journoy west, hy way of (h(^ hikes, I picked nj), at tlie SauU Ste. Marie, 
 three men whose merits i had tested on loiii;" exploi-ations in previous 
 years. 
 
 A few da,ys aft ei- our ai'rival in Maniloha, the officers of the Hud- 
 son's Bay ("oini):my kindly aUowed myself and party to take passage 
 liy tlio steamoi- Colrille (which also towed our York hoat) fi'OTn Lower 
 Fortdarry to(ieorge's Tslaiid, or the gre.-iter ])art (jf the <listaneo to 
 Norway House, for which they made no cluii'go. Tliej- also gave me 
 till' use of the Voi'k lioal referreil to for the summer. 
 
 Before ivaching Norway House, although diligent en([uiry was 
 made, no i-eliahle informati< ii could ije ohtuiruvl with regard to the 
 Churchill River, the conti-al ])ortion of the I'T'lson., or the country 
 lying between these two stn^ams ; and even at this ]>ost very little Avas 
 known on the subject. This arises from the fact that both these rivers 
 have lung since lieim abandoned as " voyaging" routes by the Hu(ls(jn's 
 Ba}* Company, and also that no Indians live at or near the parts I was 
 to examine. At Norway House it was ascertained that a route for 
 small canoes existe(l between Sjilit Fjake on the Nelson and the head- 
 cliiiivliiiil{iver waters of the Little Chui-ehill liiver, and I determined to l()llow it and 
 the latter stream to the (Ireat Churchill, and to descend tins river to 
 the sea. As it was necessary to find out everything as we went along, 
 the (luestion of how best to tinish my survey of the central ])ai"t of the 
 Nelson River was left to lie decided as circumstances might determine. 
 
 Ml- rnrliniu's l^t>'"*''*-' leaving Norway House, Mr. Cochrane was instructed to pro- 
 iusiiiRuoii..*. (,(^.^(1 t,)<Jo(rs Lake and Island Lake and to make track-surve3's and a 
 geological ev.uinination of their slioi'es, as well as of his routes in 
 going from Oxford House mid i-cturning to it again. The position of 
 Oxford .House I had determined the previous year. Mi: Cochrane 
 performed this service in a very satisfactory manner. 
 V ,, I left Noi .,,(V House on th(^ 16th of July with four Indians and two 
 
 ';; '■'"';•,, small canoes, and reached F(i,'t Churchill, by the route above indicated, 
 on the oth of August, lun mg coiupletcd a track-survey and made :v 
 geological exan)ina!ion )f the whole distance. On I'oaching the 
 junction of the Little wi Ji the Croat Churchill lliver, I left most of 
 my outfit in charge ; f one man, and with the otlier thrci' made an 
 upward exjiloralioi of tlu" main river for two daj's, so that the time 
 occupied on the journey between Norway House and the sea, at Fort 
 Churchill, was oidy seventeen days, two oi' which wei'e lost (nving to 
 rain. 
 
 \iir\v:iy Hou?r 
 
 Wllllt of 
 
 iiiriiniiiitiiiii. 
 
 Aliiiii'lonoil 
 rivci'p. 
 
 R'liiti' to 
 
nifRr-niM, and nelson iuvehs. 
 
 ► 
 
 Fvou) tho moiitli of till' Cliurclnll 1 slartcil in u Itoat with my ow 
 iiicii to oxiiinine the const of Iliidson's liav iiortliward. hut t'iicuii 
 
 Htaticos soon ohliij-i'd mo to ret tin 
 
 lliiil 
 
 son s 
 
 I^av ( 
 
 omj)any s ship ship fn 
 
 iiiilii 
 
 Asccml thr 
 .Nelson l{i\ or. 
 
 from Loii(h)ii an-ivcil the same (hiy tliat I i-i'tiiriR'(l to tlu' month of tlie 
 river, and tlie oa|)tai(i kindly a;jjreed to give a passai^e to myself an<l 
 men to York Kactory. While the ship was lying at Fort Chiirehiil, I 
 made an approximate survey of the Kurronnding region. 
 
 At York Faetory I ohiaiiied some provisions, and, with the men who 
 aceompanied mo from Norway House, jiroceeded in the same; small 
 canoes to ascend the Nelson River to the point which had heen rcacluvl •' 
 when e« ?-o«/6' for Churchill. The river iihove the iirst rajtids jn-oved 
 very dilliciilt to ascend and the journey occupied a longer time than 1 
 had expected, hut with the aid of the game and tish which we obtained 
 we managed to subsist. 
 
 A short distance above Split Lake, the Grass River enters the Xelson t!i;i>s nwer. 
 on the west side. Having already explored the Xel.soa above this ])oint 
 both in 1878 and 1870, J determined to ascend the Grass River, and 
 from one of its branches 1 again reached the Nelson at the fool of Sijii- 
 wesk Lake. I next made a track-survey of the north-western channels other ?urveys. 
 and arms of this lake, and then of the channels to and from Duck Lake, 
 as well as of the latter lake itself. 
 
 In going uy, fi-om Pipestone Lake to Norway House I surveyed a ^ 
 small channel of the Nelson, which runs for some miles through the Uirnmrii Moss' 
 eastei'ii part of Ross' Island, of which both sides were mnpjieil in IS78, 
 and the island found to be over tifty miles in length. In the course 
 of these explorations along the Nelson River, observations were taken ot.sorviitioM-. 
 for latitude, longitude and the variation of the comp.i-^. and a iiiiinlu'r 
 of photographs were obtained. 
 
 On rijaching Norway House again,! founu nut Mr. (,'ochrane had 
 returned onlv a day or two in advance of myself, and as soon as we 
 
 ,,..,.' \- I I • Return to 
 
 could get ready we set out tor Manitoba in the same v rk hoat in .Mmiitoba. 
 which we had come. The season proving very stormy wiih head- 
 winds, we were three wecdcs in reaching Lower Fort (Jarry. ITaving 
 made a track-survey in 1878 of the west side of fjake Winnipeg from 
 
 the Dog's Head southward, the east side was t'ollowed on the present ski-ti-h ot iKirt 
 
 . n 1.1 1 I /> I. 1 -r»- 111 "I' I'!''"' ^liore ol 
 
 occasion from this place to the mouth ot Red River, and a ski ii LhUv WinnipcB 
 
 of its outline taken. 
 
 When in Manitoba, it was my intention to have made a geological 
 
 examination of the line of the Canadian Racitic Railway eastward frcrn 
 
 Red River to Rat Portage, but it was not found practicable to do s- . 
 
 11 1 M 1 1 • I I ''t't"!"" '" 
 
 and as the season was well advanced I returned to .Montreal, which 1 .Montreal. 
 reached on the 11th of November. 
 
4 e (lEOLOGtOAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 Siiiiiiniiry of TliG following list sliows thc rcHpoctivo loiigtliH of the several tnick- 
 sur\ejs, surveys which were made hy myself: — 
 
 Miles. 
 
 1 . Canoe-rotite from Split Lake to Was-kai-ow-a-kti Lake 42 
 
 2. Shores of this lake 30 
 
 3. Little Churchill River, fol lowing its course 172 
 
 4. Great Churchill River, following its course 169 
 
 5. Shore lines, &o., iu the vicinity of Fort Churchill 40 
 
 6. Nelson River, including some re-surveys; but not the lakes on its 
 
 course 212 
 
 7. Shores and connectiiiu channels of Gull, Split, and Sii)i-we8k 
 
 lakes, not including islands and the smaller liavs 232 
 
 8. Grass River and lakes in its course, counting on / the straightest 
 
 line through eacli lake, betwcci the points at which 1 entered 
 andleftit 108 
 
 9. Part of the east shore of Lake Winnipeg between the Dog's Head 
 
 and the mouth of Red River G4 
 
 Total 1,069 
 
 Thciee surveys, cheeketl by^ the numerous latitudes which were 
 taken, and knowini>; the loiigitudos of a few points and the magnetic 
 variation which was frequently ascertained, enable us to lay down, 
 with sutticiont accuracy lor present purposes, a considerably amount 
 Data for a map. of topography. As, howevor, it is pr(jposed that I shall continue ope- 
 rations during the coming season in the same field, and also extend the 
 area explored, it is considered best to jmblish a map of the i-esults of 
 both years' work at the same time, l-'or the same reason I propose 
 next year to describe the whole region more full}', so that the present 
 report may no considered as being to some extent only provisiomil. 
 
 Map showing jhe area covered bv Mr. Cochrano's exi)lorations havinij; beina: con- 
 Mr. Cochrniio s "^ , ^ . . . 
 
 exploration!!, fined within narrower limits, may be considered as finished, and his 
 
 map accompanies this report. 
 Summary of his The following list shows the number of miles of track-survey 
 
 accomj)lishcd by Mr. Cochrane : — 
 
 Miles. 
 
 1. The channels between Great and Little Playgreen Lakes 49 
 
 2. Jack River, from Rossville mission to above the second rapids. , . 26 
 
 3. Canoe-route from Knee Lake to God's Lake 27 
 
 4. Shores of main body of God's Lake 136 
 
 6. Canoe-route, including Rat, Clearwater and Touchwood lake , 
 
 between Oxford Lake and God's Lake G7 
 
 6. Canoe-route between God's and Lsland lakes 69 
 
 7. Shores of Island Lake, all around 213 
 
 Total 586 
 
 A somewhat less accurate track-survey, embodying upwards of forty 
 
cmmCIIILL AND NELSON RIVERS. 
 
 5 c 
 
 miles of shore-lines, which was matlo of tho up))or division of (Jod's 
 Lake, is not includoU in the foregoing statement. 
 
 Tho siu'veys mentioned in the above lists, amounting in tho aggre- 
 gate to 1,655 lineal miles, were completed in less than three months Time ami meii 
 
 . , , , , . , 1 • .11 11 1 1 required. 
 
 With the assistance ot only six men. Although they ai-e made only as 
 accessory to our geological work, they afford a good knowledge of the 
 principal geographical features of the country, and may be found use- 
 ful for various other jjurposes at any future time. Besides performing 
 the foregoing track-surveys, both Mr. Cochrane and I resurveyed in Resurveys. 
 the samo manner considerable stretches, not included in the above 
 statements, which I had gone over in 187S for the sake of checking 
 distances and obtaining greater accuracy of detail. 
 
 In the course of the above surveys, I took a large number of obser- 
 vations both of the sun and ])ole-star, for latitude and the variation of 
 the compass. Others for longitude were also iiuide at a few points, obsorv'ations. 
 In addition to this astronomical work, the reiitUng of the barometer 
 was constantly kept for ascertaining ditterences of level of water and 
 the elevations on land, and the temperatures of rivers and lakes were Elevations and 
 noted a> indicatetl by the thermometer. There was not a very great "'°'^"'' "'^*^* 
 diversity of scenery. However, L exposed about forty prepared dry 
 plates, which gave as many photograjthic views as it was thought photographs, 
 worth taking, in onier to show the characters of the ditl'erent parts of 
 the region explored, or to represent any points of particular interest 
 met with. A few of these have been used in preparing the illustra- illustrations, 
 tions which accompany this report. 
 
 I made a considerable collection of plants as I went along, and Prof. 
 Macoun, of All)ert University, Belleville, has kindly furnished a list 
 of the sitecimeiis which I submitted to him. This will be found 
 
 1 !• mi I if 11 • 11 1 BotiinlCiil 
 
 in the a])pendix. iiie best jiart ot my collection was made along the collections. 
 Nelson River, but the greater portion of this was unfortunately lost, 
 owing to an accident. Professor Macoun has, however, found 237 
 species among the specimens bi'ought home. Notes were kept in re- 
 gard to the nature of the woods in .ill localities visited, and tho treses! "'"" ° 
 geographical range of the various shrubs and timber-trees was recorded. 
 Some remarks on this subject will be found further on. The informa- 
 tion derived froni a study of the distribution of tho trees and shrubs, 
 and of the flora genei-ally, in any district, aft'ords us one of the most 
 certain means of judging of its climate for agricultural purposes. It 
 will be seen that the general trend of the northern limits of the forest- Xprthem limitg 
 trees in the region under consideration agrees with that of the isother-" 'P"'''"'^' 
 mal lines as determined from other data. 
 The cJiaracter of tho soil was always notetl, as well as any facts Soil. 
 
 4 
 
fi 
 
 fiRfirifHilcAT- SrliVEY op (>ANAt)A. 
 
 ClilUHto. 
 
 ZooloKy. 
 
 Hal)its of 
 Maiiiimili'. 
 
 Dr. Klliott 
 Coiios. 
 
 which had Ihhmi ascertixiiied I)y the ollicors of the Hudson's Buy Coiii- 
 paiiy ()!• otluTS ill ro<j;ai'd to tlic (•ro])s which mi^Iit 1)6 raised. Hcsidos 
 our own exjicricnco in regard to liio nature oC the climato, intormation 
 was collected from others as to rain, snow, frosts, winds, &c., all with 
 a view (o ascertain as I'ar as |)()ssil)le how much of the country may 
 some da}- \)v turned (o account lor the sujiport of man. Kacts hearing 
 on these suhjects will he given in the course of this report. 
 
 Attention Avas paiil (o the zoology of the country explored as far as 
 our lime would j)ermit. 
 
 MammaJx. — I continued to gather infoi-mation as to the hahits and 
 lifedustory of all the species known to inhahit the district, hoth by 
 direct observation and by ]irosecuting my encpiiries among the officers 
 of the Hudson's Bay Company and the better class of Indian hunters. 
 T have been collecting notes on this subject for several years from all 
 parts of the basin of Hudson's lUy, and I jiropose to give the results 
 in a future report. In the meantime I beg to express my obligations 
 to the gentlemen referred to and also to Dr. Elliott Cones, of Wash- 
 ington, D.C., the well-known authority in this department, for the 
 correct determination of some of the smaller species. 
 
 Birch. — A list will Ix' found in the a})pendix of tifty-(ive species ol" 
 bii'ds, of which I obtained specitneiis of either the skins or eggs. 
 
 mens"c(iiiectea. '''''' i*^ 'i'^^ ^^Y ^*^' of some interest in ext(>nding our knowledge of the 
 geograj.)hical range and of the bi'eeding grounds of some of the species 
 enumerated. Although the mnnber of birds whose occurrence was 
 noticed is considerable, I iiave not added their names to this list, in 
 case of doubt. During the coniing season I hope to procure speci- 
 mens of many of them, along with others not hitherto noticed. 
 
 Fishes. — In travelling "light'' in small canoes I was unable to 
 carry along alcoliol for pi-eservi. g the smaller species, and none can 
 be obtained at the posts in the distinct. Wlien opportunities occurred, 
 however, I preservcnl specimens of th" larger tishes with common salt. 
 Before publishing a list of the fishes jf the district, it will be well to 
 take advantage of the opportunitie . which it is expected will be 
 atforded during the coming summer for adding to the numlier of 
 species ali'cady known, and increasing our knowledge of the distribu- 
 tion of the others. I may mention that I have ascertained the exist- 
 ence of twenty-one species in Lake Winnipeg or the adjacent waters, 
 
 Fishos of hake Fi'om specimens which 1 sent to Professor IJaird, Professor Gill, of the 
 Smithsonian Institution, has determined the herring Avhite-fish, which 
 
 Herring white- is caught in abundance at the mouths of the Nelson and Hayes rivers, 
 to be Corcgonus Arfedi. The same tish is abundant at the mouths of all 
 
 Piko-perch. the rivors arounil James' Bay. The pike-perch from York Factory ho 
 
 I 
 
CHrRCntLL AND NFJ,SON lUVKRS. 
 
 7 c 
 
 1^. 
 
 id.Militics iXH SHzostethinm Pmadetise. A lino grayling wa^^ obtained in r.ra.vliup. 
 
 tiu( brooks (lowiii-- into (lie Clmrcliill iioar tlie soa. Krotn a spfcimon 
 
 Hiibniittod to ['i-oi: (iill, ho finds the siiocics to l)e Thi/mallus ■^ii/nifer. 
 
 Tlio salmon IVcHHionting the mouth of the ('liurt'hill is the same spocios gnim,,,,. 
 
 which is more abundant on the oast side of Hudson's Bay, and was 
 
 referred to in my report for 1877. A sea-tn.ul is also found in the f^i'i«-tr..nt. 
 
 mouths of the (niurchill, Nelson and J laves rivers, as well as along the 
 
 east side of Hudson's and James' bays. 
 
 Tnsecfs.— Vho (^^leoptera, which I collected in the region of thoCoioopt^ra. 
 
 Churchill and Nelsiui rivers, were kindly determined by Dr. .). L. 
 
 LeConte, of Philadelphia, and a list of them will be fourd in the 
 appendix. The Lepido])tera of the district which 1 ex Jew. last i'CP"i"i'tcra. 
 summer luive been studied by Ilerr (ietVcken, formerly of Stuttgart, 
 Germany, who has kindly furnished me with the list of species given 
 in the jippondix. The specimens were collected ]H'incipally by the 
 Venei-able Archdeacon ivirkby, who resided until 1KT9 at York 
 Factoiy. 
 
 J/oZ/(/,sA-,s.— Owing (o the muddy and brackish nature of the water, ,j^^^,^^^^^,^g^y_ 
 no moUusks are found in the part of lludson'.s Bay near York Factory. 
 About the mouth of theChurchill river the only living species observed 
 were the common mussel (.V>/tilus (•duUs) ami a species of X/Yfomw. 
 Dead shells wei-e abundant on the beacli, of Pertcn Islandicus, Cardium 
 hUindlmm, Mya arenaria, M. tnmcaOi, Astarte lactea and RkynchoncUa 
 psittacea, but all tliose appear to have been washed out of the drift-clay, 
 which abounds fr<mi below the sea-level upward. A list of the IVesh- List of fresh- 
 water shells collected in the district, together with some from Manitoba, 
 is given in the appendix. 
 
 Waters of the Eet. and Assiniroine Eivers. 
 
 In the earlier days of the (reological Survey, analyses were made by 
 Dr. T, Sterry Hunt of the water.s of the great rivers of what then con- 
 stituted Canada, as well as of those of many miii<.'i-al s])rings and wells. 
 As it was considered desirable tocontituie this im])ortant work in refer- 
 ence to the principal rivers now included in the J)ominion, I obtained samplfipfram 
 samples of the waters of the Nelson, Eed and Assiniboine rivers for '"•««'"'''''''''■ 
 experiment. A complete qualitat ive and quantitative analysis of each 
 of the two last mentioned is now being made in the laboratory of the 
 Geological Survey, and the results will be reported on by Mr. Hoff- 
 mann. Having also brought home sami)les of each of these waters f,;™_ 
 six years before, which were aflerwai-ds submitted to Dr. Baker 
 Edwards, F.C.S., for analysis, 1 shall give his results in referring to 
 the subject of the water-su})ply of the city of Winnipeg. The bottles 
 
8 c 
 
 GEOLOaiCAL SURVEY OF DANAIM. 
 
 coiiliiining th(^ smnple of the Nelson Rivcu- water were uiifortiiiiatolj' 
 brokon on tho way to Montrciil, when our boxes wero violently tossed 
 about on a steamer during; a gale of wind in Lake Huron. 
 
 CI 
 
 ff 
 tl 
 
 Pity of 
 WinniiiCB- 
 
 Iraportanco of 
 a better .luiiply 
 
 Wells. 
 
 Waters of tho. 
 Rodand Assini' 
 boino rivers. 
 
 CollcctinK of 
 8umplo3. 
 
 t)r. Baker 
 Edwards' 
 analyses. 
 
 Probable 
 change in 
 composition. 
 
 The Water Supply of the City nf Winnipeg. 
 
 Owing to the rapid growth of the city of Winnipeg, which already 
 contains a lai'go population, the (jueslion of provitling it with a choajier, 
 and, if possible, a bettor supply of water than that afforded by the 
 present primitive and inadequate method has become a mattcu- of great 
 importance. The waters derived from tho wells sunk in the stratified 
 clay in and around the city, although clear and sparkling, are not 
 always pleasant to tho tasto, and they are evidentl}'^ too higldy charged 
 with mineral salts to be desirable for domestic use. JJesides these 
 objections, the quantity which might be obtained from such wells 
 would, no doubt, prove quite inadecjuate for the wants of a largo town. 
 The water of either the l{ed or Assiniboine Eivor is fairly good, .and 
 as these sti*eams afford the most convenient sources from which to 
 draw an unlimited supply, any information as to the nature of their 
 respective waters will be of interest at the present time. Dr. Edwards' 
 analyses, to which 1 have roferi-ed, were made in .fune and .Tuly, 1871). 
 The samples were collected by myself on the 18th of October, 1873— 
 that of the Assiniboine at Fort (rarry Ferry, and that of Eed River a 
 few miles .above the confluence of the two rivers. In each case tho 
 samples were taken from the centi'o of the stream. Tlicy were pre- 
 served in hard glass bottles, at a pretty uniform temperature, in a 
 cellar in Montreal until required for analj'sis. Having been kept for 
 such a length of time, a portion of the orgainc matter has most likely 
 l)een lost, but the mineral constituents have probably not been affected 
 to any practical extent. Before the analyses wore undertaken the 
 greater part of the suspended impurities had setth"' to the bottom, and 
 the decanted water, being almost clear, was not filtvred. The quantities 
 operated upon Avere smaller than would have been desir.ahle, but owing 
 to Dr. Edwards' skill, and his experience .as a water analyst, I h.ave no 
 doubt his figures represent very nearly tho composition of the respec- 
 tive rivers at the above date. The samples handed to Messrs. Hoffmann 
 and Adams, and which were collected in the corresponding period in 
 the month of October (1879), wei'c taken from each river at a short 
 distance above its junction with the other. It m.ay be expected that 
 some change has taken place in the composition of these waters in tho 
 intei'val of six years, owing to v.arious causes, among which may bo 
 mentioned tho dredging by the United States authorities of tho bottom 
 of tho Eed Kivor throughout a considerable part of its coui-se, to the 
 
 , 
 
. 
 
 CHURCHILr- ANP NELSON lUVEHS. ^ f- 
 
 cultivation and drainage of land, an.i perhaps also to the increased rain- 
 fall in Manitoba during the last few years. These analyses may, 
 theroforo, bo found to possess some historical interest :— 
 
 WATER OF TUE ASSINIBOINE IN J 873. ^ ^_^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^__^^^^^ ,_^ 
 
 (rrninn per IiniHTiul (fiilluil. 
 
 1 . Organic matter (loss by ignition) '^^^^^^ 
 
 2. Cfilcic sulphate 
 
 3. Calcic carbonate " ^ 
 
 4. Iron, alumina and silica 
 
 5. Alkaline salts, chiefly as chlorides ^ ' ' ^ 
 
 6. Magnesia sulphate 3009 
 
 37-80 
 Hardness hy Clarke's scale , lO-S" • 
 
 WATER OF TUB BEI) UIVER IN 1S73. 
 
 Tntal K'lliil contents 111 
 Brains pur Imperial RftUon. 
 
 , , 9g Red River 
 
 1. Organic matter (loss by ignition) ^ ^ ^ - water. 
 
 1 . Calcic sulphate 
 
 3. Calcic carbonate "' 
 
 4. Iron and alumina, 2-80 ; silica, -98 3- (8 
 
 5. Alkaline salts, chiefly as chlorides 5-18 ^^^^ 
 
 27-16 
 Hardness by Clarke's scnle, '■'*'. 
 
 V will be observed from the- above analyses that (all things consid- comjutrison of 
 ered) the water of the Bed River is rather better than that of the 
 Assiniboine This, I think, is contrary to the general belief, owing to 
 the greater ciumitity of mechanically suspended impurities in the Red 
 River water. The amount of organic matter in both is considerable, 
 and would, no doubt, be greater in fresh samjiles. 
 
 They contain a large quantity of lime stdts, the carbonate P^'^^ReJative.^^^ 
 dominating in the Red River, while the Assiniboine has the most 
 sulphate. Magnesia sulphate does not appear to be present m appre- 
 ciable quantity in the water of the Red River, while its occurrence m 
 so large a proportion in the Assiniboine water constitutes its worst 
 feature If the Red River in any part of its course contained magnesia 
 sxdphate, its absence in the stream near Fort < rarry at the above date 
 may be accounted for by its having been precipitated by the carbonate 
 of iron contained in springs and surface water flowing int., the river, 
 or by the carbonate of potash resulting from the lixiv.ation of the 
 ashes left by the extensive burning of the timber belt going on almost 
 every year along the course of the river. And this suggests a means 
 by which the Assiniboine water might be freed of its Epsom salts, in 
 
10 r, 
 
 OKUl-OlilCAI/ HlIRVEy OF CANADA. 
 
 caHO it should bo found otlicrwino doainiblo for tlio supply of tlio city, 
 namoly, by addiiiii^ to il a certain amount of wood ashos, which could 
 eawily bo obtained ho h)ng as wood iH so lar<^oly usod as fuel. In this 
 way a saluln-ious salt, tlio sulphate of potash, would bo substitutod in 
 the water for one which Dr. I'arkos, the well-known writer on sanitary 
 scienco, says should not excecil threes i^rains to the gallon in a whole- 
 some water. 
 
 stiiKo of w.iitr The samples of water analysed by Dr. Edwards wcro collected after 
 weri'' colitxtua. a long torm of diy autumn weather, and at a time when both rivers 
 were rather low. They would, therefore, represent the average com- 
 position of the streams better than if they had been collected at any 
 other season. During the spring freshet the waters would contain a 
 larger proportion of organic matter relatively to the mineral salts, in 
 summer they would bo atl'ected locally and temporally by the wash 
 from thunderstorms, while during the winter they would be excep- 
 tionally pure. 
 
 J might mention in connection with this subject that the same year 
 in which I brought home the above samples of water, I collected speci- 
 " Aiknii"oftlic nions of the white ettlorescing salt or "alkali " which every traveller 
 by the Assini- oi)(^erves around many of the lakes and covering the dry beds of ponds 
 in the region drained by the western branch of the Asslniboine, and 
 found that it consists principally of sulphate of sodium and magnesium, 
 together with chlori<ies of calcium and sodium. 
 
 A.s to the possibility of improving either of these waters before dis- 
 tributing them in the city, I may remark that, while much of the 
 coarser matter held in suspension might be thrown down in settling 
 ponds, a portion of it is so very tine that it cannot be got i-id of in this 
 way. The turbid water of the lied Kivcr imparts a muddy appear- 
 ance to the whole length of Lake Winnijieg, notwithstanding the 
 immense volume of clearer water sup]»lied by the AVinnipeg Biver, 
 and along with the milky Saskatchewan it is dischai-ged by the Nelson 
 Eivcu- into the sea — still very muddy — 700 miles from the city of 
 Wiimipeg. 
 
 Kiltration is the only cft'octivo remedy for this defect, and in addi- 
 tion to the sand and gravel for removing the mechanical imjMiritiea, 
 there should be a layer of animal charcoal for elimiiiating the organic 
 matters. Such a provision would ad<l comparatively little to the cost 
 of tiltration, since this substance is found in practice to act efficiently 
 in such cases for a groat length of time. Tlntiltered river waters, 
 
 Propapntion of , i i . i ^V • ■ ■ ■ , 
 
 diseases. more than any other kind, are frequently the metliura for propagating 
 
 such diseases as tj'phoid fever, cholera, diarrhtca, tlj'sentry, internal 
 parasites, &c., by means of ^hc living germs which they contain, and 
 
 Itiiprovoiuent 
 of the water. 
 
 Filtration. 
 
CllUnrmiJ, AND NEI-,S(»N lliVEHS. 
 
 11 C 
 
 Kail) water. 
 
 wliicli iiiiiltii»ly wilh oxtnionliiiury rapidity in llm wiinii \vtallu;r. 
 
 Tim (laiigcr uri.siiitf from this ciuiso will incrciiho in tim cjiso of tho 
 
 rivers under considerution, as tho districts ihron^ii svhich they fl<»\v 
 
 lu'conic nioro thifkiy inhahitod. Almost tho ontirc! aiva ilruinoil hy tJcoioKy cf tho 
 
 tho Assinilioino is holicvod to ho undcrhiid hy soft Hat ly in;,' rocks or'''^*"" '""'"'• 
 
 Crotacoous aujo, whilo tho luisin of tho l\fd Kivt'i- lios principally on 
 
 Silurian stratii. Its largest hrnnch, liowovor, (ho lU'A Lake liivcr, 
 
 which Hows from tiio oastward, rises in the niclamorphie region to tho 
 
 west of Iiak(^ Superior. 
 
 .\ su|»|ilv of better WHt(*r miiiht be broiitrlit (hiwn at soiuo future oi her i'ns.-<iMo 
 tinio irom one of tho clear stj'oams of the iVmbina ov lln* KidingHii.j.ly. 
 .Mountain; or it might be convoyoil from tho Brokca-liead, Wliile- 
 mouth ov Winiupeg River, or even from tho Lake of the Woods 
 (which lies at a very coiisidorablo ohnatiot\ above tho Lower Hod 
 Eiver Valley,) shoidd the city become siitlieiently pojmlous and wealthy 
 to afford the grciit expense which would be involved in the operation. 
 Tho streams flowing entirely through the riaurentian counlry, beyond 
 the Winnipeg, could, no doubt, furnish a still purer and softer water 
 than any of the sources which have just been mentioned. 
 
 A large amount of rain falls in Winnipeg, especially in tho months 
 of May and June, and probably tho (numtity of most excellent soft 
 water which is shed from the roof of oveiy house and lost, if husbanded, 
 would prove sutticicnt for tho wants of its occupants. In order to 
 preserve this supply, a hirge cistern might bo dug below the bottom cisterns. 
 of tho cellar tloor, so as to protect the water from frost in winter and 
 evaporation in summer. This shouM bo lined wilh liydi-aiilic cement 
 and covered with iron, over which a thick layer of earth ought to bo 
 spread. A quantity of scrap iron might bo j/ vcd in the bottom. 
 Tlie only openings shotdd bt- those admitting the feed-pipe and jtump- 
 tube. The water might bo made to jkiss thr<jugha tiltoring box before 
 entering tlie cistern. If tho cellar should bo liable to bo Hooded, the 
 upper j)art of the cistern might be puddled all round after the manner 
 adopted by miners to keep out water. 
 
 It may be interesting to compare tho waters of the Red Ilivor and cinipmigon 
 the Assineboino with those of rivers in other parts of the world, both £;,',!|,,7e"'"* 
 in roirard to their solid constituents and to their hanlness. The tbl- "^■®''''* 
 lowing list shows tho number of grains of soliil matter, of all kinds, 
 per gallon, in a number of the i-ivers of Europe : — Thames, above 
 London, 15 to 18-5; Seine, :it Paris, 20-0; llhino, tit liyous, 12-88; 
 Garonne, at Toulouse, 9'5(j ; Loire, tit Meluing, 9-52; Scheldt, in Bel- 
 gium, 20-4it; Ehiue, at Basle, 11-97; Spree, at Berlin, 8'0 ; Danube, 
 at Vienna, 10-15, 
 
 |iean 
 
 ^- 
 
'^'■'»'. imrw-^ihT' 
 
 12 c 
 
 aeoLooicAL suuvky op canaua. 
 
 St. liiiwrence 
 and Otliiwa 
 watern. 
 
 IIar(Inci>8, 
 
 Dr. T. Stcrry limit found tho cli'iir water of tl»o St. Liiwroiico at tho 
 OascadoH to contain 1171 grainn of solids to tlio gallon, while the 
 brown wator of tho Ottawa at St. Amm's containod oidy 4"8l icr.'iins, 
 tho colouring boing duo to a miiiuto quantity of vcgotahio mattor 
 derived from Bwamjm at tho head waters of tho rivor, while tho invis- 
 iblo impuritioH of tho St. Lawrence con.sistod mainly of mineral Halts. 
 
 Tho hardness of tho St. LaAvrenco at tlie Cascades was found by Dr. 
 Edwards to bo 3-5°, and of tho Ottawa at St. Anne's 2-5", while that of 
 the mixed water of tho two rivers supplied to Monti-oal varied from 2° 
 to 3° according to the season of the year. Tho Assiniboino and tho 
 Eed River waters, although harder than those of tho St. Lawronco or 
 Ottawa, arc not much worse in this rcspoet than much of tho water 
 Bupplied to towns in England, as shown by the following examples 
 taken from Dr. Wanklyn's treatise on Tr(i/<7' Analysis: — The Thames, 
 above London, 14° ; Castleton, Derbyshire (water supply), 11° ; Oxton, 
 Birkenhead, 11'9°; Chelmsford, Flssex, 13*3°; Ivirbyshoro, Westmoro- 
 hand, 22° ; Chatham, 24°. 
 
 • 
 
 Geological and General Description op the Eeqions Explored. 
 
 Owing to the uniformity in the geological character of large areas of 
 tho region which I passed over, and tho total absence for long distances 
 of any rocks older than tlic drift, this report may be shortened and 
 simplified by including a notice of the geological observations in the 
 general account of the season's operations. This will be arranged in 
 the order in which the work was performed, as already indicated. 
 
 The track-survey which I made in 1818 of tho upper part of tho 
 Nelson River, terminated at tlie (Joose-hunting River, about half way 
 previous survey from Lake Winnipeg to the sea. On my way to tho Churchill River 1 
 resumed the survey of the Nelson at this point, and continued it to 
 Split Lake, tho direction being nearly north and tho distance about 
 iiino miles. Grand Rapid occurs at four miles in a straight line before 
 coming to the lake, and has a descent of about fifteen feet in the form 
 of a steep chute. This is apparently the only formidable obstruction 
 to the navigation of the Nelson River from the south-west extremity 
 of Sipi-wesk Lake, or from Red Rocks Rapid, on another channel, all 
 the way to the foot of Gull Lake, a distance of about 160 miles. A 
 portage of less than 200 yards in length, over a steep ridge of clay and 
 rock, leads past this chute, at the foot of which the river makes a short 
 western "jog" and receives the Grand Rivor ou the left side. At a 
 mile and a half below the "jog " the Nelson gives off a largo channel 
 or discharge to the right, which flows north-east into Split Lake. The 
 
 The Grand 
 Rapid. 
 
 Navigable 
 stretch. 
 
niiTRcrrn,!, and nki.sov ntvKKs. 
 
 i;{ r 
 
 !l' 
 
 t 
 
 /, 
 
 lliinitwiKiil 
 
 cr. 
 
 F,(>w«T ('li;iiii III" IfiM Us (or IkIiiikIs) Ifiipid, willi ;i ilcsctiit nl ntily alioiil 
 Ivvft '"ct, cM(iii> cKic mile rnillu'i' tlowii. 
 
 Hotwt'fii liio (JijiimI U:i|)ii| and (ho vvi'Mtcrii |url of Split Lake llio •iin'iKo 
 !Xn«'is> is partly rciMisii and partly ,tr''*'y '''"' liondilt'tidic Tlio strike 
 varies ill dill'ereiil phiecs rnmi S. (»()" to S. SO ' \V. It. is eiit liy a iiinn- 
 lier 111' dykes ol' dark eolniired dinrile, sdiim <•!' wliitdi, jus! Iieluw tin' 
 imieliiHi mI' I lie (iiass L'iver, an- wvy lari^c. Their rim lias a ^«'iu'ral 
 iioi'tli and -^iiiit li leiideiiey. On tlie i.ortli side iil' Sp| il Jjiike, opposilo 
 llie two iiilels of llie Nelsdii. Ilie gneiss is eiil liy iiiiinorinis dykes of 
 all sizes and rii'inin^ in many direetinns. helovv C/liain-dt'-JioekK 
 I'apid. on I he imrlli west side uf l|i(> r'\,r, dark iri'«'y <|iiiirt/.il(' and 
 hnrnhleiidie xdiisl ueeiir, and also a dark' Lrreeii serpent iiious-lookini^ ''"* " 
 roek with a soiiiewhal xdiistose sinieliire. The Hiiriitwood K'iver, a I'jj" 
 lar^d stream, with tiirhid water like lliat of Uie Nelson, enters the 
 wostorn extremity oi' Split Lake. On imi h siile of the month of lliis 
 rivi-r, llie rocks eoiisisl of <|iiart/,ose, felsilieand hornlileiidicMlates, niii-''^'''"''''' 
 niiiu' wesl-soiitli west, mm h eiit iiphy trap dykes. At I he Island of the 
 head, in Iho entrance of the river, hornhlendic schist is interstrulitied 
 with rililioiii'd (piart/itc, slrikinii^ east and west. The rocks on some 
 islands ahoiil a mile northeast of tin! wtvsU'rn or principal inlet 
 of the Nelson Uiver, consist of dark hhiish-^^reon hornhleiide and niicii 
 schist, intcrslralilied with rihlioiKMl i;-iioissic hands and with irre^'iilar 
 layers of soflci', li«f|it :;'ret!ii sidiist, all mindi contorted, 'i'lic rocks of 
 lh<' point lietwct-n the Nelson and Hurntwood rivers, and the islands 
 for two mill's to the iiorth-wcsl of it, may he considered as Iliiivjiiian, nuronian 
 hill h(>yond this, in the same direction, they pass into ;;iioiNs, coiisis'in^ 
 of thin hornhlendic and micaceous layers, alterMatint; with others of 
 i|iiarlz. 
 
 Split Lake runs east-north-east, and is alioiit twonty-live miles loii); Split imkc. 
 liy two or three widi!. The rocks aloii^ its northern shore consist of 
 gneiss, which if5 generally of a hornhlendic chavuetcr, iiitorstratiticHl 
 wit iMpiartzose layers. Towards the west end the strike is ahoiil cast 
 and west, hut elsewhere it is much tlisturhiMl. J^esides the rocks of 
 lliironian character jusl descrilied as occuiTinu; at this extremity of the 
 lake, a n'reen honihlcnde rock, which was nust with on an island nt^ar 
 the east end. may he of the same an'c. What upjiears to lie another 
 limited area of Hiironiaii rocks in this pai't of tlic coii?itry, is met with iinmiiian on 
 on the south side of the (Jrass I?iver where it joins the Nelson. Here, '"''''** '^'^*''* 
 at ahoiit half :i mile west of the Grand Rapid portage, there is a ril)- 
 lioned, slaty, hoi'tihlendic rock, together with a cotiVKc variety, and a 
 daik gray (piartzite, di]i|iing S. 20° W. < (J0°. Those are cut hy a 
 great dioritic dyke, running ahout north and south. Siliceous ami 
 
14 r 
 
 OEOLOGICAI, SUnvEY OF CANADA. 
 
 Elevation. 
 
 Split liake t« 
 
 hornblcndic slates aro tbinul to the wost of (his, Iml at about lour 
 
 miles from Oraiul Eapid portage rusty qiiartzose gneiss wliioli is 
 
 believed to be Laurentian, appears, di]>piiig S. 40° E. < 60°. 
 
 Country around 'l^bo couiitrj' arouiid Split Lake presents a generally even, but 
 
 *" "^ "■ .sliglitly undulating outline. The immediato shore-lino is usually rock 
 
 bound, but on ascending this a deposit of brownish clay, which appears 
 
 to attbrd a good soil, is found to be s]iread ovei- the eountiy. Tlie tops 
 
 of the larger and higher islands in the lake are also covered with the 
 
 Temperature of same deposit. On the 24th of July the water of Split Lake had a 
 water. * j i 
 
 tempei-aturc of (10°, and on the 11 th of Sc])tember of 51)° T^ah. 
 According to my barometric oltservations, Split Lake would have an 
 elevation of 440 feet above the sea. 
 
 In order to reach the waters of the Churchill River we ascended a 
 creek on the north sitic of Split Lake, about half way from its west 
 end, and from it uiade a portage a jnile ,ong in a north-westerly direc- 
 tion, over a nearly level surface of b « wnisli clay with small sjtots of 
 sphagruim, to a pond, from which ano ner portage, one-third of a mile 
 A'sscan Lake, long, With the Same bearing, brought us to the shoi-e of Assean Lake, 
 which runs at right angles to the portage trail. The north-eastern 
 part of this lake, which we followeil from the portage to the outlet, a 
 distance of nearly seven miles, is narrow and straight. The lake is said 
 to run about an ct^ual distance soi;th-westward from the portage, and 
 it must therefore have a total length of about thirteen miles. It hlis an 
 elevation of about twenty feet above Split Ijake. The rock on cither 
 side of the portion which we followt'd is gneiss, with a genci-al norfi- 
 and-south strike. 
 
 Leaving Assean Lake we followed a small, ci'ooked stream call" I the 
 0-mi-ton-wi for a distance of eight miles northward, in a straight line, 
 Was-'(Hi-ow-a- to a small lake ot the same mime. From this we reached the south 
 end of Was-' li-ow-a-ka Lake, at the head of the Little Churchill River, 
 by fl chain of seven portages and six lakes i unning no'-tk-westward, the 
 whole distance being about seven miles in a straight line. The country 
 traversed consists of brownish-grey clay, which presents steeji banks en 
 sann' of *he lakes, in one case eight feet liigh. Where the ground is 
 level it is covered with wet sphagnuiTi. 
 
 The eastern division of Was-kai-uvv-a-ka Lake runs nearly north, and 
 has a length of about twelve miles. The outlet is on the east side, about 
 eight miles from the southern extromity, at which it receives a stream; 
 and another, called Pickerel River, enters (he north end. Opposile (o 
 the outlet, a narrow channel connects this with an extension of the 
 lake, which the Indians iid'oi-med me runs south-eastward six or sevcni 
 miles, and has a width of three or four miles. The south-eastern shore 
 
 Wiifl-kai-ow-a- 
 ka Lake. 
 
about lour 
 ss whicli is 
 
 ,' evoii, liut 
 isiially rock 
 lich appeal's 
 ,'. Tlu' tops 
 I'cil with the 
 Lako had a 
 f 51)° Fah. 
 uld have an 
 
 ! ascended a 
 •cm its west 
 jstei'ly direc- 
 nall s]>ots ol' 
 ird of a mile 
 Vsseati Lake, 
 lorth-easteni 
 the outlet, a 
 e hike is said 
 portage, and 
 s. It hns an 
 )ek on either 
 oneral norlv 
 
 iini call"'i the 
 sti'ai,u;ht line, 
 o<l tlie soutli 
 iirchiii Kiver, 
 westward, tlic 
 The et)untry 
 leep hanks on 
 -he ground is 
 
 ly nortli, and 
 1st side, aiiout 
 ves a stream ; 
 Opposite to 
 Mision of tlie 
 I six or sevi^n 
 •eastern sliore 
 
'I I*" ,. 'v ' .,,;,(, iril.il ' ■ ' ii . '■ I 
 
 r 
 
 m 
 
 •■?jr3!:, T.iT-lf; 'rf-, ' I;;,'!.!! t 
 
 kMM. 
 
 m ir-^ic 1 1 'i:^^ 
 
 Si 
 
 rJt; b\:\ 
 
 H:'r,r, r.ffi 
 
rHrRrmrr, anp xet.sov ri veils. 
 
 15 r 
 
 !»W^ 
 
 a 
 
 E W 
 
 
 
 t.-l 
 
 
 n 
 
 H 
 H 
 
 
 ■I 
 
 I 
 
 of the liiko wjislics tli(> Imsc fi|';i n'dyo of drift, wliicli oxtciids for some 
 milos to tlio north-east and soiitli west, .-md presents w hare hank of 
 elay rising ahoiit sixty fi'»'t ahove tlie water, from whieh (lie lake 
 derives its name. The water is (dear, and on the 2nth of .Iiily'it liad a 
 (emiKM-atiin- of (17^ Fah. It alionnds with tish. inehidinj;' ,urey trout, i.-j>,h. 
 some of whiidi are M'vy lari;-e, whitetish, j)ike, pickerel, doi;;-tish and 
 siiclvei>. Its elevation ahovo the sea aj)poars from my harometrical |.;|py,j,i,,„ 
 ohsci'vations to he 'Jiiti teel. The eoimtry around is ijreen, the timing" 
 eonsi.-iiiiir of sj)ruce, white hindi. as]ion, halsam-))oplar and tatnarae. '""''oi- 
 
 The t;-enei-al coiiiNe of the Little Churcdiill Ifivi'r, all the wav froml.ittio 
 
 ' . . ■ . , Chiirctiill Kiver 
 
 the southern t.'\'ti'emi(y of Was-kai-ow adca Lake to its juiiction with 
 
 llu> (ireat ( 'Iniridiill, is nearly northeast, and the distance hetween tlu' 
 
 points ahoiit ninety miles in a straii^dit line. For thrive miles helow the 
 
 outlet (he river ha-; a tnuHjuil course, and then e>;|iands into a small 
 
 lake, hilt helow this, for >ome seventeen miles, it is hrokeii, here and 
 
 (lu're, hy rajiids, pa>t some of \vlii(di short portau'e^ re<|uir(> to he Hupiil,-. 
 
 maile. Solid i;-iieiss rocdc occurs at the rapids. I)u( elsewhere the hanks 
 
 consist of (day, u'ravcl or sand. Kiii'ther on the rivi-r (lows for a few 
 
 miles with a ijentle current, amoni;- isl.nndsand lai^oons, with occasional 
 
 hanks of (da\', covered in some i)laces with neat four W'vi (hi(d<. The 
 
 , ... , , , , , Wood cut. 
 
 accompanyin<^ wood-cut is (roni a piioto^-raph taken ;it the iowei- end 
 
 ot' this slret(di. lo(d<ini;' up-sU'eam. At tliirty-eiudit miles from the 
 
 southern oxlremity of Was kai-ow-a ka Lake, (he Swi((diinL!; Hiver 
 
 falls in from tlu' left side, and at tive miles furthei' we ent»'r (he Recluse necluso Iiat<p.-. 
 
 Lakes, which are of small si/.e and connccled hy a short sluggish por 
 
 tion of the rivei'. So far the woods along the river have heen generally 
 
 green, hut htdow these lakes (he timher is ni(.>(ly hurnt all (he way (,)""'""'' '•"""try. 
 
 the (ireat ('huindiill. 
 
 Cliiy ilc|M)sit. 
 
 The rock o(' the east side of Wasdcai-ow-a-ka Lake is a coarseK- , 
 
 S.venilio 
 crystalline, massive, greyish-red syenitic gneiss, hut along the rivei*, 
 
 especially in the (irst twenty miles helow the lake, other varities of 
 
 gneiss are exposed at therapiils. The strike is not unitorm, hii( inmost 
 
 cases i( approaidies a soudi-westward direction. The Heelusc Lakes lie 
 
 in (he norl li-eastorii part of a valley four miles wide, excavated in (he 
 
 grca( clay dep(isi( w Inch is evei'\wln're spread ovt'i- (his i-egion. Along 
 
 the norlh-wes( side the hanks are from KM) to L5(l feet high. ()\\ leaving 
 
 (Ik- lakes a few ra))i(ls occur, hii( helow these, the river, for a long dis- 
 
 (ance, Hows in a crookeil clumnel of unilorin l)read(h with a'tolerahly 
 
 swift ciirren(. hetwtHUi hanks of clay, varying from twenty to one 
 
 hundred and (ifty feet in height, hut averaging from forty to tifty feet. 
 
 The ujiper part of this deposit ajipears to he a moditicd (lay, with 
 
 occasional layers of gravel, and sometimes a riilge of gravel and sand 
 
 KllOls^s. 
 
16 r 
 
 (iT,<n.<)iiir\\, SIHVKV OF rANAI>A. 
 
 Boulders. 
 
 River Wiitnrs. 
 
 al)Ovc il ; wliiK^ tiu' lowoi- part is iinstratitiod ami full ol' ja'blilos. willi 
 sdiiio lioiilders. Tiio lattei' comprise ycllowisli ijrey nuii^iiosiaii lime- 
 stone ofSiluriaii age, gneiss, and a i;roat vai'iet^- ofr<icks licli)ni;-ini;' to 
 llic unaltfi'('(l, unfossililcroiis series ol' the oast coast of Hudson's Bay, 
 which resembles the Nipigon s^roup and which have i'ecn dcsciilpc(l in 
 my report for iHtT. Boulders of these i'<)cks are aliundant around 
 Was-lsai ow-a ka Iiai\e and they were also oIiserve(l alonii' the Nelson 
 h'iver. Limestone y-ravel became almndaiit a I'ew miles below Was l<ai 
 ow a-ka Lake. 
 
 In approachim;- the (ireat < 'liiiicliill. the river, tor a number of miles, 
 is dee]t and sniootb. and the clay banks have retired to a considerable 
 distance on both sides. The water of this stream has ii. brownish tin;j;e 
 and forms a striking contrast witii that of the great rivt'r into which 
 it falls. The latter is bi-ight and clear, like the St. iiawrenco water, 
 and on the '.\vi\ of .August it had a tcmperatui'e of (!2° Fab. during 
 the few days preceding this date, the temperature of the Little 
 ,,, , ,1 „• Churchill averaged ().'{" Fab. Just iielow the junction or '• fork> ' the 
 i''A'l'"A'"" 'i'-n ''i^'*''' i^ neai'lv a mile wide, and the land on the east sidi" rises from 
 HOO to -1;')(» feel above its level. Xo J'ock a|)pears in these high banks, 
 which are evidently composed of drift. Immediately abo\e the foi'ks 
 the river is much nari-ower, and the clay banks on both sides rise 
 steeply- to a height of about 15(1 feet. The latitude of the noi'thwcsl 
 side of the I'iver, opposite the mouth of the Little Chui-cbiil, I found 
 to be f)!" .'><)' r>7". and the variation of the compass at this locality to 
 be about 12" ;■.()' !•;. On the lattei' si r^am. at twenty miles south of the 
 Juiiclion, the variation was ascertaiiic I to be 1(1 ' .'?(!' Iv, .nid at twerdy 
 four miles it was IT ;!(V F. 
 
 rhiirrhill River ' i»~^t'«''ideii I be ( 'Imrcbill I'oi' a distance ot' twenty three miles (fol 
 
 ••'Fnrki.'" lowing the stream) from the mouth of the Little Churchill. In this 
 
 distance it averaged :ibout one third ol a mill' in width and had high 
 
 banks of clay on alleniate sides. Numerous ra])ids were met with, and 
 
 the total rise in the above distance amounted to 173 fi'ct. lU' at the rate 
 
 of seven ami a-half feet per mile. A perpendicular fall, remarkable 
 
 for its great width, was reported by an old Indian whoin we met at 
 
 Norway House to occur at no great distance furliier up the river. TIk^ 
 
 iipwanl course of the river beyond the ]»oint which 1 reached, must be 
 
 nearly parallel to the Little Cburchill. as the Indians say that in the 
 
 winter the vapor from the falls all along this section can be seen from 
 
 the latter river and Wasd<ai-ow-a-kaLake. The fundamental r(»cksare 
 
 exposed in the bed of Ihe river at the ra])ids, and consist of coarse 
 
 Syeniticgnoig.«. greyish- red or light reddish syenitic gneiss, like that of Wasd<ai-ovv-adva 
 
 Laki", ami in some ]»arls ])oryiiyritic, |)assing into a somewhat Hne- 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 ^1 
 
»I»K's. witli 
 lesi.-iii limt'- 
 
 (■li>lii;-il|^ |(» 
 
 lc>t'iilK'(l ill 
 aiit iinimnl 
 tilt' N'olsoii 
 )\v W.'is l<ai 
 
 KM' of niilos, 
 onsidoi'alilf 
 
 \Vlli^ll tilll,M> 
 
 ■ into wiiicli 
 ■oiico waltM', 
 ill. |)iu'iii;;' 
 
 ■ llu> Liltlc 
 • lorUs " I lie 
 r rises IVoni 
 liiifli hanks, 
 
 /e tlir I'oi'ks 
 1 sides rise 
 3 iioi'lh-wcst 
 hill, I loiiiiil 
 s local ily lo 
 
 SOlllll III' llio 
 
 (I a( twrtity- 
 
 (' miles ( l()l- 
 lill. Ill this 
 iikI had hi^'h 
 loL with, and 
 If at the rate 
 rciiiarkahle 
 II we met at 
 I' river. Tiie 
 hod. must he 
 ' thai ill tlie 
 lie seen from 
 ital riiek's are 
 >ist of eoarse 
 s-kai-o\v-a-ka 
 iiiewhat tine- 
 
 
 
 
m I 
 
 I' 
 
 a 
 
cnuRf'rin.L and nei.sox rtvkrs. 
 
 17 (• 
 
 LCniineil i\'(l gnoiss rost'mltliiii;- a liai'd alti'n'(l icd saiidstoiit'. liotli 
 
 rock.s have a very ''dry" charaeter. Tlu' i;oiioi'al strike is iiortli- 
 eastward or across tlie sti'ike of tlie river. 
 
 Tlie dislaiioo froiu llie junction ol' the Uttie Cliiircliill to the nioiitli liMwer p.irt of 
 
 ,. , . ,. . , ^ . ., . . , Oliurchill River 
 
 o) the iMver, according to my survey, is ahout ](*;) nines m a straight iifsirii)eil. 
 line, and the bearing about N. 33° K. (ast.) A consideraliie stream 
 enters from the left side at twenty miles below the Little Churchill ; 
 but with this exception the tribiitarit's ai'e appan-ntly all small. For 
 the (irst tweiily-tivo miles in a straight course below the ])Oint Just 
 mentioned, the rivei- bends about a good deal, but I'rom thence it makes 
 only two (nearly straight) reaches (o the sea. I'l-om the forks to the 
 end of the first 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 considerable distant!', is upwards of two miles. 
 The tide extends to the toot of the last rapid, a distance of seven or 
 eight miles fj'oni the open sea, the intervening .section forming a lagoon i,ag„„„. 
 about two miles broad. The mouth of the river, which is bounded l>y 
 .solid rock, is less that lialf a mile in width, and the point on the west 
 side |trojects some distance beyond the other. The tine harbour of||^"[''yrI 
 Churchill lies immediately witliin the mouth of the river. 
 
 P^'om half a dozen barometric observations, taken on three ditlerent 
 day.s, 1 found the river, where it is joined by the liittle Churchill, to be 
 705 feet above the sea. This would give an average descent of ratht-r J.jJ'^'i*""" 
 more than seven feet per mile to the head of tide water. Ra[iiils arc 
 numerouH, especially in the tirsl thirty miles, and again in thi' iicighboi'- 
 hood of the angle formed by tiie last two stretidies of the river at forty 
 
 miles from the mouth. ()nl\- one of them, however, is formidabK'"i'l.v une 
 
 ' _ . piirttitje. 
 
 enough to retjuire a ])oi-tage to be made. This is a steep rapid, whieh 
 may be called the rortage Chute, situated at twenty-eight miles, in a 
 straight line, below the forks. Here the canoes are carried a distance 
 of 2(15 paces on the south side of the river. 
 
 In tlu> tirst twenty live miles above referred to, in which the river is 
 more crooked than elsewliere, it runs from side to side in a valley two "^'''i> viilUy. 
 to four miles in width, of which the slopes, consisting of earth, rise to 
 heights of two or three hundred feet above the water. Beyond this 
 distance, tlui high banks disappear or recede further from the river. 
 
 The same coarse reddisji syenitic gneiss which was found above the Syenitic gneiss, 
 forks continued to be met with in the bed of the river at almost every 
 rapid for a distance of thirty-tive miles, in a straight line, downward 
 from this point. In some places it was porphyritic from the jjresence 
 of large crystals of salmon-coloured felds])ar. The strike could scarcely 
 be recognized. At one place it appearetl to Ik' \V. N \V. 
 
r t 
 
 IS <■ 
 
 (lE(>r,(»UICAI. ,sl RVKY UK CANADA. 
 
 ! I 
 
 Uusty 
 8anilHtuno. 
 
 Cliirofeiirthy 
 liiuuatoiiu. 
 
 Illiistnitiun. 
 
 Last Kiio'iHS. 
 
 A Hecoiid 
 lime.stone rlifl'. 
 
 Hanks of 
 liniu:itono iiDil 
 ilrift clay. 
 
 At tlio 011(1 of till! tweiity-liw miles tVom llio ibrks, a rather coarse 
 greyish rusty sandstone, in liori/untal lieds, nKiUos its a|>peanince on 
 the rig'lit side mC the I'iver, and eonlinues foi' thi'ee miles, oi- to tho 
 Portage Chute ahove rot'erj-ed to. hi one place it furms u clitV twenty 
 foot in height, and rests u])on (he red syenitic gneiss which is hi'reseen 
 in the hottom of the river. 
 
 On the opjiositi', or lel't side of (he river, a clitl'of greyish-butf very 
 ei'umhling earthy limestone or calcareous marl hegiiis at the Portage 
 Chute, and continues for eight miles downward with a height varying 
 from thirty to fifty feet, in this inli'rval the same rock (M'ops out in a 
 few places on tht' opposite side of the river from hcneath the drift clay, 
 which is also heajHid aiiove iIh* heds forming the clitf on the left sid(\ 
 Tiie accompanying view, looking down the river, is co])ied from a 
 photograph taken two miles ami a half hclow the I'ortagc Chute, and 
 .shows tho appearance of the hanks in this vicinity, ^'he last of the 
 red syenitic gneiss is sci'n in a rapid at the termination of the long 
 limestone clilf above descrihed. Ilci'c anothei' escai'|>men( of the marly 
 limestone, like tlui oiu' Just ]tassed on the left side, and of ahout tlie 
 same height, hegins on the right side of the immt ;ind continues for 
 upwards of four miles, while tlic ojtpositc iiank consists of drift 
 (day with the limestone exposed in one place. Thin irregular and 
 interi'Uptcd heds of tolerahly pure grey limestone occui- among tlie 
 murlv sti'ata. The only fossils oliserved were some fragments of 
 enci'inal stems and c:ists of LcjitiViiti. 
 
 The termination of this lowei'inost idilf is ahout seventy !niles from 
 tlio nu)utii of the river. IJctween it and the commencement of the last 
 stretch, a distance of upwai'ds of thirty miles, the hanks are from 
 seventy to one hundi'edand lifty feel high, ami consist of drift clay w<ith 
 the limestone ci'op])iiig out here and there at the hasi- on either side. 
 The latter is likewise exjtosed at a short distance hack from the main 
 haidcs iu tlu; ravines cut hy nuniei-oiis ti'ihutai'V hrooks. The limestone 
 also occasionally extends across the hed of the rivei'. The ehainiel of 
 the Chur(diill in this section is evidently of pre-glacial origin. Along 
 it a considerahle thitdvuess of drift rests upon the uneven surfac(! of the 
 limestone, tilling its ine(jualiti(!s with a mixture of houlder.s, gruvel 
 and clay. The undisturbed pebbly and bouldeiy clay is also sometimes 
 observed to fill the angle l)etween the anei(!nt clitl:'and the river l)ed. 
 
 Along this part of the stream the limestone becomes less earthy und 
 of a dolomitie character. Some of the stronger beds are mottk^d with 
 white chalky nodules, while othei-s have straggling dark-colored patches 
 runinng over their surfaces, At the commencement of tho last reach, 
 or forty miles from the mouth of the river, the rock becomes nioie 
 
 '■^^ 
 
ratlier coarse 
 
 i|ip('!inin<o on 
 
 ilos, oi" to the 
 
 a c'litV Iwonty 
 
 k'li is lu'ri'MCfii 
 
 ■ yiHli-biitV very 
 
 it till' roi'lag*.' 
 
 K'in'lil varviui;- 
 
 crops out ill a 
 
 li llie drift clay, 
 
 Ihc \v\'{ sido. 
 
 copied IVoin a 
 
 iio-c Chute, and 
 
 riic lasl of the 
 
 tioii of (lie loiii;' 
 
 'lit of tjic iiiai'ly 
 
 1(1 of alioiit the 
 
 (1 colli iniu's for 
 
 insists of drift 
 
 1 iiTCi;'iilai and 
 
 cciir among the 
 
 le fragmeiils of 
 
 ciity miles from 
 Miu'iit of the last 
 hanUs arc from 
 >f drift clay w-itli 
 .' on either side. 
 ; from the main 
 The limestone 
 
 The ehaiiiH'I t)f 
 
 origin. Along 
 I'll sui'face of the 
 
 lioulders, gravi'l 
 s also sometimes 
 
 the river hed. 
 s less earth}' and 
 are mottled with 
 k-colored patches 
 if the last reach, 
 •k liecomes more 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 ^mi' ''.'^/'^i' 'V^'\ ■' '■ 
 
 
 w 
 
 >)•' ; Ai i'^"i;. .■('■'/■J' " ifi'Xi'Mil 
 
 mm f V 
 
— m 
 
 t 
 
 1 l 
 
 > a 
 
 ^'Uu 
 
i 
 
 rHUBCHII.I. AND NKI.SON HI VERS. 
 
 1!) 
 
 ovi'iily IkmI(1»'(I :iii(I of ji lii>Iitfr i^rey or luitV color. The lasl oI)s(M"vimI Huty-cnidroil 
 t!.\|)o.siir»' ot llif (loloinilo occui'.s iiltoiit five iidIos iiirllior Uowii. JNo 
 fos.siln wiTo fouml in tliis vicinity. 
 
 Hcifiiuiin^ a(i thirty miles i'vinn the iridulh and extending downward 
 for ten miles, the river Hnromis out anion;;- a y^reat number ol' islands, l^iiinds in tlie 
 and liejow this, as far as the tidal laj^oon, it is hroad, shallow and niuch 
 inti!i'i'ii|)ted with i^ruvclly and hoiddriy rapids, the last of which is 
 opposite to M is(piito Point, hetweon st-von and eii;ht miles from the 
 niouth. The llat-lyini;' limestones or dolomites do not extend I"' H'*' The limestonos 
 .sea-eo!i,st on the Churchill, as they ovidt-ntly do on tlie Hayes and ;',';,";,;;^^^^'='> 
 Nelson Jiivers. Westward of the laii;oon, and on holh sides of the 
 mouth of the rivei', a ditVeriMit tornuition makes its ai)pearance. This 
 consists ol'a massivi' dark ,tj;roy (|Uai'l/.ite, wiiich seems to contain more^j ( uuri/itf 
 or less felspar or argillaceous nuitlei-, and weathers to a lighter j^rey on 
 old surfaces. It is easily hroken in any direction, arnl seldom shows 
 distinct traces of hedding. It holds a good many straggling, irregular 
 and siiort vi'ins of white and irrey quartz, with others ol' a tolerably 
 regular character. >(early all tho.se contain scales ol specular iron. 
 Specks of iron pyi'ites were found in -onie ot' th»'ni, and traces of green 
 carbonate of copjter in one. In another of these veins about two 
 miles east of the mouth of the river, J found small specimens of a blue 
 mineral wliiidi appears to be laziilite. .Sjieciriieiis from u mimber oij ^^^^jj^g^ 
 these veins were brought home to be assayed t()r the precious metals, 
 and are reported on by Mr. llotVmann. 
 
 On the west side of the river the strikt' of the (|uartzite f<-'i'i»'it,ion ^j,jjyjy,^,. 
 appears to be to the .south-westward, and on the east side to the •'^•'Uth- ',!^'^'^'J^[^'^j'j'*| 
 eastward, as il' the strata were foi'ming the opposite sides of an anti 
 elinal axis, running down the lagoon and tending to terminate north 
 ward of the mouth of the river. At Fort Churchill the (juartzite is 
 very massive, and the strike is a])})arently S. 25° W. On the coast, 
 about a milo and :i half eastward of the i-ivcr, it appears to be S. 45" E 
 (mag). At a mile still further I'ust it is quite? distinct, and runs S. 
 75° K. llert? tluMjuartzito holds an occasional roumled <juartz j)el)ble. 
 On Eagle Nest Point, about seven miles eastward of the mouth of the 
 river, the strike, as shown by a bed containing small rounded pebbles 
 of white (|uarlz, is N. 75° E. 
 
 The geological age of these roi.-ks cannot be accurately determined ^^^p^^f^^^. 
 from present data. Tney contain no fossils, and are a considerable j<J*|.'|]j'^^j'j'^|^ 
 distance I'rom the limestones already described as occurring further up 
 the river, and which, no doubt, belong to the Lower Silurian system. 
 They resemble tin' gold-bearing quartzites or " whiu-rocks " of Nova 
 Scotia (which are a[>parently Lower CambrianJ more closely than any 
 
MMIWM 
 
 mb 
 
 20 
 
 (jEOLOdiPAi, srnvEv ok canada. 
 
 I'nit. 
 
 otluM' strata wliicli I Imvo seen. As a cnnvciiiciil iiiiiiu' i'ny piT.st-iil 
 j»iir|M>s('H tln'y mii:;lit li«' calloil tlio Cliiircliill tiiiart/.ili's. 
 
 IViil ol" (air iniality. ami [u'rliaps of suHiiicnt tliickin'Ns to Im ot 
 ucoiiomic vahu', was noliccd in several phu'es aloiii;' llio route iVoni 
 Split Lakt- to Kort Cliiireliiil. The t'ollowiii,;:: localities may I'o men 
 tioiit'd; Creek north of llinlsoii's Hay ('om|inny's post, Split Lake; 
 ontU^tof Assean liake ; sonlliein part ol' Was-kai-ow-a ku liake, hotli 
 sides; hitfoons twelve miles south of lieeliise l^akes, four fe»'t tliirk oii 
 top of hank; Chundiill ifiver, twenty one mile- helow the folk-, 
 tive feet Ihiek on top of hank, l-'or sinne distanee ahoxc and helou the 
 eommeiieenieiil of the last stretch, the woods occur only in pat(dii"^ in 
 an opi-n peaty country as lar as can he seen alonu,- (he river. 
 
 Anioni;' the islaiuls furthei' down, houldeiy and grassy spaces extend 
 lietween those which ai'e left dry at low water. For a distance of 
 (Jnissy s|,ii«cs. ^.igl,(,.j.|| niilos belore I'caiddiii;' the mouth of (he ri\er. open i^'rassy 
 Ihits extend for a eonsidt'rahle hut irre!i,idar hreadth on either side. 
 This open eountry is said ro resenihle the iiarren ^'rounds which he^in 
 to the northwi'st ward of Foi't ( 'hunhill, and are represented in the 
 aecompanyinu; illustratitm taken from :i photon i;ij,||. 
 
 TIk' up])er hranehos of the ('hiii'chill heiui; in a warnwr reijion than 
 the lower part of tlie river, the water rises in spring' and hursts awa\ 
 the ice in the latter, while it still ret:uns its stren!;'tli. 'This circum 
 stance, anil the i-apid nature ol' the river, evidently cause <;cc;it pa(d<inL;' 
 and shoviim' of the ice during' the freshet. ;iiid ihi- hi' liunhl has the 
 ctt'«'ot of temporarily dammiiii;- hack (he water in numy places. I>clin\ 
 the junction of the Little ('hurclrt'll the hanks are entirely denude(| of 
 timher, and have an even and uniform slope up to a hciii'hl cf lwent\ 
 or tliirty, and sometimes even forty feet idiovc tin.' summcr-levcl of the 
 rivor. TIh; ice would also ajjpear to extend annually lo I he v;dleys of 
 thelrihutary sti-eams, pi'cventini;' the lii'owth ol' timher aionu- their 
 sides for a considerahle distanci' hack from the main rivei'. Diirin;,!,' the 
 Slimmer, however, a luxuriant i.;-rowth ofirrass and othei" plaids springs 
 Ul», and covers these slopino- hanks in most [ilaces w ith a rich n'reeii. 
 Further down, after the river has expandeil aiiion^' the islands and llu' 
 hanks have liecome lowei-, the etVects of the spriiii;' ice are no loiiu'er 
 noti(!eahle. 
 
 Marine shells WM-re first noticed in tluMlriftat sixty miles from the 
 moutli of the river. The locality was towards the (op of a hank, about 
 150 t'eet higli, <ui (he rig-ht side. 'IMie river at the hase, trom haromet 
 rieal ol)servation, was '2iH) feet above (he sea, so that these shells 
 probably occur at an elevation of nearly ."inO fec( above the same level. 
 As the bank, (which consists of pebbly t;rey clay with apjiarently a 
 
 lllu.stratiiiii. 
 
 .S|iniiK ii'e. 
 
 Uiiie .sliipiiiK 
 liinili.'^. 
 
 Murine stiells 
 in the drift. 
 
 Elevation 
 uljovo tlie sea. 
 
IM> till' |in'>flll 
 
 (•VS to lio ul' 
 
 kn 
 
 lio roiiti' lVi>m 
 ■N may l"0 nu-ii 
 <t, S|tlil. Lake ; 
 ka l/akc, l>i>tli 
 If I'l'ct lliirk on 
 low I lie loi'k^, 
 \ anil Ik'Iow tlif 
 V iti ])al('lu'^ ill 
 ivi'i'. 
 
 ■ s|iact's fxlcinl 
 • a (li-itaiicc of 
 •I-. o|n'ii n'rassy 
 on citlicr siilc. 
 lis wliicli ln'i;in 
 'csi'iilcil in llic 
 
 Iff i'i'i;ioii I Ii:iii 
 ml iiiir.sts a\\a\ 
 
 'I'l 
 
 lis circ'iiiii 
 
 li'rcat |>ackinti' 
 
 iloiihi Ikis |||(> 
 
 [ilaci's. Itcjow 
 
 cly (l('iiii(l('(l (iT 
 
 iiilil of Iwt'iity 
 
 IICI'-lcVc! of till' 
 
 tlic vaiit'vs of 
 icr aloiiii' tlicir 
 '1'. Diiriim' lln' 
 
 ilaiits s|ii'iiii;\s 
 
 I a I'U'li iffet'ii. 
 islands and llic 
 
 arc no 
 
 lolli;' 
 
 iT 
 
 miles IVom tlu' 
 a liaiik, about 
 , li'oni iiaroiiii't- 
 at tlio.si' shells 
 lli<^ saiiio level. 
 Ii apparently a 
 
 t 
 I 
 
I 
 
 f 
 
OHI'RCIIIM. ANT) NEL.SOM RIVERS. 
 
 21 C 
 
 (•U]>|)iiii;' of iiiodilicd cImv,) coiilinncd, willi llic saiiir cliar:ict(M'.s, for a 
 
 loiiy (llstiuicc u)) stream, 1 liave no dotiljl tlif shells niav Ik" fuiiiid at a 
 
 ,ii;reatiT distance inland llnui that ai which Ihi-y wei'e oliserviMl li\ 
 
 niysell. TIk' species ndticed at tlii.s locality wore Miia arciuirla, M. 
 
 Inutfdta, Sd.rh'drd riKjus'x^ and Telliua jiroxhim. Ainoii:.'; the islands 
 
 i'lirtlier down, where the iianks have diminished to alioiit sevenl\reel 
 
 in hoiiilit and the lu'd of the river has descended to within 10(1 t'eel ol\,, ,, • , 
 
 '^ Micll.s III elay 
 
 the sea-level, f(r/(7i /sIdndiciiH i\,\n\ ('i(riliuiii hLiiidlfuni were joinid in ^i' ■^•■:i-le\i-l. 
 
 addition lo the fore^nini;- sjiecies. These shells, toi;ctiier with Jiluiiir/in 
 
 iK'l/d /)!<ittili:i.'(i, were vei'v ahnndanl in ihe elay jorniini; the IkmI oI' (he 
 
 hit!;oon at I'ort ( 'hurchill. 
 
 The coniiiarativeU I'a 1)1(1 cleval ion of Ihe land, or I'ctii'ini;' of the sea, Apiiaieni low 
 ' . ' eriiii; (ifllicse:!. 
 
 around .lames liay and at l ork raclory was retcri'od to m my rcpoits 
 
 for 1877 and 187S. The same iihenomenon is :;' o notieeahle at JAirl 
 
 Chnrcliill. Kroin various cireiimstances eonneeli d with the history of 
 
 old Fort I'rince of Wales, at the mouth of the river, .ind other data. I 
 
 conclude tiial the relative level of the sea and land in this vicinity is 
 
 cliani;iiii;' at the rati' ol'aliout seven feet in a century. This recession 
 
 of the sea niay be due to a i;'eni'ral loweriuii,' of ifs level rel.alively to 
 
 the h'.ml, and j tartly to i he sillin^j,- up of port ion- of II udson > I Jay. in 
 
 ttjrrupt iny,- the free How of I he tides. 
 
 Spruce and laniarac tindici'are toinid n'ro\\in<^ near the sea coast in iiiiiiifi ,,rilie 
 favoiiralilc situations as fai' as Seal liivei'. lnyond which their north '"""'"'■ 
 eastern limit cur\t's inland. 'I"he .spruce. alllioui;h not ^rowini;- a> a 
 continuous forest (piite as far noilh as f'oi't Cliui'ihill, is >till found of 
 sullieient si/.i' in the neiL^'id'ourhood ot' liiis post to In- used for luiildin^' 
 h<"iscs, lioats, i*ve. The In'.lsam poplar is rare and of small >\y.i) at l''orl 
 (Jhiirchill. White hircli. which was found on the main liver. eii^-hieen 
 miles aliove the foi'ks. i.-, said lo oei ui' al al'out si\t\<ir seventy niile,- 
 west of the month of the river. Aloui;- the direct ovci'land route from 
 Port Churchill to V(jrk j-'acliu-y llie timher is reported lo he i;-ciier;illy 
 small, and lari;i' praii'ii' like openiii;;'- are said to oeein', in wliieh the 
 i^'roiind is iii_\ .'ind eo\cied with L;rass or other hcrlian'c. 
 
 I saw \ oi'\' i:'o(Ki potatoes and lurnips ^row iui;' in the ;;ai<len at ''"it (..it,,,,,^, g,.,,,^„ 
 Churcdiill. Previous l<» the adsciil of .Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, 'I"' cull i ^m'^i^n 
 vation of potatoes hiid not iieen allcmpti'd, and the possiliility of rais 
 iiii;- them at ('liur(diill, when .sui^-o'esled liy Mr>. Spencer, was ridiculed 
 liy ihe oldest iniialiitanls. ilowcxei-, in sjiilc of predictions of certain 
 failuic. ;;roiuid was preiiare(i, seed plaMed, and a i;ood crop harvoted. 
 The experiment lias heen icpeated sKcesstully tin' seven conscenti\e 
 yejirs, so (hat tin' (piestion of ihe practiculiility ofciiltivatinsf (he potato 
 on tile sjiore of llud'-on s Ha\' in this latitude has heen pretty well 
 solved. 
 
(IKOLOaiCAI. StrRVEV l)F CANADA. 
 
 BicediiiKciiftle T'iiy <'!iii 'jt' cit i'l aliundiiiu'c ill the ncigliltourliood of l-'ort Cluiivliill, 
 attiiiicii . ,^11^1 ^.^^^^\^, tlirivo well, yi-t the siiiiie i_<;-ii<)ninee or obstiimcy as 
 that aliove ri't'errcd to, (brnu'rly ))i'eveiiteil any atleiii]it heiiin' iiiaile to 
 breed stocU on the -pot, so that every fresh animal i'e((Liii'e(l had to lie 
 liroiiyhl from some other post. Now, (he small lu-rd which is Uept a1 
 !lhe ])\m'v is reeniiti'd liy i-aisiiii;' the animals calved at the foi't itself. 
 The oj)cn grassy land ncai- the sea is practically of nnlimite(| extent. 
 .Much of it is di'v ;ind iindnlatini;', .alVoi-dini;' almndance of past mv for 
 the cattle. The hiitlcr made l>y Mrs. Spencei' could hai'dly he excelled 
 for ([uality and tincncssof thivor in any country. 
 
 Although I did not succeed in exploring nuudi of the shore of IFild 
 son's i^ay to the north west of the Churehill, enough was seen to give 
 me a i^-ood idea of the nature ot' the eojist. The east shoi'c of iiiilton's 
 
 I'il.SlUI-l' 
 
 Hutter. 
 
 Oiiist .\. W. of 
 tlic Cliiircliill. 
 
 HuttdiiV liny. 
 
 b'liit Imiilileiy 
 shoi'ds. 
 
 Illiititriitiiin. 
 
 DcrivjitiiJii I'l 
 the liiiiilclci-. 
 
 Creiiin .•nlniir 
 ed itiilomite. 
 
 LHtitiiiiu III 
 (iioH) Korl 
 I'lairiliill. 
 
 I'a}'. which liigins at the [loint on the west side of (he mouth of the 
 river, runs south-wi'st ward for nearly ten niilo. Korl ('liurcliill is 
 situ. 'I ted on the wc^t sidii of t he lag<ion, ahout live miles fmin the mouth 
 of the riv<'r. i'^iom tin; fort, the distance westward aci'oss ine penin- 
 sula to Huilon'> Hay 1 liuind to lie only a little more lh:ni (wo miles. 
 .Around tlu' hottom of this hay, and westward, the sIkh-c is extremely 
 low. When till' tide is out. wide lioulilery tlats arc laid iiare. The«e 
 descend so gradual ly to the -ea level that it iNditlieiill io cll'eel a land- 
 ing, cMMi iVcun a small hoat. hookinj; over these Hats, the sky and the 
 ex'en outline of (he houlders seem to meet in the distance, and their 
 appearance sugi;'ests •■ a se;i of iioidders"" a> an ;iiipro|iriati^ name lor 
 them. I'lven within the lagoon of the < 'liui'diill, when the tide is out, 
 the houldii'N tIatN on either >ide form a consjiiciioiis feature. 'Hiose on 
 the west an' represented in the accompanying illustration, taken from 
 a |)lioiogr;iph. looking soutiiward at Fort ( liui'chill. Tlu' Ixmlders, 
 which ai-e of all si/.es and geiier;illy well idUiidcd, compi'ise a coiisider- 
 aiile variety ot' rocks, the prevailing ones heiii;:,' those of the unallcrtd 
 group of the east coast of Hudson's |{ay in the neighbourhood of .Maiii- 
 toiinuek and Nastopoka Sounds, whicli, as already slalt'd. restynbles the 
 Xipigon series. ilouldei's of gneiss and lossiliferous yellowish-grey 
 linu'stonc ai'c also numerous. At somi' places >in liie ^iiort'. within tlie 
 iirst few miles to the oust wan I of the mouth of tic Chui'ehill Ji'ver, 
 a very light cream-eoloured ilolomite, resting on the gi'<'y quartzite. is 
 so aliundant, in a fragmental condition, that 1 have lit tie <loulil it occurs 
 in place immediately beneath, or at no great distance otl'. 
 
 While wailing at lAtrt Churchill loi- the sailing of ihi' Hudson's Hay 
 Conipany's ship, in oi-dei- to proceed to N'ork l-'acloi-y, I oblaine(i the 
 latitude ol the ]ilace by tivo ditt'ei'ent ob.servation ot' the ineriiiian alti 
 tude of the sun, taken by Troiighton's fej»eatiiig cinle, as t'ollows; — 
 
& 
 
lis 
 
■wimirinniiiiihirtttt 
 
 (!IIUUCI1II,L ANT) NELSON IU'»'Kl{s. 
 
 (1.) ... 
 (2.) ..., 
 O.) ..., 
 
 (1.) ... 
 (5.) .... 
 Moan . . , 
 
 5,S' 
 
 58' 
 
 58 
 
 5S' 
 
 58' 
 
 58 ' 
 
 ■14' 54"-t;i 
 
 44' 
 4 1' 
 44' 
 44' 
 44' 
 
 21; "SO 
 'M "'70 
 55 "-20 
 5(1 "-90 
 41! "-04 
 
 The inoutli of llic river i.s ahoiil 4' f'lirllier north, 
 that the vai'iatioii oi' the e(>in])!i.s.s at Miis locality 
 irh]., but oil the river, at twenty-seven miles souti 
 I found it to he only 0° 3(»'. 
 
 1 al 
 is at 
 iward 
 
 so asee 
 Jjresen 
 of the 
 
 rtaiiuMJ 
 t ahoiii 
 mouth, 
 
 \'iii'iMtiiiii III 
 the I'diiipiisH. 
 
 Completion of Trarl, Siin^i'!/ nf the Xelson Eire/: 
 
 On the L'Tlh of Aiii^'usf I lel'l York Kaelory, aii<l camprd on Point o( 
 
 Marsh, or the extremity of l>eat Point, between Hayes and Nidson 
 
 rivers, and the next mornino' slarti-d to aseend tlie latter to T,ako 
 
 Wiiiiiipeii-. My r<iport for ISTS eontains a ileseription of the lower 
 
 part of tlie N>dson, wliieh w;is explored diirino' thai season. It will 
 
 not ho meossary, tJierefore, ai^'ain to flescrihe this seel ion. fit reuai'd 
 
 to tlie qiustion of the navin-ation of tliis stretch of the river, it was 
 
 stated that the shallowest plaee diseovei'ed by m\' soimdiiii^-s was at liie 
 
 head of the tide, al>reast: of ''(iillam'^ " or the l.owei-Scal Island, When 
 
 at this hx-ality again, last Aii-iist, I eaivfully sounded the whole wi.llh 
 
 of tlie I'iver and found the deepest water to be ten feet, as before. 'I'he 
 
 bt)ttom consists of shingle, resting aj)])arently on boulder <da\-, whi(di 
 
 here forms luith lianks of tlie river and the Seal Islamls. •• (lil!,ini's " 
 
 Island and the south bank opposite to it wore lound. by liaroineUM', to 
 
 have ea(di a height of eighty feet, while the north bank rises to upwards 
 
 of 100 feet abf>ve the river, '.''he bouldei's and the pebbles of thr drift 
 
 in this iieighb(»tirhood are mad( up largely of the ro(dis ol' the sujiposed 
 
 equivalent of the Nipigon series of the oast side of Hudson's Ha\. 
 
 Specimens of almost e\ery variety of these •-Irata may be picked up 
 
 along the banks in this pari ol I be river. Three miles above llie Seal 
 
 Islands I found a larg«' piece of white ([iiarl/ exactly like thai of' the 
 
 veins in the grey quart/Jle of the mouth oj' the < 'hui'cdiill. It also 
 
 containeil '••des of H]>eeiilai- iron preeistdy similar to those of (he 
 
 ('Imndiiil veins. At "The ('a(die, " which is on the north side of the 
 
 river opposite Heer's Island, or sixteen miles from the Seal Islands, 
 
 ll' . ■'"■ iieroit;! large and a few iiiuncns*' angular an<l partiallv 
 
 ided blocks oj' this grey (piartzite. One of them contains some 
 
 white ({iiartz pebbles similar to those occasionally observed in the rock 
 
 ill place a .'hurchill. The accomjiaiiying illustration, from a photograph 
 
 taken ou the nortli west of the river sit sixty-three miles from Point of 
 
 .Asfent 111' till" 
 Nel.son Kivur. 
 
 Sliiill()we..it 
 jiiiit ot river. 
 
 SimijiliiiK.s. 
 
 .Seiil Isliinils. 
 
 iH'i'iviitidii ul 
 hiiiililcr.' . 
 
 C'li Ill-oil ill 
 MUaitzife. 
 
 ■k 
 
 HtiiikH of tlio 
 liiwer N(.'l..!cin, 
 
24 c 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 Fiisl Klicis-'. 
 
 Marsh (tlio oxtivmil}- of Bojicoii Point), will soivf to show tin' apjicar 
 aiico of tiio clay Itaiilcs of the Nelson alony; its lowoi- soctioii. 
 
 I'iisil/nuistom' The I'^ii'sl or Lowosl LiincsloiK' Rapid j>rov('(l (o bi; about sovc^nty- 
 si'voii MiiU's ill a straight line from Point of Marsh, oi- about niiu'ty l)y 
 the river. The foot ol'lhe rapid is in latitude 5(]° :HV (M". Here, and 
 at Iweiity-lwo miles higlier up the river, the vai'iatioii of the (•oni|)ass 
 is 11*^ ;!(l'. while at (he place where the above photoyi-aph was taken it 
 is S'^ If)'. Two more stroni;' rapids over limestone occur at uiiu' and 
 tell miles respectively above the lowest one. The tirst ii'iieiss is seen in 
 the bed of the river ten miles higher uji, and the limestone in the 
 banks disappear.s at two ov three miles further on. TIk' high cluy 
 escarpments of the lower ])art of the river continue to the liiniestone 
 Kapids, where they still have an elevation of about 100 feet, but they 
 have diminished somewhat where the limestone disappears; and the 
 
 Tfriniii.iiioii (it|,;i,.j. hjiiiUs skirting the rivi'r terminate near the loot of a chute with a 
 
 hiirr i-l;iy ImiiKs '^ 
 
 :ii i\\(i\e I'lict ncriieiidii-ular pitch of twelve feet, sixteen miles above the Third Ijime 
 
 Cliiito. Ill ' _ ^ 
 
 stone Rapid. Hcyoiid this, an occasional liank of chiy is st-en as lar as 
 (iuU Lake, but around this body of water and up to Sjilil Lake the 
 country appears to be geiiei'ally pretty level. A lew spccii's of marine 
 shells wei'c observed in the Upper parts ol' the clay banks all the way 
 from till' nioiith of the river to the twelve feet chute Just mentioned. 
 The only specii's met with at this upper limit were Saj'iciird ru(/osii 
 and Tillii<(t iimxiiiiii. 'I'lie elevation, as indicated liy barometer, was 
 upwards of "JOIt feet above the st-a. 
 
 Ill iii\- I'eporl tin- 1S7S it was stated that the lower part of the .Velson 
 liivci' appi'ars to tlow in a pre-glacial chaniu-l. Evidences of the exist- 
 enci' of such a channel were found in various |daces along the river all 
 the way lo Sjilit Jjakc. It was also mentionetl in the report referred 
 to. that the straight portion of (he river between this lake and 8i])i-wesk 
 lies in a channel scooped out during the ghu-ial period along the course 
 f a great dyke ami afterwards tilled with pebbly elaj'. In the neigh 
 
 Marine 
 ill c-|ii\ . 
 
 I'le tfliiii; 
 I'li.iiiiii'l. 
 
 Hivcr cliannri 
 iiliiiiK a sriMi 
 .|yl<e. 
 
 Ldd.-c.-^liiiinii-, lioiirliood (;f the liimestone Raijids, and for some miles both above at 
 
 Ac. in liollows ... ... 
 
 ill 
 
 .1 :n Hollows 
 
 l,uuli(ercla,v. bt low them, (he hard lioulder-elay has been excavated in many placo 
 
 and the hollows tilh'd with loose boulders, shingle, gravel, sand and 
 
 strtititied clay. JMir a number of miles beti)i'e conuiig to the i-'irst 
 
 Limestone liapid the bunks ^n\ both sides are about ]2(( feet high and 
 
 consist generally of unstratitied pebbly clay, but at a point on llie 
 
 north weH( side, between two and three miles below tiie rapid, from 
 
 twenty live (.> fifty feet of sand, gravel and cobble stones rest upon 100 
 
 CoiiiiicMtioii uffcetof this clay. Close liy, to the northeast of this, the river l>ank 
 
 consists of \ellow drab line sandy clay, and a little fnrtiier on in the 
 
 same (lii'ccKoll ll t'oniil(»lf< of thirty feel of U»ulder.x, cobble-stones and 
 
 riviT l)uiil<5'. 
 
I'liiril Mmr- 
 
 rHi'RrHtr.i. anp nelson rivers. 25 r 
 
 pebbles fit the bottom, ovcrhiid by iiiiioly Ibet of sjiihI jiihI ni'iivcl. On |.'irsti,iiiic,<ii>nf 
 
 the sanio sido ()(' tberiver, !it tlic liiot ot the r!>|M(l ilscit', Iddt'ccl ul'thc *'"'"' 
 
 hani drift chty, which Iioro shows mu-voii joints with rusty suftacos, 
 
 I'est upon Jwcnty t'ci-t of huti'-coloiirLMl fossilifci-oiis lioloinilf in ii^arly |/,X'i'i'i'te'rMus 
 
 hoi-i/.onta! b"(is. It is slialy at (he base, but ai llic lop some of ||,o<l"l"">''p- 
 
 in'(ls arc two feci thick. 'I'licse hold tlinty and uhilcclndky uodaics. 
 
 A clitl', I wont;- feet hii;'li, of i:;i'oyisfi biitl' dolonnic, niottlc(l wit h yellow. 
 
 runs along- the cd i^c of the rapid on the other side of tli(> river. A tnoni;- 
 
 the fossils ohserviMJ hci-c w;is an (ht/io<riris Iwo and a half feel loim- and , ,. 
 
 ■^ .-■icMriij 1, 11)11'- 
 
 si.x inches in dianietci'. On the south-i'sisl side, just below the Secund -'"'"' "■'n'l- 
 liimestone K'a|)id, nine miles above the tirsi. a clilt, twelve feet \u'^\\, 
 ill the edge of the river, is Ibi'mod of lioriztMilal lieds of eriimblinii; biitV 
 and ii'reyish doloinitt>. At about a mile below Ihi- locality these beds 
 wi're obscrvt'd to bo slio-htly undiilatiny'. .\ 1 the Third liiincslonc , 
 IJapid till* rock is e.vposcd in hori/.onlal beds al I lie looi nf ihc clay 
 iiiud\ along the south-east side of the rivei', and (onsi.sts ot bluish grey. 
 drab and l)iill", somewhat arenaceous doloniilc. Near the fool of this , 
 rapid a considerable stream, wliich 1 took to be ihe Limestone J^ivei-, ''"'""''"^■• 
 enters on tlie op[)osite side. 
 
 l*"or the nt'.xt eleven miles the river is vei-y swifl, and then a ra)pid. 
 two miles wide and full of knol)s and lit tic ridges of gneiss, begin, , and 
 contiinies for live miles, or to Ihe Twelve-feet Chute alreaiiy luen- 
 tioned. This might l)e appropriately termcil the liroad b'apid. In r.n.M.l K.npi.l. 
 •'•oimr from the lowest of these raijids to the other, liie bank> on 
 both sides diminish from a lieighl of about (mic hundred Icel. a I ."'."'J',""'.','""' 
 the former to about tifly or si.xty at the latter; yet the sui'facc of'»er liwi i.e.i. 
 
 the ground prob.'ibly slopes in the sami- direction as the river, llu'si,,, i n\(-i- 
 
 (U'seent in (he hitler being apparently greater than would be accounted'"''' 
 for by the ditVerence in the altiludi- of (he banks, supposing the lops 
 of the latter to l»e horizontal. On the n(»rth-west si(U', the clay bank 
 is (|uite continuou.-; and almost bare all the way to within a mile of 
 Ihe Twelve-fe<'t Chute, a distance of over sixteen miles by theriv.i'. 
 Xear thi' Third Limestone Hajiid the bunk was observed to be more or 
 less distiiu'tly stratitied throughout ils whole height. On (he opposite 
 side, (he up})er pur(, and soinelijues i(s whole depth, consists of 
 gravel and sand. 
 
 Along the above inlerv.al between the rapids, ledges of tln> dolomite 
 crop out from beneath t1ie banks here and thereon both side-^. 'IMie 
 last exposui-e is on the s uth-east side at the botti>m ot" the Hi-o.-id (five 
 miles) Kapid. Ihre it is finely arenaceous, of a mottled light '''idsh- 1|,^;';;;-.';;;;''^ 
 grey color, and holds some of the same fossils as thost' found further 
 down the river. The fossils collected at the three Linicsnuu! IJapids 
 
 I 
 
Fll.ssil^ 
 cxiiiiiiiii'il liy 
 Mr. WliiteHVci 
 
 Nclsiiii Hivpr 
 .'iiiil Maiiilnliti 
 
 llllllllllllcs III 
 
 I'lii'ii ,»ic 
 
 HiviT I'cir i:'. 
 miles lioliiw 
 liiill liiikc. 
 
 (iiill Kiipi'l'^- 
 
 Si.v ni pills 
 iiliovc Twelve 
 feet Chute. 
 
 Isliiiiils. 
 
 Ileiiil in llie 
 river. 
 
 (•nil liiike. 
 
 Slit:l>l ni|iiii 
 
 2(i r GEOLOGICAL 8URVKV OK CANADA. 
 
 liMvt' Ikm'ii I'xainiiu'd Ity .Mr. Wliitoavcs, and lii.s io|M>rl upon tlicm 
 is nivcn as an a|t]ioii(li\. Fi'imi tlii.s it will lie soi-ii (liat we 
 liavc liiTc nidsl ol' (he sjiccicN cliai-actcriHtic of (lio iloloniilc wliiili 
 occurs aioiiii; I lie Kcd Kivcr in .Maniloha, and wliicli y\\: Wliitoaves 
 ii'i^ards as c(|iiivalcnt lo llic Icad-licarinij liincstoiic of tlic Wi-slcrn 
 Slates (»!• a Ik ml tlic iiori/.on of (he I Mica forinatioii. In passinii; tlir()ii,L!;ii 
 Manilolia on llic way lioinc. I iniidc a coiisidcralilc addition to oiir col- 
 lection ot'l'o.ssils from llio l>aiiks ot' llie lied K'iver. in tlie jiarisli of St. 
 Amlrew's, ;ind some from llie same parisli wcvc |ir<>s(Mitcd liy .Mr. 
 William .\lnrdoel<, ( '. K. 
 
 l-'roni tlie Twelve-feot Cliiile to llic foot of (lull iial<e. tlie dislaiico, 
 in a straii^'lil liiu'. is fori y-( lure miles, and llie liearin;^ a lilllo south of 
 west. Tin" IJiver in the inlerval is of very iiiie(|iial width. IJapids 
 occur in many jilaci's, aixl numerous |iortai;es re<|iiire to he 
 made. In the last foiii- or live miles hcfore enterim;' (iiill liake 
 the worst rapids in llie whole course of I In- Nelson IJiver 
 are eiicoiinlcrcd. They may for coiiveiiicMK'c he called Ihe (iiill 
 riapids. 'Pile lower chute of I his interval has a desceiil of ahoul. fifty 
 I'eet ill less than half a mile, and r('(|uires a [)orlas;"e of IHH) paces lo he 
 made in order to '^ai past it. The upper portion of Ihe (iiill Rapids is 
 divided amoiii;' islands, hut its total fall must anioiinl lo moi-e than 
 that of the lower eliiiti'. .Six princi]»al rapid> occur lietweeii the 
 Twelve-feet Chute and those just, ilescrihed, and the whole ascent in 
 lliu river in this space <'aiiiii)l he far from 1(M( feot. Ahoiit mid-way 
 down this section, the rivi'r divides amoiii;- islands, the lar,i;"est of 
 which may lie ahoul four milcN loni;'. Just ahovi^ llitsse itilands, the 
 upward coil r.'-e of the river inaUes a Ih'ImI to the southward of ahoiit 
 six miU's, and then resumes its I'ormer coiirsi". Nine miles ahove 
 the Twelve-feel ("liiite, a hrown water river falls in from iho south, 
 which appears lo he the lar^x'st Irihiitary from that side holow Split 
 Lal<e. 
 
 Gull Jjake is nieroly an exj)aiisi()n of the river, and runs with its 
 i;-eiicral course, which has the same hearing (a litth> south of west) all 
 the way from the coinmeiicemeiil of Un? Jiaurentiaii gneiss to Ihe liead 
 of Split J.,ake. It is twelve miles lonp" .'md four wi<le in the middle, 
 and ctnitains a few islands. The distance from tlu' head of (iiill LaUc 
 to the outlet of Sjilil Lake is eighteen miles, and Ihe avt'rage width of 
 Ihe river is nearly one mih'. An easy ra[iid, Iwo miles in length, 
 occurs at the outlet of Split Lake, and two short ones ahout mid-way 
 hetween the twf> lakes. An occasional hank of (day is seen along the 
 section of the rivertinder description, hut, asalready stated, thecontitry 
 in the ncighhourhood has a generally level appearance, the only excep- 
 
rill HCIIII.I; A.M) NELSON RFVERS. 
 
 ;t r 
 
 tioii lieiiio' I'(.\- Hill (a pari oI'iIh" ridi^r nmninu- |(;isl tlic .mmiiIi nul ol r„v ii,ii. 
 W.'iskai-ow !i-l<:i Liikc). wliidi is visilijc to (lir nnrtli-wo.siw.MiMJ iVdin 
 the lower i»ar( of Split \jnkv. TIk' Assoan |{ivi>r t'litcrs llic iiorlli >i<lt' vssu.m Rivrr. 
 Ileal- I he oiiilcl, and al ;i iiiirrow placo, Just west of jl, ijicrc i> a |>i'i'- 
 I'cplililc cin'rciit in I he lakt'. 
 
 l''roin llic Irrinination ol' liic rDssilil'iMoas (lojomili'-' lo (Lcouilrl ol' 
 Split Lake, tin- rocks aloiii:; (jio Nelson K'ivor eoiisistr of Laurent ian i„iMr.'nti.iM. 
 ,i,niei>> ami hciiisls. willi the exeeption ol' a small area of what appear 
 to lie Iluroiiian strata at the foot o|' the lowest (inll IJapid. At a n.irniiiiMuii 
 jioint on the north side, alioiit one niiU' helow this rapid, a coarse <;rey""" ""i"''"- 
 iiiiea-schist, witii slriiiij;s ami hiinchos of white (|iiai'l/. aloiii;' the hed- 
 (liii,!;-, (lips N. If)' 1'',. Sd". Crossiiii;- the foot of the rapid itselCisa 
 hand of line-ii'raiiied inassiNc miea-sidnst, passini;' into dark' L;'re\' 
 <|iiart/,i(e. rilihoned with streaks of wliit<' ipiails and red felspar. The 
 ilip is X. Id" Iv S(l', A dark liiielycryslalli/.cd dioi-ile. prohaMy 
 I'orinini;' part of a dyke, was oli>ervei| at the sides of the rapid. 
 
 "^riu- Laiirentiaii y,neiss, in the section whitdi has heen imlicaled, , 
 
 _ _ ^ li.iiii'eiili.iii 
 
 |ireseiits some variety in eoinposilion, color, Icxturc, and in tlio (diar >-''i'i-''-- 
 acter of its strat ilieation. w hiidi it is unnecessary to docrihc minutely in 
 the present report. Sometimes the ij;iiei.ss passe.> into hornlilende or 
 mica schist. In a few places the latli-r is studded with ii'arnets, and it (i,iinei,v. 
 i;'eiieraiiy contains veins of coarse, lii^'lit-colorcd •j;raiiiti'. The strike, sYrit'o.' *""' 
 which was ihh'oi'iUmI in many places, was nowliere found to prescr\'c a 
 i^'ciierai unifoi'inily of diredion for an_\' coiisidcralilc distance, hut in 
 the niajorit}- ofall the eases noted it had a iiorthwi'sterly ti'iideney. 
 
 On thellrsi island ahove t he narrows near the out let of Split jiake.a^^j.j , .^, 
 il'reon hornhlende ro(d\, whicdi may lie lluroni;in, runs S. 15'^ W., vor- 
 tical, and on tln^ east side of the point formiiii;- the narrows theri' is ;i 
 jiocullar lii;'hl redd ish-y; rev i;neiss, containiiii;- a soft (ddoritic mineral. 
 The weathered surfaces are very thickly pitted, an<l liave a roiinh, 
 spongy appearance. Split Lake and the g<'"'<>.ii'y "' '*'^ shores liavc^ 
 lioeii already referred to in descrihiiii;' nn' route tVoin Lake Winiiipi;!;; 
 to the mouth of the ('hiin hill IJivcr. 
 
 (/ri(ss Rircr. 
 
 llaviiii;' alr(^ady surveyed the seetimi of the Nols(Ui Ifiver hctween 
 the ''Jou:" at the foot of the (iraiid lia[tid and Sipi-wesk- Ij.ake, I I'ol- 
 lowed the (irass River hetwi-eii these points, in returning to Norway 
 House, after completing (he ex[)loratioii of tlu^ river helow Split l^ake. 
 The upward course of the (Jrass Kiver fnun its junction with the t rwiinl cuiuxi 
 
 »T 1 1 1 • •! 11 ■ II" 1 • ot river. 
 
 rselsoii hears southwestward, nine miles to the outlet ot \\ itehai 
 (" Stinking") Lake, from which it runs soiithwanl, or ]>arallel to the 
 
2S r 
 
 (iKnl,()(;i( Al, SIHXKV nl' CANAMA. 
 
 Cliiiin iif 
 ^IriK-'i-'liiii; 
 
 Wiiilcnim 
 l/.lkc. 
 
 W iiili'init; 
 \.:y\<v l» 
 
 Nelson, (ill' twi'iily miles, lo llir SlMiiiliiiii' roek l):i|)iil. A (■;iii(ie route, 
 
 .seven or i'ii;lit miles in leni;tli. le;i<U I'mm llie lie;ii| i(| iliis nipiil imtoss 
 
 111 I lie Nrl.snn. h'tiihi I lii> fii|iiil I lie " rivef " is ml lii'f ii elijiin of si mtx, 
 
 ;i'lini;' l.'ikes cnMiH'elcil liy ii:oi't>\\ >. w il li mm e nr less eurrenl, liif lliii'l y 
 
 eii^lil miles ill ;i -.(.III liwoiwMiil liireet imi. In ilic lieail nl' Wintering' 
 
 l,;ike, wliere llie I'iekerel K'ivei' (Invvs ii willi llie same ii|>\\ anl emirse. 
 
 Alii'iil liall'waN ii|i llii^ ->lrelrli, at liiiiiil Lake, llie main lifaneli nf 
 
 I lie ( Jrass l>'i\ cr iiiill- llie one w c |ia\'e lie>'ll tuljiiw ilii^'. The nIiiiM nil lie 
 
 trnm Si|ii wesk Lake in Hiiiiil wimmI l,'i\ cr mr-ses Wintering' Lake al 
 
 rin'Iil aiiu'le--. ( >ii llie |iitsenl ueea'.ioii wc Inllnweil the part nt tins 
 
 niiile lyiiii;' liclwceii tlie latter ami llieniiilci nj' Sijii \\c>k Lake. 'I'lio 
 
 ilislaiiee i> a I" nil tiiiiilrcii miles in a general east wan I ijireel ion. [''foiii 
 
 the eastei'ii li;iy oT W'iiileriiii;' Lake we inaije a |iorta^'e of one luile .ami 
 
 l.itMiliiit l.iKi . ''" ehaiiis to the wcslmi |iait of liUiiiliiii;' Lake, wliiili iliseliar;^es into 
 llie iNelson liiver, seven oi'i'i,i;lil miles hclow Sipi \ve>k Lake A creek 
 «iiil\- a few chains in lonu'lli. eiileriiin' Ike soiilli side ol liainiiiii!,' Lake, 
 
 Tni-i- IViri I '(• <iiniliicic.l lis to a siii;ill >licei of water, from which a I rail, ealleil (,'ross 
 i'orlau'c, one mile ami a l hire I Iohl;', I > roll l;' hi iis to t he oiii let of Sijii-wesk 
 Lake. 
 
 1 lia\e already referreij to the siippo.sfil ilnroiiian rocks al (lie month 
 ot' ihedrass l.'ixci'. .\ I ahoiit three miles from the Nelson, a rusty, 
 
 (ill..!!'.'-. i|iiarl/,o,-.c variely of i;iiei>> dips S. 10' Iv (1(1 . [-"or two miles 
 
 Ini'tlicr ii|i, lioiiililcndir gneiss is seen in piace^. ami al the end of this 
 (li,>lan(e it dips S. Id l\. S(l\ Here some lari;'e dioritic ilykes run 
 across the ri\cr. .\t I he litsl rapid, al'oiil seven miles tVoiii I he inoiitji. 
 a rililii.ned fclsitic red 'j,lieis- has also the >;ime dip. 
 
 i.r.Mi ilvkriii \| III,, St.andiiiLi- rock l.'apid. a ureal dioritic d\ ke erovst',- ihc rivei'. 
 
 .■^tiiiiiliiii,' rin'k ,-^ I -^ 
 
 '^iii'iil. Ii i,-, divided hy vi'i'lical fissures, one of which has detached from the 
 
 main rock ihc mass (shown in the .accompany iiii;' illustration) to which 
 the r.'ipid owes ils ii.aine. l''or alioiu a mile ahoxc tin- rapid, the 
 iiiieiss, whiidi dips N. I.V \V. S(l'. is full of trap dykes. Thence all 
 iIh' way aloiii;' (he route to the outlet ofSijii-wesk I;ake. (he rocks con- 
 sist ot di tie rent vai'ietics of i;aieiss, often cut l>v trap d\ kes. The general 
 
 ,SH|llll IV<>,-I .,.,,. 1-1 1 1 ' 1- • • . 
 
 wnni .<irilic. strike in tills interval is southwest ward, the ijireetions ran;.;'inij;- troiii 
 ahoiit W. to S. I'd ' \V. 
 
 ,„ .. The count rv i raversed li\' t he ( Jrass K'iver route lie( ween its mouth 
 
 ( li.inuter (il 
 
 ci.iirinv .ilinii: joid Siiii-wesk Lnk'e presents ii-cnerallv an itndulatinij- apiR'arance. 
 'I'he land is usiuilly of a clayey nature and the soil often i:;ood. There 
 seems to he \-ery little swamp, as far as could be jiidu'od hy lollowiiii;' 
 the eanoe-roiite. Aloiiii; the river, and around the lakes on its course, 
 the ro(d<s ai'e seen lieneath tlii' (day on the islands and ends of jioints. 
 Jlall-way up the north-west side of Wintering Lake (wliiidi is Iburtceii 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 liilZS |2.5 
 
 ■^ 1^ II 22 
 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.25 11.4 ill 1.6 
 
 V] 
 
 
 v: 
 
 w 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 '/ 
 
 /A 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 1.^ WEST MAIN S MET 
 
 WEBSTEK rl <. 145S0 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 

 Z 
 
rniRr-uiLL and nelson rivers. 
 
 20 r 
 
 ' 
 
 or fifteen miles long) a rocky hill overlooks the water for a few miles. 
 
 Here, und in some other places on the route, the woods are burnt, but 
 
 nio.st of the timber in this region appears to be grcon, and of a thrifty 
 
 growth, the spruces sometimes measuring over six feet in girth. The 
 
 water of (irass Kiver is slightly tu-bid, but that of Landing Lake is 
 
 clear. The barometer indicated that this lake has an elevation of Elevation of 
 
 thirty-six feet over Wintering Lake, and tifty-four feet over Sipi-wesk^'""''"*^^''- 
 
 Luko. 
 
 Explorations hy Mr. A. S. ('ochrank. 
 
 Finding that the method which would be most advantageous for mo 
 to adopt in making my (surveys of the Churchill and Nelson Elvers, 
 would not require the aid of my ass-istunt, I assigneil tt) Mr. Cochrane 
 a separate region to explore, in order that by working independently 
 of each othei', we might examine a larger area of country during 
 the season. He was instructed to make a topographical and geological instructions, 
 exploration of the region lying to the south of the route which 1 luul 
 followed the previous year, using (Jod's and lslan(l Lakc-s and llu-ir JJf^^XVoxttrd 
 connecting waters from Oxford House as a basis of operations. l[o """*•-'• 
 was also directed to make observation -i and colled intbrmation as to 
 the fauna of the region, the climate, soil, timber, and the character of 
 tJie country generally. 
 
 The accompanying map, on a scale of one inch to four miles, Map. 
 engraved from the original, as prepared by Mr. Cochrane from his 
 own track-surveys, exhibits the leading topographical features of the 
 region which he explored. It serves to sim])lify very much the 
 following description, which is taken from this gentleman's account, 
 aided by his i)lans, notes and spr cimens. He proceeded fi-om Norway 
 House to Oxford House by the Hudson's Bay Company's boats, and at 
 the latter phice obtained a canoe and men through the courtesy of Mr. 
 Cuthbert Sinclair, the cfficcr in charge. The route which he followed R^«to to Ood'i 
 to GckI's Lake, leaves a bay oi\ the south side of Knee Lake about 
 sixteen miles from its western extremity, and proceeds by way of 
 Wolf and Wolverine Rivers and Swampy Portage, which is nearly two 
 miles long and terminates on the shore of (rod's Lake. 
 
 (iod'sLake runs north-east and sjuth-wesl, and has a length of forty Ood's Lake. 
 eiLfht miles. Its widest iiorlion measures fourteen mMes acnyss. At 
 rather more than half-way up from its north-cast (ixti'cmity, is the 
 Manitouwapa, or Wondei'ful Narrows, where the lake contracts to 
 a few chains in width, and a luri-ent flowing to the north-eastward 
 is perceptible. A canoe-i'oute to Oxford Lake leaves the north-west 
 side of the upper portion of the Lv^' by way ot Touchwood River, 
 3 
 
30 c 
 
 QEOLOOirAL SURVEY OP CANADA. 
 
 Inlet. 
 
 Outlet. 
 
 A >rrtiilion 
 L.ike. 
 
 Knife Hivcr. 
 
 Surrounding 
 country. 
 
 High shore. 
 Burnt timber. 
 
 Clear water. 
 
 Large trout. 
 
 Origin of th 
 name of the 
 la«e. 
 
 Route from 
 Oxford to 
 Ifland Lake. 
 
 Portages. 
 
 which flows into the latter. The river from Island Lake enters the 
 south -western extremity of God's Lake, and here the Lon^ JJapid or 
 Kinoiitchewan is encountered. (Jod's Lake does not discharge into 
 Knee Lake, as hitherto represented on sketch-majts, hut by God's 
 River, a large and rapid sti-eam, which, on uniting with tlio Little 
 Severn from the south, forms ihe Shamattawa Kiver. 'riic ouilet of 
 the hike is on the north side, ahout mid-way between Swampy F'ortago 
 and its north-east extremity, YcrmiUon Lake lies not I'ar lo the 
 north-east of the foot of (Jod's Lake and sends its water into God's 
 River, some distance below the lake of the same name. Knife Tiver, 
 about tiie same size as Touchwood River, eiiteis tht» south-east ^ule of 
 the lake twenty miles fi-om its north-east extremity. 
 
 God's Lake, being comparatively free from islands, jire.sents to the 
 ejo a greater expanse of walei- than any other in this part of the 
 country, but Island Lake is about one third lai'ger. The region 
 around God's Lake, as far as can be judged from its appearance from 
 the lake, is rocky but mainlj- level, and the sui-tace of the water lies, 
 apparently, only about tifty feet, or less, below the general surface of 
 the land immediately surrounding the lake. Between Knife River 
 and Manitouwapa, a distance of eight miles, the bank is higher than 
 usual, the rocks in some places rising as much as 200 feet above the 
 level of the lake. The timber has In-en burnt at ditVeront times over 
 more than half of the tract visible from the lake, and the same con- 
 ditions are said to extend far into the interior all around. The water', 
 which is clear, is said to be de(]> thvoiighout most of the lake, and it 
 abounds in fine fish, the more valuable of which are the whitetish and 
 grey trout. Specimens of the latter are occasionally caught of great 
 size. This circumstance has given origin to the fables told by the 
 Indians of the mj'thical trout of huge proportions rejiresented as 
 inhabiting these waters. The present name of the lake has in some 
 way grown out of the legends connected with this supernatural fish. 
 
 Having completed his exploration of God's Lake, Mr. Cochrane 
 returned to Oxford House for a new outfit, and then proceeded to 
 Island Lake by way of the route which leaves the eastern extremity 
 of Oxford Lake and passes through the south-western division ol' God's 
 Lake. Betwen these two sheets of water the route traveiscs Rat, 
 Clearwater, and Touchwood Lake. In order to go from Rat Jjake to 
 Clearwater Lake, three portages required lo be made (the intervening 
 space being broken by two ponds), namely, the Long L'orlage, 3759 
 yards; Ant Portage, 873 yards; and High-hill Portage, 1538 yards. 
 The country between Oxford Lake and the south-westei-n part of God's 
 Lake along this route is not quite so rocky, nor is the timber so much 
 burnt as it is around the latter lake. 
 
 V- 
 
rHURniii.i, A.\n nki.son rivers. 
 
 31 r 
 
 r 
 
 The Kitudiuliovvaii or Loiil,' Rjipids, n\ the hoivd of God's Tiiike, aiv 
 piisHt'd \,y three portiijjjos, with u total lon/jfth <if2l(>0 yards, and a 
 dtMnichaige 12:54 y.inis Irmir. Ahovo these the upward course of Ishiiid 
 Luke River tui'iis t-ast-south-east, and passes thi-ough llio lower part of Beaver-hill 
 Bcaver-hill Lake, whi stretehos to the soiitli-westward ahout thirty ^"''" 
 miles. At the end m|' this leaoh of the river there is a short demi- 
 cliarge into a small round lake, iroin whieli a portaire of t)50 yards 
 leads n> into a' Dlj), I small sheet of watei' ealled G(H)se Lake. The 
 Kinoiitehi'Wiuioo.se, or f.ittle Ijou^j; Kapids, fall into the southern part 
 of this lake, and ar.' sniinounted Ity four portages, having an aggregate 
 length oi'Or)"! ynnls. 
 
 From Goose Lake the Island Lake Jliver has a nearly direct upwai-d I'.iand Luke 
 course, hearing southward, all the way to the lake from whieli it takes 
 its name, the distance heing twenty-three miles. Its volume is about 
 the same as tluit of Trout IJiver (between Oxfonl and Knee Lakes), 
 and its width, which varies much, may average about 200 j-ards. In 
 «ome parts of it^ course if passes between walls and banks of bare 
 gni'is-; roek. which sometimes i-ise to the height of tifly feet or rather 
 more. Indeed this cliai'acter ])revails all the way from (lod's Lake. 
 The rocliv p.'iiM.s are the narrowest, and in the intervals lu'tween them 
 the river often opens oul into reedy ;uul marshy l»ays with clayey soil 
 around them. The Island T^ako post of the Hudson's Hay (Company, po,^ ^f j,^g 
 in charge of .AL-. lanklater (to whom Mr. Cochrane was indebted for "•^•^"""'*"''* 
 much kindness), stands on an island near the outlet of the lake. 
 
 Island Lak-e lies nearly east and west, and its greatest length is Island Lake, 
 about seventy nules. The niaiii body of the lake, however, measures 
 oidy forty eight miles, and has an average width of twelve miles. 
 Both the northern and .southern shores curve gently to the south, 
 parallel to one anothei-. The whole form of the main lake, and the 
 positions of the inlet and outlet, present a striking resemblance to the 
 outline of the human stomach and the situations of its oriHce-s. This 
 lake is very appropriately named, being literally tilknl with islands in Many islands. 
 ever\- part. The aggregate area of these islands is appai-antly as great 
 as that of the wnlcr-surfa?e. The number probably amounts to several 
 thousands, and they present a great variety in form and size, the 
 largest being sevei-al miles in length. .Mr. Cochrane counted upwards 
 of one thousand adjacent to the main land all around, most of which 
 are iiidicaied on the accompanying map, and the whole of the interior 
 (yf the lake is studded with an ecpial profusion. 
 
 A narrow and straight bay runs west from near the outlet for a Narrow Bay. 
 distance of nine miles, which, for convenience of desctription, might bo 
 called Narrow Bay. From its n )rthern shore a canoe-route starts to 
 
32 c 
 
 OEOI.oairAL 81'RVEy OK CANAKA. 
 
 Inlet. 
 Clear water. 
 
 SurrouniliiiR 
 country. 
 
 Soil. 
 
 Productiveness 
 
 God's Lake. 
 
 Route from 
 Juckson Bay. 
 
 Peat. 
 
 Old Wife's Lake, and a .similar route to Doer's Lake leaves the west 
 side of Iwland Lake JJiver about two miles above Pelican Rapid. 
 Several deep bays occui- on the south side of Island Lake, and one 
 extends from the eastern extremity, u distance estimated to be about 
 eighteen miles, when' it receives tlie Sai^awitcbewan Hiwc, which is 
 believed to be the principal inlet of the lake. The water of this stream 
 and of all the other feeders of the lake is of a dark color, conti'asting 
 strongly with the clear water of the lake itself. 
 
 The land about Island Lake is level, and has an avei-age elevation 
 above the water of apparently less than titty teet. The woodfa in the 
 neighborhood of the lake are mostly grei'n (oi- uiiburnt), so (hat the 
 country presents a more pleasing appearance than that around God's 
 Lake. The proj)ortion of soil to n)ck is also n)uch greater than in the 
 neighbourhood of the latter lake. 
 
 Soil of the District. Large areas of low sani'^ land occur on Oxford 
 and Knee Lakes, e.spocially (»n their uortluiii sides. These tracts 
 sui>port a uniform gi'owth of small spruce timber through which the 
 forest fires have generally run. The higher grounds, where not rocky, 
 present usually a stiti' liglit-colored clay, and .soil <jf this description 
 with more or less loam, is found along the valley of the Trout River 
 Oxford House is situated on a stitf clayey soil, which here produces 
 barley and all kinds of garden vegetables in perfection. This locality 
 is I'emarkable for its abundance of wild gooselierries, acres of ground 
 in some places being covered with gooseberry bushes. The land to 
 the north of the lake, opposite to Oxford House, ri.ses to an elevation 
 of about 200 feet, and apjtears to be higher than any other ground in 
 this part of the country, i was informed that it consists entirely of 
 soil underlaid by drift materials, no rock cropping up in the vicinity. 
 Mr. Cochrane estimates that on an average about half the length of the 
 immediate bank or shore-line of God's Lake may consist of rock, while 
 the other half is made up of clay, sand, gravel, swamp and marsh. 
 From the generally level a})pearance of the country at a distance, -.'nd 
 its resemblance to i-egions which are covered with soil, he thiidis it 
 probable that the greater part of the artju is overspread with soil or 
 loose material of some kind. Along the route from Jackson Bay, at 
 the east end of Oxford Lake, to the upper part of (Joil's Lake, the 
 country is more diversified than in the neighbourhood of the latter 
 lake. Although the general outline is more uneven, the proportion of 
 rock to other kinds of surface was estimated by Mr. Cochrane to 
 amount to only about one fourth of the whole. The soil or loose 
 materials consist of loam, clay, sand and gravel, or of mixtures of 
 these. Peat and sphagnum are found in the low grounds in many 
 
rnrRcHiLL and nelson rivers. 
 
 33 c 
 
 places. On the north-west side of Swampy Lake, below Knee Lake, 
 then? is a l.cil of ^^ood peat of considerable extent, which shows a per- 
 pendicular face of lour or five feot above the level of the water. Peut 
 of tine (iualit,\ occurs at Clearwater Lake and Swampy Portage Lake. 
 As :dready mentioned, rocky banks prevail along the Island Lake 
 Eivcr, although, at the wider parts, clay and other soils are met with. 
 
 Around Island Lake, although the action of the water has, in the island Lake, 
 course of time, washed away the loose materials and earth, leaving the 
 underlying rocks exposed along a great part of the immediate banks, 
 yet on going back a short di.stance, a covering of good soil is generally 
 met with. After Mr. Cochrane had completed the circuit of Island 
 Lake, and when he was at the Hudson's Bay Company's post near the 
 outlet, I find that he has made the following note in his field-book, 
 under date of .'i 1st August: "The soil I have seen in passing round the ^xtraoi^frora 
 lake is very good indeed, being generally clay of a light brownish 
 color, mixed, in most places, with a little tine gravel. In nearl,y every 
 case where I went inland for any distance, the rock seen along the lake 
 shore 'isappeared or was covered with soil, and the trees were of a 
 larger a 1 better growth than near the water. There is a very good 
 garden a. this post, and certainly I have never seen potatoes look 
 better than they do here." The other varieties of soil which Mr. Viiricties of 
 Cochrane noticed around this lake include clay, sand, vegetable 
 loam, and sandy and gravelly loam. 
 
 Timher of the District. Spruce is the most abundant wood every- .pimbor. 
 where in this region. Xext in order comes aspen, white birch, 
 tatnarac, balsam-poplai- and Banksian pine. In many places the spruce 
 attains a veiy good size, and is used in the form of logs and beams for 
 building purposes. It is also sawn into planks and boards for all sorts 
 of carpenter work. The tamarac and Banksian pine sometimes have 
 a diameter of about twenty inches. Balsam-fir is common and of 
 good size around Island Lake, some of the trees measuring nearly foui- 
 feet in circumference, but it is scarce at God's Lake, and only i-arely 
 seen and of small size as far north as Knee Lake. In going southward 
 the rowan or mountain ash was first seen on Island Lake. Ground 
 maple was met with only on the south side of this lake. I may hei-e 
 mention that on the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg, George's Island, 
 off Poplar Island, is the most northern locality at which I have seen 
 this species. 
 
 Geolooical Features of the Region Explored by Mr. Cochrane. 
 
 Laurentian gneiss is the prevailing rock throughout the whole district oeniogy of the 
 
 1 • district 
 
 between Knee and Island Lakes. It presents little variety, and no in- 
 
Uneisji 
 
 Granite. 
 
 Character and 
 strike of gneiss. 
 
 34 C (lEOLOOIOAL SI UVEr OK CANADA. 
 
 clications of useful minonil.s wore fouiul in lliis foniiHtiuii. The colour 
 is* UMually some shade of grey, g-Miorally rather light, but Mometimes it 
 is reddi.sh-groy, and more rarely a distinct red or j)iidv. The stratiti 
 cation, which in most ytivts is moderately distinct, is often bent or 
 contorted. In some places the gnei.ss has a spotted appearance, r.nd 
 occasionally strongly contrasting bods are seen, but, as a rule, it is of u 
 very uniform charactei-. Its average texture is of the medium variety, 
 or rather tending to be tine-grained, but coarse forms are occasionally 
 seen. Judging from the specimens and Mr. Cochraue's description, an 
 area of very light grey, tine-grained granite occurs on the s<»uth-ea8i 
 side of God's Lake, about midway between the Narrows and the north- 
 east extremity ; and another, probably of small extent, of light grey, 
 coarse granite at the outlet of Beaver-hill Lake. The latter consists of 
 plates of yellow mica i)i white ([uartz and feldsj)ar. Both of these 
 localities are surrounded by Laurentian gneiss. 
 
 In order to save a more tedious description, the general character 
 and the strike of the gneiss throughout the i-egion explored by Mr. 
 Cochrane is here given in tabular form. It will be evident from this 
 that no prevailing or general direction can be detected in this part of 
 the country. The bearings are all magnetic. 
 
 Tablk showing the Generai. Character and the Strike of the 
 Gneiss in the Eegion lo the southward of Oxford and 
 Knee Lakes. 
 
 Between Oxford Lake and God's Lake. 
 
 1. Five miles up Rat River — Greyish Red , West 
 
 2. Noilliern part of Rat Lake — Grey West. 
 
 3. Three miles N. of southern extremity of Rut Lake — Mil aceoiis, 
 
 grey, finely ribboned West 
 
 4. One mile K. of Iligh-hill Portage, Clear-wiiter Lake — Coarse 
 
 grey S, 22MV. 
 
 5. Clear-water Lake, two miles E. of la.><t — Grey S. ,'." VV. 
 
 C. Narrow.s, at centre of Clear-water Lake — (.'onrse frrcy S 12 VV. 
 
 7. One mile and a-half IS.E. of Narrows, Clear-water L;ike — lJ.i,'lit 
 
 reddish and very light grey a. 50' K. 
 
 8. Point N. side, centre of Touchwood Lake — Coarse, gn y S. 60° E. 
 
 Around (rod's Lake. 
 
 9. On Island, eight miles N. of Iviaoutchewan Rapids, W. side — 
 
 Dark grey S. 70" E, 
 
 10. On Island, three miles S. of Narrows — Micaceous grey, finely 
 
 ribboned S. 43" E. 
 
 11. Island, W. side, three miles N. of Narrows — Grey S. 60" W. 
 
 12. Island, W. side, four miles N. of Narrows — Grey S. 40° E. 
 
 13. Point, W. side, seven miles N. of Narrows — Reddish grey . . . . S. 70° E. 
 
 14. Point, entrance to Bay, N.W. corner East. 
 
 ' I 
 
CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS. 35 
 
 15. Point, S. end of Fishing Eagle Klvcr— B'iuoly grained, flesh 
 
 coloured ^- ♦^'*' ^■ 
 
 16. Eleven miles K. nf Swampy Portage 8. 20' W. 
 
 17. Three miles K. ofOod's River S. 52" W. 
 
 18. Irtlund, fuur miles E. of God's River East. 
 
 19. Point, eight miles E. of Uod's River— Finely grained (•' pepper 
 
 und salt") «• 30" W. 
 
 20. Island, nine miles E. of Uod's River— Finely grained (•' pepper 
 
 and salt •) S. 16" E. 
 
 21. Point, eighteen miles E. of Narrows East. 
 
 22. Island, thirteen miles E. of Narrows— Grey S. 45"' \V. 
 
 23. Point, eight miles N.E. of Narrows— Grey S. 60' E. 
 
 24 . Island, six miles E. of Narrows S. 63' E. 
 
 Along Island Lake River. 
 
 25. Head of Kinoutchewau Rapids— Ferruginous, dark eoloured, 
 
 siliceous, finely crystalline, hornblendie, schistose S. 80" E. 
 
 2G. Point on S. shoreof Beaver-hill Lake, near outlet — Coaise red- 
 dish grey S. 68° H 
 
 27. Outlet of Beaver-hill Lake— Fine grained, dark grey, micaceous.S. 65' E. 
 
 28. Portage at outlet of Goose Lake— Coarse reildish grey S. 48" E. 
 
 2i». Pelican Rapid— Coarse, grey S. 70' W. 
 
 Around Island Lake. 
 
 30. One mile N. of Hudson Bay Co.'s post— Grey and greyish-red. S. 45' VV. 
 
 31. Near mouth of Main-land River, head of Narrow Hay— Very 
 
 coarse grey '^- ' ^ *^ 
 
 32 Western extremity of main hody of lake, just south of Narrow 
 
 Bay-Grey «■ 25^ E. 
 
 33. Near head of Pipestone Bay S' '?«' ^■ 
 
 34. Point between Pipestone and Highway Bays— Fine greenish 
 
 grey East. 
 
 36. West shore of Highway Bay, three miles from extremity- 
 Greenish grey S. 40' W. 
 
 36. Point four miles E. of Highway Bay— Grey S. 16' E. 
 
 37. South shore, four miles eastward of last— Light grey East. 
 
 38. Island, five miles further east— Light grey S. 40" E. 
 
 39. Point fourteen miles west of Fox Island— Dark grey 8. 80° E. 
 
 40 Island in Land-locked Bay, twelve miles W. of Fox Island— 
 
 ,,,.,.„ S. 80' W. 
 
 Ui ey 
 
 41. Island, six miles west of Fox Island— Dark grey S. 20' E. 
 
 42. Island, five miles west of Fox Island S. 18° W. 
 
 43. Island, just west of Fox Island— Very coarse, grey East. 
 
 44. Island, four miles noith-east of Fox Island S. 65° W. 
 
 45. Island, near N. shore, eight miles north of Fox Island S. 45° W 
 
 40. Point on N. shore, eighteen miles north-westward of Fox 
 
 Island— Grey, and with reddish and greenish spots S. 75° E. 
 
 47. Point about the middle of the north shore, or twenty miles 
 
 from Fox Island—Fine-grained, greenish East. 
 
i 
 
 3G c 
 
 flROLOnlOAT, St'RVEY OF rANAt)A. 
 
 !i 
 
 • t 
 
 j, 1 
 
 iluronitn. 
 
 Schist- 
 c(>nKlomernte. 
 
 Qrcy mica- 
 schist. 
 Magnetic iron. 
 
 Garneta. 
 
 Hurnninn on 
 God's Lake. 
 
 Schist on 
 
 Touchwood 
 
 Lake. 
 
 Ifwonion. The large tn)n<jli of lliudiiian schists. Ac. in whieh 
 Oxfonl and Knee Liikes niv liichKlt'd, wnw dcHcrilu'd in my re])orl for 
 1S78. The strata of the eastern ])art of the former hike consist of 
 greyish micaceous ami moi'C or less calcareous schist-conglomerate, its 
 jtebhles, which are well rounded, consisting mostly of granite and 
 opaque white (|uartz. On F?at River, a short distance .south «)f the old 
 Wesleyan ^fission of Jackson Hay. the strike of this rotk, which is of 
 the same variety as that of Oxford House, is east and west, and the dip 
 southward at an angle of .'^<»". The same conglomerate is found also 
 at the head ot Trout Hivci\ but farther down the stream, is mo.stly 
 grey miea-schist without jiehhies. I found beds of magnetic iron ore 
 interstratified in siliceous slates where Trout River falls into the head 
 of Knee Lake. ;ind not far from this locality .Mr. Cochrane observed 
 the calcareo-micaceous schist-conglomerate, holding granite pebbles, 
 associated with finely crystalline black hornblende schist, full of dull 
 garnets as large as peas. N'o new tacts were noted in regard to tlie 
 Huronian rocks of the shores of Knee Lake. 
 
 Ml'. Cochrane's specimens ;ind notes show that on the shores of the 
 larger division oi'tJod's Lake, rocks which we may consider Huronian, 
 occur a short distance west of the outlet, at the eastern extemity aud 
 on both sides of the Xarrows. About a mile west of the outlet there 
 is a compac< il;"'k, greenish-grey diorite witli small quartzite pebbles, 
 running S. '. (»nag.) and dipjiing noi'thward, and on an island 
 
 about thret ..i. ^ fui-lher west <larkgiryish-green <liorilic schist occurs, 
 dipping S. 40° W. Compact dark grecnish-grcy diorite with a little 
 calcspai' in the joints, occurs ai'oiind the bay ut the eastern extremity 
 of the lake. The strike is in various directions, and the dip at diil'ercnt 
 angles from 45'^ u])wards. At the extremity of the first long point on 
 the south-east side of tlie lake, or about eight miles from the bottom of 
 the bay just referre<l to, the rocks run nearly east and west, and consist 
 of dark grey felsitic schist, thickl}- spotted with whitish felspar, giving 
 it a porphyritic appearance, together with a nearly black finely crys- 
 talline hornblende schist. On the same side of the lake, three miles 
 noi'th-east of the Narrows, dark green cr^-stalline diorite occurs, with 
 calcspar in the joints. It holds iron p3'rites and small veins of quartz. 
 Two miles nearer tlie Narrow,s the rock on an island is a massive gn'v 
 mica schist with glassy spots. The dip is here southward at an angle 
 of 50°. In the Narrows it consists of grey felsitic schist, showing 
 very tine lines of stratification and dipping N. 30° K. < 85°. 
 
 A dark greenish-grey felsitic hornblende-schist occurs on the eastern 
 part of Touchwood Lake, and a similar rock was found on a small 
 island in Clear-water Lake. About the middle of the south-east shore 
 
nilRrillM, AND NEI-SON RIVERM. 
 
 .'{7 (' 
 
 of the uppor division of <ii)ii's l.iikf, <;i'i'(Mi mica jiiiiI hor!il)U»tid»' schist 
 was mot with, dipping W. X. \V. <; 50°. 
 
 The lliirdiiiaii strata arc hiriiciv dovcloitod around Iho wcsti'rn j)art Huronimi 
 ot'lsUiiid ]a\\h'. and thi'V occur aijaiii al its eastern cxli'cinity. On the Mund Laku. 
 shores ol" the narrow liay, wiiicli runs west from the vicinity of the 
 outlet, tlie followiiif^ rocl<s were titund dark i^roy felsitic schist with 
 fini' lines (»f stratification , dark i:;rey ij;lossy calcareous scliist ; j^frey 
 finely ril)honed siliceoii> slate, felsitic and hij;hly calcareous; <^rcy 
 felsitic silicious slate, and a felsitic slatt' of an olive-|;rey coloi'. The 
 strike varies from S. "<•" to S. S(l ' W., and the dip is northward at 
 various aiii^lea from 45° uj)wards. 
 
 On the south side, in the entrame of Pipestone Bay, a lon^ narrow 
 arm. openinn' olY the lake at eiu;hteen miles from the outlet, beds of a 
 .i,M-ey calcareous, slightly ci-ystalline stcatitic schist are associated with •"^'•"'titiccbigt. 
 dark irrecnish-irrev felsitic and hornhlende slates. Here the strike is 
 about S. S. W. Tobacco pijics are carveil by the [ndians out of the 
 steatitic rock. 
 
 Alonir the south side of the next bav. or at a distance of twenty-four 
 miles south of the outlet, the principal ro(d< is a <,n'ceii epidotic horn- Oreen sohiits. 
 blende schist. Associated with this ari' dark iireen finely crystallino 
 hornblendic and dioritie schists. The dip here is N. •2i)° W. at a con- 
 siderable an^jle. 
 
 Laurentian ii;neiss occupies the shore between the dit^oront localities I'^i'irentian 
 of Iluronian rock which have just i>ccii ilescribdl. The same I'ock is 
 also found about tlii' outlet of the lak<\ but at a point on tlie northern 
 side, foui- miles south of the outlet, the Ifuronian system is represented 
 by the siliceous schist-conglomerate which is so largely developed at ^^^j^.^^^^^ 
 tiie east end of Oxford Lake. A grey ipiartz-rock is found on the next^'omorate. 
 prominent point, four miles south-east of the last. Further U|» the 
 shore, or sixteen miles from the outlet, a very dark grey diorite was 
 met with, and at about twenty miles the rocks consist of soft grey 
 schist with harder varieties of the same color full of grains of clear 
 vitreous nuartz, together with many of iron pyrites. The dip in tliis 
 neighboiJv:,.M,d i,; r.orthward at high angles. Fine grained greenish 
 irneiss, having the same di]). was met with two or three miles further 
 east. This may be eithei- lluroiuan or Laurentian. To the eastward of 
 it, the ordinary grey Laurentian gneiss was found all along the shore orey gneiss, 
 as far as the bay at the head of the lake. 
 
 On Iron Island, which lies close to the north shore between the two 
 localities of Iluronian rocks last described, Mi-. Cochrane found dai-k 
 o-reen serpentine, with calcareous joints, along with a hard fine-grained. Serpentine, 
 semi-crystalline rock of a deep green color, as if due to the presence of 
 
38 c 
 
 OEOLOUICAI. SUKVEY Of CANADA. 
 
 chromic oxide. As tar as I am aware, this is ihe Hrst locality at which 
 serpent iiu' has heon tliscovertMl in the IFiironian rocks to the tiorth- 
 wcst of Luke Superior. Its association with the i^reat iliorite dyke 
 cutting the ;;nciss alon^ the Nc'son Rivor aliovc Split Lake was 
 dcscrihod in my i-eport for IH7S, It was also referred t(i hy i)r. Har- 
 rington in connection with his investigations of the mineralogical 
 relations of these two rocks. A tohaccn-pipe, carved out of a tine 
 Serpentine variety of serpentine, was presented to me hy an Indian on the X(dson 
 LaK.*^"" '^**' '^'^'^''' '^'"* •"*"'^' '-''"'' '^''*' "'""«' <''»ii>ic from the great Kein-dcer Lake, to 
 the north of the Churchill itiver, into which it discharges in ahout 
 li>ngitud(^ lO.T. At the eastern exti'emity of the main txiily ni' Island 
 Huronianroi-ks '^'die, the llnronian rocks are again met with in the form of light 
 tsland.*"^"' hliiish-grey calcareous felsitic s(dust towards the north side, and ol 
 grey (piarl/rock towards the south. A (juart/ vein in this vii-inity 
 contained pat(dies of yellow pearl-spar, but no indications of metallic 
 ore was found eithei* hero <;r in any other vein around Island Lake. 
 
 u , .. -. The strike of the Laurentian gneiss in the neighhorhoiid of the 
 
 KelatiiinB of >-> -^ 
 
 ^dU°*'*'' Muronian i-ocks appears in most cases to coire.ipond nearly with thai 
 of the latter in the vicinity of Oxt j-d and Island Lakes, but around 
 God's Lake both systems seem to be much disturbed, and it is difllcult 
 to ascertain their relations to each other, Ki'om the table alreaily 
 given, showing the sirike oi' the gneiss in a (onsidorahle numbei' of 
 localities fliruughout thi;; region, it is evident lliere is no lendeiicy to 
 a general uniformity of tlirection over any cousidei-ahle extent of 
 country. 
 
 The di lections of the glacial stria' in forty-four localities, at which 
 Mr. Cochrane noted them, are given, along with a list of those recorded 
 by myself in the other parts of the disti-ict. 
 
 strata. 
 
 Glacial utriiv. 
 
 i;' 
 
 (tlaciai, Striai. 
 
 Having already referred to the superficial deposits and the glacial 
 phenomena generally, with the exception of the stria;, in the course of 
 my description of the regions traversed, it only remains for me to give 
 the directions of these grooves, which, for the sake of Ijrevit}', I shall 
 state in tabular form. They are all referred to the magnetic meridian. 
 Distances are given in straight lines. 
 
 Little Churchill Eiver. 
 
 1 . Four miles below outlet of Was-kai-ow-a-ka Lake S. 30" W. 
 
 2. Tlilrteeu miles below « " S. 70° W. 
 
 ;i. Eighteen miles below " " S. 85° W. 
 
 4. Outlet of lower Recluse Lake, various directions from S. 5° W. 
 
 to S. 40" W , also S. 80° W. 
 
OHI'lirmi,!, AM> NKI.SON IIIVKKH. 39 f 
 
 6. Eiiglo Rapid, two milcH in ii ntiuii;lit lim- helow th«^ Itini Two 
 
 HftB, bott ilistmit, S. 10 \V mid 8. 80" W. 
 
 Grtut Churchill Hiirr. 
 
 G. Six mili'H above thf III. .nth of 111,' I-ittl.- Cliiiivliill S r. W. 
 
 7. Fivo miles almv.' the laHt, S. to H, r. VV. 
 
 H. Fom miles below tlitiiiiMilli.if thi' l.ilth! ClmiThill, S. lo W. 
 
 iilul !S. 7" W, 
 
 a. At Fort Chiiichill. (Here, in on.- plafc, the walls on opposite 
 
 sidei) of II ^u|) are b.ifb jjiii.iv. d.) S. 'Jn ' W. t.> S. :(() ' W. 
 
 10. On the east side of the month of the I'hunhill H K)' K. 
 
 11. On tiie coast of Hudson's Bay tw.> mid a-lialt niile.s eastward 
 
 of the river S, 1 5" W. 
 
 \2. On the coast of Hudson's lUy five mill's ej^Ktwnrd of the river S 'jo K. 
 
 .V(7,so/( Hirer. 
 
 13. Third l^imestone Rapid, distincl fr..ni S to K. to S. 6o E. 
 
 14. Hroad Five-milis Rapid, Just above the lerminatiou ii the 
 
 horizontal dolomite, S. .'". W., al.so up the slop. K gneiss 
 
 S. -15' to S. 05' W. On level surlaceH or iKMiuiil eour-e. . , S. .10 W. 
 
 15. Just above tlie twelve-feet chute at the head ol tlie rapid last 
 
 mentioned S 4.''. W. 
 
 IG. Month of river from south, eif,'hi milts above last locality, or 
 
 thirty-four miles below the outlet of (iiill Lake 8. .'".:> VV. 
 
 17. Twenty-eiglit miles below (5ull l.iiki- He,.") W. 
 
 18. South side opposite large islaml, twenty mil.s below liiill 
 
 Lake S.TO'W. 
 
 19. Bend in the river, si.\teen iniks below (!mII l.ak.' S. GO W. 
 
 20. Foot of lowest Gull Rapid, newer set S, 4,". W , older set S. GO' W. 
 
 21. Middle Gull Rapid S. 70° W. 
 
 22. Upper Gull Rapid S. 80' W, 
 
 2a. Point midway ui) louth side of Uull l-ake S. 85' VV. 
 
 24. Five miles above (lull Lake, S. GO' W. and West. 
 
 25. Seven miles below outlet of Split Lake West. 
 
 2C. Three miles below outlet of Split Lake S. 85° W. 
 
 27. Near H. B. Co.s post, about midway up north shore of Split 
 
 Lake, the strias iuteraett each other at various angles, but 
 
 the average direction is S. 85" W. 
 
 28. Mouth of Burntwood River, Split Lake S. 70MV. 
 
 29. Western inlet of Nelson River, Split Lake S. 70° W. 
 
 :!0. Chain-of-rocks Rapid, three miles aliove Split Lake, one set, 
 
 S. 2.5° B:., the other S. 70 W. 
 
 Graas River Route. 
 
 31 . Grass River, five miles from the mouth S. 75' W. 
 
 32. Outlet of Witchai (Stinking) Lake West. 
 
 33. East side Witchai Lake S. 72° W. 
 
 34. Grass Biver, five miles south of VVfitchai Lake S. 7o^ W. 
 

 
 40 C GEOLOaiCAL SURVEY OP CANADA. 
 
 35. From last locality nearly to Standing-rock Rapid, several 
 
 places S. 70'- W. 
 
 3G. Around Burnt Lake nt the forks of Grass River S. 70" W. 
 
 Sipi-tcesk Lake. 
 
 37. N.W. side of Sipi-wesk Lake, about ten miles from outlet, 
 
 S. .30° W. and S. 45" W. 
 
 38. Islands in the lake, about fourteen miles from outlet S. 40" W. 
 
 39. Diflfercnt places about midway up the lake, wliich is about 
 
 thirty-five miles long, S. 40 ' W. to S. 50= W. 
 
 40. About six miles from the south-west extremity of the lake. 
 
 Here the under-surface of an overhanging wall of gneiss 
 
 is striated S. 35° W. 
 
 The following are the directions of the stria? in the God's Lake and 
 Island Liike region, as recorded by Mr. Cochrane, the bearings also 
 referring to the magnetic meridian : — 
 
 Around God's Lake. 
 
 1 . Island two miles south of entrance of river from Touchwood 
 
 Lake S. 15" W. 
 
 2. Point on east shore, opposite river from Touchwood Lake. 
 
 (One set, S. 8° E.) S. 8° W. 
 
 3. Point at Narrows S. 70° W. 
 
 4. Island three miles north of Narrows S. 20" W. 
 
 5. Island four miles north of Narrows S. 12° W. 
 
 6. Point seven miles north of Narrows S. 35° W. 
 
 7. Entrance of bay at north-west extremity of Lake S. 30° VV. 
 
 8. Outlet of Wolverine River into Fishing Eagle Lake S. 34° W. 
 
 9. Point six miles west of God's River (outlet) S. 44° W. 
 
 10. Point two miles west of God's River S 35° W. 
 
 11. Island four miles east of God's River S, 25° W. 
 
 12. Island eight miles east of God's River S. 18° W. 
 
 13. Point nine and a-half miles east of God's River S. 10° W. 
 
 14. Point eleven and a-half miles east of God's River S. 5° W. 
 
 15. Island near south-eastern shore, eleven miles east of God's 
 
 River S. 70" W. 
 
 16. Point fifteen miles north-east of Knife River S. 24° W. 
 
 17. Island twelve miles north-east of Knife River S. 18° 'VV. 
 
 18. Point six miles north-east ot Knife River South. 
 
 19. Point of large island two miles north of Knife River S. 16° W. 
 
 20. Point eight miles north-east of Narrows S. 20° W. 
 
 21. Island five miles north-east of Narrows S. 25° W. 
 
 22. Point four miles north-east of Narrows . . , , ; S. 30° W. 
 
 Between Jackson Bay, on Oxford Lake, and southern part of God's Lake. 
 
 23. Northern end of Rat Lake S. 20° W. 
 
 24. Large ifland two miles from south end of Rat Lake S. 30° W. 
 
and 
 also 
 
 rnURPHILr. AND NELSON KIVEBS. 41 
 
 25. Island in nortli west end of Cloarwater Lake S. 30" W. 
 
 26. At Narrows, Clearwater Lake S. 30 W. 
 
 27. Point near soutli-eii.'-t extremity of Clearwater Lake S. 30^ W. 
 
 28. Point nix miles south-west of outlet of 'rouuliwood Lake. . . S. 18" \V. 
 
 29. Point two miles west of outlet of Touchwood Lake S. 20' W. 
 
 Around hliiiiil Lake. 
 
 30. Kettie Island, half way tip lou^' narrow bay at west end South. 
 
 31. Small island two nlile^ from southern e.xtremity of Pipestone 
 
 Bay «.'.;5 W. 
 
 32. Point west side of Highway P.ay. foui miles from southern 
 
 e.xtremity ^i^""'- 
 
 33. Point east side of Highway I5ay, three miles from southern 
 
 extremity South. 
 
 34. Point one mile north-east of jiortage from Highway Bay S. 10^ W. 
 
 35. I'oint five miles south-east of [)ortage from Highway Hay. . . Lv .'> W. 
 
 36. Island fourteen and a-half miles west of Pox Island S. 20" W. 
 
 37 Island in landlocked Viay, twelve miles south-west ot Fox 
 
 Island S- 8;W. 
 
 38. Island one mile east of Fox Island S. 16 W . 
 
 ,39. Point three miles north-east of Fox Island S. 16 W. 
 
 40. Point on north shore filtuen miles north-west of Fox Island. S. 20 W. 
 
 41. Po'. t nineteen miles south-east of H. B. Co.'s Post S. 26' W. 
 
 42. Point sixteen and a-half miles south-east of H. B. Co.'s Post. S. 6 W. 
 43 Point on small island seven miles south-east of II. B. Co. s 
 
 Post ^ « W. 
 
 Lake. 
 
 T, 
 J. 
 
 NOKTIIKKN LI.^nT^ <>K FnU K.^T TkEES. 
 
 It would be impossible, within the limits of u feport like the pi-esent. 
 to give all the facts collected with I'eforcnce to the trees and shrubs of 
 thircountry e.^plofod ; still, the infortnation secui-ed in rcgai-d to this 
 subject may prove tisefid for reference at any tiiui; hereafter. The 
 timber has already been incidentally alluded to in describing the regions 
 explored, but it may be worth while here to note sotne facts in regard 
 to the range of the trees whose northern boundaries traverse the part 
 of the country under consideration. 
 
 Tf/itYt' »SjorMce— (the '• Pine " of Kui.ert's Land).— This is the most 
 northern coniferous tree. On the east side of Hudson's Bay the last 
 of it i.i seen on the coast a sh-.rt distance north of Richmond (iulf On 
 the west side it termintites about Seal Hiver. Thence its limit runs 
 north-westward, and is reported to cross the McKcnzie River about 
 200 miles below Peel's l.iver. 
 
 7^^„„„,,c— (also called "Juniper " and "Eod Spruce")— On the east 
 Bide of the bay it accompanies the spruce almost to the extreme limit. 
 It is abundant at York Facloiy. Along the lower part of the Nelson 
 
J 
 
 42 o 
 
 <»EOI,Or,irAL SURVEY OF" rANADA. 
 
 I 
 
 Rivci- it is of fair size, but on the Cliurchill it becomes small towards 
 tho sea. Its northern limit runs north-westward to the McKenzio 
 Hivor, which it is said to cross below Peel's River, 
 
 nanksian Pine — ('C}- press.") — This liee appears to attain its great- 
 est perfection on the southern branches ot" tho Albany River, where 1 
 have seen large groves with tall straight trunks, Ireo from branches, 
 and about two feet in diameter at the butt. The original forests of the 
 lower part of the valley of the Moose IJivei- having been destroyed by 
 tire many years ago, a crop of white birch and j)o|ilars now re[)laccs 
 the former coniferous timber, so that the pro])er northern limits of the 
 different species of the latter can scarcely l)c defined. A young and 
 healthy growth of Banksian pines was seen on the Missinaibi branch 
 of Jiis river a few miles below "Hell's (iate," but none were observed 
 to the northward in this region. It was abundant along Steel River, 
 Init ceased to be noticed on the upper part of Hayes' River. In going 
 up the Nelson River, it was first met with about twenty miles below 
 Gidl Lake. It was found on the upper part of the Little Churchill 
 River, and is «aid to be very abundant along the (ireat Churchill above 
 the point which I reached, and also around Athabasca Lake. Its 
 northern limit is reported to cross the McKenzie below Peel's River. 
 
 Balsam i^'/r— (also called "Single Spruce" and "Silver Pine "). — 
 Abundant around the southern part of James' Bay and on good dry 
 soil along the Albany River. Mr. Cochrane reports it as common 
 around Island Lake, lint scarcer on God's Lake. It is rare and of small 
 size at Knee Lake. In going down the Nelson River, it is scarce below 
 the Sea River Falls, and the last tree which I ob.served was at tho out- 
 let of Sipi-wesk Lake. On the Grass River some good-sized trees wei'c 
 seen as far north as the Standing-rock Rapid. It is not a common tree 
 along the east side of liake Wiimipeg, is scarce between that lake and 
 Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis, and appears to be absent to the 
 westward of these lakes, although to the north-west it reaches the 
 McKenzie River. 
 
 Wliite Cedar. — The northein limit of this species touches the .southern 
 extremity of James' Bay, and to the north- westward it crosses the 
 Albany River ai some distance from the sea. It is, howc^ver, abundant 
 in the upper Albany country and in the Lonely Lake and lOnglish 
 |{ivcr regions. Its northern boundary crosses the Winiupeg River a 
 few miles south of Pine Falls. Near the south end of Lake Winnipeg 
 it IS met with, of good size, in the bay to the south of Grand Marais 
 Point. In Manitoba, it is found east of Red River in the Big Woods, 
 and even in Kildonan, fj'om which its western limit runs towards the 
 south-east angle of the Province and thence southward in the United 
 
 . 
 
rnrRCHIM. AND NELSON RIVERS. 
 
 43 c 
 
 States. Coflnr brushwood <rro\vs around Cedar Lake on the Groat 
 Saskatfhcw.iii, iioar its mouth, nnd trees of fair size aro reported to 
 occur oil tlic island in Lake Winnipeg opposite the mouth of this river, 
 and again on the south side of Long Point, in the same neighbourhood. 
 I have not seen these cedars myself, l)ut they are described as belong- 
 ing to this species. The locality just mentioned would, therefore, 
 constitute an ontlying patch, removed 100 miles to the north-westward 
 of the north-western point of the main aiea occupied by this tree. 
 
 Willow.— ^VUal appear to be three distinct species of willows, two of 
 which. iKAveviT, can only be considered as shrubs, extend northward 
 beyond the mouth of the Churchill River, and are the most northern 
 species of deciduous wood. 
 
 Balsam Poplar ("Rough-barked Pi.plar/ " Cotton Tree," " Balm of 
 Gilead." &c).— On the west side of Hudson's Bay this is the most 
 northern species of poplar. It is abundant around York Factory, and 
 attains a fair size along the lower part oi' the Nelson Eiver. In 
 descending the (ircat Churchill it becomes smaller and scarcer until 
 the mouth of the river is reached, where it is rare. 
 
 As2)e7i (Trembling-leafed Pi>plar).— This tree, which is .so abundant 
 and of such a thrifty growth around the southern i)art of James' Bay 
 and on the border of the prairie regions of the Nm-th-west Territories 
 does not extend quite as far north as York Factory. In ascending the 
 Nelson River it. was i\(it met with until within a few miles of the 
 Lowest Limestone Rapid. It extends northward nearly to the junction 
 of the Little with the (Jreat Churchill River. 
 
 White Birch (Canoe Birch).— This spt-cies termiiuites on Hayes' 
 River, a few miles below the Steel River. On the Nelson, the Hrst 
 tiee was met with at seven miles betoro coining to the Lowest Lime- 
 stone Rapid, or at seventy from l\)int of Marsh. In descending the 
 Little Churchill it <lisap]ieared about midway between tiie R'eeluso 
 Lakes and the mouth, and in ascending the (Jreat Churchill, it di.sap- 
 poared at eighteen miles above the forks. Along the Burntwood River 
 aii<l the upper part of the Nelson it is large enough for building 
 canoes, but becomes better for this purpose to the northwestward, and 
 is said ti) be very good aroiuul Lake Athabasca. 
 
 /?o?rr7?* ( Mountain Ash).— Common along the east side of Lake Win- 
 nipeg, and it is seen here and there along the Nelson River as far as 
 White Mud Falls, where it disappears. Mr. Cochrane met with it on 
 Island Lake. 
 
 Pigeon Vherry.—Vouud around Island and God's lakes, and northward 
 to Knee Lake. On the Nelson it extends to a point some miles below 
 
44 c 
 
 OEOLOOICAL SURVEY OK CANADA. 
 
 Sipi-worsk Lake, and od the CIrasB Rivor to the junction of tlio west 
 branch at Burnt Lake. 
 
 Forest Preservation. 
 
 Up to 1878 the great region covered by this report hud been annu- 
 ally devastated by forest lii-es, ranging over large ai'cas and destroying 
 the timber in different localities from time to time, until, j)erhaps, 
 more than half of it is already swept away. Li that year I made a 
 point of calling the attention of the Indian chiefs and head men to this 
 great waste, and informed them that it was the wish of the (iovern- 
 inent that the timber (which the Indians had not before conwidcired (jf 
 any value) should not be thus destroyed, and requested them to make 
 their temporary fires on the beach or on hare rock, and to extinguish 
 their camp-fires in all cases before leaving. This they all promised to 
 attend to, and the result has been that during 1879 no forest fires, as 
 far as I could learn or observe myself, had occurred. The saving thus 
 effected is worth to the country many times more than the cost of our 
 explorations. 
 
 Ml 
 
notion of llio west 
 
 ort hud been annu- 
 reas and destroying 
 me, until, j)erh:ips, 
 lat year I made a 
 ul head men to this 
 iwh of the (lOvern- 
 cfore eonwidcircd of 
 'sted them to make 
 , and to extinguish 
 hey all promised to 
 I no forest tires, as 
 . The saving thus 
 han the cost of our 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 ON SOME SILURIAN AND DEVONIAN FOSSILS FROM 
 MANITOBA AND THE VALLEYS OF THE NFLSON 
 AND CHURCHILL RIVERS, FOR THE .MOST PART 
 COLLECTED BY DE. E. BELL IN THE SUMMER OF 
 1879. 
 
 BY J. F. WHITEAVES. 
 
 I. From the Banks of the Eed Eiver, in hie Parish of St. 
 Andrews, Manitoba. 
 
 HeceptacuUtes Oiccni, Hall. {—Coscinopora sulcata, D. D. Owen, non 
 Goldfuss.) A tine specimen, which, when perfect, was ])r()l)al>ly 
 at least one foot in diameter. The occurrence of this species at 
 Lower Fort Garry (which is in the parish of St. Andrews) was 
 tirst placed upon record by D. Dale Owen in 1852, on page 1S1 
 of his "Eeport on a Geological Survey of Wisconsin. Iowa and 
 Minnesota." According to Professors Hall and Whitney 
 (" Geology of Wisconsin, 18(52," vol 1., p. 429) R. Oiceni " is the 
 common and abundant species of the Lead regioi. und the one 
 known as the 'lead-coral,' from its constant association witn 
 the lead- bearing rock." 
 
 Favosites proUjicus, Billings. A characteristic fragment. This species, 
 which was originally described from the Hudson River group 
 of Anticosti, occurs also, as will be shewn further on, in rocks 
 of the same age at Stonj- Mountain, Manitoba. 
 
 Jlalysites catenularia, Linn. One good specimen. 
 
 Mmticulipora {Monotrypa), Sp. Indt. A fragment of a rather largo, 
 hemispha'rical, or possibly sph(i>roidal coral, apjiai-ently allied 
 to Monotrypa imdulata Nicholson, but too imperfect to allow 
 the whole of its specitic characters to be ascertained. To 
 the naked eye the specimen appears as a portion of a hemi- 
 Hpha3rical crust, about three-quarters of an inch thick in the 
 thickest part and half an inch in the thinnest. The convex 
 und presumably upper surface is almost covered with small, 
 
4fi r OEOLOtllCAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 irrejfiilur, but moslly annular, siliceous concrcUons, and tho 
 concave face looks as it' i( had been broken from a much 
 thickci" mass. When viewed with a lens the coral is seen to bo 
 made u]) of minute, polygoiud, thiii-wallod, contiguous and con- 
 tinuous corallites, of ditferent sizes, apparently arranged in 
 groups. The larger coi-allitcs arc about one-sixtli of a line in 
 diameter, and the snuiller from one-eighth to one-tenth ol a 
 lino. The cells are entii-ely tilled with mineral matter, and 
 the shape and position of the Uibuhe cannot be satistactoi'ily 
 detined. 
 
 Zcvphrentia, Nov. sj). Two imi)erfoct specimens of aii apj)arently 
 undescribcd species of Zaphrentis or Streptclasnuh 
 
 Actinoreras Lyoni, Stokes. The types of A. Lyoni are from Tgloolik 
 and Ooglit, in Arctic America, but Dr. Bigsby, on page 170 of 
 the " Thesaui'us Siluricu.s," gives F'ort Garry as one of the locali- 
 ties of this species. A. Rlchardsoni of Stokes, from Lake Winni- 
 peg, may be the same shell in a ditferent state of preservation, 
 for, according to Stokes' descriptions, the only ditference between 
 A. Lyoni and A. Richardsoni is that in the former "a small tube 
 is seen within tho siph uncle, but no radii have been traced from 
 it," while in the latter the tube is said to bo small and "sur- 
 rounded by numerous lamina* or plates tilling up tho siphuncle." 
 Jn Stokes' figures, however, the siphuncle of A. Lyoni is repre- 
 sented as larger in proportion to the size of the shell than it is 
 in A. Richardsoni. In the extremely large size of their siphuncle 
 and in the apparently entire absence of any radii proceeding 
 from the central tube, which latter cannot be discerned at all in 
 some individuals, the two specimens collected by Dr. Bell at this 
 locality, and several others from Stone Fort, Manitoba, in the 
 collection of the Survey', agree much better with the descriptions 
 and figures of A. Lyoni than with those of A. Richardsoni. 
 
 Ilhi'mis, Sp. (allietl to and possibly identical with I. latidomitm, Hall). 
 An imperfect cast of a small lllwmis, most likely the same as the 
 trilobite from Fort Garry referred by D. D. Owen to /. crassi- 
 Cauda, Wahlenberg. The specimen collected by Dr. JJell is, 
 however, clearly not the true I. crassicauda, for in the origiiud 
 figure of that species in the "Petrificata Telluris Suecame " 
 (pi, 2, figs. 5 and 6) the central lobe of each of the ten body rings 
 is represented as equal to about one-third of tlie entire diameter, 
 whereas in the specimen from St. AndroAVs the central lobes of 
 the body segments are equal to nearly three-fourths of their 
 
* 
 
 Al'l>KNI)IX r. 
 
 4r c 
 
 and the 
 
 a miu'li 
 icon to l>t» 
 
 and coii- 
 angod in 
 u line in 
 jnth of u 
 liter, and 
 istactorily 
 
 H)j)arenlly 
 
 m Igloolik 
 iige 170 of 
 'the locali- 
 ake Winni- 
 eyervation, 
 ce between 
 , small tube 
 traced from 
 . and "snr- 
 siphuncle." 
 m irt repre- 
 i\l than it is 
 ir siphuncle 
 proceeding 
 ned at all in 
 . Bell at this 
 itoba, in the 
 descriptions 
 
 •dsonl- 
 
 rsatus, Hall). 
 ) same as the 
 1 to I. crassi- 
 ' Dr. Bell is, 
 1 the original 
 •is Suecame" 
 jn body rings 
 tire diameter, 
 sntral lobes of 
 iirths of their 
 
 greatest dianu\ter. The llhcnun from this locality is to.) imper- 
 I'cct for the spe<Mes to be idciilitiod with much certainty, but if 
 not nctually identical with 1. latidormtm, it appears to bo very 
 closelj' allied to it. 
 
 2. From Limestone E.vpid.s 100 Miles rp the Nelson JiivER. 
 Leptosna scricen, Soworby. Not uncommon. 
 
 iilrop/u)menatemustriot(t,Ihi\\. One specimen. According to Davidson, 
 S. teiuiifttridtfi, JIall, is merely a variety of S. rhoiuhoidalis, 
 Wilckins. 
 
 Stropho7nena Jililexta, Hall. Several detached valves. 
 
 Strophoinena suhtenta, Conrad. A single valve. 
 
 Rhynchmella Ant i cost i.ensis? Billings. Two imperfect, badly preserved 
 and small examples of a species of Jl/iynchonella. a]>])arently 
 identical with some larger and more perfect casts from the 
 south-west shores of Lake Winnipeg, in the collection of the 
 Survey, which have been identified by the writer with the R. 
 Anticosticnsis. 
 
 Murrhisonia beUicincta, Hall. (=J/. major, Hall.) A single lai-ge cast, 
 which corresponds fairly well with the figures and description 
 of this species. 
 
 Aaaphm megistos? Locke. A cast of the pygidium oid}'. 
 
 3. Prom " First Birch Brook," Nelson Eiver. 
 Strophovieiia alternata, Conrad. One valve. 
 Ecculiomphalus, Nov. sp. A single specimen. 
 
 4. Fro.m the Second and Third Limestone Rapims of the Nelson 
 
 Eivek. 
 
 Receptcmdites Otceni, Hall. Several fragments. 
 
 Hahjsites catenularia, Linmcus. According to Dr. Bell this well-known 
 species ij quite common at this locality. 
 
 Eridophyllum, Nov. sp. A single fragment. The same species was 
 collected by Dr. Bell at Fort Churchill, but in loose pieces of 
 rock, and there is a fine specimen of it in the Museum of the 
 Survey, from Stone Fort, Manitoba, 
 
4H (• 
 
 OfioLOOtrAI, HljllVEY OV C\NAh\. 
 
 Struphomena alternata, Conrad. One Mpeciinon. 
 
 Murchisonia belttcincta, Hall, (z=M. major.) A largo cast, precisely 
 similar to one from the locality last mentioned. 
 
 Madnrcn (near M. Bi(jsh\ji, Hall). Two tolerably pei-l'oct casts of a 
 shell which may bo an extreme vai'iety of M Bujiihyi, but the 
 outer whorl is wider above, and more obrKjuely compressed 
 below, between the periphery and the umbilical margin, than 
 the corresponding parts of the shell of M Buisbyl. are. In a 
 figure of the latter species recently published by Prof. WhitHeld, 
 the aperture is represented as a little higher than wide, whereas 
 in the most perfect of the two Macl ureas collected by Dr. Bell 
 at this locality the maximum width of the aperture is about 
 one-third greater than its height. 
 
 Endoctras (Cameroceras) annulatiim? Hall. Throe distorted and imper- 
 fect e.Kamplod of an Endocenis, which agree in most respects 
 with the detinition of E. annulatum. The outline of their trans- 
 verse section is rather oval than circular, l)ut this circumstance 
 may be due to lateral compression. 
 
 Oncooeras, Nov. sp. One tine out somewhat distorted specimen. 
 
 5. From the Junction op the Little and Great Churchill Efvers, 
 
 Zafhreniis. Nov. sp. Two specimens, one of which is the same as those 
 from St. Andrews, pi*eviously mentioned. 
 
 Colamnopora cribriformis, Nicholson. A small but well-pi-eserved 
 example. 
 
 6. From Fort Churchill. (Loose.) 
 
 ErUhphyllura, Nov. sp. Identical apparently with that from the 
 
 Second and Third Rapids of the Nelson. 
 Bhynchonella capax, Conrad. One vavy imperfect sjjocimen. 
 
 Actinocems Lyoni ? Stokes. A fragment of a si])hunclo, consisting of a 
 cast of four of the chambers. 
 
 f'7 
 
 
 The fossils from localities Nos. 1 , 2, 3 and 4 are from limestones or 
 dolomites which evidently belong to the same geological horizon. On 
 stratigraphical as well as on palajontological grounds there is good reason 
 for supposing that these rocks represent the upper part of the Trenton 
 Limestone, and that they are the equivalents of the Galeua Limestone 
 of Wisconsin and Illinois. At Stony Mountain, Manitoba, they are 
 immediately and conformably overlaid by true Hudson River rocks. 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 49 
 
 (rociscly 
 
 m 
 
 Tlio few fossilHCollof'todojj the bunks of tho (,'huivliill, from lociilitios 
 NoH. 5 and C, are InsntHciont to establish the exact ago of tlie rocks in 
 wliich thoy ocfur, but it is probable that both are referable cither to 
 the top of tho Tronton Limestone or to the lower part of the Hudson 
 liivcr group. 
 
 *i. From Stony Moiintain, Manitoba. 
 
 In 1S75 Mr, R W. Ells made an interesting collection of fossils from 
 this locality, on behalf of the Survey, which has i:ot iiithcrto boon 
 reported on. Stony Mountain, it may be mentioned, is a hill some 
 fifty feet in height, on the western bank of the Red Ei%'er, not far from 
 Fort Garry. The 8))ecies obtained by Mr. Ells are as follows: — 
 
 Choptetes delicatuhis, Nicholson. Two specimens. 
 
 Monticulipora, Sp. One good example, Tliis is the common Trenton 
 and Hudson Rivor species which Mr. Billings identified with 
 Stenopora fibrosa, Goldfuss. It is also the coral figuretl by Prof. 
 Hall on Plate 24, figures 1 g, h, i. (c(et. exd.) of the first vo- 
 lume of the Pal.Tontology of New York, us one of the forms of 
 Cfui'fetes lycoperdon, Say, Dr. H. A. Nicholson places the coral 
 i-epresonted in these figures among the synonyms of Choetetes 
 Fletcheri, Edwards and Haime. In C. Fletcheri, however, the coral- 
 lites are said to be rounded or oval, with comparatively thick 
 walls, whereas in the present species the coralliLus are clearly 
 polygonal, with thin walls. 
 
 Monticutipora (Diplofrypa) Whiteavesiif Nicholson. Two small speci- 
 mens growing on the shells of brachiopoda. 
 
 Favosites prolificus, Billings. A fine large specimen, identified and 
 labelled by Mr. Billings himself. 
 
 Streptelasma corniculum, Hall. Several well-presei'^'ed examples of a 
 rather small Streptelasma, with a well-developed and smooth 
 epitheca, precisely similar to the small individuals of S. corni' 
 cula figured by Rominger. These Stony Mountain Streptelasma; 
 represent the Hudson River group coral commonly referred to 
 S. corniculum, r.'ither than the typical form of that species from 
 the Trenton Limestone. 
 
 Crinoidal Stems. Detached joints only. 
 
 Ptilodictya (Stictopord) acuta, Hall. A few characteristic fragments. 
 
 Strophomena nitens, Billings. Eight perfect examples of an entirely 
 smooth form of this species. 
 
 StropJwmena Hecuba, Billings. One dorsal valve. 
 
fl i», 
 
 ' 
 
 
 60 C OEOKOdlCAI, MIllVEY OF (.ANADA. 
 
 Orthis tcsliidinuria, Diilmuii, Abundant, 
 
 Orthis subijuadrata, Hall. Many porfoct and wt'll-prosorvod spocimciiM 
 of an iinuHually coarsoly rihbwl variety of tliis hIicII. 
 
 Rhynchonella capax, Conrad. Several larji^o and perfect examplew. 
 
 Mnn'hisonia gracilis f Hall. 0\w wmall cast. 
 
 Ci/rfolifes ornatus? Conriul. One iniporfoct cast. 
 
 Ascociras Newhernji, BillingH. Tw(» specimens. , 
 
 The collection mwie by Mr. Ells at this locality shows, Hrst, that a 
 largo portion of the mass of Stony Monntain consists of limestoncH, 
 with clayey )»artings, which are identical, both in their litholof^ical and 
 pala>ontoloi,ncal characters, with the well-known i-ocks of the Hudson 
 Rivor or Cinciimati ,i<roHp of Soutbei-n Ohio and elsewhere; and, 
 Hecondly, that these Hudson River rocks of Stony Mountain overlie, 
 immediately and conformably, the buff-coloured, fossiliferous and more 
 or less ma<^nosian limestones of the Red River valley, which have 
 already heen assumed to be the representatives of the upper part of the 
 Trenton limestone. 
 
 At Stony Mountain Dr. Bell also made a small collection of fossils, 
 consisting of the following species. 
 
 Orthis tesfudinaria, Dal man. 
 
 Orthis siibquadrafa, Hall, 
 
 Rhynchonella capax, Conrad. 
 
 Cheirurus Icartis, liillings. One pygidium. 
 
 Calymene Blumcnhachii, Billings, as of Brongniart. An imperfect pygi- 
 dium. This is the common Calymene of the Ti'cuton and Hudson 
 River groups, identified by Billings and Dr. Nicholson with the 
 C. Blumenhachii of Europe. Mr. S. A. Miller, however, says that 
 the true C. Blumenhachii has not been found in North America, 
 and that the species mistaken for it is the C, senaria of Conrad, 
 which latter is a synonym of G. calliteles, Green. 
 
 A few fossils were collected by Dr. Bell at various places on the 
 Churchill and Nelson Rivers, which appear to be of newer age than 
 the Lower Silurian, buttwhich are insufficient to indicate with much 
 probability the exact geological horizon of the rocks in which they 
 were found. The following are the localities at which these fossils 
 were collected, with notes on the species. 
 
 irtfiriinifHiiiaMi 
 
AI'PKNIIIX I. 
 
 8, Thrze Miles Haht ok CHuiiniiM, River. 
 
 51 r 
 
 Pentammis (Sp. Utult.) Throe casts of the ventral valvo of a rather 
 tinoly-rihhod Pentamrrm m some rcspocts like P. orcidenialis 
 Hull, from the tUiolph limestono of Eloniand llespelor, Ont. 
 
 \). GiM-AM's Island, Nelson Eiver. 
 
 Atn/pa reticuUiris, Linnivus. Two specimcim. Upper Sihiriun or 
 J)evr)nian. 
 
 10. Walksr'h Island, Oxford Lake. 
 
 Atrypa rdirukiris, Linmtus. Five detached spoeimcns, four with very 
 Hue ribs and one with remarkably coarse ones. Matrix a pale 
 bi-ick-red colour, just like that from the last locality. 
 
 11. York Factory. (Loose.) 
 
 CyathophyUum Davidsoni, Milne- Ed wards. (=Acrrcvlarla profunda, 
 
 Hall.) One characteristic but much worn specimen. 
 Favosites (Sp. Lidt.) A small rolled and rounded mass, of a species 
 with small corallites. 
 The fossils from the last mentioned locality are certainly Devonian, 
 but they may have boon drifted from some distance. 
 
ArrKNDix II. 
 
 JilST OK PLANTS COLLKCTKI) UV DW. K. iU-LL AKOINIJ 
 THI<: SIIORKS OK HUDSON'S JUY AND AIX)N<i TilK 
 C1IUR(MIILL AN!) NELSON IJIVKUS IN ls77 AND 1ST;>. 
 
 Tlio Npccimona have bcoii kiiully (letcrinincd by Prof. John Maeouii, 
 F.L.S., Albert Univoi-Hity, Bcllovillc, 
 
 I. East coast of lliulsou's Bay. ? 
 
 II. Clmrohill l{ivor. 
 
 III. North oml of Lake Winnipoi--. 
 
 IV. NelHon River between Lake Winnipi'^- and (lu- roa-^tol' IhnU'.n's 
 Bay. 
 
 A. Phints crosHing the Aretk- Cii'cU'. 
 
 Catai.oui K. 
 
 No8.! 
 
 Banunculacea;. 
 
 1 I Anemone parviflom, Mithx 
 
 2 " multifida, D 
 
 3 'I Pennsylvanica, Linn 
 
 4 Thalictrum dioicum, Linn 
 
 5 I "' Cornuti, Linn 
 
 Ranunculus aquatilis, var. tricliophjilus 
 
 <i multitidus, Pursli 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 acris, Linn. 
 
 16 
 16 
 
 " Cymbalaria 
 
 " sceleratus, Linu 
 
 " flammula, var. reptans, Gr 
 
 Caltha palustris 
 
 Actoea spicata, var. rubra Gr 
 
 Ntmph^ace*. 
 Nuphar luteum, Smith (leaf only) 
 
 FCMABIACEiE. 
 
 Corydalis aurea, Willd . 
 " glauca, Pursh 
 
 I. 11. 111. IV, 
 
54 c 
 
 I i« 
 
 (iEOLOdKWr, Sl'UVKV iiF CANADA. 
 
 0\TAi.()(aK—Coiiti lined. 
 
 Nos.j 
 
 CnUCIKEIt.K. 
 
 17 
 
 IS 
 
 1<> 
 
 20 
 21 
 
 22 
 2 a 
 
 NaRtnrtiiim palustro, DC 
 
 Caidainiue liir.suta, Limi 
 
 " pratcnsis. Linn 
 
 Arabis Diiininioiulii, Or 
 
 ! Erysimum chfirantiioidus, Linn . . . , 
 i Sisymlirintn sopliioidcs, FisdiiT . . . . 
 I Draba incana, Linn 
 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 ■M 
 32 
 33 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 38 
 39 
 40 
 41 
 42 
 43 
 44 
 45 
 46 
 47 
 
 VlOLACK-K. 
 
 Viola ciicullata, Ait 
 
 •■ cimina, var. sylvestiis 
 
 ClSTACE^;. 
 
 Hndsonia toinentosa, Nntt 
 
 Drosei(ack.^i-;. 
 
 Drosera rotundifdliu, Linn 
 
 Cahyopiiyllack^k. 
 
 Lyt'linis aju'tala, Linn. . . . 
 Aivnaria iateritiora. Linn . 
 
 " pcpidides, Linn . 
 Stellaria longipes, Goldio. 
 Cerastiuni avvense, Linn. . 
 
 " alpinnm, Linn. 
 
 Sagina nodosa, Freni;! . . . . 
 
 Okuaniace-i:. 
 Geranium Caroliniauuni, Linn. 
 
 I'oLYflALACE.K. 
 
 Polygala Seneca, Linn 
 
 LEOUMINOSiE. 
 
 Astragalus Canadensis, Linn . . . 
 
 " hypoglottis, Ker 
 
 " aipinus, Linn 
 
 " frigidus, Gray 
 
 " adsurgens. Pall 
 
 Glycyrrhiza Icpidota, Nutt 
 
 Hedysarum Mackenzii, Richard. 
 
 Vicia Americana, Muhl 
 
 Lathyrns maritimus, Bigel 
 
 " ochroleucus, Hook . . . 
 
 '■ palustris, Linn 
 
 I. 
 
 IL III. IV. 
 
 ■y*"^; 
 
 «:;«' 
 
 4«Bi''4.- 
 
ir. IV. 
 
 ATPKNIUX II. 
 
 CvrAi.nc.i K— Cuntimicil. 
 
 .ro c 
 
 Nos. 
 
 48 
 40 
 50 
 51 
 
 r>2 
 
 53 
 54 
 55 
 56 
 5V 
 58 
 59 
 60 
 61 
 62 
 63 
 64 
 65 
 66 
 67 
 68 
 
 69 
 70 
 71 
 72 
 73 
 74 
 75 
 76 
 77 
 
 I. , 11. , III. , IV. A. 
 
 Rosace^;. 
 
 Pruniis rcnnsylvanica, Linn . 
 Dryas intogrifolia, Vahl . . . . 
 
 Geiim rivale, Linn 
 
 " strictum, Ait 
 
 Fragaria Viiginiana, Eiiiii, . 
 Poteutilla Noivegica, Linn . . 
 
 IC 
 
 I< 
 (1 
 II 
 II 
 
 AnRerina, J,inn 
 
 fnitiiosa. Linn 
 
 tridentata, Ait 
 
 palustriK, Scop ; 
 
 Pennsylvnniea, Linn 
 
 " nivoa, Linn 
 
 " argntii, Tinsli 
 
 » flal)eUiforn)is, Nutt 
 
 Rnbus Cliamaimoius, Linn 
 
 " trifloius, Richard 
 
 » mctiius, Linn 
 
 " strigosus, Miclix 
 
 Rosa bianda, Ait .■■,■■ 
 
 Amidancliier Cnnadonsis, var. oliionuilolia. (Jiiiy 
 Pynis sanibucifoiiu, Ch. k Sciil 
 
 SAXii''iiA<-.Ari:.'K. 
 
 78 
 79 
 
 80 
 81 
 82 
 83 
 
 84 
 85 
 86 
 
 87 
 
 Ribes prostiatnai, L'Hcr 
 
 " rntji'iini, Linn 
 
 " oxycantlioidfS, Linn.. 
 ParnaHKia painstiis. Linn . . . 
 
 Saxifraga aizoides, Linn 
 
 u Hivcnlus, Linn. ? 
 " tricuKpiduta, Kotz , 
 
 Heuchcra liispida, Pursh 
 
 Mitella nnda, Linn 
 
 HALOBAOEyK. 
 
 Hippiiris vnl,*uis, Linn 
 
 Myiiophyllinn spicatum, Linn. 
 
 ONAOHACE.-t:. 
 
 Epilobium angustifolinm, Linn . 
 
 <' latifolium, Linn 
 
 » coloratum, Muhl. . . . 
 
 CEnothera biennis, Linn 
 
 IjMnEIiLIFKI!^" 
 
 Heracleum lanatura, Micbx. 
 
 Cicuta virosa, Linn 
 
 Slum lineare, Michx 
 
 ARALIAf'E^f:. 
 
 Aralia hispida, Michx. 
 
f 
 
 56 c 
 
 HEOIiOdlCAI- SIIIVBY 0\' PANADA. 
 
 Catai,o(;i k— t'imtiiiiii' I. 
 
 N08. 
 
 II. III. IV. 
 
 • 5- 
 
 ;! 
 
 88 
 89 
 
 90 
 91 
 92 
 
 93 
 
 94 
 
 95 
 96 
 97 
 98 
 99 
 100 
 101 
 102 
 103 
 104 
 105 
 106 
 107 
 108 
 109 
 110 
 111 
 112 
 113 
 114 
 115 
 116 
 
 117 
 
 118 
 
 119 
 120 
 121 
 122 
 123 
 
 CORNACE^. 
 
 CoriniK Ciiiijulonsis, I. inn. . 
 « stolonifera, Micli.x. 
 
 Capiufoliace.i-;. 
 
 Linn.T.i bovuali.s, Gronov 
 
 Lonioerii involticmta, 15ank.s . . 
 Vibmaum paiuiflonim, Pylaif, 
 
 RUBIACB.1 
 
 Galium tiifidum, Linn 
 " boreiile, Linn . 
 
 Composite:. 
 
 Narclosmia palmata, Hook 
 
 " safi;ittata, Beuth 
 
 Aster graminifolius, Torr. & Cir. . , 
 
 " ji'Stivus, Ait 
 
 " multiflorus, Linn 
 
 Erigeron Canadeusu, Linn 
 
 " Philadolphicum, Linn , . , 
 Solidago lanceolata, Ait 
 
 " Canadensis, Linn 
 
 Achilla'a millefolium, Linn 
 
 Leucanthumum aicticum, D (J . . . 
 ArtemiKia Canadensis, Michx 
 
 " biennis, Willd 
 
 " vulgaris, Linn 
 
 Antennaria dioica, Ga-rtn , 
 
 •' plantaginifoliii. K. Hi' 
 
 Senecio palustris, Hook 
 
 " ? 
 
 " aureus, L., var. obovatus. , 
 
 Arnica foliosa 
 
 Hieracium Canadonsc, Mielix. . . . 
 Taraxacum palustre, D C 
 
 LllBELIAfEii;. 
 
 Lobcl'a Kalmii, Linn 
 
 Campanulacka:. 
 
 Campanula rotundi folia, Linn, 
 
 Ericace/K. 
 
 Vaccinium CTspitosum, Michx 
 " oxyco"cus, Linn. . . 
 
 " Vitis-Idaca, Linn.., 
 
 " Canadense, Kalm . 
 
 " uliginosum, Linn . 
 
 ! I 
 
 * 
 ♦ 
 
 * « 
 
 I 
 i 
 
 « « 
 
 « 
 
 i 
 
 ■,' 
 
A. 
 
 APl'ENIHX II. 
 
 ("aiu,0(:uk— Continued. 
 
 57 (• 
 
 Nob. 
 
 121 
 125 
 126 
 127 
 128 
 120 
 130 
 131 
 132 
 133 
 
 134 
 
 135 
 136 
 137 
 138 
 139 
 
 140 
 141 
 
 142 
 143 
 144 
 145 
 146 
 147 
 
 148 
 14!) 
 15(f 
 151 
 
 152 
 163 
 
 Au toistaphylos uva-iirsi, Sprcng 
 1' iilpina, Spreng. . 
 
 Andiomuda jioliloliii, Linn 
 
 ("iiBsaudra calyculata, Don 
 
 Kahiiia glaiua, Ait 
 
 Ledum palustrc, T,inn 
 
 '• latifolium, Ait 
 
 Pyrolii minor, Linn 
 
 auiinida, Linu. 
 
 " rotundifdlia, Linn, 
 
 Planta(;inace.k. 
 
 Plantago major, var. Asiatica, Docaisno. 
 
 Pbimui-acka;. 
 
 Primula farinosa, Linn 
 
 " Mistiissinica, Michx 
 Trientalis Americana, Pursh 
 
 Lysimachia ciliata, Linn 
 
 " thyrsiflora, Linn 
 
 Lentiuuliacb.i-:. 
 
 Utricularia vulgaris, Lini. 
 Pinguieula vulgaris, 1-inn. 
 
 SCROPHULAIUACK.V;. 
 
 Veronica peregrina, Linn 
 
 Castilleia pallida, Kunth 
 
 Euphrasia offiuinalif , Linn 
 
 llhinanthus (Jrista-galli, Linn. . 
 Pedicularis cuphrasioides, Stuph 
 " liinsuta, Linn ? 
 
 LabiaT/i;. 
 
 Mentha Canadensis, Linn 
 
 Drac ocephalum parvillorum, Nutt . 
 
 Scutellaria galericulata, L 
 
 btachys i)alustris, Linn 
 
 BORUAGINACE.*;. 
 
 Mertensia paniculata, Don 
 " maritima, Don . , 
 
 Gentianack.i-: 
 Genliana Amarella, var. stricta. 
 
 II. I IIL I IV. I A. 
 
 154 
 
 155 I Pleurogyne Carinthiaca, Griesb. var. pusi 
 
 156 j Menyanthes trifoliata, Linn 
 
 ila.Or. 
 
58 f 
 
 :• i t 
 
 (iEOI,0(ll(^\l, SUKVKV (»K CANADA. 
 
 CAT.vi.ipdrK— I'Diiliiiiioil. 
 
 Nos. 
 
 157 
 1-.8 
 
 iny 
 
 160 
 IG] 
 162 
 163 
 1G4 
 165 
 
 166 
 167 
 
 108 
 
 169 
 
 170 
 
 171 
 
 172 
 
 173 
 174 
 175 
 17G 
 177 
 
 178 
 179 
 
 180 
 181 
 
 ('lIKNOPOI)IACK.T-:. 
 
 Cheiiopodiiim album. Tiimi . . . 
 " gliiucum, Ijiuii . 
 
 POLVCIUNACK.K. 
 
 I'olygoninn aviitilnro, lAnn. .. 
 
 " jiinphitiinrn, Linn. 
 
 " ciliuode, .Miclix. . . 
 
 " viviparum. Linn. . 
 
 " lapatliifdlium, Ait 
 
 Rnmex maiitimus, Linn , 
 
 '> salicifolius, Weinn . . . . 
 
 EL.KAiiNACK.K. 
 
 Elccagnus argoutea, Fursli 
 
 Shfplicrdia (Janadunsis, Nutt . . , 
 
 Sa.ntalace.k. 
 
 C'omandra iimbellata, Nutt. . . . . 
 
 EmI'ETHACE/K. 
 
 Empotinm nigrum, Linn 
 
 Uuticack^k. 
 Urtica gracilis, Ait 
 
 Betitace.k. 
 
 I Ik'tulfi glanduloaa, Michx. 
 ! Alniis indina, Willi! 
 
 Salicace.k. 
 
 Salix Candida, AVilld. ... 
 " myrtilioides, Linn. 
 
 " VL'stita, J'ursli 
 
 1! ? 
 
 " ?! 
 
 CoNIFERiK. 
 
 I. 
 
 Juniperus communis, Limi 
 
 " Sabina, var. procurabcns 
 
 Typiiacb^k. 
 
 Sparganium simplex, Huds . . . . 
 " minimum, Bauliin. 
 
 n. I III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 A. 
 
Al'l'ENDIX ri. 
 
 CvTAiiidiK— -('iiiilimiod. 
 
 59 r 
 
 Nos. 
 
 182 
 183 
 184 
 185 
 
 18G 
 
 187 
 188 
 189 
 1 90 
 191 
 
 102 
 
 193 
 194 
 195 
 190 
 197 
 
 198 
 199 
 200 
 201 
 
 202 
 203 
 204 
 205 
 200 
 207 
 208 
 209 
 210 
 211 
 212 
 
 2 1 :! 
 
 214 
 
 J. ! II. t 111. IV. i A. 
 
 NAIAnACB.T-:. 
 
 Potaniogutdii liKciis, L 
 
 nifcsceiiK,Schra(l . 
 « jHH'tiuntiis, Linn. 
 
 " iHufdliatus, I. inn 
 
 Alis.mace.k. 
 
 Triglochia nmritiniuni, Linn. . 
 
 Ol!C'ini)A('E.K. 
 
 Habeiiiiria rotnndifolia. Ricluud . 
 
 " hyperboroa, LinfU. . . , 
 
 Spiranthes Romiinzovianii, Cham 
 
 Corallorhiza innatii, R . Br 
 
 Cypripedium guttatum, Swartz ? 
 
 IniDACE.v;. 
 Sisyrincliium Bermiulianum, Linn. 
 
 LlLIACE.^1-:. 
 
 Smilacina trifolia, Desf 
 
 " bifolia, Kev 
 
 «' stollata, Desf 
 
 Lilium riiiladelphiium, Linn. 
 Tofieldia palustris, Huds 
 
 .JlNCACE.I-;. 
 
 Lnznia iiaiviflora, var. midimocarpa (irny 
 Jnncus alpintis. var. insiuni,-^ Fries 
 
 " ISaiticus, Detliartl 
 
 " tenui.s, Willd 
 
 CYPERAI.'E.K. 
 
 Elfocharis palustris, 11 Br 
 Scirpus atrovircns, Muhl . . 
 
 " validus, Vahl 
 
 Eridplioruni gracile, Roth 
 Carux aristata, 11. Br. '.'.... 
 
 " aurea, Nntt 
 
 '- cancscens, Linn . . . . 
 
 " gynocrates, Wormslv 
 
 " sioparia, Sclili 
 
 ;' stramiuea, Selik . . . 
 
 '' striata, Lam 
 
 <' vesicaria, Linn .... 
 
 " vulpinoidea, Michx 
 
01) c 
 
 
 (ii:ol,O(il0AI, SURVEY OK CANADA. 
 
 CATAi.(i(iiK--Contiiiucd. 
 
 Nos, 
 
 215 
 216 
 
 217 
 218 
 210 
 220 
 j21 
 222 
 223 
 224 
 225 
 
 226 
 227 
 
 228 
 229 
 230 
 231 
 
 232 
 233 
 234 
 
 Gbaminea;. 
 
 Alopecunis nd.stulatuH, Miohx . . . 
 Calaniagiostis Langsdoi-ffii, Trin. 
 
 AgrDStis sciiliiii, WilM 
 
 Glyceiia tliiilans, 11. ]'>r 
 
 Poa al[iiim, Linn 
 
 " erotina, Ebrli 
 
 " laxii, U.Tnkt; 
 
 Festuca oviiui, Linn 
 
 Elymus daHystachyum 
 
 Hoidcum juliatuni, Linn 
 
 Beckmanuia c-iucn>foimis, Hook . 
 
 E(juisetacea:. 
 
 Eiiuisetum gylvaticum, Linn. 
 " limosuni, Linn . . , 
 
 FiLlCES. 
 
 I'olypodium vulgaro, Linn. . . . 
 Asplenium Tricliomanes, Linn 
 
 Aspidiuni frag runs , Swaitz 
 
 " spinuloBum iSwartz . 
 var. dilatatum, Cir. . 
 
 CystopteriB fiagilis, Bernh 
 
 Woodsia Ilvcnsis, R. Ur 
 
 Butiychium Lunaria, Swartz . . 
 
 LvCOPODIACEil';. 
 
 235 I Lycopodium tlavatiim, Linn. 
 
 Musci. 
 
 236 Spliagmim subsecnndum, Necs , 
 
 237 1 Polytrichnm strictum, Hook . . 
 
 I. 
 
 IL 
 
 in. IV. 
 
A. 
 
 APPENDIX III. 
 
 LIST OF FEESII- WATER MOLLUSCA PROM MANITOBA 
 AND THE VALLEY OF THE NELSON RIVER. 
 
 Thofollowinpj list includes soiiu' species collected in Manitoba, which 
 Mr. Whitcaves, ol'tho Geological Survey, has kindly determined. 
 
 Lamellibranohiat-v. 
 
 1. Unio rectus, Lamarck. Red River, Manitoba. 
 
 2. HyridcUa {?) radiata, Lamarck. Numerous in Lake Winnipeg and 
 
 the Nelson itiver. 
 
 3. Ifyridella lutm/a, Lamarck. (=^Cn'o s,UI<imidcm, Harnes.) Red 
 
 Kiver, Manitoba. 
 
 4. Lampsilis flavus, Ratinosque. (=Unio rubuji.nosut^, Lea.) Red 
 
 River, Manitoba. 
 
 5. Theliderma qiiadrulu!<, liiitiiwtiquc. (=^Unio lachri/mosus,lniii.) Red 
 
 River, Manitoba. 
 
 6. Dysnomia plicata, Lesueur. Red River, Manitoba. 
 
 7. Metaptera alatus, Say. Red River, Manitoba. 
 
 8. Complanaria complanata, Barnes. Common in the Nelson River, 
 
 but larger and finer in the Red and Assiniboinc Rivers. 
 
 9. Strophitus Pennsylvanicus, Lamarck. {=:Anodontn undvlata, Say.) 
 
 Lake Winnipeg and Great Plu3'green Lake. 
 
 10. Anodonta (Sj). uncertain.) Red River at Winnijjeg. 
 
 Nos. 4, 5 and G are characteristic Western species. 
 
 11. Sphoerium'transversum, Say. ") Both found in numbers in the 
 
 V stomachs of sturgeon caught in 
 
 12. Spharium striatimim, Lamarck. ) Great Playgreon Lake. 
 
 Gasteropoda. 
 
 13. Valvata (Tropidina) tricai\nata, Say. Found in the stomachs of 
 
 sturgeon caught in Great Playgreen Lake. 
 5 
 
62 r 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 14. I/imtuva stagnalis, Linnd. Lake Winnipeg, Nelson River and iaUes 
 
 and rivers to the south-eastward. 
 
 15. Linnophysa catascopium, Say. Groat Piaygreen Lake. 
 
 16. Phtjsa heterostropha, Say. Inhabits the same waters .is fjiwiirva 
 
 stagnalis. 
 
 17. BuUnus hypnorum, Linnd. Ponds in Manitoba. 
 
 18. Helisoma trivolvis, Say. Around Winnipeg and in Manitoba. 
 
 19. Helisoma bicarinatm, Say. Lake Winnipeg. 
 
 20. Segmentina armigera, Say. Abundant in Gi-cat IMaygreeii Tjakii. 
 
 i 
 
iaUes 
 
 inna'a 
 
 APPENDIX IV. 
 
 ko. 
 
 
 LIST OFLEPIDOPTIORA FROM THE NELSON AND CHURCHILL 
 RIVERS AND THE WEST COAST OF HUDSON'S BAY. 
 
 HcMT Gftt'ckeii of Lii Tom- de Peilz, Switzerland, liiifs kindly supplied 
 the followini;- list of the Lepidoptera of the region explored. The 
 spocinicns were collected by the Venerable Arehdeacon Kirby (now of 
 London, l']iiu,liind ), who laboured for many years in this and other 
 parts of the Northwest Territory. 
 
 1. Papilio Turnus, Linn. 
 
 2. " .Zolicaon, |{oi.-<d. 
 
 3. Colias (!hristina, Edw. 
 
 4. " Chippewa, Ed. 
 
 5. " Nasles, Boisd. Churchill. 
 
 6. " Nor. s/>. Allied to C. Ilccla and C. Boothii, but distinct 
 
 from both. Found at Churchill or north of York Factory. 
 T. Danais Arcliippus, Fab. 
 
 8. Argynnis Triclaris, Hub. 
 
 9. " '''J'iii;,^ii, Thunb, var. Laga. 
 10. " Atlantis, Edw, 
 
 IL " Freya, Thunb. 
 
 12. " Chariclea, Schneid. 
 
 18. Melita>a Tharos, Drury. 
 
 14. Vanessa Milberti, Godl. 
 
 15. " Hunter, Drury. 
 
 16. " Cardui, Linn, 
 
 17. " Atalanta, Linn. 
 
 18. " Anti/>pa, Linn. 
 
 19. Limenitis Artheniis, Drury. 
 
 20. Erebia Discoidali.s, Kirby. \"ork Factory. 
 
 21. " Fasciata, Butler. North to Churchill. 
 
 22. •• Mo. sp. North Churchill. 
 
64 c 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 3! 
 
 23. Satyrns Nephele, Kirby. 
 
 24. Chionobas Jutta, Hubii, York Factor}' 
 
 25. PolyommatuH Xunthoicles ? BoiHd. 
 
 26. Macro^loHsu Flavofasoiata V 
 
 27. Alypia Maccullochi ? Kirby. 
 28* Tolea Polj'phenms, Linn. 
 29. Platavclia Partljenoi>i,Fab. 
 
 Fvidontly Houth of Yori< Factory, 
 
APPENDIX V. 
 
 LiSTOFCOLEOPTKliA COLLK(TKJ) BV JIR. 1{. liHLL IN 1879 
 
 ON Tir 10 N i<:ls(3N an i ) c m r Rt • in ll h\ v e rs. 
 
 The spt'cios of Colcojitcru collected (liirini; my exploration of the 
 NelHOii and Chiirchill livei'H have been kindly detennined hy 
 Dr. J. L. LeConte of Philudel))hiu, who has forwarded the following 
 list of them. 
 
 1. 
 2 
 
 3. 
 4. 
 
 5. 
 6. 
 
 1. 
 
 8. 
 
 I>. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 
 Carabus ttedatus, Fabr. 
 Nebria Sahlbergi, Fisch. 
 Calathiis ingratus, Dej. 
 Platynus ruticorniH, Lee. 
 Pterosticlju.s orinonuni, Leach. 
 " empetricola, Dej. 
 
 Amara lm'matoj)iiH, Dej. (=iiStereoeerus similis, Kirby & Ijirils 
 
 laeUHtris, Lee.) 
 Dj-^tiscuB eonfluen.s. Say. 
 " anxiuH, Mann. 
 Gaurodytes lutosus, Crotch. 
 Gyrinxis (immature and undeterminable). 
 Lathrobium Hi mile, Lee. 
 Silpha Lapponiea, Linn. 
 
 " trituberculata, Kirby. 
 Coccinella 12-maeulata, (zzrinoarnata, Kirby, =picta, Randall.) 
 Hippodamia qninciue signata, Kirby. 
 Bupre.stis Nuttalli, Kirby. 
 
 Melanophila Drummondi, Kirby. 
 
 Chrysobothris trinervia, Kirby. 
 
 Photinus (Ellychnia) corruscus. (small var.) 
 
 Podabrus, allied to piniphilus. 
 
 Telephorus fraxini, Say. 
 
J 
 
 an ( 
 
 23. 
 24. 
 25. 
 
 2«;. 
 
 27. 
 
 2H. 
 
 2!t. 
 
 :m\. 
 
 31. 
 32. 
 
 ;;.3. 
 in. 
 
 «IEOL(j(»r«AL NL'RVKV OF CANADA. 
 CVi(H'oplmlii.s u^M'estis, Kiiliy. 
 Xylotri'clius lui.lululiH, Suy, 
 Acma'.)|w pmlonsis, l.aici,. (=«tri^rilata, Fab.) 
 l-cpfiira Miil.ai-irt'htaia, Kii-I.y. 
 se.\ iiiaciila)a, liimi. 
 chrysoconiu, Kiihy. 
 Moiioiiuiiiiuiis ,s<iil.'llutiis, Say. 
 Poiioiioclicnis niixliiN, Ilal<l. 
 OiWKlacliiia Cliildiviii, Kirl.\. 
 OdoxuH vitis, Linn. 
 Clirysonii'la spiica". Say. 
 <fi>ni(i((ciia ai'clica, Mann. 
 <inipto,|..ra l.innu-inala. Say. (=Pli,.iponnis, Ma,.n.=vitivo.-a, 
 
 3(1. Stoiiotmcli(d 
 .'!7. M('!oc Atnei'ic 
 38. Lej)3'j-iis c.nlon, I. 
 
 'honias. ) 
 IIS ai'ctadis, Sj 
 
 V 
 
 tniH, Lcucli.( — 
 
 an^'UHti('^)llis, Loc. ) 
 
 inn. 
 
J 
 
 .VPPKNDIX VI. 
 
 I 
 
 I-IST OF HIHDS KIJOM TIIK K'KCloN IIKTWKKN NcHiVVAV 
 HorSK AND KORTS OmiRCIIILL AND VoUK. 
 
 'I'lic lolldwinij,' is ii lisl oCtlic birds, of which oithn- the slxiiis or (he 
 e^f^-s Wert' uriiuiily ohluitu'd, in the ro^^noii hulwocii Norw.-iy lloiist- lunl 
 Foi'tH Churchill anil York. Many otiicr H|t{'ciitH were; nott'il, uiul !i list 
 ot these is r-cscrvod to h« vcM-jtuMJ hikI unlargcd Uin c(nniti,u; season. I 
 am indcl.lcd t(. Mr. II. (I. Vcnnor, of (lie (Joolo^'ical Survey, and Mr. }'. 
 Kiiotzing, natiiralistand laxiiUM-niiwl, for assisting in the dotorrnination 
 of thd skins. Several of themii were j^iveii to me by Dr. Percy Mathews 
 and .Mr. Henry Johnstone, of York Factory. 
 
 I. //(ilid'tus leuf^ocep/iafus, Bald ea^h\ Katlior scarce. 
 
 2 Pandioii h(ili(rtiis, liriss. ; Osprey, or Fishing eagle. Common. 
 
 Several nests seen along the Churchill and Grass rivers. 
 .'{. Folco coumunix, Gm. ; Peregrine or Duck hawk, male. York 
 Factor)'. 
 
 4. " cohimhiiriiis. Linn. : Pigeon hawk. Norway House to Fort 
 Churchill. 
 
 Kjiarrrrhis, Litni. ; male. York Factory. 
 sacer, l-'orst. ; (iei- falcon. York Factoiy. A tine specimen, 
 presentiid l)y Mi-. Foi-tescue. 
 7. Buteo borealis, (Jin. ; Eod-tailed hawk. Fort Churchill. 
 H. Rrachjiotns palmti'is, BecJi.^!.; Swamp owl. Fort Churchill and 
 
 York Factory. 
 1*. Nyi'tea nirat, Daudin; Snowy owl. Abundant throughout the 
 district in wint(M-. 
 
 lt>. Surnut alula, var. Hmhonica, Gm. ; Hawk owl. Fort (>hurchill 
 and Yoi'k Factory. 
 
 11. Corv'iii Arnericanm, A\n\. , (Common cj'ow. On I^ake Winnipeg the 
 
 young were able to fly in the beginning of July. Not 
 often seen in the woods. Common on Hudson's Bay. 
 
 12. • corax, Linn. ; J{avon, or Barking crow. Breeds throughout 
 
 the district. 
 
 5. 
 
 (i. 
 
68 r 
 
 fiEOEOGICAL SURVEY OF PANAPA. 
 
 13. Ceryle Alcyon, Linn.; K ing-tiHher. Lake Winnipeg to York 
 
 Factory, liaro towards Fort Cliurciiill. 
 
 14. Colaptcs auratuSjlAnn.; Yollow-hsliafted woodpecker. Very numer- 
 
 ous, owing to the abundance of food afforded l)y the 
 extensive brides. The Hairy Woodpecker is also very 
 common. 
 
 15. Gollurio borealis, Vieil. ; Great northern shrike. York Factory. 
 
 16. Loxia leiicoptera, Gm. ; American cross-hill. A specimen, which 
 
 flew on board ship in Hudson's Strait, was presented by 
 Dr. Mathews. 
 
 17". Quiscalus purjmreus, Bartv. ; Purple blackbird. York Factory. 
 18. Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Gra. ; msilc, HustyGrakle. York Factory. 
 1'^. Melospiza ihelodia, Wils. ; Song-sparrow. Norway House. 
 
 20. Dcndraica ^fi'f«ra, male, Gm. ; Yellow-poll warbler. York Factory. 
 
 21. Eremophila nlpestris, Forst. ; Shore lark. Fort Churchill and York 
 
 Factory. 
 
 22. Flectrophanes nivalis, Linn. ; Snow Bunting. York Factory. 
 
 23. Turdus migratorius, Linn. ; American liobin. Common throughout 
 
 the district. 
 
 24. Tachycincta bicolor, Vieil. ; White-bellied swallow. York Factory. 
 
 25. Chordeiles Virginianus, Gm.; (western variety) Night hawk. York 
 
 Factory. Common southward. The Whip-poor-will was 
 not seen nor heard north of Norway House. 
 
 26. Lagopus albus, Gmel. ; Willow ptarmigan. Abundant at Churchill 
 
 and York in winter, and comes as far south Jis Norway 
 House. 
 
 27. Bonasa umbellus, Linn. ; Rutled grouse. IJare as far north as York 
 
 Factory. 
 
 28. " Canadensis, Linn. ; Canada grouse. Rarc^ at Fort Churchill. 
 
 29. Pedicecetes phasianeUus, Linn. ; I'in-tailed grouse. Some of these 
 
 birds were shot near Dog's Head, Lake Winnipeg. 
 Thence I have found them eastward as far as Long Lake 
 and Pic Kivor on Lake Su[)erior. 
 
 30. Strepsilas interpres, liinn. ; Turnstone. York Factory. 
 
 31. Gms Canadensis, Linn. ; Sand-hill crane. Norway House. 
 
 32. Botaurus minor, Gm. ; Little bittern. York Factory. 
 
 33. Gambetta Jiavipes, Gm.; Yellow-shanks. Common throughout th»; 
 
 district. 
 
APPENDIX Vr. 
 
 69 c 
 
 ipcg 
 
 r to 
 
 York 
 
 Vci-y niimer- 
 ttrordcd by the 
 :or is iils^f^ "^'*^''y 
 
 ork Factory. 
 Hpccimcn, which 
 as prcrtontcd by 
 
 
 38. 
 
 ork Factory. 
 
 39. 
 
 e. York Factory. 
 
 
 f House. 
 
 40. 
 
 (.. York Factory. 
 
 41. 
 
 liurchill and York 
 
 
 i-k Factory. 
 
 42. 
 
 )mmon throughout 
 
 43 
 
 V. York Factory. 
 
 44. 
 
 flight hawk. York 
 
 45. 
 
 Whip-poor-wiU was 
 
 iouse. 
 
 
 undant at Churchill 
 
 46. 
 
 ar south as Norway 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 AS far north as York 
 
 
 
 48 
 
 iro at Fort Churchill. 
 
 49 
 
 ,usc. Some of these 
 
 
 ad, Lake Winnipeg, 
 as far as Long Lake 
 
 ; Factory, 
 jrway li«nise. 
 
 Factory. 
 
 ,mmon throughout the 
 
 34. Gambetta melanoleuca, Ginel. ; Tell Tale: Stone Snipe. Norway 
 
 House. 
 
 35. Trinyoides macularim, Linn. ; Spotteil sandpiper. Norway House 
 
 to York Factoi-y. 
 
 36. Numenius borealis, Forst. ; Eskimo curlew. Abundant in July and 
 
 August at Fort Churchill, as were also the Hudsonian 
 Ciu'lovv, Goldon Plover, and other species of which no 
 specimens wei-e brought home. 
 
 37. Aei/ialitis semipalinata, Wilson. Soraipalmated Sandpiper. York 
 
 P^actory. 
 
 Larus cmjentatus, Brunn ; Hei-ring gull. PVt Churchill. 
 Sterna hirundo (?), Auct. ; Black-headad tern. Very common in 
 the larger lakes and on the shores of Hudson's Bay. 
 
 Erismatura rubida, Wils. Ruddy Duck. York F'actory. 
 
 Anas boschas, Linn. ; Grey oi- Slock duck, or Mallard. This is the 
 eomnionest duck in tlie district. Breeds in considerable 
 numbers along the Nelson and Little Churchill Rivers. 
 
 Dafila acuta, Linn. ; Pintail duck. Breeds near Norway House. 
 Bucephala clanyxda, Linn. ; Common Golden-eye or "Tree Duck." 
 
 Also breeds near Norway House. 
 Spatula clypeata, Linn. ; Spoon-bill duck. On Lake Winnipeg the 
 
 young were nearly full-grown in the beginning of July. 
 Queryuedala Curolinensis, Gm. ; Green-winged teal. Verj- common 
 
 near Norway House ; scarce northward. 
 Meryusi cucuUatus, Lirm. ; Hooded merganser. Young going south 
 
 in llocUs on the Nelson River in September. 
 
 " ineryanser, Linn. , Red-headed merganser. Common through- 
 out the district. 
 
 Pelionetta perspiciUata, Linn. Surf Duck. York Factory. 
 
 Anser Canadensis, Linn. ; Canada goose. Breeds in considerable 
 numl)ers along the Churchill River. Most of the young 
 could lly in the beginning of August. 
 
 50. " hyperboreus. Pal., var. albatus ; Lesser snow-goose. One 
 
 specimen which had been shot at Fort Churchill was pre- 
 ► sonted by Mr. J. R. Spencer. Is very rare on the west 
 
 side of Hudson's Bay. 
 
 51. Anser hypcrborei(s. Pal.; Common White wavy. Abundant at 
 
 Churchill and York dui'ing the spring and autumn 
 migrations 
 
<iE(H,(»()l('Ar. SIKYKV liF CANAIiA. 
 
 \l 
 
 52. Ct/gnus Americanus, Shai'])less , Whistliiiii; swan. A few aro shot 
 
 every spring at Foil Cliurcliill, tVoni whicli place a speci- 
 men was ])resentecl liy Mr. J. H. Spencer. 
 
 53. Peiecanus fuscus, Linn.; Brown j)elican. Hreeds in the smaller 
 
 lakes near Lake Winnipeg- and north-westward. Several 
 specimens were shot in Lake Winni])eL!; in Octohor. 
 
 54. Ca/ymbus septentrionalis, Ijinn. ; Ked-tliroatcd diver. Vdi'k Factory. 
 
 Mr. Ross has shot a specimen tlyiiig past at Norway 
 House. 
 
 55. '' (o)'quat us, Ih'nnn; Cii'eat Northern diver, lireeds in many 
 
 lakes throughout the district. Mr, Fortescue informed me 
 that in the spring of 187S, just after the ice broke up at 
 Vork Factoi-y, gj-eat numhers of these birds congregated 
 in the mouth of Hayes' River, a circumstance which had 
 never been observed in any jn-evious season. 
 
 The Passenger Pigeon was seen in small flocks in the ujtper ])art of 
 the Nelson River in the beginning of Se])tember, 1878. It very rarely 
 passes York Factory, and has never beei) known at Fort Churchill. 
 The common American Snijte was met with near the Nelson River 
 above Split Lake. I saw one specinu-n of the "Woodcock at, Vork 
 Factory in the end of August last. This bird is not uncommon in 
 ^Manitoba, although the fact is not generally known. The Pine 
 Grosbeak was frequently seen on the Churchill River in the end of 
 July, showing that it probably breeds in this region. 
 
APPEINDIX VII. 
 
 VARIATION OF THK OOMPASS. 
 
 The following list shows the variation of the compass in twenty-one 
 localities in the territory explored during the season. The observations 
 were taken with as much care as was possible while making such a 
 rapitl survey of an extensive region, where one had to attend, unaided, 
 to such a variety of different matters. The local attraction, which exists 
 ill man}' jilaces, especially among the Laurentian and Huronian rocks, 
 sometimes renders it difficult to ascertain the tru(! variation for any 
 locality. Sir Ilcnr}' Lefroy (who visited this region in 1^43-44), in a 
 letter which I have received from him on this subject, says ; — " I used 
 a new 7-inch compass, and used it carefully, but the results differ 
 much more than T can account for. This is particularly the case 
 where a change of geological formation occurs — say, for cxamjile, 
 about the narrows of Lake Winnipeg -and I should be greatly in- 
 terested in a good comparison ly means of A.M. and P.M. sights on 
 the 'Dog's Head' and the 'Bull's Head,' and on the opposite side to 
 both. =t= --^ About Oxford Lak(> 1 have 12° 58', 10° IP, 14° 21', in 
 near ])roximity." Among other causes influencing the variation in 
 this region, besides that oi' change in geological formation on a large 
 scale, above alluded to, I have noticed beds of magnetic iron, dejjosits 
 of iron sand, dykes of diorite, great magnetic boulders, sudden change 
 in the genei'al level in passing from one region to another, proximity 
 >■ a cliff or bank oi- even of a thick grove or (when very close) a 
 S11. de large tree. 
 
 N'nriiitinii K. 
 
 1 . Little Churohill River, 24 miles south of its junction with the 
 
 Great ChurcLil). (The north side of the "forks" lieiiig in 
 
 lat. .OV 3n' 57.31" and about long. 95" 30') 11 30' 
 
 2. Little Churchill River, 5 mile.s north of last lo 30' 
 
 3. At the north side of the junction of the Little with the (Jreat 
 
 Churchill River, in the above latitude 12' 30' 
 
 4. Great Churchill River, 22 miles north of the above junction . . 15 00 ' 
 
 5. Great Churchill River, 21 miles from its month G" 30' 
 
 0. Fort Churchill, on the west side of the river, 4 or 5 miles from 
 
 its mouth. (Lat. 58" 44' 43.04") 11 00' 
 
72 c 
 
 UEOLOdlCAL Sl'RVEV OP CANADA. 
 
 7. York Factory, S. W. side of the fort. (In 1878 I found only 
 
 about 5° 30' at the N. E. side, but there ai)pears to be some 
 
 local attraction there) 7' 00' 
 
 8. Hill River, about 20 miles above its Junction with Fox River 
 
 (1878) 9' 4r.' 
 
 9. Nelson River, e.'i miles from Point of Marsh, or the N. K. 
 
 extremity of Beacon Point 8 ' 45' 
 
 10. Ncl8on River, First (or lowest) Limestone Rapid, (lat. 
 56° 36' 6."), about 77 miles in a straight line from Point 
 
 of Marsh 1 1 ' 30' 
 
 J 1 . Nelson River, Broad Rapid, 23 miles S. W. of last 11" 30' 
 
 12. Nelson River, outlet of Split Lake. (Lat. 50° 16' 27") . . . . . . 18' 00' 
 
 13. Grass River, outlet of Witchai ("Stinking") Lake, about 12 
 
 milesS. W.of theupperendof Split Lake, or about lat. 56°. . 16' 30' 
 
 14. Nelson River, north side of outlet of Sipi-wesk Lak(;, at south 
 
 end of Cross Portage. (Lat. 55 13'29.38") 16' 30' 
 
 15. Nelson River, Chute at outlet of Duck Lake (Duck Portage).. 19' 15' 
 
 16. Nelson River, 12 miles below White Mud F'fills. (Lat. 
 
 54' 45' 48. 14") 14' HO'. 
 
 17. Nelson River, Western Channel of East River, 5 miles south 
 
 of Pipestone Lake 16' 30' 
 
 18. Nelson River, Junction of Pine River with East River, 6 miles 
 
 above Sea River Falls 16' 00' 
 
 19. Norway House 14° 00' 
 
 20. Point at east end of Mossy Point (at outlet of Lake Winnipeg). 
 
 about one mile north of Warrens Landing 1 0° 45' 
 
 21. Ln' V. kVinnipeg, north side of Poplar Point, near extremity. . 15° 15' 
 
 I am indebted to Sir J. 11. LefVoy, of London, for the following 
 " memorandum oi' observations of variation on Lake Winnipeg in 
 1843-44." 
 
 Variation E. 
 
 1 . Fort Alexander 1 3' 56' 
 
 2. Grassy Narrows 14° 14' 
 
 3. Opposite Bull's Head 16° 18' 
 
 4. Opposite Dog's Head 16° 24' 
 
 5. By Beren's River 16° 55' 
 
 6. Point near Wesleyan Mission 14° 26' 
 
 7. By Mossy Point 19° 23' 
 
 8. A little beyond (lat. 52' 29') 15° 27' 
 
 it. Norway House 15° 13' 
 
 10. Second Rocky Point 17° 03' 
 
 The following wore taken in 1877 in connection with the Dominion 
 Lands Department : — 
 
 Mouth of Poplar River, east side Lake Winnipeg 15" 20' E. 
 
 Black River, nortli of Winnipeg River 13 00' E. 
 
 a.