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 13 
 
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REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 E. B. BORRON, STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE, 
 
 ON PART OF THE 
 
 BASIN" OF HUDSON'S BAY 
 
 BELONGING TO THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. 
 
 ^xinitA fty #vd(jr of tfte f cflislatlve ^sis^mlrly. 
 
 iorottt0 : 
 
 PRINTED BY C. BLACKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STREET. 
 
 1883. 
 
 
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 REPORT 
 
 or 
 
 E. B. BORRON, STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE, 
 
 ON PART OF THE 
 
 BASIN OF HUDSON'S BAY 
 
 BELONGING TO THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. 
 
 pUrittUd bi) ^nUr of the f f gislativ^ ^ssn^mljli!. 
 
 Soroitto : 
 
 PRINTED BY C. BLACKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STREET. 
 
 1883. 
 
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 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. 
 
 5 
 
 Introductory j.^^^ 
 
 Topography 3 
 
 Climate 7 
 
 Agricultural flesources ^^ 
 
 Timber 13 
 
 Mineral Resources ^^ 
 
 Other Resources ^^ 
 
 Development and Settlement ^^ 
 
 Social Condition ^^ 
 
 Administration of Justice ^^ 
 
 Conclusion *1 
 
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 OF 
 
 ONTARIO. 
 
 — 1 ^1 
 
 To accompany Reports of the Stipendiary 
 Magistrates with respect- to ttie Northerly 
 
 & Westerly parts oF the Province oF Ontario. 
 
 The portion coloured PINK is that part of Ontafio in respect of which there is no dispute 
 The portions coloured YELLOW & BLUE show that part of Ontario now claimed by Manitoba 
 under Dominion Legislation. 
 
 Theporhon coloured BLUE marks Jerri to ly now claimed by Manitoba which CANADA, 
 before Confederation always treated as part of Upper Canada. 
 
 Routes Followed by M!^ Borron. 
 
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XCK/W ^HlfM A CfLlTHS TOmOHTO. 
 
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Toronto, 6th December, 1882. 
 Thb Honourable O. Mowat 
 
 Attorney-General : 
 S1R.-I beg respectfully to submit herewith my report for the present year in 
 
 In this report I have also incidentally given some information in reference to the 
 topography and resources of an extensive and almost unknown region south £ the Hei^h 
 of Land which may, I hope, be of more or less interest and value ^ 
 
 I have the honour to be. Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 E. B. BORRON, 
 
 Stipentl^ary Magistrate. 
 
4 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 E. B. BORRON, ESQ., STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE, 
 
 ON TUAT PART OF THE 
 
 BASIN OF HUDSON'S BAY 
 
 BELONGING TO THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. 
 
 Having obtained permission to prosecute further explorations in the so-called disputed 
 territory north of the Height of Land, I took passage on the steamer " Manitouliii "^ 
 from CoUingwood to Blind River, on the 17th of May last. 
 
 My intention was to proceed to the mouth of the Mississagua river some four miles 
 west of Blind River, and after completing my arrangements, to ascend that river to the 
 Hudson Bay Company's Post at Green Lake, and from thence continue my journey over 
 the Height of Land to " Flying Post." In the course of my explorations last year, I had 
 ascertained that there was a practicable, though rarely travelled canoe-route from Flying 
 Post to Green Lake, and as I was aware that there was a tolerably good canoe-route from 
 Mississagua Post to Green Lake, I felt confident that there could be no insuperable obstacle 
 to prevent my going tlirough that way, if I could only obtain competent guides. On 
 Hiy arrival at Flying Post, I purposed descending the Ahkuckootish or Ground-hog River 
 to its junction with the Mattagami or south branch of Moose River, and thence down that 
 river to Moose Factory. From the northern limit of tlie surveys for timber berths, to 
 the junction of the Ahkuckootish and Mattagami Rivers upwards of two hundred miles, 
 this route would lead me tlirough a new and almost unexplored country, and I hoped by 
 adopting it, to obtain information of more or less value and importance to th'i Government. 
 
 As is generally known, the steamer took fire in Manito waning Bay, and was burnt 
 to the water's edge. In common with all those of my fellow passengers who were fortun- 
 ate enough to escape, I lost everything I had on board. As this included the whole of 
 my outfit, instruments, maps, and supplies, with the exception of flour, pork, and a few 
 other stores which had been sent on by another boat, it is needless to say that such an 
 uuforseen misfortune not only put me to much inconvenience but was the occasion of a 
 good deal of delay, as well as expense. 
 
 Much difficulty was experienced in replacing many indespensable articles that had 
 been lost, as well as in obtaining suitable guides and voyageurs. I had expected to pro- 
 cure a guide at Green Lake who would be able to pilot us from thence to Flying Post, 
 but I found that the Hudson Bay Company's Post at Green Lake would be closed and 
 the Indians all dispersed before I could arrive there. 
 
 It was thus the 22nd of June before 1 was in a condition to make another start. It 
 was some consolation, however, to find (as we afterwards did), that owing to the flooded 
 condition, and very strong current in some of the stretches of the Mississagua River, it 
 
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 J 
 
 would have been a very difficult matter iiileed, if not impossible to have ascended the 
 river in our heavily laden canoe much earlier in the season. 
 
 It may hs well to prefacnwhat I have to say of the various resourcoa of the country, 
 with a short sketch of the route followed not only going to Moose Factory, but re- 
 turning : This will be very brief as many particulars will be supplied when 1 come to 
 treat of the " timber resources " of the territory. 
 
 On the eighth day we reached Green Lake and on the eleventh of actual voyaging, we 
 arrived at the Height of Land. During our aicent from Lake Huron we had been 
 •compelled to make twenty-live portages varying from a few yards to nearly three miles 
 in length. The rise from Lake Huron to the watershed on the Height of Land 
 is, I think, between nine hundred and a thousand feet. The river below Green 
 Lake flows with a very strong current rendering its accent exceedingly slow and labori- 
 ous. Above Green Lake the route passes for the most part through lakes, small rivers, 
 and creeks, so small indeed as sometimes barely to permit the passage of a canoe. 
 Lake Winnibeegon is tne source of the Mississagua River. Our route, however, passed a 
 few miles to the eastward of that lake. 
 
 The Height of Land portage terminates at a lake called Wau-qua-ma-gaming or 
 Clear-water Lake. It is five or six miles in length, and the source of the Ahkuckootish 
 or Ground-hog River, one of the largest tributaries of the Moose. This river was 
 followed for eighty miles and brought us on the fifteenth day to Flying Post. Some 
 time was spent in explorations and obtaining information in reference to that part of the 
 country. 
 
 The navigation of the Ahkuckootish River below Flying Post was reported to be 
 both difficult and dangerous. I was fortunate however, in obtaining, through the kind- 
 ness of Mr. Thomas Moore, the officer in charge, the services of George and Henry 
 M'Kay, said to be the best "bowsman" and " steersman " on the river. 
 
 Leaving Flying Post we passed safely down the river to its junction with the Matta- 
 gami, which was reached on the twentieth d:iy of actual voyaging. The distance from 
 Flying Post to the junction is, I think, a little over one hundred miles. Pursuing our 
 journey dowyi the Mattagami, another day sufficed to take us to the Long Portage. In 
 three days more, or on the twenty-fourth day, we came to the junction of the Mattagami and 
 Missinaibi rivers. This last is sometimes called the Brunswick River. Below this point the 
 united streams are known as the Moose River. The following day we arrived at Moose 
 Factory, thus completing the trip from Lake Huron to James' Bay in twenty-five days 
 without reckoning detentions from bad weather or otherwise, or the time spent in explora- 
 tions. The entire distance by this route following all the bends and turns of th<> rivers is 
 roughly estimated at about four hundred and fifty miles. In a straight line, or to use a 
 common expression, " as the crow flies," the distance is only about three hundred and 
 fifty miles. 
 
 Upwards of sixty portages had to be made, the longest of which was three-and-a-half 
 miles. In addition to these a number of demicharges were necessary, or in other words 
 part of the baggage and supplies had to be unloaded and carried over certain portages, 
 while the canoe thus lightened was taken with the remainder up or down the rapids. 
 The total rise from Lake Huron to the summit of the Height of Land is not less, I think, 
 than nine hundred feet and the fall from thence to James' Baj» or the level of the sea 
 about fifteen hundred feet. 
 
 Having remained at Moose Factory as long as was necessary, and obtained through 
 the kindness of Mr. Cotter such further supplies as were required, we left on the Ist of 
 August on our return homeward. 
 
 My intention was to re-ascend the Moose and Mattagami Rivers to Matawaga- 
 mingue Post. The distance from Moose Factory to the junction of the Ahkuckootish and 
 Mattagami Rivers is about one hundred and two miles, and from thence to Matta- 
 wagamingue Post about one hundred and sixty miles. I had been informed by Mr. 
 Moore of Flying Post that there was a practicable canoe route from Matawagamingue to 
 La-cloche Post, on Lake Huron, that it passed through Whitefish Lake where the 
 Hudson's Bay Company had a post, and thence down the Whitefish River to Lake Huron, 
 that there were a great many portages and some small creeks to be passed, but no very 
 
^e ascended the 
 
 i of the country, 
 Factory, but re- 
 vhen 1 come to 
 
 ual voyaging, we 
 on we had been 
 3arly three miles 
 Jeight of Land 
 'er below Green 
 slow and labori- 
 kes, small rivers, 
 mgp of a canoe, 
 however, passed a 
 
 [ua -ma-gaming or 
 ;he Ahkuckootish 
 This river was 
 ring Post. Some 
 ) that part of the 
 
 as reported to be 
 trough the kind- 
 31'ge and Henry 
 
 n with the Matta- 
 
 [?he distance from 
 
 s. Pursuing our 
 
 ong Portage. In 
 
 le Mattagami and 
 
 'low this point the 
 
 arrived at Moose 
 
 I twenty-five days 
 
 ! spent in explora- 
 
 nfi of thi' rivers is 
 
 line, or to use a 
 
 ree hundred and 
 
 threo-and-a-half 
 in other words 
 
 certain portages, 
 
 own the rapids. 
 
 not less, I think, 
 level of the sea 
 
 obtained through 
 left on the 1st of 
 
 •s to Matawaga- 
 Uikuckootish and 
 thence to Matta- 
 nformed by Mr. 
 tawagamingue to 
 Lake where the 
 r to Lake Huron, 
 sed, but no very 
 
 formidable difficulties to be apprehended. H« had once travelled this route, when little 
 more than a boy some forty years ago, and could only tell me thus much in reference to 
 it. As it promised to lead me through a new and almost unknown country I deter- 
 minded to follow this route if possible. 
 
 The route from Moose Factory to Matawagamingue having been travelled over and 
 described by both Dr. Bell and myself, I need only say that sixteen days of hard and 
 unremitting toil cheerfully borne by my voyageurs, sufficed to take me to Mattawaga- 
 mingue Post, where I met with a cordial welcome from Mr. Rae, the officer in charge. 
 
 Here my Flying Post men, who had well sustained their character as guides, left 
 me for their homes. Flying Post is, I should say, not more than fifty miles from Mata- 
 wagamingue in a straight line, and in a north-westerly direction. The canoe-route, how- 
 ever, is much longer. It will be remembered that I passed over it last year and estimated 
 it roughly at eighty-five miles, the number of portages required in that short distance be- 
 ing not less than twenty -two. 
 
 It was now necessary to obtain two other voyageurs, one of whom at all events- 
 should know the route I wished to take, as far as White-fish Lake, if not to La-cloche. 
 In this we were dissappointed ; notwithstanding the anxiety of Mr. Rae to accommodate 
 me, he was unable to procure a guide at or near the post. He, however, sent a young 
 man with us who knew the way nearly to the Height of Land, where we should find 
 some Indians, one of whom he expected would be willing to accompany us. 
 
 Leaving Matawagamingue, the third day brought us to "A-jau-ni-gam-ing," a lake 
 about seven miles in length, where the Indians we were in quest of have their hunting 
 grounds. Here we found the shanties, and clearings, on part of which potatoes were 
 growing nicely. But the only living thing at the place was a fat little heifer about 
 a year and a half old. Where the Indians had gone we were unable to tell, so that all 
 we could do was to wait and see if they would return. As there was a quantity of 
 fresh venison hanging up in one of the wig-wams, we came to the conclusion that we 
 would not have to wait long. In this prognostication we were quite correct, for on the 
 afternoon of the following day we were gratified with the sight of five small canoes com- 
 ing down the lake with the Indians we wanted. The man Mr. Rae expected to go with 
 us did not feel able to undertake the trip, but fortunately his son knew the way and 
 agreed to accompany us as far as La-cloche. After waiting another day to allow him to 
 get ready, we renewed our journey on the 23rd of August. The Height of Land is not 
 more than two miles from the south end of this lake, and was reached by means of seve- 
 ral short portages separated by little lakes or ponds. 
 
 The elevation of the summit is nearly the same, I think, as that on the Mississagua 
 route, say about one thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. The distanje 
 from Mattawagamingue to the Height of Land by this route is, I think, about forty-seven 
 miles. In a straight line, however, I should guess the distance at not more than forty 
 miles, and that in a direction nearly south. From Moose Factory to the Height of Land 
 Portage following the deflections will be about three hundred and ten miles, but not more 
 than two hundred and seventy-five miles in a straight line. 
 
 We now began the descent toward Lake Huron, passing through several small lakes 
 and creeks, with frequent portages for some five or six miles. We then arrived at th» 
 upper or northern extremity of a large lake called Monabing, which is not laid down on 
 any of the maps in my possession. It is from twenty to thirty miles in length, and of 
 variable width, but probably not less than two or three miles on an average. It lies north 
 and south and through it our route ran in a southerly direction for some twenty-five 
 miles. The River Monabing flows from the extreme south-east corner of this fine lake. 
 Our next stretch was down the Monabing River itself for forty miles, still in a southerly 
 direction, to a lake, called by my guide Ma-zin-an-wa-ning. 
 
 In the first thirty miles sixteen portages were necessary, the longest of which was 
 about a mile. This valley, trough or gorge, through which the river pours its waters has 
 been, as I believe, excavated out of the solid rock by ice during the glacial epoch or 
 period. It is bounded by rocky ridges from one hundred to two hundred and fifty feet in 
 height on both sides. These terminate about thirty miles below Lake Monabing, and the 
 river issues into what has probably been a part of the lake below. Through this leve| 
 
country the course of the river is very serpentine and the current raoderato. Two port- 
 ages only were made, one of which was rendered necessary by drift wood which had tilled 
 up the channel for some distance. 
 
 At the lower end of the gorge (it can hardly be called a valley) just referred to, the 
 ridge rises on the east side to the height of two hundred or two hundred and fifty feet, 
 and my guide informed me that in clear weather Lake Huron was visible from the top. 
 We ascended it and obtained a fine view of the surrounding country, more particularly to 
 the south and east. My guide pointed out to me the position of Lake Nipissing, White- 
 fish Lake, Lake Huron, when visible, and of Lake Ma-zin-an-wa-niug. Ho also indicated 
 the direction of La-cloche, all as I had afterwards reason to believe with surprising ac- 
 curacy. Looking back to the north, the course of the gorge or glacial trough through 
 which we had come, could be clearly traced, and its glacial origin more than surmised. 
 Nor could I help wishing that my friend Mr. Garden, of the Canadian Pacific Railway 
 Survey, had been there to judge of the feasibility of this as a route for the main trunk 
 line to connect with the surveys of Messrs, Gamsby, Ritmsay and other civil engineers on 
 the staff of the Canada Pacific Railway, north of the Height of Land. Messrs. Ross and 
 Garden had preceded me up the Mississagua River this spring in the hope of finding a 
 route that way, but had not, as I understood from other parties, been successful. 
 
 I may as well mention here what I only discovered afterwards, that the lake below, 
 through which the Monabing flows, and called Ma-zin-an-wa-ning, is that called Ver- 
 milion Lake and represented as such, far from accurately, on the departmental 
 maps. Thus Lake Monabing instead of being as I erroneously supposed the source 
 of the Whitefish River, is really the source of the East Branch of the far greater and more 
 important Spanish River. Again on the departmental map of 1880, or "Topographical 
 Plan of the North Shore of Lake Huron" which professes to show recent surveys, this 
 east branch is represented as an apparently insignificant stream barely traceable for 
 many miles above its junction with the west branch in township No. 98, whereas 
 this east branch, if not the main river itself, must be from its size as far north even as 
 Monabing, much the largest and most important tributary of the Spanish River, and 
 should be represented as such. I am persuaded that instrumental surveys of most of our 
 larger rivers and their tributaries with the lakes at or near their sources, would be of 
 great value both to the Government and the public, supplying as it would valuable in- 
 formation in reference to the soil, timber and other resources of the Province, and afford- 
 ing the practical explorer, whether he be prospecting for minerals, timber, or even for a 
 homestead, invaluable aid and assistance. 
 
 Lake Ma-zin-an-wa-ning, or Vermilion, is I should say about eight or nine miles 
 long, reckoning to the first rapid at its eastern end. I did not however see the west end 
 of the lake, from where we entered it and it may be longer. The width nowhere exceeds 
 a mile. We have now come to rocks of the Huronian formation, and unlike the lakes on 
 and near the Height of Land in the Laurentian region, the longer axis of this lake runs 
 nearly east and west. The Monabing enters the lake on the north side and about two or 
 three miles as I think from its western extremity. It or " the Vermillion," (but " Mona- 
 bing" is a much better name) leaves again at the eastern extremity. Our route was down 
 this river for some ten miles. The average bearing or course roughly taken is I think 
 about south-east. In this stretch seven short portages were necessary. The fall from 
 Vermilion Lake to the foot of the seventh portage or rapid, which is called " the' Matta- 
 gami," also roughly estimated, is about ninety feet. Here the branch of the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway from Callendar on Lake Nipissing crosses the river. Here too we saw the river 
 for the last time. Our guide took an easterly course up a narro.w lake for about three 
 njiles to a point on the south side where there was a portage. The lake extended some 
 miles still further to the eastward. This portage was about a quarter of a mile long and 
 terminated at a small clecr water lake, apparently half a mile in width and tliree quarters 
 of a mile to a mile in length. Crossing thil in a south-easterly direction we camo to an- 
 other portage, a little longer than the last, which brought us to the Honourable Hudson 
 Bay Company's Post, on Whitefish Lake. Here I ascertained from Mr. Ross, the officer in 
 charge, that the lake which my guide called Ma-zin-an-wa-ning was Vermilion Lake, and 
 that its waters flowed into the Spanish and not into Whitefish River, as I had supposed. 
 
ito. Two port- 
 vhich had tilled 
 
 referred to, the 
 I and fifty feet, 
 e from the top. 
 I particularly to 
 pissing, White- 
 e also indicated 
 h surprising ac- 
 trough through 
 than surmised. 
 Pacific Railway 
 the main trunk 
 vil engineers on 
 [essrs, Ross and 
 )pe of finding a 
 cessful. 
 
 the lake below, 
 ;hat called Ver- 
 le departmental 
 3scd the source 
 ;reater and more 
 " Topographical 
 snt surveys, this 
 ily traceable for 
 ■lo. 98, whereas 
 ir north even as 
 iiish River, and 
 s of most of our 
 es, would be of 
 )uld valuable in- 
 ince, and afFord- 
 or even for a 
 
 ht 
 ee 
 
 I also discovered that where this route via Whitefish Lake, strikes off eastward below the 
 last or Mattagami Rapid, the River Vermilion (or Monabing) turns abruptly to the south 
 and south-west, becoming ultimately what is known as the East Branch of the Spanish 
 River. 
 
 There is an Indian village on Whitefish Lake some two miles from the Post, and the 
 route from thence via Whitefish River to Lake Huron, is too frequently travelled and 
 the country too well known, to require any particular notice or description. The length 
 of this stretch is, I should say, about forty-five miles, in the course of which some nine or 
 ten portages are necessary. The total distance from the Height of Land to the mouth of 
 Whitefish River, I estimate at about one hundred and thirty-six miles, and from JameK' 
 Bay to Lake Huron four hundred and forty-six miles. In a direct line, however, the 
 distance from the mouth of Whitefish River to where this route crosses the Height ot 
 Land will not probably exceed one hundred miles, and to Moose Factory three hundred and 
 seventy-five miles. The number of days of actual voyaging was twenty -seven, as against 
 twenty-five days by the Mississagua route. Eighteen miles more in a westerly direc- 
 tion along the shores of the Georgian Bay took us to the Honourable Hudson Bay Com- 
 pany's post at La-cloche. We thus left Moose Factory on the first of August and reached 
 La-cloche on the first of September. I had expected that the difficulties besetting this 
 route would have been much greater, and that a considerably longer time juld have been 
 required for the trip, but was fortunate in having good men, a favourable season as 
 regarded the height of the water in the rivers and creeks, and if not fewer at least shorter 
 portages than I anticipated. 
 
 At La-cloche my guide Lou. . and voyageur James, from the other side the Height of 
 Land, were paid off, and supplied with a canoe and provisions for their return home. 
 Thereafter I proceeded to Mississagua (my starting point) and paid off the two men, 
 Robert Nolin, of Sault Ste. Marie, and Robert Nakanee, of Mississagua, who had accom- 
 panied me throughout, and had proved themselves good and reliable voyageurs. I also 
 settled with Mr. Edward Sayer, fur-trader there, but for- whose influence with the In- 
 dians and willing aid and assistance, I should not have been able to obtain guide.s 
 to take me over the Height of Land to Flying Post. 
 
 This introductory narrative with the accompanying map, will show with sufficient 
 precision I hope, the route which I have followed. 
 
 I shall now under appropriate heads, give such information in respect to the terri- 
 tory in question as I may have been able to obtain from personal observation or other- 
 wise. 
 
 Topography. 
 
 The leading physical features of the territory claimed by Ontario have been already 
 so fully described in former reports, that little remains to be said on that subject. 
 
 Since my last report however, the Report of Progress of the Geological Survey for 
 1879-80 has come to hand. In it there is an admirable description of Hudson's Bay, 
 and the regions lying adjacent thereto, by Dr. Bell, Assistant Director of the Survey, than 
 whom, no one is better iaformed on the subject, having explored in an open boat no in- 
 considerable portion of the bay, as well as crossed it from York Factory to Hudson's 
 Straits, in the Honourable Hudson Bay Company's ship. I have therefore much pleasure 
 in quoting from the report in question, p. 27, 0, et seq., where under the head "General 
 Account of Hudson's Bay," Dr. Bell says : *' In the popular mind Hudson's Bay is apt 
 to be associated with the Polar regions ; yet no part of it comes within the Arctic Circle, 
 and the latitude of the southern extremity is south of London. Few people have any 
 adequate conception of the extent of this great Canadian sea. Including its southern 
 prolongation, James' Bay, it measures fibout one thousand miles in length, and is more 
 than six hundred miles in width, in the northern part. Its total area is in the neighbour- 
 hood of five hundred thousand square miles, or upwards of half that of the Mediter- 
 ranean. It is enclosed by the land on all sides, except the north-east, where it com- 
 municates by diffiirent channels with the outer ocean. The principal or best known of 
 these is Hudson's Strait, which is about five hundred miles in length, and has au 
 
 or nine miles 
 the west end 
 owhere exceeds 
 ike the lakes on 
 f this lake runs 
 nd about two or 
 (but " Mona- 
 route was down 
 ;aken is I think 
 The fall from 
 ed " the* Matta- 
 
 'anadian Pacific 
 *ve saw the river 
 
 for about three 
 3 extended some 
 a mile long and 
 d tliree quarters 
 
 we came to an- 
 ourable Hudson 
 0S3, the officer in 
 
 ilion Lake, and 
 
 I had supposed. 1 average width of about one hundred miles. 
 
•' Hudson's Bay, which might have been more appropriately called Hudson's Sea, i» 
 the central basin of the drainage of North America. The limits of this basin extend to 
 the centre of the'Labarador peninsula, or some five hundred miles inland, on the east 
 side, and to the Rocky Mountains, or a distance of one thousand three hundred miles, on 
 the west. The Winnipeg basin constitutes a sort of out-lior of the region more immedi- 
 ately under notice, since the waters drain into it from the north, south, east and west, 
 and discharge themselves by one great trunk, the Nelson River, into Hudson's Bay. 
 The southern-most part of this basin, namely, the source of the Red River, extends down 
 nearly to latitude 45°. The head waters of the southern rivers of James Bay are not 
 far to the north of Lake Huron, while one of the branches of the Albany rises within 
 twenty-five miles of the north shore of Lake Superior. Including the Winnipeg system, 
 the basin of Hudson's Bay has a width of about two thousand one hundred miles from 
 east to west, and a length of about one thousand five hundred miles from north to south, 
 and its dimensions approach the enormous area of three million square miles. Over a 
 great part of this region there is a temperate climate, and although the soil of much 
 of it is comparatively barren, yet large tracts are very fertile. The numerous rivers and 
 lakes of the first class, embraced ^vithin these limits, will prove of great value in the 
 settlement of the country. Both the bay and strait are remarkably free from rocks 
 and shoals, which might interfere with their free navigation. The groups of islands near 
 the east side of the bay are surrounded by deep water, and a wide channel leads up the 
 centre of James' Bay. Fortunately the main body of the great bay, which is the portion 
 which may hereafter be frequented by shipping, is entirely without shoals, reefs or 
 islands. The depth is very uniform over most of the bay, and nowhere does it present any 
 great irregularities. It averages about seventy fathoms throughout, deepening to one 
 hundred and upwards in approaching the outlet of Hudson's Straits, while in the strait 
 itself the soundings along the centre vary from about one hundred to upwards of three 
 hundred fathoms. The bottom appears to consist almost everywhere of boulder clay and 
 mud. Near the shores a stiff clay, affording good holding ground for anchors, is almost 
 invariably met with on both sides. 
 
 " James' Bay begins at Cape Jones, on the east side, and Cape Henrietta Maria on 
 the west, and runs south about three hundred and fifty miles, with an average breadth of 
 one hundred and fifty miles. The east side of Hudson's Bay, including its southern pro- 
 longation is known as the Eastmain coast. Between Cape Jones and Cape Dufferin, on 
 the Portland promontory, and again in approaching Cape Wolstenholme, at the termina- 
 tion of this coast, the land is high and bold, some points attaining an elevation of nearly 
 two thousand feet above the sea. The country on the south-west side of the main bay, 
 as well as that lying to the west of James Bay, is low and generally level, with shallow 
 water extending a long distance out from shore. Both sides of Hudsi . Strait are high 
 and rocky, but the northern is less precipitous than the southern. 
 
 " Of the numerous rivers which run into Hudson's Bay from all sides, about thirty 
 are of considerable magnitude. All those which enter upon the Eastmain coast appear 
 to flow in a uniform course directly west, or parallel to one another, and as the height of 
 land in the centre of the Labrador peninsula is furthest inland towards the south, the 
 rivers which fall into the southern part of this coast are the largest, and the remainder 
 become progressively smaller as we go north. Numerous streams converge to the head 
 of James' Bay from all points southward of an east and west line passing through its 
 southern extremity. The Moose, about a mile wide, is the principal of these. On the 
 western side, the Albany and the Churchill Rivers are the longest, but the Nelson, with a 
 course of only about four hundred miles, discharges the greatest body of water into the 
 sea. Indeed this huge artery of the Winnipeg system of waters may be considered as 
 one of the greatest rivers of the world. Few of the rivers of Hudson's Bay afford unin- 
 terrupted navigation for large vessels to any great distance from the coast. During the 
 season of high water shallow draft steamers might ascend the Moose and two of its 
 branches for upwards of one hundred miles. Hayes River and two of its branches might 
 also apparently be navjjgated by such craft in the spring, to points about one hundred and 
 forty miles inland, and the Albany for nearly two hundred and fifty miles ; while larger 
 steamers might ascend the Nelson for seventy or eighty miles from the open sea. Tha 
 
 
 mMp< 
 
9 
 
 dson's Sea, i» 
 jin extend to 
 I, on the east 
 Ired miles, on 
 more immedi- 
 ast and west, 
 ludson'a Bay. 
 extends down 
 3 Bay are not 
 ' rises within 
 nipeg system, 
 ed miles from 
 orth to south, 
 ailes. Over a 
 3 soil of much 
 ous rivers and 
 t value in the 
 !e from rocks 
 }f islands near 
 1 leads up the 
 
 is the portion 
 loals, reefs or 
 
 it present any 
 spening to one 
 e in the strait 
 wards of three 
 ulder clay and 
 hors, is almost 
 
 ietta Maria on 
 age breadth of 
 3 southern pro- 
 )e Dufferin, on 
 
 the termina- 
 ition of nearly 
 the main bay, 
 
 with shallow 
 Strait are high 
 
 s, about thirty 
 n coast appear 
 g the height of 
 the south, the 
 
 the remainder 
 ge to the head 
 ng through its 
 hese. On the 
 Nelson, with a 
 water into the 
 
 considered as 
 ay afford unin- 
 During the 
 md two of its 
 jranches might 
 le hundred and 
 
 ; while larger 
 jpen sea. Th» 
 
 Nelson is the only muddy water river entering Hudson's Bay. Most of the others have 
 a slightly brpwnish tinge, but their waters are perfectly wholesome, and contain only very 
 small quantities of foreign matter. The Churchill which is the second largest river of 
 Hudson's Bay, is a beautiful clear water stream, somewhat larger than the Rhine. It is 
 remarkable for having at its mouth a splendid harbour, with deep water and every 
 natural advantage for the purpose of modern conmierce. 
 
 " The only harbours on the west side of Hudson's Bay are those formed by the mouths 
 of rivers, but none of them, with the exception of Churchill Harbour, can be entered by 
 vessels drawing more than ten or eleven feet, and only at high water, even by these. The 
 Nelson may form an exception to this. Most of its estuary becomes dry at low tide, but 
 a channel runs ♦hrough it near the centre, as far as the head of tide-water. I sounded 
 this channel in a number of places in 1878-79 and '80, and although an average depth of 
 about two fathoms at low water was found, continuous soundings throughout might have 
 shown interruptions or shallower water in some places. As stated in previous reports, 
 there is a section at the head of tide, or between the tidal portion and the regular inland 
 channel of the river, in which not more than ten feet of water were found. This may e.x- 
 tend for about two miles, above which an apparent continuous channel, with a depth of 
 about twenty feet, according to our sounding.*, extends to the lowest limestone rapid, 
 which is me first break in the navigable part, and is between forty and fifty miles from 
 the head of tide, or from seventy or eighty miles from the open sea. If the section re- 
 ferred to were deepened, steamers coming in from sea might enter this part of the river 
 and find perfect shelter, or even proceed up the stream to any point below the rapid re- 
 ferred to. In continuation of the channel running down the estuary, a Mead' of deeper 
 water extends out into the bay, and forms the ' North River,' or ' Y'ork Roads,' with ex- 
 cellent anchorage. The Churchill, unlike all the other rivers, has a deep, rocky and com- 
 paratively narrow mouth, which can be entered with ease and safety by i,he largest ships 
 at all stages of the tide. On the point at the west side of the entrance of the harbour 
 stands the old * Fort Prince of Wales,' which is probably the largest ruin in North 
 America. Although occupying a commanding position, and mounting about forty large 
 guns, it was surrendered without firing a shot, to the French Admiral La Perouse, who 
 destroyed it in 1772. The ruins of this large fort are shown in the accompanying wood- 
 cuts, takfti from photographs. Along the west coast the rise and fall at spring tides 
 amount to about eleven or twelve feet, on an average, and is pretty uniform, diminishing 
 somewhat towards the south. It is greatest at the mouth of the Nelson River, where it 
 amounts to about fifteen feet. The tides are lower all along the east side of the bay. In 
 Hudson's Strait there is a very good tide, according to the report we have received of 
 Acting Staff Commander J . G. Boulton's reconnaissance during the past summer. Geo- 
 logically, the basin of Hudson's Bay, excluding the western or Winnipeg division, lies 
 within the great Laurentian area of the Dominion. Cambro-silurian rocks, resting almost 
 horizontially upon these, form an irregular border along the south-western side of the 
 bay ; and in the valleys of some of the rivers they extend inland from one to two hun- 
 dred miles. To the south and west of James' Bay Cambro-silurian are overlaid by De- 
 vonian rocks, which here occupy a considerable area. The long chains of islands which 
 fringe the east coast for nearly three hundred miles to the northward of Cape Jones, and 
 also the main land in the vicinity of Richmond Gulf, are composed of bedded volcanic and 
 almost unaltered sedimentary rocks, resembling the Nipigon series of the Lake Superior 
 region, which may be of Lower Cambrian age. On the western side of the bay, from 
 Churchill northward, quartzites and other rocks, which may also belong to the Cambrian 
 system, appear to be largely developed. Valuable minerals may be looked for on this 
 coast. The extensive level region around the south-western side of the bay, is overspread 
 with a great sheet of boulder clay, which is generally covered by the modified drift. 
 The rocks of the outlying or Winnipeg division of the basin comprise an extensive series, 
 ranging from the Laurentian to the Tertiary." 
 
 That portion of the coast of James' Bay which forms the frontage of the territory 
 claimed by us, is low and shallow. From the eastern boundary to the western, with a 
 frontage of more than one hundred and fifty miles, there are no harbours for vessels 
 drawing more than ten feet of water. Vessels, however, drawing ten feet or under, can 
 
i I 
 
 ^ 
 
 enter and ascond both Moose and Albany Rivors, as far aa the Factories when the tide ia 
 at its lioiglit. 
 
 All the sailing craft employed at Moose Factory and I think, also those at Albany, 
 even to schooners of ninety or one hundred tons burden must, at the approach of winter, 
 bo hauled up out of the water on to the banks HOino twenty feet at least above the river, 
 to escape damage if not positive destruction when the ice breaks up in the spring. 
 
 The only deep and safe harbour that I know of, is at the north-eastern extremity of 
 Charlton island, some sixty or seventy miles from Moose Factory, and nearly north of 
 where our (iastern boundary is supposed to be. This was described in my second report. 
 
 From James' Bay the land rises slowly towards the south at the rate of al)out three 
 feet in ainile, as we ascond Moose River and its branches, until wo appngach what are 
 known as " the long portages," distant from eighty to a hundred and twenty miles from 
 Moose Factory, where the inclination increases considerably. This belt is a vast plain, 
 the far grc^ater portion of which is covered with what the natives call muskego or muskegs, 
 but known to us as peat-bogs or mosses. 
 
 Underlying the peat, clay is almost invariably found wherever the bottom can be 
 reached. This clay, as seen on the points of the poles thrust down into it, is a bluish gray 
 colour. As seen in the banks of the ravines and rivers it is a light gray, sometimes a 
 drab colour. The latter is more common in the second belt or zone above the long port- 
 ages, and with stones of older rocks generally contains fragments of fossiliferous limestone 
 from the Devonian beds to the north. The other clay also frequently contains boulders 
 and stones of Laurentian, Huronian and Trap rocks. Both are calcareous, and therefore 
 what may be called marls. 
 
 Below these in the lower belt or zone of this territory a tough blue or slate coloured 
 clay is met with. It often contains marine shells, but very few stones or boulders. Lime 
 enters so largely into its composition, that if only suthciently indurated, it might be fairly 
 classed as a limestone. Sand in the form of mounds and ridges is occasionally met with, 
 but more generally it appears in a layer or stratum of no great thickness in the banks 
 of the rivers, resting on the clays. The underlying rock in the lower belt is rarely seen, 
 but where exposed is generally found to be Devonian limestone. No hills whatever occur 
 in this lower belt, and the timber is confined to narrow strips along the water courses, and 
 to islands in the larger rivers. 
 
 Referring to the country lying between the Abittibi River on the east, and the 
 Missinaibi River on the west, although there is a sudden rise of from three to four hun- 
 dred and fifty feet in twenty miles at the long portages, and although too, there is a 
 great deal of rock exposed in the bottom and banks of the rivers, still very little rock is 
 met with elsewhere, being for the most part deeply covered by the clays of the boulder 
 or drift formation. 
 
 The country however, continues to be too dead or flat, and notwithstanding a per- 
 ceptible tendency to assume the form of low ridges here and there, as we advance, the 
 natural drainage is insuflicient, and peat mosses still overspread large tracts of what 
 would otherwise be good land. No decided change in the character of the surface takes 
 place until we approach the "tQth pai-allel. North of this the surface is not only flat, but 
 there are few if any lakes. South however of this parallel, the country becomes gradually 
 broken and uneven, rising into ridges from one to two hundred feet in height, and in the 
 intervals between these we have frequent lakes, sometimes swamps, at others marshes, 
 and not unfrequently areas of good arable land. Rock is often met with but generally 
 confined to the banks of the rivers and the shores of the lakes. 
 
 As we advance towards the south, not only docs the country become more broken, 
 until at least one-third of the surface is covered with lakes, but there is a change also in 
 the composition and character of the loose material overlying the rock. The clays or 
 rather clay marls already referred to, give place to sand and gravel. There is a very 
 marked increase too, in the number of boulders, and while there are always some of these 
 erratic stones whose peculiar appearance or mineral composition, enables us to recognise 
 them as natives of the far distant Eastmain coast, by far the greater number, although 
 brought also from the north, have not come nearly so far. Many of them indeed have 
 been manufactured, so to speak, almost on the spot, out of material of the ridges of 
 
n the tide in 
 
 at Albany, 
 ;h of winter, 
 vii the river, 
 :ing. 
 
 Bxtromity of 
 fly north of 
 CO nil report, 
 about three 
 Lch what are 
 r niiiea from 
 i vast plain, 
 
 or muskegs, 
 
 )ttom can be 
 II bluish gray 
 sometimes a 
 he long port- 
 ous limestone 
 ains boulders 
 and therefore 
 
 jlate coloured 
 ilders. Lime 
 light be fairly 
 illy met with, 
 in the banks 
 3 rarely seen, 
 hatever occur 
 r courses, and 
 
 east, and the 
 to four hun- 
 
 )o, there ia a 
 
 ittle rock is 
 
 the boulder 
 
 anding a per- 
 advance, the 
 acts of what 
 surface takes 
 only flat, but 
 mes gradually 
 it, and in the 
 hers marshes, 
 but generally 
 
 more broken, 
 change also in 
 The clays or 
 lere is a very 
 
 some of these 
 s to recognise 
 iber, although 
 indeed have 
 
 the ridges of 
 
 11 
 
 Laurentian or Iluronian rock (whichever it may be) lying immediately and at no grout 
 distance to the north of where they now rest. 
 
 The character of the loose material on the surface, the rounded and "hog-backed ' 
 shape of the hills nml ridges, the deep channels and gorges extending for miles in a 
 northerly and soutlierly direction, (juarried by no visiltle hand or agency out of the 
 hardest of rock, the polished surface in some places, and the numerous parallel and deep 
 scratches in otiiers, afForJ strong if not absolutely convincing proof to my mind of tru- 
 menJous erosion. The same evidence confronts us everywhere, not only north of the 
 Height of Land, but over it, and down the southern slope to our great lakes, the very 
 existence of wliich ia in my humble opinion largely if not entirely due to the same mys- 
 terious power. 
 
 Tiie only agent known to me, that would seem at all adequate to account for the phe- 
 nomenon in question, is ice. Not ico in the form of icebergs, and impelled only by tlie 
 feeble force of the winds or even ocean currents, but a solid sheet of ice moving as water 
 does, and as glaciers are known to be capable of doing. This sheet of ice, too, must 
 have been several thousand feet in thickness. Mr. George Uawson, F.(J.S., in his able 
 and interesting Report on the Geological Resources of the Region in the vicinity of the 
 49th Parallel, tells us " that Laurentian and Quartzite erratics were found in abundance 
 to the height of over four thousand feet," on tiie Three Buttes or Sweet-grass hills at the 
 foot of the Rocky Mountains. As the Height of Land north of Lakes Huron and 
 Superior will not I believe average more than tiiirteen or fourteen hundred feet above the 
 level of the sea, it is evident that such a sheet of ice if continuous or equally thick, must 
 have covered the Height of Land not less probably than two thousand feet. The great 
 difficulty is to find the power or force which has been sufHcient to set and keep in motion 
 (however slow) this prodigious body of ice. That the erosive agent has moved from the 
 north towards the south the rocks themselves afford silent but convincing testimony. That 
 tlie propelling power has been so mighty as to have been almost irresistible is equally 
 certain. The hypothesis which appears to me most fully to meet all the requirements of 
 the phenomena in question is, that during the long ages of intense cold, known as the 
 glacial epoch, what has been called a " Polar Ice-cap" formed at the North Pole which con- 
 stantly increasing in thickness, ultimately attained such a vast height that by the sheer 
 force of gravity alone the ice at length began to spread and move in a southerly direc- 
 tion, or from the Pole towards the Equator, overpowering every resistance that the in- 
 equalities of the surface even when composed of solid rock could oppose. But whatever 
 the agency may have been, that an inconceivably great quantity of rock has been moved 
 so to speak from Natures quarries in the north, crushed and ground by her mills into 
 gravels, sands and clays, transported hundreds of miles to the south, and then spread out 
 forming immense stores of the raw material for soil in regions more favourable probably 
 to animal and vegetable life than that from which the rock was taken. These are facts 
 which no thouglitful observer who has visited the territory in which these vast operations 
 have been carried on, can question, however uncertain he may be as to instrumentalities 
 by which the work has been accomplished. Further speculation on this subject would be 
 out of place here, but those who may desire it will find much interesting information in 
 two articles by Dr. L. P. Gratacap, entitled " The Ice Age" in the " Popular Science 
 Monthly" for January 1878 and November 1878. 
 
 From the 49th Parellel southward to the Height of Land the country although more 
 broken, is better drained, and much more generally timbered than the Hat plains to the 
 north. The timber too is more valuable, as red and white pine are now found growing, 
 more particularly on the higher and drier ridges. A great number of the lakes afford 
 striking illustrations of what has taken place in respect of some already, and of a change 
 which all without exception are undergoing, namely drainage, or filling up and conversion 
 into dry land. This conversion is taking place most rapidly in respect of those lakes 
 through which the larger rivers flow and is brought about in two ways. In the first place 
 these rivers bring down vast quantities of sediment which settling in these lake basins, 
 gradually fills them up. And in the second place the rivers are in many instances clearly 
 seen to be cutting through and destroying the natural bank, reef or other barrier at the 
 outlet or lower end of these lakes, thus permanently lowering, if not draining off the water 
 
12 
 
 altogether. The BtepH in this procesB are, the converftion of the lake into a marsh, of 
 the nmrsh into a Hwanip, of the r.wamp into dry land. It in a proceBH, which when com- 
 plete, simple an it may apper, has elsewhere produced no inconsiderable proportion of th© 
 tinest land in the world, and is doing a like good work here for posterity. 
 
 Climate. 
 
 V 1 
 
 The climate of this territory in respect of temperature is one of extremes. The win- 
 ters are cold -the temperature fallinsj; sometimes as low as forty degrees hclow zero of 
 Fahrenheit's thermometer, and occasionally rising to ninety degrees in the summer even 
 down on the roast. Lust year it was on one occasion ninoty-four degrees in the shade .xt 
 Albany Factory and ninety-two degrees at Moose Factory. The mean temperature of the 
 summer at Moose Factory is about sixty degrees, varying two or three degrees above or 
 below that average in different years. 
 
 We have unfortunately no record of the temperature at any of the inland posts with 
 the exception of Martin's Falls on the Albany River, and this Post, although more than 
 two hundnid miles up the river, is still north of Moo.se Factory. The Meteorological Ser- 
 vice, the head office of which is in the City of Toronto, has collected and is still obtain- 
 ing most valuable and interesting information relating to the climate of almost every 
 part of the Dominion. There are two stations in connection with this service on James* 
 Bay — one of which is at Moose Factory and the other Albany. Observations have been 
 made for a short time at Martin's Falls, but are now I believe discontinued. These sta- 
 tions are, however, in the extreme northern part of the territory wo claim, and in which 
 we are naturally most deeply interested. There are no stations in the central or southern 
 divisions, and consequently we have no reliable scientific data to guide us. The means 
 at the disposal of the service are doubtless too limited to allow of its Director establishing 
 and maintaining stations everywhere at once, but I think it is very desirable to have 
 some reliable information in reference to the climate of the central and upper or southern 
 parts of the basin of the Moose River— embracing as it does some thirty or forty thousand 
 square miles of territory. 
 
 Dr. Bell is of opinion that the climate improves as we proceed northwards from the 
 Height of Land to Moose Factory, the lower elevation of the coast, and other favourable 
 influences, more than compensating as he believes for the difference of latitude. The sea- 
 son, however, that Dr. Bell made his dangerous but remarkably successful exploration of 
 the East- Main coast, was I think an unusually fine one, and hence it is possible that Dr. 
 Bell formed a somewhat too high opinion of the climate on the coast, although it is un- 
 doubtedly far suporior to what popular belief has generally supposed it to be. I myself 
 consider that in many very important respects, the climate of the central and southern 
 divisions of the territory is better than that on or near the coast. 
 
 The only place in the territory where any reliable observations have been made in 
 regard to the quantity of rain, is at Moose Factory, on the coast. The rain-fall iAcre 
 forms no criterion on which to form a safe judgment as to what it may be in the whole 
 territory, more particularly in the southern high-lands. From my own observations and 
 enquiries, I feel safe in saying that, without being too wet, there is amply sufficient rain 
 and dew to support the most luxuriant vegetation. At Moose Factory the rain-fall in 
 1878 amounted to twenty inches, and of snow to fifty-nine inches, making the total precipi- 
 tation of melted snow and rain 26.86 inches, for that year. The number of days on which 
 rain fell was eighty-four. These were distributed as follows : January 1 day, February 0, 
 March 1, April 6, May 11, June 9, July 12, August 7, September 19, October 14, Nov- 
 ember 3, and December 1 day. At Moose Factory, while there is quite enough of rain 
 during the summer months, the rainfall is I think somewhat excessive in the 
 months of August and September. Possibly this may be confined to the coast. The 
 quantity of snow is much less than that which falls in the Province of Quebec, being not 
 as much as half that at the city of Quebec itself. Nor is the snow-fall at Moose Factory 
 nearly as heavy as at Gravenhurst, Parry Sound, and other places on the north shore of 
 Lake Huron. The healthiness of the climate is unquestionable. 
 
 SBTOid&i»-*» «>!'«V3fV. 
 
a marBh, ot 
 
 when coin- 
 
 •tion of the 
 
 The win- 
 low ZITO of 
 miner oven 
 t,ho shade .it 
 •ature of tlie ^ 
 :)8 above or 
 
 cl posts with 
 li more than 
 ■olo}:jical Sur- 
 
 still obtain- 
 ilnioBt every 
 CO on James* 
 18 have been 
 These sta- 
 md in wliich 
 l1 or southern 
 The means 
 
 establishing 
 [•able to have 
 r or southern 
 >rty thousand 
 
 rtls from the 
 Br favourable 
 The sea- 
 xploration of 
 nble that Dr. 
 ,gh it is un- 
 I myself 
 ,nd southern 
 
 [»on made in 
 rain-fall i/icre 
 n the whole 
 rvations and 
 siifficientrain 
 e rain-fall in 
 total precipi- 
 lys on which 
 , February 0, 
 )ber 14, Nov- 
 gh of rain 
 ssive in the 
 e coast. The 
 jec, being not 
 loose Factory 
 orth shore of 
 
 13 
 
 AoRICULTrRAL RbSOUUCES. 
 
 It is only at the fur trading posts of the Honourable Hudson's Hay ('ouipany that 
 ■any attempt has been made to cultivate the soil. A few of the Indians un the Matta- 
 gaiui River, who trade at Mutawagamingue Post, are now trying to grow potatoes, and I 
 trust that they i..ay ho fur succeed as to induce others to follow their example. 
 
 The oflicers of tlie company know very little about farming as a general rule. Their 
 lives from tlie time they were little more than boys, have been spent in the country and 
 devoted to the fur trade. The conseiiuence is that the farming at the inland poses is of 
 a rather primitive and unscientitic description, and confined cliielly to the growth of the 
 potato as a Held crop. At the larger posts on the coast, particularly Moose Factory 
 where a number of old countrymen aio employed, they understand how to grow the po- 
 tato, and cultivate it well and successfully. But even at Moose very little attention is 
 paid to drainage, and none whatever to the importance of a judicious course, or rotation 
 of crops. The wonder to me is that the land so treated continues to yitild any crop at all. 
 
 Where the agricultural operations have been so very limited, all that can be said on 
 the Bubjeot of the crops that have been grown in the territory has been given in 
 former reports. Having now, however, visited every post but two in the territory, and 
 traversed it in various directions, it may bts expected that I should give the general con- 
 clusions at which 1 have arrived on a subject of so much consequence. This I shall do, 
 even if it be necessary to support n)y opinions by an appeal to some facts which have 
 been already recorded in former reports. Connnencing with the cereals, we will take 
 that first which is usually regarded as of the greatest importance and value : — 
 
 Wheal. — I am strongly of the opinion that wheat may be successfully grown where 
 the soil is suitable in all that part of this territory lying to the south of the fiftieth pa- 
 rallel of latitude. This opinion is founded on the be''')f that there is no other part of the 
 world south of that latitude where this grain has not or can not be grown; that the mean 
 temperature of the summer in the territory south of that parallel is amply sufhcient to 
 ripen or bring wheat to maturity ; and finally, that there are good grounds for be- 
 lieving that wheat has actually been grown at Abittibi House, Flying Post, New 
 Brunswick, on or about the forty-ninth purallel, and certainly at Lac Scul, or Lonely 
 Lake, between the fiftieth and fifty-first parallel. More than this : I was told on the 
 very best authority that Indian corn, a more delicate plant than wheat, came to maturity 
 lust year at Osnaburgh House, on Lake St. Joseph, and north of the fifty-first parallel. 
 Even at Moose Factory, in about the same latitude as Osnaburgh and situated on the 
 ■coast, Dr. Bell tells us that he was informed that a few grains of wheat accidentally 
 dropped, grew and came to maturity. There is hardly any evidence on the oth°r side, 
 ■cerainly none entitled to much weight, and the probabilities are all in favour of the 
 assumption that within the limits stated wheat may be successfully cultivated. 
 
 Barley. — The hardier varieties of this grain can be grown further north than any 
 other of the co-called cereals. In Scotland it grows on the Orkney Islands and in Shet- 
 land as far north as the sixty-first parallel. In western Lapland the limit is about the 
 seventieth parallel. In Russia it is cultivated on the shores of the White Sea, every- 
 where soutli of sixty-six degrees on the eastern side, and of sixty-seven degrees on the 
 ■western side. In central Siberia the northern limit of the growth of barley is between 
 latitudes fifty-eight and fifty-nine. These facts are quoted on the authority of Mr. H. 
 Stephens, F.R.S., author of "The Book of the Farn.," "The Farmer's Guide," and other 
 standard works on agriculture, both in England and America. Mr. Stephens further 
 states "that a mean temperature during the summer of 48°4' seems to be all that is neces- 
 sary in Europe for the cultivation of barley, but that in the islands of the Atlantic a 
 temperature three or four degrees higher appears to be necessary for its success". 
 
 The territory awarded to our Province north of the Height of Land is situated be- 
 tween the forty-eighth and fifty-spcond parallels of latitude, or from four hundred to 
 seven hundred miles south of where barley is cultivated even in Siberia. Again, the 
 mean summei temperature at Moose Factory, in the extreme northern part of the terri- 
 tory, varies from fifty-eight to sixty-two degrees, and is probably higher in the central 
 and southern portions. This is at all events ten degrees higher than the temperature, 
 
14 
 
 ih 
 
 which according to Mr. Stephens, " is the only indispensable condifi-^n for the cultivation 
 of barley." I have seen barley growing at Pvupert's House and &i Moose Factory on the 
 coast, and at Flying Post and Matawagamingue in the southern pa;'t of the territory. I 
 have been told on what I consider good authority, that it has also been grown at New 
 Post, at Abittibi House, at New Brunswick, and at Long Lake House. Thus the evi- 
 dence is conclusive not only as to the perfect adaptation of the climate, but to the fact 
 that this grain has been actually cultivated in the northern, central and southern divi- 
 sions of tlie territory. All that even the most incredulous can contend for is that the crop 
 is poor or that it sometimes failr "^o ripen perfectly. Now as regards the latter statement, 
 I have no doubt that in the exl/eme northern part of the territory, bore ering on the 
 coast, it m:iy fail in exceptionally wet and cold summers to come to perfect maturity. 
 But this will not apply to the vast territory to the south, where barley will prove, in my 
 opinion, a good and perfectly reliable crop. Nor do I think it would fail to ripen 
 at Moose Factorv or even Albany, if suffijient attention were paid to the drainage of the 
 land, to the selection of the seed, to the time of sowing, and to a proper course or rotation of 
 crops. If the crop be poor (and it is by no means always so) icis in all probability owing 
 to poor farming rather than to anything that is wanting either in the soil or climate. 
 
 Oats. — This useful grain should grow wherever wheat will grow, indeed its growth is 
 practicable in Scotland, Ireland, and other countries, where w heat will not succeed. My 
 own belief is, that the hardier varieties of the oat may certainly be cultivated in the greater 
 pirt of the territory. I have not seen it growing, however, at anv of the posts I have 
 visited. I have been told that oats have been sown at Abittibi House, at New Bruns- 
 wick, and even at Moose Factory, and came to maturity ; but other parties again said 
 that the crop frequently proved a failure. This, however, may have arisen from the 
 causes alluded to under the head of " barley." 
 
 Rye. — In Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and other countries, rye is extensively 
 grown, and forms the principal bread-stulf of a very large ];>roportion of the population. 
 Ics cultiv ition does not extend, it is said, so far north as that of barley, but it grows in 
 regions too cold for wheat, and on soils too poor and sandy for any other grain. Its ri- 
 pening, in the opinion of some writers, can also be more confidently reckoned upon in cold 
 rofrions, than that of any other grain. I have neither seen rye growing nor have I ever 
 heard of any attempt to grow it in this territory. I am convinced, however, that at Mata- 
 wagamingue in the southern part of this territory, and in the sandy areas on both sidea 
 the Height of Land, th's important grain can and will be cultivated with very great ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 Peas and Beans. — These, which are called legumenes or leguminous plants, produce 
 seeds much richer in nitrogen or flesh-forming material, than the grains — wheat, oats, 
 barley, maize, rye, etc., called cereals. They form an aliment of great value, and are 
 extensively grown in many parts of the weld where they are used as food by man and 
 domestic animals. 
 
 The Windsor bean and Kidney -bean are generally relished when young and 
 green. A small variety of bean commonly known as the " Horse bean " is extensively 
 cultivated in Great Britain, where it is highly valued in combination with oats as a pro- 
 vender for horses. The kidney-bean when fully ripe, is a wholesome and very nutritive 
 aliment, highly esteemed in this country and elsewhere, especially by the working classes, 
 and commonly known under the name of haricot or white beans. I have not seen either 
 peas or beans cultivated as field crops in any part of the territory. They are common, 
 however, in the gardens even on the coast. At Moose Factory peas, kidney-beans and a 
 small variety of the broad or Windsor bean seem to be unfailing crops. They grow well, 
 and I have no doubt in ordinary seasons will ripen their seed. They are used, however,, 
 chiefly, if not entirely, in the green state. 
 
 The beans appear to succeed better and to be more prolific than the peas, which are 
 not always so good. I have been surprised at the invariable excellence of the crops of 
 both kinds of beans at Moose Factory. Nor have I ever seen a better crop of Dwarf- 
 kidney beans than was growing at Matawagamingue when I was there last August (20th). 
 The bean was of a brown colour, and a little larger tli in the white haricot. Mr. Rafr 
 told rae that they came to maturity and were quite equ u to the white beau. 
 
15 
 
 ,e cultivation 
 ctory on the 
 territory. I 
 wn at New- 
 bus the evi- 
 
 to the fact 
 luthern divi- 
 that the crop 
 er statement, 
 ering on the 
 ot maturity, 
 irove, in my 
 fail to ripen 
 linage of the 
 or rotation of 
 ability owing 
 climate. 
 I its growth is 
 ucceed. My 
 in the greater 
 posts I have 
 
 New Bruns- 
 is again said 
 son from the 
 
 3 extensively 
 e population. 
 ■j it grows in 
 rain. Its ri- 
 1 upon in cold 
 have I ever 
 that at Mata- 
 )n both sides 
 ery great ad- 
 
 ants, produce 
 
 —wheat, oats, 
 
 lue, and are 
 
 by man and 
 
 young and 
 s extensively 
 lats as a pro- 
 ery nutritive 
 rking classes, 
 ot seen either 
 are common, 
 yr-beans and a 
 ey grow well, 
 sed, however,. 
 
 IS, which are 
 the crops of 
 
 op of Dwarf- 
 ugust(20th). 
 
 ot. Mr. Raft 
 
 The vetch, a variety of the pea family, grows wild everywhere, but nowhere is it 
 anything like so abundant as on the coast of James' Bay, So plentiful are they on the 
 more sandy parts of the old beaches that I have sometimes thought that the Indians 
 would do well to harvest a lot of them for use, at a pinch during the winter. With a lit- 
 tle judicious selection and cultivation this vetch might become of great service in a coun- 
 try, to the climate and soil of which it is so thoroughly adapted. 
 
 Potato. — There is probably no food plant that is like)" ^ be of more importance to 
 the inhabitants, present or future, of this territory, than x. . potato. There is none the 
 cultivation of which has been so thoroughly successful in every part. The admirable fit- 
 ness both of soil and climate for its growth has been established beyond dispute. No 
 one who has seen the crops at Moose Factory, Rupert's House, New Post, and Matawa- 
 gamingue, can entertain any doubt on this point. Whether viewed in reference to size, 
 quantity or quality, the crops at Moose Factory and Matawagamingue this year would 
 compare favourably with tho.so in the best potato growing districts in Ontario. They 
 keep all winter in common root-houses, and are sweet and good until the following crop is 
 tit for use. Peaty soil is particularly well suited to the growth of potatoes. As stated else- 
 where, there are millions of acres of peat-mosses in this territory, very extensive areas of 
 ■which can be easily reclaimed, and when this country is settled and means of transport 
 provided, it is within the range of possibility, if not probable, that hundreds of thousan'ls 
 of tons of potatoes may be grown and sent south to supply the wants of the people in the 
 cities of Ontario and the northern states of the Union. 
 
 Other Roots. — If in the nearer or more remote future, the breeding of cattle and 
 dairy husbandry be likely to form important resources of this territory, as is by 
 m means improbable, then the fitness of the soil and climate for the growth of root 
 crops is of the greatest consequence. Among these the turnip is entitled to a 
 p'ace in the front rank. I have seen small patches of turnips, usually Swedish, 
 at most of the Company's posts in the territory and believe that on suitable soils, 
 proper culture Avould ensure large crops of excellent bulb.s. The carrot, beet and 
 parsnip can also be grown, but like the turnip have only hitherto been cultivated as gar- 
 den crops. I know no reason why they should not one and all SHCceed in the field also. 
 
 Green Vegetables. — Cabbages, spinach, lettuce, mustard, cress and radishes are grown 
 without any difficulty. The cauliflower, so tender, as I thought, in respect of frost, 
 appears to be one of the surest crops at Moose Factory, and is sometimes ready for the 
 table as early as the first of August. Potato-onions also grow well, but the season is too 
 short to grow onions of any size from the seed. The cut- worm is the great enemy of the 
 gardener at Moose Factory, as it is in many other parts of Canada, and if the cabbage and 
 cauliflower plants were not well looked after and protected, few would be left. 
 
 Fruits. — The only fruits that appear to be cultivated in the garden are the red and 
 black currant and raspberry. The red currant is remarkably prolific. Rhubarb also 
 grows well. Other small fruits, such as the strawberry and gooseberry might, I am per- 
 suaded, be raised with little trouble, for they are found growing wild in many places, and 
 perhaps nowhere more plentifully or of finer quality than on the coast. With these we have 
 the wild raspberry, a diminutive variety of blackberry which grows only a single berry on 
 each plant, and a very small kind of cranberry. The Huckle-berry or blue-berry is found 
 in great profusion from the long portages to the Height of Land. Indeed it may be 
 said to abound from the coast of Hudson's Bay to the shores of Lakes Huron and 
 Superior. It was nowhere in greater profusion or of finer quality than on the Height 
 of Land itself. The berries gathered from one measured square yard as an experiment 
 filled a large pint cup. At the same rate, an aero would produce two thousand four hun- 
 dred quarts of this wholesome fruit. Even allowing that the berries were exceptionally 
 plentiful on the spot in question, it is not the less true that could the quantity of fruit 
 which grows in the country lying between Lakes Huron and Superior and the fiftieth 
 parallel be approximately estimated it would appear simply incredible to those who have 
 not seen the country during the berry season. It would dwarf into comparative insigni- 
 ficance, in my opinion, all the other fruits put together. Without any rich or etrong 
 flavour it is a pleasant, refreshing and exceedingly wholesome fruit and may, I think, be 
 eaten in almost any quantity without danger. The natives are very fond of them, and 
 
16 
 
 I I 
 
 even gather and dry the berries for use after the season is over. But all that man can 
 use is as a drop in the bucket; the almost unreduced bulk of the fruit forms a bountiful pro- 
 vision of Nature for her other creatures. To the bcxsts of the field and the fowls of the 
 air, and every creeping thing, these millions of bushels of fruit thus left over are as food; to 
 some, perhaps only an agreeable luxury, to all doubtless a source of delight of which we 
 can form no adequate conception. To none of all these, perhaps, is it a greater blessing 
 than to the ant, that diligent and brave little pioneer who precedes man and earth-worms 
 alike by centuries in the important work of ameliorathig and preparing the crude soil for 
 the support of higher orders of vegetable and animal life. That an omnivorous animal 
 like the bear should eat or even subsist for a time on these berries seems quite natural, but 
 wlien we find among its consumers carnivorous animals such as the fox, the marten and 
 the fisher, and such birds as ravens, wood-peckers and ducks, one cannot help feeling 
 more or less surprised. 
 
 The only other wild fruit that I shall notice is also a variety of Whortleberry. 
 This is a bush or tree not very unlike the wild cherry in appearance. North of the 
 Height of Land it attains a height in some places of ten or twelve feet, but is generally 
 about six feet. The fruit grows singly, not in bunches or clusters on the tree. It is of 
 an oblong or pear shape, larger than the blue-berry, but smaller than the grape. When 
 ripe it is of a purple or blue colour. It is sweeter and has more flavour than the Huckle- 
 berry, and is preferred by the natives to it. It too is found all the way from James' Bay 
 to Lake Huron, but nowhere did I see it in greater perfection than on the Mattagami 
 River. The fruit is not only pleasant and wholesome, but the juice would, I am persua- 
 ded, make an excellent wine, and the tree is worthy of cultivation and of a place in our 
 orchards or gardens. 
 
 The High-bush Cranberry and the Hazle-nut are also met with in many parts of this 
 territory, but in travelling south I did not observe any nut trees until I came to Little 
 Long Portage on the Mattagami River, nearly a hundred miles from James' Bay. 
 
 So soon as the Canadian Pacific Railway is extended through this tei'ritory, the 
 gathering of these wild fruits will afford the natives a lucrative employment, as it does 
 now to many of those on the north shore of the Georgian Bay. Nor to the great mass of 
 the inhabitants of our cities will an overflowing abundance of such wholesome fruits as 
 this territory affords in unlimited quantities, be otherwise than agreeable, the dearness of 
 those cultivated fruits which can be exported to foreign countries placing them to a great 
 extent out of the reach of the families of workingmen. 
 
 Nor is there anything unreasonable in the supposition that a country possessed of a 
 climate which enables the uncultivated soil to produce spontaneously such a variety and 
 abundance of wild fruits, may be capable of doing a great deal more with man's powerful 
 aid and assistance. 
 
 No attempt has been made yet, so far as I know, anywhere in this territory, to grow 
 apples, plums, or ..berries. I am inclined to think, however, that these and other 
 highly prized fruits might succeed in the southern, higher, and drier parts of the territory. 
 I should be much more hopeful of their doing so than on the north shore of Lake 
 Superior. 
 
 On the south side of the Height of Land, and coming down in some places to within 
 a few few miles of Lake Huron, the country like that for a considerable distance 
 north is full of lakes. These are not generally very deep, one result of which is 
 that the water heated by the sun's rays becomes much warmer throughout than 
 the water of lakes Huron and Superior. I found the temperature of the water of Lake 
 Monabing at the surface 70° Fah., and at fifty feet in depth it was still not less tlian 62^ 
 I am of opinion, therefore, that orchards planted on islands or on the warm, dry ridges of 
 bouldery or gravelly soil, lying between such lakes or even to the south of them, would 
 not be likely to suffer from summer frosts, the chief, if not only obstacle to the growth 
 of many valuable fruits. I saw on Whitefish Lake, Indian corn planted in just such a 
 locality as that I refer to, and this circumstance, which I have noticed elsewhere, goes far 
 to convince me that the climate of a wide belt of territory on both sides the Height, 
 of Land, between Lake Huron and James' Bay, is so tempered and modified by tii •- 
 warm waters of the numerous small and shallow lakes, which cover probably one-third of 
 
 i|j_ 
 
that man can 
 a, bountiful pro- 
 be fowls of the 
 are as food; to 
 it of which we 
 reater blessing 
 ad earth-worms 
 e crude soil for 
 ivorous animal 
 ite natural, but 
 ihe marten and 
 ot help feeling 
 
 Whortleberry. 
 
 North of the 
 out is generally 
 3 tree. It is of 
 
 grape. When 
 han the Huckle- 
 rom James' Bay 
 the Mattagami 
 Id, I am persua- 
 if a place in our 
 
 any parts of this 
 ; came to Little 
 les' Bay. 
 LS territory, the 
 ment, as it does 
 he great mass of 
 ilesome fruits as 
 , the dearu'jss of 
 them to a great 
 
 y possessed of a 
 
 oh a variety and 
 
 man's powerful 
 
 erritory, to grow 
 
 these and other 
 
 of the territory. 
 
 1 shore of Lake 
 
 ! places to within 
 lerable distance 
 suit of which is 
 hroughout than 
 le water of Lake 
 not less than 62" 
 •111, dry ridges of 
 
 of them, would 
 lo to the growth 
 
 1 in just such a 
 suwhere, goes far 
 sides the il>nglir. 
 modilied by th ■. 
 ably one-third of 
 
 
 17 
 
 the country, as to admit of the cultivation of many of our most valuable kinds of 
 fruit. 
 
 Grasses. — Whatever doubt may remain in the minds of any as to the agricultural 
 value of the country north of the Height of Land in respect of its grain-growing capabili- 
 ties, there can be none in regard to its fitness to produce the more important roots and 
 grasses. From the Height of Land northward to the coast of James' Bay nothing on the 
 north shore of Lakes Huron or Superior can exceed tlie luxuriance of the native grasses. 
 These, however, are limited to beaver meadows, alluvial lands along the banks of the 
 rivers, marshes in vioinity of the lakes, and to a broad belt on the southern coast of 
 James' Bay ; where covered with forest, bush or peat mosses, little grass is to be seen. 
 
 I have not met with a field of cultivated grass in the whole territory. At those posts 
 of the Hudson Bay Company where cattle are kept, they obtain their hay either from the 
 marshes bordering upon the inland lakes or from the salt marshes on the coast. Some 
 however, of our cultivated grass-se«ds have been sown in former times at several of the 
 posts, possibly with the view, rather to improve the pasture, than for hay. Be this as it may, 
 white clover is to be seen at almost all the posts, and red clover, sown some fifteen years 
 ago at least, is still common in the fields at Flying Post. Timothy likewise grows ad- 
 mirably In this territory, being quite able, like the red clover, not only to endure the cold 
 of th;! winter, but to mature its seed, as is proved by its being still found on portages 
 where the first seeds were accidentally dropped many years ago. These facts though 
 meagre, are important, enabling us, as they do, to form at least some idea of the fitness 
 of this territory for pastoral pursuits. 
 
 Cattle. — With one doubtful exception not only man but all the domestic animals 
 usually kept by him enjoy excellent health in this territory. The only exception is the 
 horse, and the only place Albany Factory. Several horses having died unaccountably at 
 this post, the Company have not made any further attempt to keep them there. The 
 cause, whatever it may be, can hardly be the climate, as that differs but little from Moose 
 Factory, where the horses are remarkably healthy. 
 
 Cows and oxen are kept at all the principal posts, and I have invariably found them 
 wherever I have been, healthy and in fine condition, pretty good evidence of the salubrity 
 of the climate and excellence of the pasture. At Moose Factory, where some sixty head 
 at least are constantly kept, a certain number are slaughtered every Fall, and are quite fat, 
 although then taken straiglit from the grass. The cows yield a large quantity of good milk. 
 
 Skeep. — There is a small flock of sheep also at Moose Factory. They appear to be of 
 a common and not very large breed. It is necessary to house them at night and watch 
 them during the day, to protect them from dogs, of which numbers are kept by the In- 
 dians. They seem to thrive pretty well notwithstanding, and are, so far as I know, sub- 
 ject to no particular disease. 
 
 Hogs. — A few pigs, seemingly well-bred, are kept. They are allowed during the 
 summer to run at large on an island opposite the Post, and what they can gather for 
 themselves is supplemented with potatoes and waste from the kitchens. They are thus 
 maintained in good healtli and growing condition, but cannot be fed up fit to kill without 
 grain or meal in the Fall, which is I presume given to them, for the home-cured hams 
 are exceedingly fine. 
 
 Poultry. — It is impossible to keep poultry at or near any of the fur-trading posts unless 
 they are enclosed in a well-fenced yard. The Indian dogs, unbroken and half-starved, 
 would worry and devour any fowls chat were suffered to run at large. But for this the 
 common barn-door fowl might be reared and kept with great advantage. The turkey 
 would do well also with full liberty to range about during summer. 
 
 The vast numbers of wild-fowl which migrate to and spend the summer months in 
 this territory affords sufficient proof of its fitness for geese and ducks, both of which 
 might no doubt be easily bred and reared. 
 
 In conclusion under this head, the agricultural resources of this territory are, as 
 will now have been seen, various and by no means unimportant. The climate has been 
 shown to be such : — 
 
 That we have good reason to believe wheat, oats, barley, and rye, as also peas and beans 
 can be successfully cultivated. 
 2 
 
18 
 
 That excellent crops of potatoes and turnips can be grown in any part of the territory, 
 and that other roots such as the carrot, beet end parsnip will in all probability 
 succeed. 
 
 That cauliflowers, cabbages, and all the couinion vegetables raised in the northern part 
 of Ontario can be likewise grown at Moose Factory and at other posts south 
 thereof. 
 
 That the cultivated grasses, red clover ar.d timothy, grow lu.Kuriantly, mature their seed 
 and survive the winter. 
 
 That wild fruits of vai-ious kinds, and valuable of themselves, are spontaneously produced 
 in great quantities, warranting the inference that cultivated varieties may be suc- 
 cessfully and proGtably grown in the territory. 
 
 That live stock, horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry thrive remarkably well in every 
 part of the territory, with the exception of Albany Factory, where horses alone for 
 some unknown reason have not lived. 
 
 The soil, as might be expected in a territory so large, is variable, ranging from clay 
 loams at or near the coast, to light, sandy or gravelly loams towards the Height of Land, 
 and in some sections very extensive peat-mosses. These peat-mosses are confined chiefly 
 to the territory lying to the north of the forty-ninth parallel. The southern limit, 
 however, of the peat-moss region, is I believe very considerably north of the forty-ninth, 
 if not even of the fiftieth parallel, west of the Missinaibe Branch of Moose River. 
 These peat-mo.sses repose on clay mai'ls, and although not immediately available for culti- 
 vation, I have hardly a doubt vast tracts will be eventually reclaimed and converted into 
 good arable land. 
 
 Along the banks of the rivers, even In this northern belt, there is a strip of good 
 land. The islands and river bottoms have a rich alluvial soil. Above the junction of the 
 Mattagami and Ahkuckootish Rivers this alluvial or bottom land is still more extensive 
 than below the Long Portage, and much of it that is probably flooded for a week or two 
 in the early spring might be turned to very good account as meadows or otherwise, there 
 being no danger whatever of flooding after the subsidence of the spring freshet, caused 
 by the melting of the snow. As we approach the Height of Land and the country 
 becomes more broken, the dry ridges will aff'ord tine pasture, while portions of the lower 
 slopes where not too stony, and the river bottoms may be cultivated. The swamps, if 
 drained, would frequently make excellent land, and the marshes will always bo more or 
 less valuable for grass and hay. 
 
 I frankly admit that the development of the agricultural resources of this territory 
 must be the work of time ; that it will require capital, intelligence, experience and energy. 
 I believe, however, that the people of Ontario will be found equal to the task. If not, I 
 am at a loss to know where we shall find those who will. But on whomsoever the task 
 may fall, once opened up by means of roads and railways and the soil reclaimed, there 
 cannot be a doubt that the agricultural resources will alone be sufficient to employ and 
 maintain a large population in comfort, if not in affluence. 
 
 Timber. 
 
 No one can travel through the United States or Canada without being struck with 
 the enormous extent of once timbered land that has been cleared up or reclaimed from 
 the forest. By far the greater portion of tlio timber has been cut down, piled into heaps 
 and burnt on the spot, in order to get rid of it, the sole object being to clear up and cul- 
 tivate the land. Another portion of the timber has been used for fuel, either by the 
 owner or others to whom he may have sold it. Lastly large quantities, more particularly 
 of pine, have been cut down, to be hewn into square logs or pieces, or sawn into boards 
 and scantling, commonly called lumber. For this " lumber " there is a rapidly increas- 
 ing demand both at home and abroad. An regards the land specially cleared with the 
 view to cultivation, there is very little chance of its ever being replanted or again be- 
 ■coming a forest. Nor is it probable that much of the second description will be allowed 
 to grow up again. Of the third division only, namely that on which the pine and other 
 trees have been cut for lumber, is any considerable proportion of the land at all likely to 
 
19 
 
 tho territory, 
 1 probability 
 
 Lortbern part 
 : posts south 
 
 re their seed 
 
 usly produced 
 3 may be suc- 
 
 wcll in every 
 [•ses alone for 
 
 ring from clay 
 eight of Land, 
 onfined chiefly 
 outhorn limit, 
 lie forty-ninth, 
 
 Moose River. 
 liable for culti- 
 
 converted into 
 
 a strip of good 
 junction of the 
 more extensive 
 • a week or two 
 )therwise, there 
 [freshet, caused 
 d the country 
 ns of the lower 
 he swamps, if 
 ,ys bo more or 
 
 this territory 
 ice and energy, 
 ask. If not, I 
 soever the task 
 eclaimed, there 
 to employ and 
 
 .u>' struck with 
 reclaimed from 
 )iled into heaps 
 lear up and cul- 
 1, either by the 
 ore particularly 
 wn into boards 
 rapidly increas- 
 leared with the 
 ed or again be- 
 will be allowed 
 pine and other 
 1 at all likoly to 
 
 be left uncultivated, with the resulting possibility of being again re-clad with forest trees. 
 Estimates have been made of the quantity of pine timber yet remaining iu the United 
 States, and of the length of time it may be expected to last. The data, however, on 
 which such estimates are based are so uncertain and fluctuating that little or no reliance 
 can be placed upon them. Tliis much, however, we may feel pretty well assured of : 1st, 
 That the area or reserve of timber land is rapidly dimishing, and will continue to dimin- 
 ish in a still greater ratio ; 2nd, That the consumption of timber, already enormous, is 
 rapidly increasing, and must continue to increase almost indefinitely ; 3rd, That the best 
 and most accessible timber lands or limits have been and will continue to be the first to be 
 .stripped of their timber ; 4th, That the cost of placing in the market lumber from inferior 
 and remote limits will hereafter be greater than now or than it has been heretofore ; 5th, 
 That as a necessary consequence of these premises, subject to temporary fluctuations and 
 depressions, the price of timber must surely rise. 
 
 From all which it may be reasonably inferred that timber lands which from their re- 
 moteness, inaccessibility or the inferior quality of the timber, are now considered worth- 
 less, cannot fail to become in course of time of very great value. 
 
 This brings me to a point I am anxious to make and to impress on the Government and 
 people of our Province, namely, the prospective value of the so-called "disputed territory," 
 north of the Ileiglit of Land in respect of its timber resources. 
 
 In order to this, I shall put what I have to say into the narrative form, commencing 
 at my starting point this season, namely, the mouth of the Mississagua River, which enters 
 Lake Huron a little to the west of the eighty-third meridian. With the exception of some 
 pine still left on the Indian Reserve no considerable body of pine is visible from the river, 
 until we approach the Oak Rapids, about eighteen miles up. Below this there is a greater 
 or less breadth of river bottom land, the timber on which is mostly elm, maple and birch, 
 with a few pine and other kinds of trees. Above the Oak Rapids, and from thence to Long 
 Portage, which I take to be another fifteen miles, there would appear to be a tolerable 
 quantity of good white pine. At and above Long Portage, bush-tires have destroyed 
 most of the timber on the banks of the river, until we come to where Mr. Wright, of 
 Barrie, has been getting out squared timber, about fifteen miles above Long Portage 
 again, nr say fifty miles from the mouth of the river. There are eight falls and rapids in 
 this distance, the most formidable of which is tliat at Long Portage. Tlie Mississagua 
 River is from two to three chains in width and brings down a large quantity of water in 
 the early spring, but it subsides rapidly and is very shallow in the summer. The current 
 rims strong throughout, but is particularly heavy above the long portage. How far Mr. 
 Wright's timber had been hauled before reaching the river at the place above referred to, 
 I cannot say, as we did not go back far enough on the road to see. I did not, however, 
 observe any good pine on or near the banks of the river even at this place. At the Grand 
 llapid, some fifteen or sixteen miles above where Mr. Wright's timber was bi-ought out, 
 there is a limited area of country lying some five or six miles along the banks of the river 
 which, if not entirely, has in a great measure escaped the ravages of recent fires, and the 
 timber is in consequence superior to any that I noticed elsewhere. A few miles above the 
 Grand Rapid, or say about seventy-five miles from Lake Huron, we enter the first lake. This 
 lake although not now apparently more than four or five miles in length, has I think at one 
 time been very much larger. Like most others situated on large rivers, this lake is being 
 gradually drained or converted into dry land, partly by the sediment brought into it from 
 above, and partly by the wearing away and deepening of the channel at the lower end or 
 outlet. Although this is the first lake on the main river, there are numerous lakes on 
 the smaller tributaries lying °^ both sides of the Mississagua. At the upper or northern 
 extremity of this lake the Kid-da-mug or western branch of the Mississagua comes in. 
 This and the White River, which enters from the east about mid-Vfiy betweeen Upper 
 Slate Falls and Long Portage, are the two principal tributaries of the Mississagua. 
 Following up the main river eastward for about eleven miles, we come to where the river 
 I again forks. One branch, called the Winnibeegon, falls in from the north, taking its 
 rise in a large lake of the same name, near the Height of Land. The other or easterd 
 [branch derives its waters chiefly from Green Lake and others lying to the east and north- 
 5a8t. Tliis point is about ninety miles from the mouth of the Mississagua, and there is 
 

 .1; 
 
 20 
 
 a portage here called the Shingwauk, or Pine Porta.L From a point some four miles 
 above the Grand Rapid to thia junction, a stretch of some eighteen or twenty miles, but 
 little pine of any sor*^ is met with. Red pine, however, seems here to be taking the place 
 of white pine. Our most direct route would have been up the Winnibecgon, but 
 that stream is so crooked and difficult of navigation that our guide took the other 
 or eastern branch, which in six or seven miles brought us to Green Lake. This lake 
 is said to be from si.s; to eight miles in length, and four or five in width, but the islands, 
 of which it contains a number, render it impossible to see the whole of it at a glance and 
 thus estimate its size. Crossing it in an east-north-easterly direction, our route led us to 
 a small river, called Round Lake River, which enters Green Lake near its eastern ex- 
 tremity, a little to the eastward of where the old fur-trading post of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company formerly stood. The Post is now situated on another and smaller lake, some 
 three or four miles to the east. From the junction of the Winnibeegon to this point, say 
 fourteen miles, the principal timber is red pine. The trees are sound and healthy appar- 
 ently, and may average forty or forty-tive inches in circumference, although some of the 
 larger ones are as much as sixty inches circumference three or four feet from the ground. 
 
 We now ascended Round Lake River to Round Lake itself, thence to what is called in 
 Indian, "the Lake that Runs Through." These lakes are situated in one of the narrow 
 glacial channels or troughs alluded to elsewhere as being a common feature on or near the 
 Height of Land, and running (as in the present instance) in a northerly and southerly 
 direction. 
 
 Our route left "the liake that Runs Through," near what appeared to be its northern ex- 
 tremity and by a portage three-quarters of a mile in length we passed over a ridge nearly one 
 hundred feet in height and intersected the Winnibeegon Branch of the Mississagua. This 
 stretch, namely from where we left Green Lake to where we meet or intersect Winnibeegon 
 River, I estimate roughly at about ten or twelve miles in length. It is well timbered through- 
 out chiefly with white and red pine. The white pine attains eight feet in circumference 
 at the butt, red pine four to six feet, white spruce five to six feet, cedar fou. feet and white 
 birch and balsam about the same. On the summit of the ridge over which the port- 
 ago passes and some 1 250 feet or more above the level of the sea, I saw and measured 
 three white pine, standing within less than ten yards of each other, which averaged 
 eight feet in circumference at the butt, and would give four or five logs each, the lower 
 two if not three apparently free from knots or any other fault or blemish. With such 
 facts as these before us, it is absurd to contend that the climate on or near the Height of 
 Land will not admit of the growth of valuable timber. 
 
 We then ascended the Winnibeegon River until we were within not more than half-a- 
 mile, according to my guide's statement, from Winnibeegon Lake. At this point a tributary 
 comes from the east, up which our route lay. This stretch following all the turns and bends 
 of the river is not less I think than twenty-four miles, for the river is very crooked. If 
 the late Mr. A. P. Salter's map of this part of the country be at all correct, howevei*, the 
 distance is not more than fourteen or fifteen miles in a straight line. The course although 
 constantly changing i.s, on the whole, northerly. So far as the rivers and lakes on Mr. 
 Salter's map are located from actual instrumental survey I have no doubt they are correct, 
 but much of his information must have been obtained from Indian sources, and I am in- 
 clined to think that in some respects, and particularly in the course of the Winnibeegon 
 River the man is incorrect, as it evidently is incomplete. 
 
 This upper portion of the river flows in all probability through what has been 
 in ancient times the bed of one or more lakes, and the ridges which formed the original 
 banks or boundaries of these lakes are rarely if ever seen. The soil on the lower groiind 
 where not wet and swampy is for the most part barren and sandy, and it is to this circum- 
 stance alone, I think, must be attributed tho poorness of the timber and the almost total 
 absence of red or white pine. 
 
 My guide informed me that there are a great many red and white pine on the ridges 
 around Winnibeegon Lake. I was sorry that our route did not pass through this lake. I 
 intended examining it on my return from Moose Factory, but as mentioned before my 
 voyageurs anticipated great difficulty in returning this way at a season when the water 
 is usually very low, and I decided to take another route. 
 
21 
 
 ime four miles 
 enty miles, but 
 iiking the place 
 inibeegon, but 
 took the other 
 ike. This lake 
 but the islands, 
 at a fflance and 
 route led us to 
 its eastern ex- 
 ) Hudson's Bay 
 iller lake, some 
 ) this point, say 
 healthy appar- 
 igh some of the 
 rom the ground, 
 what is called in 
 le of the narrow 
 e on or near the 
 ly and southerly 
 
 3 its northern ex- 
 ridge nearly one 
 ssissagua. This 
 ^ct Winnibeegon 
 mbered through- 
 in circumference 
 .1. feet and white 
 which the port- 
 w and measured 
 which averaged 
 , each, the lower 
 ish. With such 
 IV the Height of 
 
 more than half-a- 
 point a tributary 
 ! turns and bends 
 ery crooked. If 
 ect, however, the 
 3 course although 
 and lakes on Mr. 
 t they are 3orrect, 
 es, and I am iu- 
 ;he Winnibeegon 
 
 1 what has been 
 med the original 
 
 the lower ground 
 is to this circum- 
 
 1 the almost total 
 
 pine on the ridges 
 
 )ugh this lake. I 
 
 tioned before my 
 
 L when the water 
 
 Resuming our journey we now loft the Winnibeegon River and ascended the tributary 
 or East Branch just mentioned. The width of the stream at this place was not more than 
 about a chain. Its course was very crooked, at first easterly, but becoming after we had 
 passed some few miles, northeasterly, and so continued until about the end of the seventh 
 mile, which brought us to a rapid in which there is a very considerable fall. Here it 
 was necessary to make a portage about one-third of a mile in length. This was the 
 twenty-third portage reckoning from the mouth of the river. Eight or nine miles more 
 on an average course of about north-east brought us to a narrow lake, the length of 
 which, however, was not less than five or six miles, the longer axis lying as usual nearly 
 north and south. This again forms in my opinion a portion of one of tho.se channels before 
 alluded to as having been excavated by the current of ice which enclosing millions of 
 boulders and bearing an inconceivably great burden of stones, gravels, sands and clay, 
 would appear to have forced its way in one vast sheet of unknown thickness over the 
 Height of Land, during what has been called the glacial period. This channel I think 
 may be traced across the Height of Land to the north, and it is by no ,means improbable 
 that the depression in which "the Lake that Runs Through" is situated some twenty or 
 more miles south in nearly a direct line, may even form another part of it. 
 
 The nature of the country and character of the timber between this lake and Winni- 
 beegon River, differs little from that passed through in the preceding stretch up the Winni- 
 beegon itself. The banks of this East Branch are for the most part low and marshy, or 
 otherwise sandy. 
 
 Fires too, have run over this section so generally, within the last twenty or thirty" 
 years, that Mr. Salter describes it on his map as "burnt country." I do not think how- 
 ever that the marshy, wet, or ever t' Iry, sandy flats bordering on the stream have ever 
 grown much if any white or red piin. . Tamarac, alder and willows, have been the prin- 
 cipal growth on tha wet ground, and Banksian pine on the dry sandy flats, which 
 have, I suspect, also formed the bottom of former lakes. The higher riJges, only 
 seen at a distancs on this stretch, have however undoubtedly produced red and white pine 
 of good size and quality. 
 
 Our next stretch commences with the lake just referred to. This lake, the name of 
 which my guide did not know, is not more than six miles long, by half-a-mile wide. The 
 ridges on the east and west sides are low, apparently rarely exceeding one hundred feet in 
 height. Nice groves of red and white pine are visible here and there, particularly near 
 the upper or northern extremity. Here we made a portage (the twenty-fourth). This 
 portage starts from the north-eastern extremity of the lake and runs in an easterly direc- 
 tion over a ridge, the summit of which is at least one hundred feet above the lake. It is 
 a mile long and terminates at a very small creek, the water of which comes from the 
 north and flows southward. 
 
 The soil on the top of this ridge is a sandy loam and I was pleased to find with trees 
 of other kinds a scattered growth of clean and healthy white pine, from six to seven and 
 a-half feet in circumference at the butt, and running up frequently forty feet from the 
 ground without the vestige of a knot or branch. This was especially interesting as we 
 were now close to the divide or watershed on the Height of Land, and nearly if not quite 
 as high. On the lower ground the soil was peaty, and tamarac and spruce were common, 
 the larger trees being about four feet in circumference. 
 
 Embarking on the small creek at the east end of this twenty-fourth portage, we 
 found the water so shallow and the channel so crooked that we had the greatest difficulty 
 in ascending it, for the first mile. It then opened out into a sudcession of little marshy 
 ponds with shallow connecting creeks for about two miles, during which our course was on 
 the whole northerly and ended at last in a muskeg or peat-moss. Here we came to the 
 Height of Land Portage. This portage (the twenty-fifth since we started) is about three- 
 quarters of a mile in length, and ascending to the height of sixty feet, descends again 
 towards the north nearly if not quite as much, terminating at a good sized lake called 
 Wa-qua-ma-ga-ming or Clear-water Lake. The Height of Land or divide is, I should say, 
 about fifteen hundred feet above the level of James' Bay, to the north, and nine hundred 
 feet higher than Lake Huron to the south, but no reliable estimate can be based on only 
 one or two readings of the barometer. 
 
22 
 
 lltH 
 
 
 Tlie distance from the mouth of MisHissagua River to "the divide" or watershed on 
 the Height of Land by this route, I estimate very roughly at about one hundred and 
 sixty-five miles. In a direct line however, as shown on Mr. Salter's map, it is only one 
 hundred and five miles. 
 
 I did not observe any red or white pine on the last portage, but there were consider- 
 able numbers on the same ridgo within half-a-mile of where the portage crossed it. 
 
 Thus in respect of both climate and soil the whole southern slope from the summit to 
 the very shores of Lake Huron, is beyond dispute, a good pine-growing region. 
 
 Turning our faces to the north we once more embark and commence the long de- 
 scent to James Bay. 
 
 Clear- water Lake, or Wa-qua-ma-ga-ming, is the source of the •' Ah-kuc-koo-tish" or 
 Ground-hog River. But of this fact neither I nor my voyageurs were aware until some 
 days after. It is about six milos in length, and from half a mile to a mile in width. The 
 longer axis like the lakes immediately south of the watershed pointing nearly north and 
 south. The water as its name would imply is very clear. The ridges forming the shores 
 on the east and west sides are of moderate height, that on the east bearing an irregular 
 but by no means inconsid(!rable quantity of pine. There is a scattering growth also of 
 apparently good white and red pine on the west side, but less numerous thati on the east. 
 The other trees consist chiefly of spruce, Banksian pine, balsam, white birch and aspen. 
 My guide told me that some few sugar maple of a fair size grow near the shores of thi» 
 lake, but I did not see them. 
 
 On reaching the northern extremity of the lake we entered its outlet, a little stream 
 about a chain in width, having a rather rapid current and sufficient depth of water at 
 this season of the year to float our canoe nicely. 
 
 Down this stream we took our way for twenty-four miles, at the termination of 
 which we came to a lake called " Cache Lake." The river is very crooked, our course 
 changing frequently as often as ten times in a mile. The average bearing however of this 
 stretch is north-north-east, or thereabouts. The first twelve miles is through a 
 marshy and comparatively flat country, which when not marshy appears to be dry and 
 sandy. It resembles indeed the country lying contiguous to the upper part of the Winni- 
 beegon River, on the south side of the Height of Land. No high ridges were seen after 
 we left Clear- water Lake. A low reef of Laurentian rock now oud then crossed the river 
 occasioning a fall or a rapid around which we were obliged to make a portage, but other- 
 wise rock, excepting in tiie form of boulders, was rarely seen. Like the Winnibeegon, the 
 river throughout the far greater part of this stretch seems to flow over what has formerly 
 been the bottom of one or more fresh water lakes. In the lower half the reefs and ridges 
 are both higher, but nowhere did they rise to a greater elevation tlian one 
 hundred feet, and rarely so much as that. Throughout the whole distance there is hardly 
 a thousand acres in a block over \\^iich fire does not seem to have passed some time 
 or other within the last forty or fifty years. Consequently very few fully grown or large 
 trees are met with. Those that there are consist of spruce, tamarac, Banksian pine and bal- 
 sam on the drier ground with occasional spots on which aspen, white birch may be seen 
 On the lower and wetter land, alder, willow and more rarely black ash may be found. 
 Black ash however only appears in the last few miles of the stretch, and the size is not 
 more than from six to ten inches diameter. I did not ob.serve either white or red pine, 
 until we approached Cache Lake when they are once more visible on rather high ridges to the 
 north-west. In the whole distance from the south end of Clear-water Lake to Cache Lake, 
 which I roughly estimate at thirty miles following the bends of the river, ten portages 
 were nece.ssary, the longest of which was about a mile. The total fall does not exceed 
 one hundred feet I think, or little more than three feet per mile on an average. 
 
 Cache Lake, the beginning of the next stretch or division of our journey is about 
 three miles long, in an east-northeasterly direction, and about half a mile in width. A 
 schistose rock (Huronian) hore forms the shore. Near the eastern extremity a 
 small stream falls in from the south. The number of lieads of deer and other animals, 
 stuck up on poles, as trophies of the chase, would appear to indicate a good hunting 
 country. Leaving Cache Lake by the river which flows from its eastern extremity, another 
 mile brought us to a rapid with a fall of nearly four feet, which was run successfully. 
 
23 
 
 or watershed on 
 le hundred and 
 ,p, it is only one 
 
 e were consider- 
 
 rossod it. 
 
 II the summit to 
 
 igion. 
 
 ace the long de- 
 
 kuc-koo-tish" or 
 ware until some 
 
 in width. The 
 early north and 
 rming the shores 
 ing an irregular 
 
 growth also of 
 liaii on the east, 
 irch and aspen, 
 le shores of this 
 
 i, a little stream 
 pth of water at 
 
 e termination of 
 loked, our course 
 { howtiver of this 
 i is through a 
 •s to be dry and 
 ,rt of the Winni- 
 
 I were seen after 
 crossed the river 
 rtage, but other- 
 Viunibeegon, the 
 lat has formerly 
 roofs and ridges 
 
 ,tion than one 
 e there is hardly 
 massed some time 
 y grown or large 
 ilan pine and bal- 
 rch may be seen 
 may be found. 
 
 II the size is not 
 -^hito or red pine, 
 high ridges to the 
 :e to Cache Lake, 
 ver, ten portages 
 does not exceed 
 
 journey is about 
 le in width. A 
 irn extremity a 
 id other animals, 
 a good hunting 
 streinity, another 
 run successfully. 
 
 This was as far as my guide had ever been before. Flying Post was still, as we supposed, a 
 long way olF, and as we might miss it altogether, it would hereafter bo necessary to proceed 
 very cautiously, for in the event of losing our canoe or provisions in any of the numerous 
 and unknown rapids, it would have gone hard with us, especially if unable to find the post. 
 
 Hor(^ the river took a strong easterly b(^nd, sometimes opening into and forming small 
 lakes or ponds, at other times contracting to its usual size. It hoLl this course for about 
 nineteen niiltss, following nearly, as it appeared to mo, the strike of the Huronian rocks 
 at or about their junction with the Laurentian, In this stretch five more portages were 
 required, the total fall being seventy-five feet, or say four feet in a mile. The river then find- 
 ing a passage, turns north, crossing the Huronian ridges, and at the end of nine miles tum- 
 bles into a largo basin, at the south end of Lake Matagaraa. In this northerly stretch 
 (though but nine miles in length) five more portages had to be mad(;, and tiie fall, very 
 roughly estimated, is not less, I think, than 175 feet, or about 19.^ feet per mile. The 
 total length of this stretch, reckoning from the upper end of Cache Lake to that of Mata- 
 gama, is about thirty-two miles, or sixty-two miles from the Height of Land. 
 
 Now, as regards the timber. Although red and white pine appeared in some numbers 
 on the ridgos near Cache Lake, and a few trees at other pointit on the route, there is no 
 pine of any importance whatever, until we come within two or three miles of Lake Mata- 
 gama. The timber, where any, consists mostly of spruce, tamarac, Banksian pine, white 
 birch and aspen. But the fact is, the country has been too generally and recently burnt 
 over, to allow of the growth of large trees of any kind, however favourable tlie soil or 
 climate might be. The last two or three miles however of this stretch, h;i(l not been 
 over-run by recent fires, and there is a good growth of mixed timber, among which I saw 
 white pine and spruce as much as six or seven feet in circumference. 
 
 Before we reached Lake Matagama, I bad discovered that the river wo had been 
 following from Clear-water Lake was really the same as that which bolow Lake Mata- 
 gama is called the Ahkuckootish or Ground-hog River, and that it svould lead us direct to 
 Flying Post. I had, in fact, a.scend(!d this river to a tributary which comes in from the 
 eastward six or seven miles south of Lake Matagama last year on my journey from 
 Flying Post to Matawagamingue Post. Flying Post was now only eighteen miles distant 
 and all doubts as to our being able to find it were removed. 
 
 Lake Matagama, reckoning from the termination of the last portage to the end of 
 slack-water about a mile above Flying Post is at least seventeen miles long. In width it 
 varies from a quarter of a mile or less, at the extremity, to as mucli as two miles else- 
 where. Its course or bearing nearly north and south. About seven or eight miles from 
 the upper or southern extremity, it throws off a long arm on the east side This arm, 
 although sixteen miles in length will not average half a mile in width. The bearing of 
 the longer axis is north-east and south-west. It is very deep, and the shore on the 
 ftorth-west side steep and precipitous. It has every appearance of having been 
 formed by ice, as elsewhere described. The ridges run from fifty to two hundred and 
 fifty feet in height above the level of the lake, and although sometimes bare, are gene- 
 rally covortvd with a light soil. By far the greater part of tliis section of the country has 
 been more or less denuded of its timber by fire. Some of these fires date back a generation 
 or more ; others have occurred as recently as last year. There is ample evidence of there 
 having boon a fine growth of pine, both white and red, and of the fitness of this part also 
 of the territory to produce good merchantable timber. Tlie outlet of the river is at the 
 extreme north end of the main lake. Here it soon forms a rapid, which can, however, 
 be run by good canoe-men at any season. Half a mile below this rapid on the left hand 
 bank, is the Hudson Bay Company's Post. 
 
 Our route since passing the Height of Land, may be briefly summarised, as follows : — 
 1. From the Height of Land to the junction of a largo stream from the west, twenty-six miles, 
 with an average course of north-northeast. 2. From the junction of the above stream, 
 four miles above Cache Lake, to the fifteenth portage, a short distance below the junction 
 of a large stream on the south-east side, twenty-seven miles, on an average cour-se of 
 east. From fifteenth portage to Flying Post, twenty-seven miles, average course north to 
 north-northeast ; in all eighty miles by the windings and bendings of the rivers and lakes. 
 In direct lines these distances would be much less. 
 

 \ 
 
 i i'l 
 
 24 
 
 It may bo remeinborecl by some of tlio readers of this report, that a imiiibor of years 
 ago, RlesHors. Salter and Sinclair, Provincial Land Surveyors, were instructed by the Gov- 
 ernment of the day, to run an exploration line in latitude '17° r)G' nortli, starting respec- 
 tively at Micliipicoten Kivcr, Lake Superior, and at some point on the Upper Ottawa. 
 It was expected that these two parties would have met, but for some unaccountable reason 
 thoy failed to do so. I am told by l\Ir. Thomas Moore, the officer in charg(( of Flying 
 Post, on the authority of Indian hunt«'rs, who have seen both lines, that they did not over- 
 lap, but w(!ro correctly run and pointing, as they express it, straight for each other, and 
 would have met, or nearly so, had they only boon extendi'd a few miles further. This 
 exploration line cro.ssed, I am told, the upper end of Lake Matagama. 
 
 Leaving Flying Post with fresh guides the river immediately opened out into a lake 
 some six or seven miles in length and two miles wide;, which is called Ahkuckooti.sh, 
 or Groundhog Lake. In about eight miles, following a north easterly cour.se we came to the 
 first rapid which might fairly enough be considered the end of the lake, as above that there is 
 little or no current. Below this for the next thirty miles the river pursutis a north- 
 north-easterly course It then runs for the most part between north- west and north-north- 
 west for some t(!n miles, terminating at the lower end of the Long Rapids. This stretch 
 from Flying Post to tins lower end of the Long llapids is in all, I think, about forty- 
 eight miles. In this distance there are numerous rapids, most of which were run. It 
 was necessary to make, however, si.x portages and several short demi-charges. The fall 
 (like the distance, roughly estimated) may be about two hundred and fifty feet. 
 
 There has been at one time a great quantity of line red and whit(! pine on Lake 
 Ahkuckootish, and even now a good deal still renjains on islands, peninsulas and 
 other parts, that have escaped the fires which have apparently made such tremendous havoc 
 among the forests all over the country. Good white pine too, are seen on the ridges 
 lying ofi' quite a distance to the east of th(! lake. As we go north the pine di!creases, and 
 after we leave the lake it is not met with very often, or in considerable quantities any- 
 where near the river. We saw, however, single trees and small groves as much as twenty- 
 live miles below Flying Post, and one of my guides told me that on the banks of 
 a lake lying to the west of the river and some fifty miles north of Flying Post, (in which 
 part of the territory he himself hunted) both red and white pine may be s(!en growing. 
 The only pine, however, that we observed on the bank of the river north of the long 
 rapid, was the Banksian pine This part of the territory is a net-work of lakes as far 
 north as the forty-ninth parallel, or some sixty miles north of Flying Post, and I have 
 little doubt that more or less red and white pine will be found on the drier ridges and in 
 the sheltered hollows, and ravines bordering on these lakes. It is the nature and chara* 
 ter of the soil and country rather than of the climate which her^ limits the pine forests 
 to the territory lying south of the forty-ninth parallel. 
 
 North of the forty-ninth parallel, in all that region lying between our eastern bound- 
 ary and Messinaibe River, the country is too flat. As a consequence of this and the pre- 
 valence of a clay soil or subsoil, the natural drainage is imperfect, and the surface wet. 
 These conditions favour the production of sphagnum or bog-moss, the long continued 
 growth and decay of which has produced the peat bogs or muskegs, which cover the far 
 greater part of the territory in question. Ou these peat bogs (till drained) neither pine 
 nor any other timber can grow. 
 
 The other trees found in the region lying between the Height of Land and the 
 forty-ninth parallel are spruce, balsam, cedar, Banksian pine, and tamar^c, all of which 
 attain good useful sizes. Among leaf-bearing or deciduous trees, again we, have wliite- 
 birch, poplar, aspen, alder, willows, black ash, and a few maple, elm, and black birch. 
 The three last, however, are neither numerous nor of large size. 
 
 I need not reiterate what I have said in fornusr reports in refercjijo to the timber in 
 the northern part of the territory. Having, however, on our return from Moose Factory 
 followed another and little known route, some fifty miles to the east of that by which we 
 ■went, it will be proper to give here a description of the timber met with in the region 
 thus passed through, more particularly the pine timber. 
 
 Ascending the Mattagami Branch of the Moose River, the first pine met with was a 
 red pine, on the east side, a little below the Sturgeon Falls, and about seventy miles north 
 
S5 
 
 uiubor of years 
 ted l)y the Uov- 
 Uiutiiig rcspoc- 
 Uppor Ottawa. 
 )uiiUil)l(i r(!ason 
 arjj'u of Flying 
 ny did not ovor- 
 viidi otlior, and 
 furtluT. This 
 
 out into a lako 
 Ahkuukootish, 
 ! we canio to tho 
 ivo that there ia 
 irsues a north- 
 ,nd north-nortli- 
 1. This stretch 
 ik, about forty- 
 i wiTi! run. It 
 iruos. The fall 
 f feet. 
 
 e pine on Lake 
 peninsulas and 
 emendous havoc 
 n on the ridges 
 i decreasf^s, and 
 quantities any- 
 much as twenty- 
 II the banks of 
 Post, (in which 
 seen growing, 
 orth of the long 
 i of lakes as far 
 ost, and I have 
 er ridges and in 
 ;ure and charat 
 the pine forests 
 
 r eastern bound- 
 :his and the pre- 
 he surface wet. 
 long continued 
 ch cover the far 
 ed) neither pine 
 
 : Land and the 
 rtic, all of which 
 we have white- 
 ud black birch. 
 
 to the timber in 
 
 Moose Factory 
 
 lat by which we 
 
 h in the region 
 
 met with was a 
 ?nty miles north 
 
 of the Hudson Bay Company's Post at Mattawagamingue. Mr. Austin, C.E., when en- 
 gaged in running one of the lines for the ('anndian Pacific Railway, calculated the lati- 
 tude of this post to be 47' 53'. Thus it would appear, as previously notice<l on tho 
 Ahkuckootish, that on or about this meridian, tho forty-ninth parallel of latitude is the 
 oxtnMue noithern limit if the red and white pino. About fifteen miles above this, at the 
 Wlii.stling llapid, both red and whit<! pine may again be seen. The larg(!.st red ))ine was 
 eight feet in circumf(!rence at the butt, say four feet from the ground. The white j»ine were 
 smaller, the biggest of them measuring about si.\ feet in circumference. No more pine 
 worth mentioning is met with on or near the lianks of the river until we reacli Lake 
 Kenogamis.see, on the upper or soutliern half of which there must have been a valuable 
 pinery thirty or forty years ago, before th(( occurrence of the busli-fires whicli have 
 destroyed so much of it. There still remains no inconsiderabh! quantity of white 
 pine. Some trees that T measured were from eight feet to nine feet in circumference, and 
 well-grown, lied pino is also found here, but the trees are fewer in number. The liank- 
 sian pine is common, and grows to a large size. From the ujjper end of Lake Kenoga- 
 missee, however, through Lake Mattagami to the Hudson Pay Company's Post (Matta- 
 wagamingue) red pine predominates, and is the most common timber where bush-iires 
 have not recently passed over tho ground. It is not generally, however, so large as on 
 Kenogamissee Lake, although large enough to be quite merchantable, were it only conveni- 
 ently situated in respect of markets. Tluj soil here is, as stated elsewhere, light and 
 sandy. 
 
 Pursuing our journey southward, about nine miles from the Post brought us to the 
 end of Lake Mattagami. From thence a portage one and a half miles in length led us to 
 a small Lake;, ending at another portage nearly half a mile long. Crossing this we came 
 to a lake nearly four miles in length. Arrived at the southern extremity of this lake, 
 another portage, half a mile in length, had to be made. This portage terminated at a lake 
 six miles across, called Round Lake. From this lake a portage, nearly two miles in 
 length, was again necessary. We tlien found ourselves beside a low, marshy lake, through 
 which and a little creek we worked our way with some difficulty for three-quarters of a 
 mile, to a beaver dam. From this another portage, one mile long, the fifth since we left 
 the post, brought us to the Mattagami River, which we had not seen since we entered 
 Lake Mattagami, sixteen miles below Matawagamingue Post. Our course thus far has 
 been on the whole nearly south. We might have arrived at this same point by ascend- 
 ing the river itself, whicli enters Lake Mattagami some four miles or so south-west of the 
 Company's Post. It is said, however, to be not only much longer but much more diffi- 
 cult. The distance by the route we pursued is, I think, about twenty-six miles. 
 The ascent in this stretch is roughly estimated at 250 feet. The stream, in its course from 
 this point to the lake, must be joined by some one or more large tributaries, as the 
 quantity of water is very small compared with that which flows from Lake Mattagami. 
 
 We now ascended this stream for several liours in a westerly direction. It runs 
 thi-ough a marsh and is very crooked. About seven miles on this course brought us to 
 a ridge of rock and rapids, where another, the sixth portage, was necessary. The rise here 
 is at least thirty, or perhaps forty feet. Still ascending the river, our course was now 
 south-westerly for about six miles, in which distance we made another portage (the seventh). 
 The rise here was about twenty-five feet. We now entered and traversed Lake A-jau-ne- 
 gam-ing, the length of which is about seven miles, and breadth from a quarter of a mile 
 to a mile. The cour.se or bearing of the longer axis is nearly due south. Two short por- 
 tages and a like number of little lakes or ponds, covering in all a little over a mile and a 
 half, running south from the southern extremity of Lake A-jau-ne-gaming, brought us to 
 the tenth or Height of Land Portage, on which is the summit or watershed. Of the two 
 little ponds at either end of this portage, on nearly tho same level and not more than 500 
 yards apart, the waters of the one flow northwards down the Mattagami and Moose 
 Rivers into the far distant Hudson's Bay, and those of the other find their way down the 
 Monabing, Vermilion, and Spanish Rivers, of which this little pond is the fountain head, 
 into Lake Huron. This watershed is, I think, rather higher than that between the head- 
 waters of tiie Missisagua and Ahkuckootish Rivers, being probably 1550 or 1600 feet 
 above the level of the sea, or say about 1000 feet above Lake Huron. 
 
I 
 
 S0 
 
 With tho exception of tho low, Hwainpy and marnhy ground, and thoRO drior ridges 
 that had been overrun hy recent tirps, red and white pine were Been throughout this 
 stretch in considerahh) nunihers. Tiiey were plentiful arul Reeniingly of good nize and 
 quality on the two first lakes and portages passed over after wo left Lake Mattaganii. 
 On tlie next two lakea tliero were comparativf^ly few red or white pine, the shores being 
 low and swampy. On Lake A-jau-ne-gani-ing again there is good pine, particularly to- 
 waril the south end. 1 was told hy the Lidians that on a lake situated a littiti to the 
 east, the pine is very good, and I observed good pine of both varieties in considerable 
 numbers between Ijako A-jau-ne-gam-ii\g ajid the watershed on Height of Tjand. 
 
 In some parts of this country Hanksian piiK! displaces the more valuable red and 
 white pine. The victory in the strtJggle for existence rests here, as (dse where in the ani- 
 mate world, with those species or varieties of trees wliicli, of all conipetitois, jjossess, on 
 the whole, the most perfect adaptation to the cliuiate, soil, and other inexorabh; contlitions 
 of growth. Tho fact that some particular plant or tree occupies exclusively a certain area 
 of country, proves it to be more perfectly adapted to the essential conditions of existence 
 presently prevailing in that part of the country, thuii any other plant or tree with which 
 it is naturally, so to speal:, brought into competition. But it proves no more than that. 
 Re. novo' this tree or plant, and some other tree or plant, the next in tho order of fitness, 
 will take its place, and so on through a long series probably, of trees and plants, all of 
 which are more or less perfectly adapt<'d to tho conditions of existence, but all of which 
 are not equally well adapted. The distribution of plants and animals is far from being a 
 matter of chance, but is the result of laws riMpiiring at least a certain degree of fitness if 
 not perfect adaptation. So delicate and fine is Nature's instrument, the "balance" by 
 which this fitness is weighed and determined, that it may be turned either one way or tho 
 other by the smallest inipuls<>, causes frequently so obscure or minute as to bo almost, if 
 not altogether imperceptible to us. The most trifling difference in the composition, tho 
 wetness, dryness, hardness, softness, coarseness, firmness, or even in the colour of the 
 soil, the presence of some insignificant parasitic plant or insect, the absence or presence 
 of some othcir insect, bird or animal necessary for the* protection of some plants or trees 
 against tho ravages o parasites, or for tho dissemination of their seeds. These and such- 
 like influences determine alike the nature of the forest and its inhabitants. 
 
 From this, I think, the inference is perfectly legitimate that whereas the existence 
 of healthy, well-grown n-d and white pine tre(;s in certain portions of this territory is 
 conclusive evidence of the suitability of the climate, soil, and other conditions within such 
 areas, their absence, elsewhere, is no proof whatever of the absolute unfitness of such 
 other areas of country, possessing a like climate and soil, to grow these valuable trees, 
 but simply, that temporarily at least, the areas in question are a little better adanted to 
 ' the growth of some oth(;r plant or tree, and hence naturally such other plant or tree has 
 taken the place of the pine. But the conditions which constitute the fitness of a territory 
 to grow many kinds of trees, and yet give the supremacy to one, are not unchangeable. 
 On the contrary they can be shown to be constantly, though in many cases slowly changing, 
 and with .such, corresponding changes must take place in our forests. 
 
 But some of the conditions may be suddenly altered, and that to such an extent as en- 
 tirely to change the whole face of tho country for several generations. We will take 
 for instance " fire," one of the most potent of all natural agents in the accomplishment of 
 such sudden changes, and we find that in the territory claimed by Ontario on both sides 
 the Height of Land, thousands of square miles, in times past chiefly, if not entirely 
 covered with splendid forests of pine, have within the present century been over-run by 
 fire. These tires destroyed much, and in some cases all the pine timber, and with it more 
 or less of the soil. I have no doubt that over large areas ev( n the seed perished. As 
 a result of these altered conditions, quick-growing but comparatively short-lived trees, 
 and those whose seeds are capable of being brought from a distance by the wind or by 
 birds, have Vjeen the first to spring up and gain pos.se.ssion of the soil. Thus in passing 
 through this part of the territory we frequently see nothing for miles but aspen, poplar, 
 white birch, alder, willows, and such like, where fine large pine trees once flourished, and 
 will, in my opinion, undoubtedly grow again. 
 
 I have in- the course of former explorations found pine growing at the lower or 
 
DHn drier ridgcR 
 lirnuglioiit this 
 good hIzc nnd 
 iko Mftttaganii. 
 hn HhorcH h»'iiig 
 particularly to- 
 il littln to tlie 
 in considoralde 
 T/and. 
 
 diial)lo rod and 
 horw in the ani- 
 oi'H, jioKSPsa, on 
 ral)l«! conditioMH 
 y a cortain area 
 onH of existence 
 tree with which 
 more than that, 
 order of titneHS, 
 id plaiitH, all of 
 mt all of which 
 far from heing a 
 ;ree of fitness if 
 > "balance" by 
 r one way or the 
 to be almost, if 
 imposition, the 
 
 colour of the 
 mce or presence 
 ( plants or trees 
 Thi'se and such- 
 
 .H. 
 
 as tlio existence 
 this territory is 
 ions within such 
 nfitness of such 
 9 valuable trees, 
 )etter adanted to 
 plant or tree has 
 CSS of a territory 
 »t uncliangeable. 
 slowly changing, 
 
 1 an extent as en- 
 We will take 
 
 complishment of 
 io on both sides 
 r, if not entirely 
 jeen over-run by 
 and with it more 
 fd perished. As 
 short-lived trees, 
 the wind or by 
 Thus in passing 
 )ut aspen, poplar, 
 se flourished, and 
 
 ' at the lower or 
 
 27 
 
 north-weHtern tnd of Lake Abittibi to the east — and at the lower or nartheustern ex- 
 tremity of Brunswick Lake on tiie west. This year it was mtt with both on the Ah-kuc- 
 koo-tish Uivi>r and the MaLtagami Uiver, nearly as far north ; and I feel convinc«'d that in 
 all the territory lying to the south of the forty-ninth parallol nul and white pine will not 
 only grow but grow well. If I am correct in this opinion, the area of the pinn growing 
 region north of thti Height of Laml and oast of the eighty-fourth im-ridian Is not less than 
 twelve thousand squaro miles. Making (ivery allowance, therefore, for the surface covered 
 by lakes, swamps and marshes, such a vast public domain oven for ito forests alone cannot 
 fail to prove of very groat value to our Province. 
 
 North of the forty-ninth parallel, large spruce may be seen scattered along tlie batiks 
 of the rivers all the way nearly to James' I5,iy. But the larger trees are confined to a 
 narrow })elt, and wliile they will bo vaiual)le in the future for local purpo.ses, I do not 
 think they are of much economic importance at present. Owing to the fact that 
 north of the forty-ninth parallel the land, a f<!w hundred yards only from the rivers 
 is generally covered with sphagnum moss and peat, which increases in depth as wo nfci^do 
 from the bank, nine-tenths of the spruce and tamarac are small and utterly 
 worthless for any purpose that I am aware of, unless it might be for coal pit props. 
 
 But thert! are very large (juantities of aspen which, cannot fail I believe to prov," of con- 
 siderable value when the territory is opened up, for the manufacture of paper. On tlie 
 lower part of tlie JNTattaganii f have counttnl as many as thirty aspen trees running 
 from twenty inches to forty-two inches in circumference, with a circle twenty yards 
 in diameter. The aspen is generally found on the best land, and occasionally at- 
 tains a circumference of fifty or oven sixty inches. Cedar and tamarac of a siz(i suitable 
 for railway ties will be afforded in largo (juantitios by the southern part of th(! territory, 
 and should, I think form an item in estimating its future value The balsam 
 attain;, a good size and is found scattered in considerable numbers throughout nearly 
 the whole t( ritory. White birch, or what Dr. Boll more properly ciUls canoe- 
 birch, also grows everywhere on suitable soils, but is not so largo in the northern as in 
 the southern part of t^ci territory. 
 
 Banksian pine, which I have hitherto called pitch or rough-barked pine, grows 
 further north than either white or red pine, and also upon poorer ground. It is found 
 principally in that part of the territory south of the fiftieth parallel, and although a 
 few isolated trees or patches may be met with further north, I think this may be 
 fairly assumed to be its limit in the region lying to to the east of the Missinaibi River. 
 West of i,nv. Missinaibi, the growth not only of Banksian pine, but of red and white 
 pine extends, I have no doubt, considerably further north. When ascending the 
 Albany River a few Banksian pine were seen within one hundred miles of the Factory, at 
 the mouth of the river. But strangely enough not another tree was mot with in the next 
 hundred miles, or until we reached Marten's Falls, latitude 51° 30', after which it was 
 quite common. Southward it extends all the ^y■ay to Lake Huron. It does not generally 
 exceed throe or at most four feet in circuiiiforenco. On an area so extensive, there must be in 
 the aggregate a prodigious quantity of this timber. Although inferior to our hard woods, 
 or even to tamarac, it forms, when dry, a superior fuel to either white or red pine, spruce, 
 balsam or poplar. It is not worth much for any other purpose that I know of, but as it 
 is capable of atrording a largo amount of resin one would think it might become valuable, 
 possibly very valuable, some time or other. 
 
 In descending from the Height of Land to Lake Huron my route led me through 
 unexplored territory lying north of the region which has boon partly or wholly surveyed 
 and divided into timber limits. It may not bo amiss therefore to say a few words in re- 
 ference to the " timber resources" of the Province; south of the Height of Land, as any 
 information however scanty on that subject is of importance, and can hardly fail to bo 
 interestiiiit in view of the largo revenue derived from that source. 
 
 The Height of Land Portage terminated, as already observed, at a little pond not more 
 than one hundred yards across. From this a short portage (the tirst south of the Avatershed) 
 brought us to the north end of a narrow lake, with good white pine on both sides. It proved 
 to be about two miles long. Another portage, about one-third of a mile in length, took us to 
 the small stream which flows from this lake. Following this for some three hundred 
 
"If 
 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 liili 
 
 28 
 
 yards, another portage about a quarter of a mile in length was rendered necessary by beaver 
 dams and other obstructions. Embarkinsr again on the same stream a like direction 
 brought us to a narrow lake two miles in length on a southerly course. Here also tliere is a 
 good sprinkling of white pine. Near the southern e.Ktremity we ascended a shallow tribu- 
 tary for four or five hundred yards, then made a portage to the left about two hundred 
 yards to a small pond or lake. Crossing this, a very small creek led in a short distance to 
 another and still smaller pond surrounded by muskeg and a cranberry marsh. Another 
 portage one hundred and (ifty yards or so in length aow brought us to the upper or nortli end 
 a fine Lirgi lake called Monabing. The route from the Height of Land to this point runs 
 nearly south, and '.he fall is inconsiderable. The higher and drier ridges sujjport, where 
 not burnt, a good growth of Avhite pine. 
 
 Monabing is from twenty-five to thirty miles in length in a north and south direction. 
 Its average width may be two or three miles. Bush tires have destroyed a great deal of 
 valuable timber on both sides of this lake which is as I have mentioned elsewhere the 
 source of the East Branch of .Spanish River. 
 
 Notwithstanding this, there still remains a good quantity of red and white pine on 
 the unburnt land. I measured a numbc^r of trees and found that the red pine ranged 
 from forty to sixty inches and the white pine from forty eight to one hundred and eight 
 incli in circumference. The out-let of this lake i^ at the south-eastern extremity and ia 
 called ^fonabing liiver. It is a very crooked stream but the bends are short and alter- 
 nately east and west of south. This last is the true bearing or course of the valley or 
 trough, and down it the river descends with a strong current and frequent falls and rapids 
 for some thirty miles. It taen enters on a comparatively flat country, the current is 
 more moderate and course very serpjntine for upwards of ten miles, when it opens out 
 into Vermilion Lake. 
 
 The country on both sides of the River Monabing has been covered with a fine growth 
 of pine, and notwithstanding the destructive elFects of bush fires there is still a good deal 
 of valuable timber of both kinds left in this section of the Province, which will be avail- 
 able at no distant day. The country bordering on Vermilion Lak.?, and the river below 
 so far as I followed it, appears to have been completely burnt over and the timber de- 
 stroyed, but as we have now entered surveyed territory further remarks are unnecessary. 
 
 I am not aware that any explorations or surveys have been made for the Provincial 
 Government north of the forty-seventh parallel of latitude, unless it be Messrs. Salter's 
 and Sinclair's line before referred to, and this is near the forty-eighth parallel, and for 
 the most part north of the Height of Land. There is, however, a large tract of 
 country, partly in the District of Algoma and partly in the District of Nipissing, of which 
 comparatively little is known. It is situated between the eightieth and eighty-fourth 
 meridians of longitude and for the most part between the forty -seventh and forty-eiglith 
 parallels of latitude, and embraces probably eight thousand square miles of land. This 
 belt lies adjacent to, and immediately to the south of, that which is the subject of this and 
 previous reports. Having had occasion to cross this country at several points on my 
 voyages to and from the north, I have had a better opportunity perhaps than any other 
 provincial officer of forming an opinion in regard to its value and resources in respect of 
 its timber. To this opinion, whatever it may be worth, the Government is justly en- 
 titled. I may premise what I have to say on the subject with the remark tliat the two 
 factors which chiefly govern the distribution of trees are elinv^te and soil. Now as re- 
 gards the climate of this section of country, there can be noduubt whatever that it is alto- 
 gether favourable to the growth of pine over the whole of the region in question. I have 
 shown in this and previous reports that large white pine from eight to twelve feet in cir- 
 cumference, are to be seen growing north of the Height of Land to the forty-ninth paral- 
 lel, or from seventy to a hundred miles north of any part of the district now under consid- 
 eration. As regards the soil, that too, with trifling exceptions, is, I believe, of a character 
 entirely favourable to the growth of red or white pine. The soil of by far the greater 
 portion of this region, particularly on the ridges, consists for the most part of the sands 
 (frequently more or less argillaceous), gravels and boulders of the drift-period or forma- 
 tion. Often a yellowish or brownish sandy loam, and more or less mixed throughout this, 
 stones and bould' rs of all sizes. In this soil, however stony it njay be, pine obtains 
 
 ^ |l| ^a | mB | i iiii «|^^ 
 
sary by 1)eaver 
 like (lirection 
 also there is a 
 sliallow tribu- 
 : two hundred 
 ort distance to 
 -sli. Another 
 iv or north end 
 ihis point runs 
 upport, where 
 
 out] I direction, 
 great deal of 
 (3lst!where the 
 
 white pine on 
 id pine ranged 
 Ired and eight 
 :tr(Mnity and is 
 hort and alter- 
 : the valley or 
 alls and rapids 
 the current is 
 1 it opens out 
 
 h a fine growth 
 ,ill a good deal 
 
 will be avail- 
 he river below 
 ;he timber de- 
 e unnecessary, 
 the Provincial 
 [ossrs. Salter's 
 .rallel, and for 
 
 large tract of 
 issing, of which 
 . eighty-fourth 
 d forfcy-eiglith 
 of land. This 
 ject of this and 
 points on my 
 lan any other 
 i in respect of 
 ; is justly en- 
 £ that the two 
 Now as re- 
 
 that it is alto- 
 estion. I have 
 
 ve feet in cir- 
 ty-ninth paral- 
 • under consid- 
 of a character 
 ar the greater 
 ■t of the sands 
 riod or forma- 
 iroughout this, 
 , pine obtains 
 
 ^ 
 
 29 
 
 what is primarily and absolutely indispensable to its growth and existence, namely, a firm 
 hold for its roots. Without this the pine, more particularly tlie white pine, cannot pos- 
 sibly arrive at maturity or attain a large size, for the height it reaches to and the surface 
 it exposes to the wind are such that it must otherwise inevitably be blown down and thus 
 perish. I would say, judging from my own experience, that more than three-fourths of 
 all the pine in the Province grows on the not greatly altered soils of the drift or boulder 
 formation, that it is in fact the soil of all others most favourable to the existence of 
 pineries. 
 
 Having thus shown that both soil and climate are well suited to the growth of 
 this valuable tree, I may now add that the timber itself found growing in this district 
 wherever I have been, fully substantiates this opinion. On ridges that have escaped the 
 bush lires I liavo measured many white pine trees in this region which were from six feet 
 to ten feet in circumference, seemingly sound and good, and as many in some places as 
 ten or fifteen such trees per acre. The si^e of the red pine, of which in some sections 
 there are considerable numbers, runs from thirty to fifty inches, altliough sixty inches 
 circumference is by no means uncommon. Even on the burnt land the remains in many 
 instances clearly prove that the original forest, before it was destroyed, consisted largely 
 if not entirely of pine. To estimate the relative proportions of burnt and unburnt land 
 with any approach to accuracy is quite impossible without a thorough examination of tho 
 whole region. I am of opinion, however, that as seen on the routes I have travelled, from 
 one-half to three-fourths of the timber has been burnt within the last fifty years. As ob- 
 served elsewhere, however, I think it exceedingly probable that in those sections which are 
 the most remote from ordinarily travelled routes, (and of which the least is known) will 
 be found a iarger proportion of unburnt land and consequently a greater quantity of pine. 
 But even if this expectation should not bo realizeu, ^he aggregate quantity of pine still re- 
 maining in this extensive territory, embracing as I said before probably eight thousand 
 square miles, is undoubtedly very large, and however scattered or remote, will in view of 
 the opening up of the country by moans of railways, and the increasing demand for pine, 
 prove of great value to the Province. I must not, however, be understood as con- 
 tending that the finest pine, either in respect of size or quality, are now growing or may 
 ever be expected to grow in the extreme northern part of the territory I have described 
 as " the pine growing region." Climate undoubtedly draws the line somewhere, beyond 
 which neitluir red nor white pine can grow, and as we approach this line, whether it be 
 when ascending to greater heights, or in travelling northward, common sense would lead 
 us to expect some falling ofl:' in the size and quality of the trees before they disappeared 
 altogether. Such undoubtedly would bo the case but for another factor, also before re- 
 ferred to, which if not so obvious as soil and climate yet plays a very important part in 
 thi distribution of our forest trees — and that is the competition or rivalry of other trees 
 or plants struggling to obtain possesion of the soil. 
 
 This factor exercises, I believe, a powerful influence in respect of the distribution 
 of p.'ne. Compelled to struggle for the possession of the soil with spruce, bank- 
 sian pine and other trees, no sooner does the vigour of the red and white pine begin to 
 be in tho l(;ast impaired by adverse conditions, such as the increasing coldness of the 
 
 losing 
 
 th 
 
 eir 
 
 climate or some slight change in the soil, than chey are in danger of 
 supremacy, and succumb long before the extreme limit imposed by climate and soil alone 
 is reached. Hence it is, I think, that in the territory north of the Height of Land, we 
 find white pine from six to eight feet and red pine from four to six feet in circumfer- 
 ence, apparently sound and healthy, a 4'ew miles south only of where they disappear alto- 
 gether. 
 
 It is more than probable that although the climate for possibly one hundred miles 
 north of the 49th parallel, and in many places the soil also might have adnntted of the 
 growth of inferior red and white pine, yet at this particular point the loss of vitality and 
 vigour was such us to decide the struggle in favour of spruce, tamarac, bank.sian pine, 
 balsam, aspen, birch, poplar, or other competitors, and by one or other of these the red 
 and white pine have been at once supplanted. 
 
 It is only right to mention in wliat I wish to be a fair report on tho value and re- 
 sources of this territory, that the pine north of the Height of Land, notwithstanding its 
 
30 
 
 i 
 
 ^1 
 
 large size and healthy appearance, shows signs of some such deterioration as is here 
 alluded to. For instance, although the girth of tiie pine at the butt-end, say three or 
 four feet from the ground, is large, the height or stature of the trees is considerably less 
 and the taper as a necessary consequenci! more rapid, than in the well sheltered 
 valleys and ravines soutli of the Height of Land. Again, I think tliere is in the north a 
 greater proportion of the large trees more or less hollow or unsound at the butt-end. 
 And, thirdly, what are called " shakes" are said to be more connnon in the boards orlum- 
 ber manufactured from this pine. I make the last statement on the authority of Mr. 
 E.ae, the ofHcer in- charge of Matawagamingue Post, and it may apply only to the 
 pine timber growing in that section of the country. The other facts have fallen under 
 my own observation. 
 
 Mineral Eesources. 
 
 The explorations of Dr. Bell, Assistant Director of the Geological Survey of Can- 
 ada, and myself, go far to prove that this territory is of very considerable value and 
 importance for its minerals alone. 
 
 In previous reports attention has been called to the deposits of lignite or brown 
 coal, iron ore, kaolin or cliina-clay, and of gypsum or plaster of Paris ; also to the inex- 
 haustible beds of peat in this territory. 
 
 In addition to the above, I have discovered this season both galena or lead ore, 
 and copper, together with abundance of tine yellow and brown ochres. I also succeeded 
 in finding a bed of lignite coal on the Mattagami, or south branch of the Moose River, on 
 which hitherto no coal had been found in place. 
 
 I met with the lead and copper ores on the north-west side of the eastern arm of Lake 
 Matagama,in the vicinity of Flying Post. The quantity of ore in the veins, where exposed, is 
 not such as would justify, in my opinion, expensive mining operations, but sufficient taken 
 in connection with the size and general character of the veins to warrant careful explora- 
 tion, in the reasonable expectation that larger deposits of these useful and valuable metals 
 may l)e discovered. It is said that one of the parties engaged on the survey for the Cana- 
 dian Pacific Kail way, discovered silver ore in the neighborhood of Flying Post. I think 
 it likely, however, that the ore thus found was " lead ore," rather than silver. Galena, the 
 most common ore of lead, almost invariably contains more or less silver, sometimes in 
 quantities barely sufficient to pay for extraction, and at others so rich as to entitle the ore 
 to be classed as " silver-lead." The rock or formation in which these veins occur belongs 
 to the Huronian system. 
 
 The yellow ochre crops out on the eastern bank of the Mattagami River, about a 
 quarter of a mile below the north end of Long Portage, and at the same place may be 
 seen a line white clay, strongly resembling the china-clay already referred to as having 
 been found by me two years ago on the Missinaibi Branch of Moose River. My attention 
 was first drawn to this ochre by the Rev. Mr. Saunders, of Matawagamingue. I after- 
 wards learned that Mr. Rae, the officer in charge of that post, was aware of this deposit 
 also, and that he liad even tried some of it as a paint, and found that it answered for that 
 purpose remarknbly well. Another deposit of yellow-ochre crops out on the west side of 
 the river, about half a mile below the upper end of the Grand Rapid. This is if possible 
 of a still finer quality than that below the Long Portage. Here again this ochre is asso- 
 ciated with the fine white clay before alluded to. Brown ochre occurs abundantly along 
 with the iron ores which are seen in such large quantities at the Grand Rapid. Both 
 t^ese ochres may be valuable as paints. 
 
 The 
 
 lignite or 
 
 brown coal occurs on the west side of the Mattagami River about five 
 
 miles below Long Portage. It is only exposed in the banks for a few yards in length, 
 and the bed was so nearly covered with water when I found it that the thickness could 
 not be ascertained. The quality of the specimens obtained was good considering that they 
 came from the out-crop. If there should prove to be a large quantity of this coal here it 
 can hardly fail to become valuable in connection with the deposits of iron ore at 
 Grand Rapid, only a few miles lower down. 
 
 I have no doubt whatever as soon as this territory is rendered accessible to practical 
 explorers and means of transportation provided, that other interesting and valuable dis- 
 
31 
 
 1 aa is here 
 say three or 
 iderably less 
 cU sheltered 
 , the north a 
 ihe butt-end. 
 oards or lura- 
 )rity of Mr. 
 only to the 
 fallen under 
 
 vey of Can- 
 e value and 
 
 ite or brown 
 to the inex- 
 
 or lead ore, 
 so succeeded 
 3se River, on 
 
 I arm of Lake 
 re exposed, is 
 ffiuient taken 
 eful explora- 
 luible metals 
 or the Cana- 
 )st. I think 
 Galena, the 
 ouietimes in 
 ititle the ore 
 3ccur belongs 
 
 'er, about a 
 place may be 
 o as having 
 My attention 
 le. I after- 
 
 this deposit 
 Bred for that 
 
 west side of 
 is if possible 
 )chre is asso- 
 dantly along 
 ipid. Both 
 
 er about five 
 
 in length, 
 
 ckness could 
 
 iiig that they 
 
 coal here it 
 
 iron ore at 
 
 to practical 
 valuable dis- 
 
 coveries will be made, that mines and smelting works will be established, and that the 
 minerals of the territory will not be the least important of its products. 
 
 Dr. Bel), speaking of the mineral resources of Hudson's Bay, says — Report of Progress 
 for 1879-80, see p. 32; "Minerals may, however, become in the future the greatest of the 
 resources of the shores of Hud.son's Bay. Little direct search has been made, as yet, for 
 the valuable miuei'als of these regions. In 1875 I found a large deposit of rich iron- 
 stone on the Mattagami (see Geological Survey Reports for that year). In 1877 inex- 
 haustible supplies of good manganiferous iron ore were discovered on the islands near the 
 East-main coast, and promising quantities of galena around Richmond Gulf, and also near 
 Little Whale River, where a small amount had previously been known to exist. Traces 
 of gold, silver, molybdenum and copper were also noted on the Eastmain coast. Lignite 
 was met with on the Missinaibi, gypsum on the Moose, and petroleum-bearing limestone 
 on the AbittibiRiver. Small quantities of anthracite, and various ornamental stones and 
 some rare miaerals were collected in the course of our explorations around the bay. Soap- 
 stone is abundant not far from Mosquito Bay on the east side, and iron pyrites between 
 Churchill and Marble Island on the west. Good building stones, clays and limestones 
 exist on both sides of the bay. A cargo of mica is said to have been taken from Chester- 
 field inlet to New York, and valuable deposits of plumbago are reported to occur on the 
 north side of Hudson's strait. Some capitalists have applied to the Government for 
 mining rights in the latter region." 
 
 In my Report for 1880, p. XI, et seq., the importance to the Province of an abundant 
 supply of cheap fuel was discussed at considerable length. It was shown that wood 
 must, necessarily, become scarcer and dearer ; that we are already obliged to import 
 very large quantities of coal, both for domestic use and for manufactures ; that the 
 distance from the coal-mines of Nova Scotia was such as to afford no reasonable prospect 
 of our being able to obtain coals from that quarter at other than exhorbitant prices ; 
 that we were, in fact, dependent upon the United States for our supply of one of the 
 most indispensible necessaries of life. I might have added that in such a climate as 
 ours, dependence on a foreign power for fuel, places us almost entirely at their mercy. 
 
 It was shown, however, that in the so-called disputed territory there is an almost 
 unlimited quantity of fuel, partly in the shape of seams of lignite, or brown coal, but 
 chiefly in the form of great beds of genuine peat. 
 
 I quoted from various authorities, but more particularly from Dr. Sterry Hunt, 
 facts which conclusively prove the importance and value of peat as a fuel, even when it 
 contains as much as forty-five per cent, of water. It was further shown that with cheap 
 transportation by rail or otherwise, charcoal made from compressed peat might be 
 delivered in our cities at prices that would render the inhabitants in a great measure 
 independent of foreign supplies of fuel, at least for domestic purposes. 
 
 In last year's Report, p. 11, I again reverted to this important subject, showing 
 that even at the lowest estimate the heat-giving power of the peat-beds in this territory 
 is so enormous as to be almost incredible, and expressing an opinion, that before another 
 fifty years have elapsed, this bountiful provision of fuel will, by means of electricity or 
 otherwise, be made to contribute in no small measure to the welfare and com'^ort of the 
 people of this Province. Since I thus wrote, some progress has been made in this 
 uirection. Experiments on a large scale are, I believe, being conducted both in Europe 
 and America, the object of which is to substitute electro-magnetic engines for ordinary 
 locomotives on railways. I am not conversant with the details, but as I understand it, 
 the electric fluid is generated or supplied by stationary engines at each end of the line, 
 if short, but at stated intervals if the road is long. The engines that generate the 
 electricity, which in turn propels the train, may themselves be worked by steam or 
 water. These stationary engines too, may be many miles distant, not only from the 
 train and its load, but, if desirable, from the railway itself. All, I believe, that is really 
 essential being, that the electricity thus generated shall be conducted without material 
 loss or waste by means of wires or otherwise, from the stationary engine to the electro- 
 magnetic engine which accompanies the train ; or the electricity may be stored according 
 to M. Faure's metliod, on the point of being patented and introduced into Canada. 
 
 If this system be at all successful, in an economic point of view, with stationary 
 
32 
 
 engines worked by steam, the problem of the utilization of the vast stores of peat and lignite 
 in this territory is, I am persuaded, in a fair way to be solved. The Height of Laud is 
 an extens-ive plateau, and not a sharply defined ridge. This plateau is full of lakes 
 each giving birth to streams of water which, uniting, §oon become rivers. Some of these 
 ^ow to the north and others to the south. This plateau is from a thousand to twelve 
 hundred feet above the level of the sea; and from five to seven hundred feet above 
 Lake Huron. Hence the rivers for many miles on both sides the Height of Land 
 offer a succession of rapids and falls. These afford water powers, the equal of which 
 cannot, in my opinion, be found on this continent, if in any other part of the world. 
 The lakes by which the streams and rivers are fed constitute, in fact, great natural 
 reservoirs, by means of which a constant and steady supply of water, at all seaso)is, can 
 be easily ensured. It is obvious, therefore, that if this method of propelling or drawing 
 trains should prove successful, the jnotive power necessary to transport fuel from the 
 north to our very doors would cost literally nothing but the machinery required to 
 apply it to that purpose. Such a reduction in the cost of transportation as this pre- 
 supposes, would probably enable us to obtain abundant and cheap fuel for generations to 
 come from our own territory. 
 
 Eve idinitting that such a consummation of our hopes is only a possihUity, yet 
 in a mat of such vital importance the Province should relinquish no claim, much less 
 give up its right to this disputed territory. 
 
 Other Resources. 
 
 When the territory is opened up, other resources will no doubt be found well worthy 
 of the attention of our people. Some of these, such as the porpoise, seal and salmon fish- 
 eries, might be said to be more properly resources of Hudson's Bay itself, than of the 
 territory claimed by us. This is quite true,^ but it is not less true, that if the Province 
 of Ontario embraces (as under the award of the arbitrators it does embrace) a consider- 
 able frontage on the coast, our people will participate directly and to a much greater ex- 
 tent in the benefits and advantages of the trade, commerce and resources generally, of 
 this great inland sea than they can possibly expect to do if deprived of that frontage and 
 the frontier arbitrarily fixed some hundred miles or more distant from the coast. Hence 
 our Province has a very material interest in the resources of Hudson's Bay. 
 
 As my own explorations have been necessarily confined almost entirely to our own 
 territory, the following quotation from Dr. Bell's report before referred to, will be more 
 to the point than anything I might be able to state from hearsay. 
 
 In Report of Progress for 1879-80, pp C. 31 and 32, Dr. Bell says, "The resources of 
 Hudson's Bay and the country immediately around it are varied and numerous, although, 
 as yet, few of them are at all developed. The fur trade is the principal and best known 
 business which has hitherto been carried on in these regions ; but a considerable amount 
 of oil, derived from the larger whales, the porpoises, walruses, white bears, and various 
 species of seals which frequent the northern part of the bay, has been carried to New 
 England, and small quantities, principally of porpoise and seal oil, have from time to time 
 been taken to London by the Hudson Bay Company. The trade in oil might be greatly 
 extended in these quarters. Other articles have been exported from the bay, but hitherto 
 only in trifling quantities. They embrace whalebone, feathers, quills, castorine, lead ore, 
 sawn lumber, ivory, tallow, isinglass, and skins of seals and porpoises. The fisheries, 
 properly speaking, of Hudson's Bay, have not been investigated. Both the Indians and 
 Eskimo find a variety of fish for their own use, and fine .salmon abound in the rivers of 
 Hudson's Strait. From one or two of them a considerable number of barrels, in a salted 
 condition, are exported every year by the Hudson's Bay Company. Water-fowl are very 
 numerous on both sides of the bay, and larger game oii the barren grounds in the north- 
 ern parts ; so that the natives, with prudence, may always have a plentiful supply of 
 food. But perhaps the most important of the undeveloped resources of the country 
 around the bay are its soil, timber, and minerals. To the south and south-west of Jamea' 
 Bay, in the latitude of Devonshire and Cornwall, there is a large tract in which much of 
 the land is good, and the climate sufficiently favourable for the successful prosecution of 
 stock and dairy farming. A strip of country along the east side of James' Bay may also 
 
 'I i 
 
it and lignite 
 lit of Land is 
 full of lakes 
 !ome of these 
 nd to twelve 
 id feet above 
 ('lit of Land 
 ual of which 
 if the world, 
 great natural 
 { seasons, can 
 g or drawing 
 uel from the 
 required to 
 a as this pre- 
 ;enerations to 
 
 ossibility, yet 
 im, much less 
 
 i well worthy 
 d salmon fish- 
 f, than of the 
 : the Province 
 ;e) a consider- 
 ch greater ex- 
 generally, of 
 frontage and 
 oast. Hence 
 
 y to our own 
 will be more 
 
 e resources of 
 
 3US, although, 
 
 d best known 
 
 rable amount 
 
 and various 
 
 rried to New 
 
 time to time 
 
 ;ht be greatly 
 
 but hitherto 
 
 rine, lead ore, 
 
 The tisheries, 
 
 Lidians and 
 
 the rivers of 
 
 s, in a salted 
 
 fowl are very 
 
 in the north- 
 
 ful supply of 
 
 the country 
 
 st of James' 
 
 hich much of 
 
 )rosecution of 
 
 Bay may also 
 
 33 
 
 prove available for these purposes. To the south-west of the wide part of the bay, the 
 country is well wooded, and, altogether little or no rock comes to the surface over an im- 
 mense ai-ea, still neither the soil nor the climate are suitable for carrying on agriculture 
 as a principal occupation until we have passed over more than half the distance to lake 
 Winnipeg. This region, however, appears to offer no engineering difficulties to the con- 
 struction of a railway from the sea-coast to the better country beyond, and this, at pre- 
 sent, is the most important point in regard to it. Some of the timber found in the coun- 
 try that sends its waters into James' Bay may prove to be of value for export. Among 
 the kinds which it produces may be mentioned white, red and pitch pine, black and white 
 spruce, balsam, larch, white cedar and white birch. The numerous rivers which converge 
 towards the head of James' Bay offer facilities for " driving" timber to points at which it 
 may be shipped by sea-going vessels." 
 
 Development and Settlement. 
 
 The efforts made to bring immigrants into the country from any quarter of the 
 globe, without the least discrimination in regard to race, moral fitness, or otherwise, is, 1 
 fear, a mistaken policy ; but one, the result of which may not become immediately ap- 
 parent. 
 
 As regards this territory, the settlers must be in my humble opinion, chiefly Canadian 
 and American, or at all eveats old-country men, who have served an apprenticeship in 
 Canada or the United States. Men who know Avhat the resources of a country are, and 
 how to take advantage of them. Inexperienced immigrants from Europe will not 
 succeed. 
 
 It may bo said, and very truly said, that native Canadians or Americans will not 
 settle in this territory, at least in any considerable numbers, nor immediately ; in fact so 
 long as they can obtain better land and a finer climate elsewhere. If not, we have only 
 to wait a while, and they will go by and by without much begging. In the meantime, 
 settlement is impossible until the territory is accessible either from the north or the south. 
 
 As is well known the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company have conducted their fur- 
 trade in this territory for two hundred years by means of the ocean, and the Hudson's 
 Bay, their ships making annual voyages from London to York Factory and Moose Fac- 
 tory, and returning again the same season. The importance of this ocean route, to and 
 from Europe was pointed out in my first report, p. 41, 42, to which I may refer : A great 
 deal of discussion has taken place both before and since on the subject, and some two years 
 ago Dr. Bell, of the Geological Survey, made the voyage from York Factory, through Hud- 
 son's Straits to London, England, in order to be able to form an opinion on the feasibility 
 of this route, not only for the traffic which the territory immediately bordering on the 
 bay itself may afford, but for the produce of the North-west. Dr. Bell treats this sub- 
 ject very fully and with his usual ability in the report already referred to. The estab 
 lishment of a line or lines of steamers to Europe, whether from York Factory or Churchill, 
 could not fail greatly to encourage settlement and promote the development of all the re- 
 sources of the country bordering on Hudson's and James' Bays, and I therefore feel 
 quite justified in quoting at length from this interesting report, in which on p. 32, C. 
 et seq., Dr. Bell says : " Situated in the heart of North America, and possessing a sea-port 
 in the very centre of the continent, one thousand five hundred miles nearer than Quebec 
 to the fertile lands of the North-West Territories, Hudson's Bay now begins to possess a 
 new interest, not only to Canadians, but also to the people of Great Britain, from the fact 
 that the future highway between the great North-West of the Dominion and Europe may 
 pass through it. The possibility of this route being adopted for trade is not a new idea. 
 It has been frequently suggested by far-seeing men in past years, and occasionally referred 
 to in newspapers. In 1848 the then Lieutenant M. H. Synge, in his work on Canada, 
 wrote : ' A ship annually arrives at Fort York for the service of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, who can tell how many may eventually do sol' The journal of the Statistical 
 Society of London, for March, 1864, contains a paper by H. Y. Hind, on 'The Com- 
 mercial Progress and Resources of Central British America,' in which the writer says : 
 ' It is more than probable that whenever the necessity arises, the communication between 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 Winnipeg and Hudson's Bay, and thence to the Atlantic, by the aid of steamers, will be 
 made easy and speedy for at least three months in the year.' In 1876, Mr. Selwyn 
 brought the subject officially before the members of the Canadian Government, and re- 
 commended that surveys be made of Hudson's Bay and Strait. In 1878, Colonel Dennis 
 published a pamphlet, accompanied by a valuable map, in relation to it. 
 
 "The report of the Minister of the Interior, for 1878, contains an appendix by the 
 writer on the practicability of building a railway from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson's Bay. 
 During the session of 1878-79, and again the following year the Honourable Thomas Ryan, 
 a gentleman of great enterprise, brought the matter under the notice of the Dominion 
 Senate. 
 
 " In 1880 the Parliament of Canada granted charters to two companies for construct- 
 ing railways and otherwise opening a route for conmierce from the North-West Territories 
 to Europe, via Hudson's Bay, and during the past year one of them, the Nelson Valley 
 (Company, caused a survey to be made of a part of the distance between Lake Winnipeg 
 and the Harbour of Churchill." Their chief engineer has reported the route as far as he 
 located the line, to be an easy and inexpensive one for a railway. The directors of the 
 company have again sent an engineering party to the field to carry on the survey during 
 the present year (1881). This company has also the power of connecting with the Can- 
 ada Pacific Railway in the Saskatchewan region, but the main line is intended to form a 
 connecting link between the great system of inland navigation, which centres in Lake 
 Winnipeg and the sea. If constructed, the Nelson Valley Railway may carry to the sea- 
 board, not -.Ay the surplus grain and cattle of our own North- West, but also that of 
 Minnesota and Dakota. Lieutenant-General Sir J. H. Lefroy, President of the Geo- 
 graphical Section of the British Association, in hie; address at the Swansea meeting (1880) 
 said : ' Hudson's Bay itself cannot fail, at no distant day, to challenge more attention. 
 Dr. Bell reports that the land is rising at the rate of five to ten feet in a century, that is,, 
 possibly an inch a year. Not, however, on this account will the hydographer notice it ; 
 but because the natural seaports of that vast interior, now thrown open to settlement, 
 Keewatin, Manitoba, and other provinces unborn, must be sought there. York Fac- 
 tory, which is nearer Liverpool than New York, has been happily called by Professor H. 
 Y. Hind, the Archangel of the West. The mouth of the Churchill, however, although 
 somewhat further north, offers far superior natural advantages, and may more fitly chal- 
 lenge the title. It will undoubtedly be the future shipping port for the agricultural pro- 
 ducts of the vast North-West Territory, and the route by which immigrants will enter the 
 country.' Sir Henry Lefroy, beini: personally well acquainted with Hudson's Bay and 
 the North- West Territories, may be accepted as good authority on the subject. It has 
 been shown that the Canadian North-West Territories, embracing hundreds of millions of 
 acres of fine land, are destined to become the greatest wheat field in the world. The 
 centre of this immense agricultural region probably lies to the north of the Saskatchewan. 
 If we look at the map of the northern hemisphere, we shall see at a glance that the 
 shortest route between these territories and England, is through Hudson's Bay. Mr. Lind- 
 say Russell, the Surveyor-General, has recently made a close calculation of relative dis- 
 tances, and finds that even the city of Winnipeg, which is situated in the extreme south- 
 eastern part of these territories, is at least eight hundred miles nearer to Liverpool by 
 the Hudson's Bay route than by the St. Lawrence ; while the difference in favour of the 
 former will be increased continually as we advance northward into the interior. 
 
 " If we take a central point of the whole of the agricultural lands of our North-West 
 Territories, say in the neighbourhood of Lac la Biche, longitude 112° W., latitude 55° N., 
 we shall find that the distance from it to the city of Winnipeg is about the same as to 
 Churchill, on the Hudson's Bay. The distance from the latter to Liverpool is about the 
 same as from Montrea' to this port ; so that between the above-named centre and Liver- 
 pool, by the Hudson's Bay route, the whole distance from Winnipeg to Montreal is saved. 
 This amounts to one thousand two hundred and ninety-one miles by way of Lake Superior, 
 and one thousand six hundred and ninety-eight miles by the Chicago route. The distance 
 by way of New York is still greater than by Montreal. The advantages of this route 
 over all others are numerous, and a few of them may be here referred to. The great 
 savinjf' in distance represents an important economy in time and money, or in freights and 
 
36 
 
 amers, will be 
 5, Mr. Selwyn 
 iment, and re- 
 ;)olonel Dennis 
 
 )pendix by the 
 
 Hudson's Bay. 
 
 Thomas Ryan, 
 
 the Dominion 
 
 i for construct- 
 lesi Territories 
 Nelson Valley 
 jake Winnipeg 
 ,te as far as he 
 irectors of the 
 survey during 
 
 with the Can- 
 ided to form a 
 sntres in Lake 
 Try to the sea- 
 ut also that of 
 nt of the Geo- 
 meeting (1880) 
 nore attention, 
 entury, that is,. 
 i,pher notice it ; 
 
 to settlement, 
 re. York Fac- 
 )y Professor H. 
 fever, although 
 more fitly chal- 
 gricultural pro- 
 s will enter the 
 Json'a Bay and 
 ibject. It has 
 s of millions of 
 lie world. The 
 I Saskatchewan, 
 glance that the 
 ay. Mr. Lind- 
 of relative dis- 
 
 extreme south- 
 to Liverpool by 
 I favour of the 
 ;erior. 
 
 )ur North-West 
 latitude 55° N., 
 the same as to 
 ool is about the 
 ntre and Liver- 
 mtreal is saved. 
 
 Lake Superior, 
 
 The distance 
 
 fes of this route 
 
 to. The great 
 
 in freights and 
 
 passenger rates. If the grain, cattle and other products of the North- West Territories 
 could reach a European market only through Ontario and Quebec, or by way of New 
 York, a large proportion of their value would necessarily be consumed by the long land 
 carriage ; whereas, if they can find an outlet at Churchill or York Factory, there will be 
 a saving of at least one thousand two hundred and ninty-one miles as compared with 
 Montreal, and upwards of one thousand seven hundred miles as compared with New York, 
 and this without increasing the length of the voyage. In eflTect, this will place a great 
 proportion of the farms of our North- West Territories in as good a position with regard to 
 sea-port as are those of Ontario west of Toronto, and consequently will greatly increase 
 the value of every description of farm produce, and therefore of the farms themselves. 
 Some kinds of produce which could not be sent out of the country at all by the longer 
 land routes may be profitably exported by the shorter one. Owing to the short land 
 journey, grain from the Saskatchewan and Peace River regions could be exported by way 
 of Hudson's Bay the same year in which it is harvested, which could scarcely be hoped 
 for if sent by way of one of the longer routes. For the transportation of both grain 
 and fresh meat, as Colonel Dennis has pointed out, the northern route, besides the short- 
 ening of the distance, would have great advantages over all tho.se to the south, owing to 
 its cooler and more uniform temperature. Heavy or bulky, goods of all kinds would of 
 course be imported into the North- West Territory by the shortest land route. In regard 
 to the export or import of live stock, this independent route will possess a great import- 
 ance to these territories. 
 
 " Hitherto cattle, horses, hogs and sheep, have there enjoyed an immunity from almost 
 all forms of contagious diseases, and owing to the very healthy nature of the climate for 
 these animals, it is hoped this state of things will continue. The domestic animals in the 
 United States and older Canadian Provinces being occasionally afflicted with contagious 
 diseases, it becomes necessary for European countries to impose restrictions on their impor- 
 tation.. In the event of an epidemic of this nature existing insome part of these regions, 
 but not in the North- West Territories, there would be no objection to exporting live stock 
 from the latter by way of Hudson's Bay. As a route for emigrants from Europe, that by 
 Hudson's Bay possesses not only the advantages of the short land journey, but the still 
 more important one, to us, of entirely avoiding the United States and the populous parts 
 of Canada, in both of which, it is well known, a very serious per centage of the immi- 
 grants destined for our North-West lands are every year enticed away to settle in the 
 great republic. An inlet by Hudson's Bay is the only thoroughly independent channel 
 which can ever be established betNs een Great Britain and the great and valuable British 
 territories in the interior of North America ; and it is very desirable, on national grounds, 
 that this route should be opened up. Troops have hitherto been sent to the Red River 
 settlement, on more than one occasion, by way of Hudson's Bay, while the intervening 
 country was, as it is yet, in a state of nature. Were a short railway built through this 
 tract, it would at once become for military purposes an easy connecting link with the 
 mother country. An impression has long prevailed that Hudson's Bay and Strait 
 could not be navigated for the ordinary purposes of commerce, on account of ice, but 
 this idea is perhaps destined to prove chimerical. The occasion for testing the point had 
 not hitherto arisen, and the fact that these waters have been successfully navigated by or- 
 dinary sailing vessels for nearly two hundred years, in order to secure the little trade the 
 country has hitherto afforded, indicates what may be expected from properly equipped 
 steamships, as soon as the larger business of the future may require their services in this 
 direction. The conditions of the sea-borne commerce of the North-West in relation to 
 Hudson's Bay may, after all, turn out to be somewhat similar to those of the east of Can- 
 ada with reference to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In both cases everything must be done 
 during the summer. Yet, Hudson's Bay is, of course, open all the year round. A sea 
 of such vast extent in the latitude of the British Islands would not be expected to freeze 
 across, and as a matter of fact it does not. The lower St. Lawrence (notwithstanding 
 its comparative narrowness) is also partly open, even in the middle of winter. But the 
 difficulty in both cases is the apparent impossibility of getting into harbours. A harbour 
 such as that of the Churchill on Hudson's Bay, would have the advantage over Quebec 
 or Montreal of connecting directly with the open sea, and hence in the autumn vessels 
 
86 
 
 would not be liable to be frozen in, as occasionally happens in the St. Lawrence, as for 
 example in the autumn just passed, also in the autumn of 1870, when the outward bound 
 shipping got frozen in below Quebec, occasioning a loss, it was said, of over a million of 
 dollars. Again, in the spring there might be no more uncertainty about entering from 
 the sea than in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where vexatious delays are not uncommon 
 after the open season is supposed to have arrived. Some discussion has taken place in 
 the newspapers as to the length of time during which Hudson's Strait and Bay might be 
 navigated each year, but there does not seem to be much evidence that the strait is en- 
 tirely closed at any season, and the bay is always open. The great width and depth of 
 the strait, and the strength of its tides, probably keep it open all winter. My own ex- 
 perience and that of many others leads me to believe that the climate generally of Hud- 
 son's Bay is much better than is popularly supposed. From all that I could learn or 
 observe, there appears reason to believe that the strait and bay may be navigated and 
 the land approached by steamships during an average of over four months in each year, or 
 from the middle of June till near the end of October. The strait and bay might perhaps 
 be navigated by steam vessels earlier than the middle of June, but nothing would be 
 gained, except perhaps by whalers, in going out before an open harbour could be reached. 
 Much has been recorded in favour of the above opinion, from the days of the Danish 
 Captain, John Monck, who wintered in Churchill two hundred and sixty -one years ago 
 (1619-20), to the present time, and a good deal of unrecorded evidence which I have col- 
 lected leads me to the same conclusion. Churchill Harbour does not freeze up until No- 
 vember, and the sea is open close to it during the whole winter. A record of the princi- 
 pal phenomena of the seasons at Martin's Falls, on the Albany, extending through a 
 period of fifty years, shows that the river there is open on an average for fully six months 
 of the year. In the Appendix will be found a record of the opening and closing of 
 Haye's River, at York Factory for fifty-two years, which proves it to have an annual aver- 
 age of six months' open water. The Nelson is open for a longer period, which may amount 
 to an average of seven months, but no exact record has been kept in regard to this stream. 
 The tidal portion is said never to set fast, but in winter more or less ice drifts up and 
 down with nearly every tide, the channel out to sea being clear only after the prevalence 
 of strong winds off the land. During the winter of 1880-81 the river did not freeze 
 across at all for some forty miles above tide water. In view of such facts as the fore- 
 going, the navigation of Hudson's Bay and the approach to land of steamships need not 
 be despaired off, as far as the length of season is concerned. Even were the time of open 
 navigation shorter than it is known to be, the very great benefits which Canada generally, 
 and the North-West Territories in particular, would derive from possessing an outlet in 
 that direction are sufficient to make it well worth an effort to open it up. The freedom 
 of Hudson's Strait and Bay from rocks, shoals and other impediments to navigation will 
 exempt vessels in that (juarter of the globe from the heavy expenses for pilots, light- 
 houses, etc., which burden shipping to many other American ports. The delays from 
 drifting ice in the strait which have heretofore occurred to sailing ships, especially of the 
 old-fashioned type, cannot be fairly cited at all, as to what may be expected to be ac- 
 complished by well appointed steam vessels. Both shores of Hudson's Strait are dry and 
 bold, and if observatory stations were placed upon some of the more elevated points on 
 either side they would command a complete view of its entire surface. By means of sig- 
 nals or telegraphic communication between these stations in case of the existence of 
 drifting ice, vessels could be directed what course to follow in order to pass through it at 
 the easiest part, or to avoid it altogether. It is evident that in proportion as the cost of 
 transporting farm produce to a foreign market is diminished its home value is correspond- 
 ingly increased, and with it the value of the land itself, in about the sam'e ratio. Now, 
 considering the vast extent of the farming lands, to be favourably affected by the open- 
 ing of the route above referred to, if the value of each acre of it were enhanced in this 
 way by only seventy or eighty cents, the aggregate increase would amount to more than 
 a hundred million of dollars. Such a gain as this, together with the great advantages 
 which, as we have seen, may be derived from the opening of this new ocean route, should 
 it prove feasible, will, I think, sufficiently show the importance of at least giving it due 
 consideration. I am indebted to William Armit, Esq., the obliging Secretary of the 
 
87 
 
 irence, as for 
 atward bound 
 r a million of 
 entering from 
 ot uncommon 
 :aken place in 
 Bay might be 
 le strait is en- 
 and depth of 
 My own ex- 
 rally of Hud- 
 ;ould learn or 
 navigated and 
 each year, or 
 night perhaps 
 ing would be 
 id be reached. 
 )f the Danish 
 one years ago 
 ch I have col- 
 i up until No- 
 of the princi- 
 ing through a 
 ly six months 
 md closing of 
 n annual aver- 
 1 may amount 
 
 this stream, 
 drifts up and 
 ;he prevalence 
 lid not freeze 
 ;s as the fore- 
 ihips need not 
 ! time of open 
 ada generally, 
 r an outlet in 
 
 The freedom 
 avigation will 
 • pilots, light- 
 3 delays from 
 jecially of the 
 cted to be ac- 
 it are dry and 
 ,ted points on 
 means of sig- 
 
 1 existence of 
 through it at 
 as the cost of 
 is correspond- 
 ratio. Now, 
 I by the open- 
 anced in this 
 
 to more than 
 it advantages 
 
 route, should 
 giving it due 
 jretary of the 
 
 Hudson's Bay Company, in London, for the list in the Appendix showing the dates of the 
 arrivals of the Company's ships at Moose Factory, and of their departure from that point, 
 and to Mr. Chief Factor Fortescue, for the similar list in reference to York Factory. 
 They show that very few interruptions have occurred in making the regular annual 
 voyages to these ports during periods of one hundred and forty-seven and ninety-three 
 years respectively." 
 
 Although the establishment of a line or lines of steamships to ply between England 
 and Churchill or York Factory, will, if successful, do a great deal towards the develop- 
 ment of the resources of Hudson's Bay and of the territory on or near the coast, 
 the central and southern portion of the territory claimed by us can only be opened up, 
 and its resources fully developed by railways. The period during which the Moose and 
 Albany Rivers can be navigated is so short, and the navigating itself so bad, that heavy 
 goods could not be sent inland to any point south of the long portages on the Moose, or 
 Martin's Falls on the Albany, but at a very heavy cost for freight. During the greater 
 part of the summer these rivers are too shallow to be navigable by anything but canoes 
 or flat-bottomed boats of very light draft. 
 
 As regards the probability of the territory becoming accessible by railway, I may 
 say, that it was thought to be at one time all but decided that the Canadian Pacific Rail- 
 way was to cross the Height of Land on a course about north-nortwest from Lake Nipis- 
 sing, and pass through the southern part of this territory at no great distance from Ma- 
 tawagamingue, Flying Post and New Brunswick, so frequently mentioned in this and 
 former reports. "This route is laid down on the railway maps, and called "Route No. 2, 
 Report 1874." Last year it was stated that all idea of thus locating the route for the 
 railway had been abandoned, and that it would be carried along the north shore of Lake 
 Superior and south of the Height of Land, whatever the cost might be. This spring 
 it was said that the route along the north shore of Lake Superior had been found to be 
 all but impracticable, and engineers were sent up the Mississagua River, almost, if not 
 quite, to the Height of Land, to find a route that way, the object being, as I suppose, 
 to make the line from Lake Nipissing to Algoma Mills a part of the main line, instead of 
 only a branch as originally contemplated. The engineers, I was told, were again disa- 
 pointed in this route also. Finally, when I returned from the north I learned that a 
 party had ascended the Wahnapit«,e River, as I presume to find a feasible route for the 
 main trunk line, over the Height of Land, with the intention, most likely, of reaching 
 and afterwards following " Route No. 2 — Report 1874 " above referred to — a route which 
 has been, I believe, improved by the subsequent explorations of Messrs. Gamsby, Ram- 
 say, Poulin and other Canadian Pacific Railway engineers and explorers. 
 
 I am of opinion, that if advantage be taken of the glacial troughs or channels (al- 
 ready alluded to) the Height of Land may be crossed at several points without very 
 much difficulty. But in order to do this, the line must, I conceive, run with and not across 
 these ice-formed troughs or channels, until it fairly emerges on the other (north) side, 
 where at or about the junction of Laurentian and Huronicn groups of rock, I believe it 
 will be then possible to run the line westward without any such engineering diflJoulties 
 as are met with on the south side of the watershed. The ice channels at or about the 
 meridian of the source of Monabing and possibly of the Wahnapitae River also, run nearly 
 north and south. I am inclined to think that to the westward of this meridian (81° 30') 
 the bearing of these troughs inclines more and more towards south-west and north-east, 
 and on the other hand, or eastward, become more and more south-east and north-west. 
 The idea does not appear to have occurred to the engineei's or explorers of the Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, that it might be very much better to follow two sides of the triangle, 
 in order to surmount a serious difficulty of this nature, than rigidly adhere to the 
 shorter and more direct hypothenuse, which from the physical and geological character 
 of the country presented most formidable engineering difficulties ; or, if it did occur to 
 them they were often, I suspect, too much hampered and bound by written instructions, to 
 venture to make so great a deflection as was in this case necessary. The advantages how- 
 ever of lighter work, easier grades and a better route would far more than compensate 
 both the Syndicate and the public for any increase in the length of the railway thus entailed. 
 Not the least of these advantages would be, that by following this route the railway will 
 
38 
 
 'I 
 
 be tho meatiH of developing the reHOurces of this immense territory, the traffic of which will 
 greatly exceed that which tho north shore of Lake Superior is likely to afford. If the 
 line however should be located south of the Height of Land, or as a " a lake shore line," 
 the settlement of this territory will be delayed indefinitely. Ultimately, however, there 
 is hardly a doubt that some other company will undertake to make a railway on this 
 northern route, the effect of which must be to intercept and carry off from tho Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, not only the whole traffic of this territory, but of the Hudson's Bay 
 itself, while to tho south it would have formidable competition for the lake shore traffic, 
 most of which would, in all probability, fall to the share of the steamboats plying on Lake 
 Superior. With such a competing line of railway to the north and Lake Superior to the 
 south, I fail to see what local traffic the Canadian Pacific could possibly obtain from its 
 Lake Superior section, either now or in the far distant future. My own opinion is that 
 in the interest of all concerned, the main-line of the Canadian Pacific Railway should be 
 located to the north of the Height of Land, pass north of Lake Nepigon and join the 
 Thunder Bay branch somewhere between Tache and Wabegoon stations. Ultimately, as 
 population in the North-West increased, a branch wpuld probably be made from the north 
 end of Lake Nepigon to the north end of Lake Winnipeg, and crossing the Nelson River, 
 might be continued up the North Saskatchewan, nor end, possibly, until it reached Peace 
 River. 
 
 The Dominion would then have a back-bone, which appears to me absolutely indis- 
 pensable, if we ever aspire to be an independent nation, or even if we wish to remain as 
 we are. As such a back-bone, however, for defensive purposes, a railway running along 
 the shores of Lakes Huron and Superior, and thereafter for the greater part of its length, 
 in close proximity to the international boundary, is utterly and completely u-seless should 
 our independence be at any time threatened from the south, the only quarter from which 
 it is ever likely to be threatened at all. 
 
 A glance at the map must convince any man of common sense that communication 
 between our capital, Ottawa, and our North Western Provinces, might be interrupted 
 with the greatest ease at many exposed and indefensible points on the projected 
 route of our great national railway. This too, should be borne in mind, namely, that 
 this railway affords the only communication we are likely to have for many years, 
 with Manitoba, Keewatin, and even British Columbia. If in locating the route of this 
 railway, so essential to the maintenance of our confederation if not also of our independence, 
 such considerations as national defence, or, in plain terms, military considerations, are enti- 
 tled to no weight whatever, I cannot understand what possible plea or justification there can 
 be for the heavy expenditure incurred in the support of militia, volunteers, military col- 
 leges and such like, or indeed for making the Lake Superior section of the road at all. With 
 running powers sufficiently guaranteed over American lines of railway south and west of 
 Lake Superior to the boundary of Manitoba, all that would be needed for many years 
 to carry on the united trade, travel and traffic between Montreal and Toronto on the one 
 hand and Manitoba and the North West on the other, is simply the extension of the 
 Nipissing and Algoma branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway, from Algoma Mills, its 
 present terminus, to Sault Ste. Marie, and a line from Bracebridge to connect with the 
 Canadian Pacific Railway at or about Spanish River. 
 
 If, however, other objects than those of mere trade and commerce imperatively de- 
 mand consideration and attention, then it is abundantly evident that the main trunk line 
 of the railway should pass over the Height of Land before it reaches Lake Huron, and 
 follow some such route as I have indicated. Then a great step will have been taken toward 
 the speedy development and settlement of the territory which forms the more immediate 
 subject of this report, and its importance and value to the Province of Ontario will 
 be greatly enhanced. Until this vital question is decided and our claim to the territory 
 definitely settled, it is unnecessary to deal further with this branch of the subject. 
 
 In conclusion under this head, I may observe, that before my explorations in this 
 territory, 1 fully believed that it would be better, if not obsolutely necessary, to locate 
 the main-trunk line of the Canadian Pacific Railway south of the Height of Land and 
 as near to the north shores of Lakes Huron and Superior as possible ; but a more impar- 
 tial consideration of the question, and fuller knowledge of the facts, convince me that 
 
 1 
 
so 
 
 f which will 
 ord. If the 
 shore line," 
 wover, there 
 Iway on this 
 10 (Janadian 
 udHon'fl Bay 
 Hhore traffic, 
 ing on Lake 
 pcirior to the 
 tain from its 
 inion iathat 
 xy should be 
 uid join the 
 timately, as 
 )ni the north 
 elson River, 
 iached Peace 
 
 Intely indis- 
 bo remain as 
 inning along 
 of its length, 
 leless should 
 • from which 
 
 nraunication 
 interrupted 
 le projected 
 lamely, that 
 many years, 
 route of this 
 idependence, 
 ons, are enti- 
 on there can 
 military col- 
 atall. With 
 and west of 
 many years 
 3 on the one 
 ision of the 
 na Mills, its 
 ect with the 
 
 eratively de- 
 n trunk line 
 Huron, and 
 aken toward 
 e immediate 
 Ontario will 
 the territory 
 ject. 
 
 tions in this 
 ry, to locate 
 3f Land and 
 more impar- 
 ince me that 
 
 Mr. Bandford Fleming, ex-Chief Engineer, was quite right in projecting the line of the 
 railway north of the Height of Land. 
 
 Social Condition. 
 
 In the first report which I had the honour to submit on this territory, the social condi- 
 tion of the natives was described at considerable length. With trifling and unimportant 
 exceptions, the views and opinions then expressed have been conrirmed by subsoqu'-nt 
 observation and experience. It is uniiocessary, therefore, to go over the same ground 
 again. 
 
 The population actually resident or domiciled in the territory claimed by Ontario, 
 north of the Height of Land, cannot be very accurately ascertained, for reasons that 
 need not be explained at length. I am of opinion, however, that the bona-tide popula- 
 tion does no exceed two thousand five bundled. 
 
 This is a very small number of inhabitants for a territory, the area of which is equal to 
 that of England and Wales. It is even to be feared that thj native population, small as it 
 is, will be further reduced when it has passed through the ordeal that inevitably awaits it 
 when brought into more general intercourse and contact with our race. In addition to 
 those who will fall victims to the intemperate use of alcoholic liquors, several of the 
 diseases, such as small-pox — against which we take special precautions — and others, 
 such as measles — which we easily get over — are very fatal to the Indians ; the mortality 
 in the case of measles being almost as great as in small-pox. Last fall and winter 
 measles carried off a very heavy per centage of the natives at Long Lake and Missin- 
 aibi Posts, both in this territory ; but fortunatrJy it did not reach the posts on the 
 coast of Janios' Bay. 
 
 Notwithstanding the smallness of the population, the food question is still by far the 
 most important to the natives of this territory. Like all those who depend solely on 
 hunting or fishing for their living, it is either "a burst or a starve ;" too often the latter. 
 In most countries it is over- population that leads to a deficiency of food and consequent 
 famine. In this territory it arises rather from the great scarcity during the long winter 
 months of those wild animals and birds which are capable of withstanding the cold, and of 
 themselves obtaining food at that season. Among animals, the deer, bear, beaver, musk- 
 rat, and rabbit are those on which the Indian chiefly relies for food. Of these, the 
 rabbit, musk-rat, and beaver, are, in this territory, by far the most important. When 
 rabbits are plentiful the Indians do not suffer for want of food, although the flesh of 
 the rabbit is not very nutritious. But this animal, really a variety of " hare," is subject 
 to epidemics or diseases, which periodically destroy them almost entirely ; and after 
 one of these plagues has passed over the country they are so scarce that every 
 creature that is dependent, either wholly or in any considerable degree, on them for 
 subsistence, suffers accordingly. Thus not only the Indian, but the lynx, fox, fisher, 
 etc., among animals, and the owl among birds, suffer more or less from starvation and 
 hunger, when the rabbit fails or becomes scarce. Rabbits have, unfortunately, been 
 very scarce for several years, and a number of deaths from starvation have occurred 
 among the Indians near the coast. Many more have barely escaped with their lives, and 
 the suffering has no doubt been general and great. 
 
 At such seasons I believe the population would almost perish bodily, but for the 
 beaver. This interesting animal is of greater value than any other to the native popula- 
 tion of this territory. The meat is wholesome and good ; and a full grown beaver, weigh- 
 ing say forty pounds, affords, after deducting offal, skin, and bones, as much probably as 
 twenty-five pounds of actual food, besides the fur, the value of which often exceeds that 
 of all the other furs trapped by the hunter added together. If sufiicient numbers were 
 left as a breeding stock, there is food enough in this territory for millions of beaver, 
 but so little regard is paid to this vitally important point, that were it not for the extra- 
 ordinary sagacity of the creature, it must long ere this have been almost exterminated. 
 One of the officers of the Company told me that in the neighbourhood of his post there is 
 a small lake or pond, the privilege of trapping in which he had acquired from the Indians, 
 and, with a certain area of the country around, reserved for himself. In this pond lived 
 

 I 
 
 40 
 
 a fiingle pair of old beavor, which once a year gave hirth to four young ones. For four 
 years he liacl trapped the four young >)eavcr, and the fifth year ho had caught three, making 
 in all nineteen beaver in five yeara from one pair. This was a remarkably good return, 
 especially when we consider thatthoy are entirely self-supporting, both summer and winter. 
 But what I wish to remark more particularly in this connection is, that this gent'eman 
 frankly admitted ho had been trying the whole time (five years) to catch the old beaver, 
 but in vain ; for up to that period their extraordinary sagacity had enabled them to 
 elude the traps to which their inexperienced offspring had regularly fallen victims. 
 
 It is not that in the whole territory the quantity of game, in the aggregate, is 
 insufficient to maintain the wretchedly small number of inhabitants ; but that game is so 
 scarce that the hunter, let him cover as much ground as his strength will enable him 
 to do, cannot obtain sufficient day by day, during the winter season, to keep himself and 
 family alive. Neither deer nor boar are at all numerous. Some few caribou and moose- 
 deer are killed in the central and southern part of the territory ; but they are very 
 scarce I think in the flat Muskeg region, near the coast. They are much more abundant 
 on the Eastmain coast, and throughout the whole of the Labrador peninsula. The 
 moose-deer is only met with on or near the Height of Land. 
 
 Of winged game ptarmigan and grouse, often called partridges, are the only kind 
 which remain in the country during the winter. Sometimes the i)tarmigan or white 
 grouse come from the north in considerable numbers, and when they do so are a God- 
 send to the natives ; but they are by no means a reliable source of food. The variety of 
 grouse most frequently met with, is what we call the " spruce partridge ;" although the 
 rufled grouse or common partridge of southern Ontario is frequently seen in the southern 
 and central region. Both these varieties breed in the territory. 
 
 Wild fowl are obtainable in considerable numbers in the spring and fall, especially 
 on or near the coast, but leave for the south before winter sets in. Pigeons, unaccount- 
 ably to me, are very scarce in the territory. Nor are small birds of any kind at all 
 numerous, excepting on the coast and islands in the Bay. 
 
 The fish in the fre.sh water lakes and rivers are neither so plentiful or good as south 
 of the Height of Land. In some few places a small kind of sturgeon is caught, and is 
 good of its kind. Pike, however, and suckers are I should say the mo.st important as a 
 food supply ; the former, indeed, under the name of jackfish, being in many places all 
 the natives can get during the winter. Some of the lakes contain whitefish and lake- 
 trout ; the pickerel or dore is also caught in some of the rivers. These with a few speckled 
 trout, and in some places a variety of chub, are the principal kinds of fish in the interior 
 of the country. In the estuaries of the large rivers and in Hudson Bay itself, there are 
 other species ; these, however, have been fully described by Dr. Bell. 
 
 On the whole the food supply is precarious and uncertain ; and seasons of plenty 
 bear, I fear, but a small proportion to those of scarcity if not actual dearth. 
 
 It was stated in my first report on this territory, that the only hope I entertained 
 of relief from this unhappy condition of the natives was in the opening up of the country. 
 1 am still of that opinion ; and this is one reason why I am anxious to see the Cana- 
 dian Pacific Railway located as far north as the interests of our Province and the Do- 
 minion will permit. Even admitting that the natives may not nominally receive a 
 greater money value for their furs than is now paid by the Honourable Hudson Bay Company, 
 all the necessaries of life would cost the Company very much less than they now do, in 
 consequence of the cheapness of transport by rail compared with what it is by canoes. 
 Thus at inland posts, such as Matawagamingue and Flying Post, they could give the 
 Indians twice as much flour, oatmeal, pork, lard, sugar, and such like, for their furs as they 
 can possibly aflPord to do at present. Some of these Indian families (every member of 
 which frequently traps and hunts) catch from two to three hundred dollars worth of furs 
 in the season, and might live really very comfortably if the price of the necessaries of life 
 were only moderate. I am satisfied too, that as soon as the country is opened up a very 
 little encouragement will induce the natives to turn their attention to the cultivation of 
 the soil and the keeping of cattle. 
 
 The Indians with their families generally gather at the Posts soon after the ice leaves 
 the rivers, bringing the furs they have succeeded in getting during the winter. Most 
 
■ .iajuiii;. ^'iPiriiH')' istaai^'iLZ- ■. 
 
 41 
 
 3. For four 
 ireo, making 
 jooil return, 
 
 and winter. 
 3 gont'eman 
 I old beaver, 
 led tliem to 
 itims. 
 
 ggregate, is 
 t game is so 
 
 enable him 
 himself and 
 
 and moose- 
 ey are very 
 •e abundant 
 nsula. The 
 
 e only kind 
 m or white 
 i are a God- 
 e variety of 
 Ithough the 
 he southern 
 
 , especially 
 unaccount- 
 kind at all 
 
 )d 
 
 ight. 
 
 as south 
 and is 
 )ortant as a 
 y places all 
 and lake- 
 !w speckled 
 the interior 
 f, there are 
 
 I of plenty 
 
 entertained 
 lie country. 
 3 the Cana- 
 id the Do- 
 receive a 
 Y Company, 
 low do, in 
 by canoes. 
 Id give the 
 'urs as they 
 member of 
 »rth of furs 
 iries of life 
 1 up a very 
 tivation of 
 
 > ice leaves 
 ber. Most 
 
 of the adle-bodied men are employed from one to three months during the summer, 
 taking the furs to Moose or Albany factories, and bringing back the supplies needed 
 at their own posts. Those voyages or trips are usually made in canoes or boats. Some- 
 times this brigade, as it is called, consists of forty or fifty men. The brigade is accom- 
 I)ani(d by one or more officers and the white servants, usually Orknoymen, at thr posts. 
 The white servants and the natives work together, eat together, an I associate together, 
 on equal terms. Even the officers often takn part in the conversation, and describe or 
 explain to the Indians in their own language, matters which they would otherwise know 
 nothing at all about. This association on their voyages and at the posts, continued 
 year after year for several generations has, in my opinion, had a very important influence 
 on the Indians as a means of education. The discipline, the steady labour, the necessity 
 of working together for the attainment of a common object, are all calculated to teach 
 them valuable lessons. They are, too, more or less keenly alive to the approbation or disap- 
 probation of '^ ' "leers and fellow voyagers — a powerful incentive to good, and equally 
 strong restrawi^ .^m evil. Thus there is little or no shirking of a fair share of the 
 labour, whether it bo hauling, poling, paddling, or carrying on the portages ; but all seem 
 to work together cheerfully, bearing heat or cold, rain or storm, and the incessant attacks 
 of flies, with patience and fortitude. Either chis or some other influence makes them 
 generally honest, wonderfully forbearing towards each other in word and act, anything 
 like quarelling being very uncommon. Watching, as I have sometimes done, when several 
 of them were eating out of the same dish, I hardly ever noticed anything which appeared 
 like greediness. On the whole they seem to be actuated by a feeling of fairplay which 
 has not unfrequently excited my admiration. These lessous must have been learnt chiefly 
 I think in the canoe and on the voyage ; for at the inland posts to which I particularly 
 refer, missionaries have had little opportunity nf inculcating the principles of Christian, 
 luoraiity. I think they are intelligent and teachable, and have formed a high opinion not 
 only of the progre.ss already made towards civilization, but of their capacity for further 
 improvement; and I sincerely hope and trust that before long the opportunity may be 
 aflbrded them of materially improving their condition. 
 
 Administkation of Justice. 
 
 Situated as we are in reference to this territory, our Claim and the Award of the 
 Arbitrators unacknowledged, without houses to live in, or a court to meet in ; with 
 neither constable or gaoler, or anyone in the territory that would be willing, probably, to 
 act in either capacity ; without a gaol or a lockup, and without the commonest means 
 of travel, by which criminals could be safely sent four hundred miles to the nearest 
 prison, I may say that I have looked forward, with a feeling of some uneasiness to the 
 time when it might be absolutely necessary, cost what it may, in the performance of my 
 duty, to commit some one to gaol. 
 
 The quiet and inoffensive character of the people on the one hand, and the great in 
 fluence and control which the officers of the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company possess, on 
 the other, enabling them as it stil' does to settle many little differences without appealing 
 to the law ; together with the fact that the serious crimes which have occurred have been 
 committed in territory out of my jurisdiction, have fortunately relieved me so far from 
 this unpleasant necessity. 
 
 Even when our claim to the territory is acknowledged, and when every other 
 arrangement is completed, it is certain that until the people have been in some measure 
 educated to it, that the administration of justice must still be imperfect, owing to a 
 reluctance on the part of the natives to lay informations, make complaints, or give evidence, 
 even when they know of crimes which have been committed, or have been actually wronged 
 or ill-treated themselves. 
 
 In the interests of good order and justice, however, I am persuaded that thio 
 unsettled and unsatisfactory state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue any longer. 
 
 I have now examined, and in this and previous reports have described as fully and 
 fairly as I am able, that part of the so-called " disputed territory " lying on the north. 
 sid9 of the Height of Land. These reports show : 
 

 48 
 
 
 That the climate is remarkably healthy, the cold in winter being not quite as severe 
 as in most partb of the North-west, and the mean summer temperature sufficiently high to 
 bring to maturity, in two-thirds at least of the territory, all the more important grain 
 and root crops, if not flax, hemp, hops, and other crops of a j-ke nature which are as 
 yet untried. 
 
 These reports also show, that although a very large proportion indeed of the surface 
 is covered with lakes, marshes, swamps, and particularly with " muskegs" or peat-mosses, 
 there still remains a great quantity of land in this territory fit for settlement. 
 
 The soil is seen to present considerable diversity of character, varying in composi- 
 tion from stiff clay to light sandy loam ; the former occurs mortj commonly near the coast 
 and the latter on or near the Height of Land. The subsoil is found to consist in nearly 
 every section of the territory of the marls, boulder clays, gravels and sands of the 
 boulder or drift formation. That the underlying rock is fossiliferous limestone in the 
 lower or northern part, Huronian and Laurentian in the central part, and Laurentian 
 only on the Height of Land, excepting near our eastern boundary where rocks of 
 Huronian age are found in situ on the Height of Land itself. 
 
 That the peat-mosses repose on a gently sloping subsoil of clay at such a height 
 above the rivers as to admit of very easy drainage, and that in consequence of this and 
 other exceptionally favourable conditions, it is highly probable very large areas of these 
 muskegs or peat-mosses may be reclaimed at a very moderate expense and converted into 
 fine pasture, if not into good arable land. That while there is quite sufficient arable 
 land to grow bi-ead-stuffs for the consumption of a considerable population, it is doubtful 
 whether or not this will be a grain exporting territory. 
 
 This will depend in a great measure on the success which may attend the attempts to 
 reclaim the land now buried under a greater or less depth of peat. The writer believes 
 that these attempts will be successful, and that in respect of these areas (and they are of 
 vast extent), where the covering of peat is not more than five or six feet in thickness, the 
 reclamation of such land is not only practicable, but that the resulting soil, composed as 
 it would be of an admixture of peat-ashes and peat, with the underlying marl, could 
 hardly fail to be a fine wheat-growing soil. Nor are other hopeful conditions wanting, for 
 (in addition to the fact that the climate of this great basin of Hudson's Bay has in all 
 probability been slowly improving ever since the culminating point of the Glacial Epoch, 
 anci will in all likelihood continue to do so for many centuries to come) we know that 
 the drainage of great tracts of country exercises a remarkably favourable influence on 
 the climate, both as regards temperature and otherwise. Thus it is to say the least quite 
 possible, that an intelligent, industrious, and energetic people, aided by all the resources 
 that science, machinery, and wealth can furnish, and protected by wise and just laws, in 
 the possession and enjoyment of the fruits of their labour, such a people as we trust our 
 descendants will be, may yet reclaim and convert this almost unknown and despised ter- 
 ritory into one of the finest wheat-growing regions on this continent. 
 
 In the meantime, however, it appears to me that a mixed .system of husbandry will 
 be the most suitable to the earlier condition of the country, and that stock-raising and 
 dairy-farming will probably be the most profitable branches. 
 
 As the breeding of cattle in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, to be after- 
 wards sold and fattened in the south for the English market has long been found profit- 
 able both to the breeders in the north and to the feeders in the south ; so likewise 
 may we anticipate that the breeding of cattle in this territory, to be afterwards fattened 
 in southern Ontario, will be extensively followed, with great advantage to the people of 
 both sections of our province. 
 
 My explorations also enable me to say with confidence that the mineral resources 
 of this territory promise to become of ry great value and importance. Iron, lea J 
 and copper ores, china-clay, gypsum, and . yellow and brown ochres have been already 
 found, and this for the most part in great abundance. Lignita or brown coal has been 
 discovered in seven or eight different places, and beds of this coarse but useful fuel are 
 believed to underlie large tracts of country. 
 
 The peat-beds are sd extensive as to be practically inexhaustible, and these together 
 with the lignite will in all probability prove sooner or later of inestimable value as fuel, 
 
43 
 
 ito as severe 
 ntly high to 
 jrtanfc grain 
 hich are as 
 
 the surface 
 peat-mosses, 
 t. 
 
 in composi- 
 ear the coast 
 ist in nearly 
 lands of the 
 stone in the 
 
 Laurentian 
 re rocks of 
 
 Lch a height 
 of this and 
 •eas of these 
 inverted into 
 Lcient arable 
 t is doubtful 
 
 3 attempts to 
 iter believes 
 i they are of 
 hickness, the 
 composed as 
 marl, could 
 wanting, for 
 ay has in all 
 acial Epoch, 
 e know that 
 influence on 
 le least quite 
 he resources 
 just laws, in 
 we trust our 
 despised ter- 
 
 sbandry will 
 :-raising and 
 
 to be after- 
 found profit- 
 so likewise 
 irds fattened 
 the people of 
 
 rendering the people of Ontario to a considerable extent independent of foreign sources 
 for their supply of this indispensable necessary of life. 
 
 In the course of my explorations particular attention has been paid to the " timber 
 resources " of this territory, and observations on this important subject will be found to 
 occupy a prominent place in my reports. The general conclusions arrived at are : — 
 
 That east of the 84th meridian of longitude the climate not only admits, but is 
 favourable to the growth of red and white pine of large size and good quality in this 
 territory as fur north as the 49th parallb! of latitude. 
 
 That situated between the Height of Land and the 49th parallel, and between the 
 84th meridian and our eastern boundary, or say between the Missinaibi and Abittibi 
 Rivers is a region embracing some six or seven million acres of this territory within 
 which much of the soil is also more or less perfectly adapted to the growth of pine. 
 
 That, although bush-fires have within the last fifty years swept over the greater part 
 of this region, the charred remains in many instances afford ample testimony to the fact 
 that the former forests were composed largely of pine ; and that the ridges and islands 
 which have escaped these modern fires still bear considerable numbers of fine red and 
 white pine. 
 
 That irrespective altogether of the value of the pine now on the ground, the pro- 
 spective value of the timber which seven million acres of good forest land may be 
 capable of producing by the unaided efforts of Nature alone, should be fairly taken into 
 account, for if not to ourselves such a forest, more than royal in its dimensions, will 
 surely prove a valuable legacy to posterity. 
 
 It will have been seen by those who have perused the narrative of my journey ings 
 and explorations, that spruce, tamarac, canoe-birch, and aspen-poplar are found all over 
 the territory. The spruce and tamarac frequently attain a good size and may come to be 
 valuable for export. The aspen is rapidly assuming importance as affording material 
 (pulp) well suited for the manufacture of some kinds of paper. It may well be that 
 before long the aggregate value of these inferior kinds of timber of which there are such 
 vast quantities, may greatly exceed that of the rad and white pine, the growth of which 
 is confined, as will have been seen, to narrower limits. The willow is found in every part 
 of this territory growing luxuriantly. Whether the variety so useful for basket making 
 could be successfully cultivated remains to be seen, but in my opinion it would succeed 
 admirably on the river bottoms. 
 
 In conclusion, I have again to acknowledge tlie many obligations I am under for 
 assistance rendered, and numerous acts of kindness shown by James L. Cotter, Esq., 
 W. K. Broughton, Esq., and Dr. Haydon, at Moose Factory ; Mr. Ray at Matawaga- 
 niingue, and Mr. Thomas Moore at Flying Post; also by M. Matheson, Esq., in charge 
 of the Hon. Hudson Bay Company's Post at Lacloche, as well as by Mr. Ross of White- 
 fish Lake, and Mr. Dyke of Mississagua. But for the friendly disposition of the Hon. 
 Hudson Bay Company and its officers, and the assistance they have afforded me, I could 
 not have made the explorations which form the subject of this and previous reports. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 E. B. BORRON, 
 
 Stipendiary Magistrate. 
 
 iral resources 
 Iron, leaJ 
 been already 
 !oal has been 
 seful fuel are 
 
 hese together 
 rvalue as fuel,