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Pariiamcnt, and Which a„pJ„;r.„.T'r''™' '''""« "«' """ S«*" °* however, ta view of .he ex" ,„ t h ° ''°'"""'""°- ^'■° ""''«««"ed, contWhute toward, the .pe:^^:,::™, Of Z "'Ti " '"""'' '*'^'»' "-'" aaid evidence reprinted iL, firmor™ , '''° ""'"'"-'•.'>»« l-I the 0-; - .0 .,ect the eonZ::: Z-Lt tt: Zal -« "^^'^ '" .Haier::r;'HXnrc'c:::rd r .^"""°- >''-• ^-- «- -> eontrib„tedbyhimi„™pp„,,^f,r;"'°'' ''^ '^""'"» "' ">e United State,, i. inowledge being „h.„i„,j „, .^^^ ^„.^^, ^^I^^'y^"^ '"'veloped upon a more thorough .-pecting the prohable fctihility „ L ™ "'■'"'^ "' "^' ^'-"f"-'™- "'"^ l.o».e>„«val„efromthepe,.o„al„xperie„ Of h"rr""°" "T""^' ""' "''''"' of-.ehve,e.r„. Moo. -to^ ,itna;tl:r,;:X";re:tr Job Brotl,er,,ACU. prominent n,ercll„t;^•,^L;T"' '^'■■'" "■"■" *'«»™- to enquiry on the .uLt in whicl^t It ' ^"f""""'""". "•■'itten in reply ofthe practicability of aVi^aTi T, t l'™, '''"T' *'° "■"' ""^ """ "" O™" t!.on.onth»ofJ„„e^Jui;X'"«t f ;'°"""^"'''' P'^P" ■""'"'°" <"»•'»« ""«, Jui>, August, September and October. An inspection of the acoompanyin- man nfth. n • • .0 illustrate the subject under co'nsideraC'h tlr:;"' '^"''''^ "--^P""^ should the same be found fea.ihl„ „ ■ ^ """'' ■■" """""""ioation, "1. the valley of the Well Z ' T"""" ." '"'"^'' '" "' "' "P'''"""" ^'-'y Albert Settlement on th sir; "'" '""^ "^ """"' °" """l « ^""oe -rt a time as they c^ :tr:TC:„ tTt.r f t " ^°" '^ °' "" ■mvel either through Montroal or New V„rk ^ '•""'' ''^ ""> P™"°"' 'i""' of 'i TliiH fact is of great importance, and it is further claimed tluit this northern route would (or climatic reasons, posscHB special advantages for the transmission of grains and meat. The undersigned thinks the pubject of sufficient moment to justify the Govern- ment in taking steps to test the length of the season, and the character of the navigation in Hudson's Bay and Straits ; and respectfully urges on the Minister the expediency of despatching, during the ensuing spring, a steamer properly equipped and commanded, with that view. So far as the valley of the Nelson River is concerned, the exploration thereof which it is understood has been effected by Professor Bell, of the Geological Survey, during the past season, whoso repoi't on the subject will be eagerly looked for, will probably have determinfed ittt general adaptibility for railway construction. The important questions to be determined are : 1. What period of the season — between what dates — may the Straits and Bay be regarded as open for vessels ? 2. Supposing a properly constructed and found fleet of vessels — what is the character of the risk which would be involved in the navigation during such period ? Should there prove to be even a four months' navigation on this route, and espe- cially should such period extend sufficiently into the fall (o permit of moving to market the preceding harvest, it would be difficult indeed to take an over sanguine view of the future of the magnificent territories now lying dormant in the North West, the property of the Dominion. Such a discovery would prove to be of the greatest valuo in connection with the construction of the Pacitic Eailway, inasmuch as it would afford an unbounded stimulus to the settlement on Free Grant lands in the North- West, and thus lead to speedy and satisfactory sales of the alternate blocks proposed by the Act to be set apart to aid in the construction of the work. A scheme suggested by Professor Hind on the subject of colonizing the North- Wost from the redundant papulation of the mother country, by joint action on the part, respectively, of the Dominion and the Savings Banks in Great Britain and Ireland under Imperial control, will be found with the papers. As the subject appertains to another Department, the undersigned expresses no opinion thereon, but ventures, respectfully, to submit the Professors scheme, which will bo found replete with valuable and interesting statistical information, for the consideration of the Honorable the Miiiister of Agriculture and Immigration. J. S. DENNIS, Surveyor General. Department of the Interior, Dominion Lands Office, 11th November, 1878. NAyj(iAT10N 01. IIUDSOVS BAY. n r ^'^'"^ -fEf .SON, April 1'7th Ift'ra Professor Henby Your F FTi ' ... . a.«io„ „y th« a,.,i,.„„;„, . jjrri'XioS w'ir.s-.ii'.r ?:> '," °°— ■ Ll.nin.r(h„,,,,,,,.'ril".^->^'''' ^V"''« quite ovorcomo l.u , ^ ''"'f''^'=^'"'' ^«'- more than 8ix m^.oN in '""'"'"«»« ^'"mmunicalion vviU tliua bringing Lalce Wiripe^ wi hin ' ^' T'' ""-' l'^''''^J?e3 the jo, ?nov nu.r. ""«f^o.n«b!e to sup. ^"^io\v(>dis such ih-itltZ,\n^V .^ niavbo made in fom- d,,,-. steamers it may be SlotM»f.^ ''r''''e^ vessels is i^afe for ,V ,1; ^^ 'l*-" •^"'*''^ "jcing emnlovci winch are now pursued. Under nnvrin^^.^* '^' communication with u7.. «p . k^ "'^'''*'''' '' " '^ York Factory by F ayes R7ver ?s Xt"?? ' '" ^^<^^on'a Bay Connmnv to P^!,f?. '"':'''"' ""^ ^^''"^ '"^ ^'^'^on banks of Nelson lliveiaris^'-;„''f'^''.'^ '" ''r^''^ difficulties and daniers of L ^"', ^^'^'"'' ^'^ ^^^ to t.de-waterin Nelson River m;fvv, ""1'^°^!"^ masses of ice on the^?necin f, IT""'!'*^ "''""'''l "" "ic the great and ancientX.Tsian'aorthernT'/^"^"'^'''"*' "'« Archange ofCont'tl ,^?-''?- , '*'''« ''^ad cf ParaUel in Hudson's Bay!" ♦ "''"'" l*'*'''-'*' one time the sole outlet oAK S'em^^j^^^^^ "^'^ « f £ TT- t Societ;s^|iJrrai:'Lr';rS^^ '^°^-- -^ K-ources of Central British America statistical " Windsor, N.S., 22ntl Mnrdi, 18TR. « DFMiCohoNKr, Dennis,— Your very intorcHtini,' Inttor of tho 18th iiist., in just received, aii.l I l.aslon to reply to the ,,iiquiry us to wlualior I Imvo any infonnation to communicato, <,'atl.oi-ca on tlio Labrador coast or ols.'vvlu«ro, as to tho lufi Uioh tin- otfoctinycomn.urcial communication with t!>c North- West Tcrntono.s /m IhulHons °'^'" Ti>o Hubjoot is ono to which I advortod in a paper road.May, 1804, or U years auc bolbro the Statistical Society in London, a copy of which I now send. You nviII find tho reference at page 101. I still consider that York factory will become tho Archaniicl of the West.' , , . , i " Durin" tho past thrco years my views on tho subject have undor.i^ono a m-o.^ressive change all tendi'n.i,' towards contirmiiifr tho opinion of the a(loi)tion iltimately of tho Hudson's IJuy route as a groat commercia highway between Central British America and Kurope. Tho facts which have led to this decided opinion are briefly as follows : — r ■ . i " 1st Tho general and successful employment of largo steamei-H proporl} constructed for ice-encounter, by the Newfoundland, British and Norwegian sealers Tho safety of these vessels, and tho experience acciuirod in the management ot a steamer iii ico-cncumborod seas. , ■ i . ,><• n,,, " 2nd Tho present cheapness and easy management, on board a steamer, ol the magnetoeicctric light, for use on such steamers, and for tcmp.)rary powerful light- ^""u Si.a^^Tho allof'cd discovery, on high authoi-ity, of lignite coal over wide areas from Cape Walsingham to Frobisher Bay, just north of Hudson's Straits, as woll as on the West Greonland Coast. ... , , ,• /• " 4th. The bettor knowledge now possessed ot the proper mode and time lor navigating Davis' Straits in approaching HudsonVStrails. , „ ,., '' 5tli The great tishing resources of Davis' Straits in and towards hrobisher '^^'" 6th. The sources of tho ice drift on tho L;vbraboi' coast, its course in Hudson's Straits, and tho mode of avoiding it in summer and autumn, or crossing it whore it is narrowest. . . pit i en •* i " 7th From all I have gathered respecting the navigation of Hudson Straits and its approaches from the cast, there appears to bo no (litliculty in navigating thorn from July to October with a sealinii steamer, especially if provided with a magneto- oloctriclightfor use in September and October. " When we consider that Yoric Factory is actually nearer to Liverpool than New Y'ork it surely becomes a question of the greatest moment to deter- mine how 'far existing information would warrant minute enquiry into this very important subject. As tho result of a prolonged but desultory study of the question, 1 have no doiibt that continuous and safe navigation 'oy steamers, constructed as sealing steamers are, can bo carried on botsveen Port Nelson and J.ivorpool for at least fV)ur months in the year-that is, from Livorp,);,! to Liverpool agam, loaviiii.' three months, or perhaps a little more, for Huds.m's Hay. 'Such a navigation would, in otfoct, bring a thyusund miles of sea coast lino, now included in OnlaiMO and Kccwaydin, into direct water communication with the ouler world and dcveloi. new iiueresls for tho North-West, apart from tho outlet ii would aftbrd'to its grain. Tho lignite coal on the west side of Davis' Straits is ol .rapu.- tance in this connection. . . , . .i n i "I enclose a tracing of a map prepared some timo since, showing the allegcil position of some of tho coal bods, and tho two routes to Liverpool. " it is needless to say that tho jiropcr :'.m])lifictitioii of tho points advanced in: preceding paragraphs would occupy consi.le: able timo 1 have msu-kcd in pencil B'lek'sdrifc in JI M S "Terror," imbedded in ice, from Cape Comfort, Soutnampton ]slan i, past Nottingham Island, and into Hu Ison^s Straits, from tho 1st September 1H3(J, toJiily 1711,, I8;J7 foii(loii>o'i^T^.::::."!^s^Zyt^:[Z'z:^^, ot liible '' Y'ims very sincoroly, (Signed) JIKNHV y. jund.' ilson Slraits iuul ivvinw the allegcil Colonel IJenm.s, Survoyor-Genontl Oltinvii. cxlonJiiife- from llio J{„cl„. Monnlain- ,m l,n I" , V"" '.,"" '''""" "' l«ko Wi.,iiip(,,r, "■I'laio miles. ' "' '■"'""'"g " ilramage luoa of nboiil 300,000 i» N^'S'^; i: :;7,ri';:i^ :;t!;°::f ri;:Ts tlonUe llmt of Iho „o,(l, a„,| ,,„,„|, bram'hl, of ?|,M "T ' .'""■^'"S " ''"•ly of walor Quebec if f,om Toronto ' """""'"K '""> liundrml millions of arros in aim, a» Aine.eatoIWtNelson o,'olhe?nort,i„ h lon.°B°'' """,""">' f'"™ ''^'"■»P« "'>' th- Xor,Kv:S-r^;;--l-i--^^^^^^^ -ween the (1-) A nn!'Vn:^?fKms" iS„f 'i^.^- '"^ "Dobba Ga.lor' aud-Oalifo fiia,' in the j-ears I7tO and Tlio fi)ll()\vin^ abstract roviows in Miu'coHHinn tlic loniUntf pointH in tliis oiujiiiry, niiinoly ; — I. 'i'lic! ^'oography <>{' IIuiImoii'm Htmils. II. The cliiirat'tui' lit' llio iiuvi^'iitioii in I[ii(l-ion's Straits. ill. Till' i'.'o in llirl .!>!i's Slrails ami liuy, ami oa tin; Liica lor. IV, Ni'Ihoii liivor. V. I'orl .N\'lM)n a> an olijoflivo |»i)iiit. VI. Tlio natural inarino rosoun'c.s ol" IIikIhou's SLmltH and IJiiy. Vlf. Manitolmand llio Norlh-VVo.st. HUDSON'S STRAITS AND BAY 'J'MK (lEoOHAl'IlY (IK HUDSON S STRAITS. |{ (i. Will you givo tlio ronnuitloc a general di'scription ol" tlio goo/^'raphy el ]Iud^on'^^ StiaitH, and oltlie olihlructidii.s wlii.di ice in ^tatod to oll'ci' loit.s navigation? A. T III' nidi-t it'(ont Adniiialty niii]Mit Iliid.-onV Stiaits i'.\l:il its a want of full in- lorniation ri't;aiiiing llie l•()a^t line- on Imtli sides ot llie Sliaits. T. j remark made by liiout. Oliappeil in IHl-J, that the soutliern shore li:w never been oxploivd, is Iruo at the prosoiil day. This ollicer states that "all this coast, as well as the noi'tbeni shore, is fringed with islands; the jirineipal of whi(di are King (icorge, Prince of Wales, Maiden Pass and Maninls Islands; and they doulitliss atl'onl shelter to manj' tine harbours." (1.) The latest ehaits still show a disconnceted coast lino hero I there for three hundred miles, and the fringe of islands, noticed by (Jbappell, i.i Mill llieerassei-ts, that the "J Cosamond eon- uol recorded on any pulilishcd chart. This o voying the lludsmi's |>;iy Co. ships, in 1814, waspiloli'il through lludson's Straits by tbomeansofa i)rivato chart supplied by the chief maioof the "Prince of Wales," one of the ships undiM- convoy. Xo copy of this chart could bo oblaino 1, and Cha])poll found it impossible to itrocuro access to valuable googra])hical information in the possession ol the otlicer of tbo II. B. Co's ship. Hut it is to bo observed that ho expresses the ojdnion that the chief motive for this concealment was of a personul character, and did not emanate from any disposition on tho part of the Company to withhold information. The knowledge obtained by exporience, and, in somo inslancos, probably conve^'od for a consideration from one to another, by the oflicor.s in charge of the Company's shijis, was tho means by which they preserved lucrative situations, arid was, naturally, jealously guarded. Captain Sherlini Oshoni, U.N., brought under the notice of tho Koyal Geographical Society of London, in lS(i3, a curious instance of the valuable information n Davis Straits and B;itlin's B:\yand tlio Northorn d l)v th )f wh;ik ])OSS0SSC(l Seas generally, lie was assured ny one or iiiose wiriiing captains, inai everyone of the .socallofl Sounds in a certain part of Davis Slr;ii!s and IJaflln's Ha)-, were B lys, not Sounds. Upon being asked why he did not ni:iko the truth known, his answer was " my knowledge is money." ('J.) An Admiralty chart of 1S.)3, corrected np to Docombcr 1872, retains all tho errors connected with the inrtn incognita of (Jueen Elizabeth and tho so-callod Fro!)is^pr Strait, now know to be a Bay. Tho chart published in 1875 has not expunged the meta m'O'jnita, but It has transforms I Frobislior Strait into a Bay. (1.) N in-ative of ii voyage to Hudson's Bay ia II.M.S. " Rosamond," by Liout. Ed. Chappell. R.N., London, 1817. (2.) Proceedings of the Royal Geograpfiical Society, April 13th,1863. '1 (liiw onqiiiiy, 10 f^oography el )i1s iKivigution ? . Willi), (if full iii- I'oniark niatlo by lort'd, is Iriio at IS llio noi'thciMi or^'o, Priiico of KliiiUor to tnaii}' coast lino lioro by (Miappcli, \n {osainoiui," coji- ilsoii's Straits by nee of Wales," obtainol, and cal information 10 obsorvcd that 'as of a porsoiial llic Company to soino instancos, liL'ors in cliargo •ativo situationa, 'al Gooi^raphical bio information nd tlio Nortliorn , tiiat ovciyono Ha)', were H lys, own, bis answer , retains all tho id tho so-called n 1875 has not rait into a Bay. land of Tmb,,.,.or. nnd (be liorlb sido of Uui Stmit, there is -i wi I., i.s^ • '"''i"''i' d, or 1 ,.n-u Nivoa, on .||.....l 10 miles in broad,!.. ' 1^;^;^,"; . t^^ ^;;,; rZ ^ ,,- "'-•••art to be llnds,,,, H Stn.ifs, the lirM and Ibe most nortberlv K'i than tl.reo entrances into 'IH' i:ast iJIntr, styled on Captain X ' s .LuH I osolum.n Islaml and inbjeadth; tbeieeond or' Z Imlin \ i , ^ ;t^: '•:';;: ,VV'I"'"' '' '"'!"« soulliern extremity of Jiesolution Island and (lie H ' .,^:^^^^^^^^^^ '"""1""^' ,^;'° ■•Hid, lasdy, iho several .bannels lyini; between the is I, ,1 7. "'"' '"'"•«'*< '^1' i '•'•-Incd. lour are nnrked within il I.'Sm, 1 "n, ""'^ T' f '^'''"•'^'-' «|U'Mi(ly that the east eniraiK^e to the Strait once I ■.HM^wl .. I'u shown Mibso- lively easy to tho westward ; and as ! c Eu t"" •' ' w.;ir''^''''"! '"' ''^'"''"'•" summer will, Milliner vessels arises fnwn liimn. ' f ■ ""^'^'^'"^V"' oi'tnmoo in tht station on l!.,olnti,m Islan I. 1 '. „ ' ' ''i^ '" V"*!' ''- ^'^labli.hmentof asi^na tho st.Uion on l^^,olnt. on Island, ami one. mono Of Hutt.m'slJa^^^^ : r . ■ -'f the open channels.is of tho lirst imnorhm •,. iNlands. ^ndicaU. the |)o,sition in the siason. Winds ,niy .'e::; 1 hli'SlI^^:.? :; it: '::^:;r^--^^'-- vvate/s early ' ''° .'inds will drive the icn in. iw.. i.....-^.. ,."''•, ^' ^''« "^''^i' '"^'kI, nortberlv I , , > lorly slioie, and the channels on the north side, or near Capo J}est or tb.'ou. I (;.l . -< . T' """ ^''" ^'''"'"^''^ <•" tl>o entrance ti.e navigatio'n beco.ne.; ^l^Jriuvdyl^;''"^^' ""' ''^'^"' ^"^''^ ^^'''"" ^'- iioso?i^:;:;a;rll^St^;i:^^^;i,!;^; -1-^ l^- northern passage cdose to close in with tho m.rthori.sho.-e as bee urr^ "ocessary pre..aution to keep meet on the south side of tho intra, co ^d e ™ | i '" ^^-'l'}'^''' "'"' ^^'^■'■^' '^^'•^iit« southward, alon. the coast of Lab.Sr. ' 2 ^f ' ,' Zi'^'l v^I.T' '*^'^"'^^. '' \'" -li.oct.on ..f the ice d.^ift is much allected byV ova 1 , J"vL s aV V .'Z'ir'"' 'Y "'^ •■nnd.tions have mucii influence i.i determiiii ,o- (he po'iti f ' ^,^ -^^ JvhH h can be avoided by a stoa.ner are not nu'^d, alL t d ;' vv nd boin. v'^'^i^l I'V deep-seated cunonts, which, in iludson's Straits, accord 'Lt. So! l^^ i '"""'"'* carry he bero-s to and fro twice as last as the tloe u-e " ''*''^''"' ^''''y' Iho naiTowe.st part of the Strait is opposite Xorth IJlntf o,..,,. .i Islands, WIU...0 PiUTy esti.nated it to be li 'league, o^ 2 m es cl s '" "'^'"" "^^'^"^^ . ''l«l^'''^'Ll>ot the Strait is about 500 miles from CapoX^^^^^^^ , r ,, , to the islands at tho entrance to Hudson's Bay. Tho le .ih ,Tw^^^^^ '■^''''"'' lUHicd is considerable, particularly on the Noiah SlioT . ,h ' !''' ■" ''''"^■• exceeds throe h.nd.edlatboins. The Xorth S , o i boU w h li?H?"^''" '' "^^"". ye.^ytalmii ; (he Sunt!, Sh?.ro is unde,cribed. The e.X.V j. ,' ^ '^'l^''''?,^ "^ Hudson's Sirait will i-e seen in the acc(.,up.u.vi, ' c 1, .h v^f- f ^^ P''"'''' ^"^'"'*-^^ "^ Sir Kdward Parry's •• Journ; of a ^J. ' v va c r.i '?•"'' " ^"''^■" ^''•'"" ^^'''ptain l'as.sage from the Atlantic to the Pa'iHe ' '' '' "'" '^'"'''''y '' '' -^-■"'- V-st Ed. Chappell. R.N., .^a^ii^JZS^l^'t^'^^r''"' ''"'''''' '^^''^^^'^ '-P-' P'"^l-'-J '" the J -amal of ,h. Royal Geo- (2 ; Narrative of a voyage to Hudson's Bay, page 41. The centre of the eastern passn^ro into Hudson's Strait is in liititiido ♦>! degrees, Qv aiiout inic degree north of Chrihtiar.a in Sweden or St. Piteisbiirg in llussia. It lies under the 65th meridian. The hititudo of the western entrance, between Charles and Salisbury Islands, is in 63 degrees north, and ia latitude 76 degrees west. A THE CHARACTER OF THE NAVIGATION IN HUDSON'S STRAITS. Q. Desciibe to the Committee the character of the navigation in Hudson's Strait and bo pleased to refer to he authorities in full, so that, if necessary, iuriher refer- ence may be rnado to them? , A Commander A. 15. Boeher, R.N., of the Hydrographicnl Office, Admiraliy, read a paper before the Koynl (iootjrai.hioa! Society, in 1842, intituled '-The Voyages of Martin F- obislicr." Among much intei'osting matter relating to the- discoveries of Frobisher, the following important passage occurs, which has a practical bearing upon the charii:ter of the navigation of Hudson's Strait, sustained by such an eminent authority as Captain Si- Edwaid Parry. " George Best has given in his nairativo of ihe voyage a formal dissertat:on on the general features of the mistaken Strait of Frobisher, in which the proof that it was no other than Ilndson-s Strait must bo looked for. We have already accounted for the ship's having drifted down to the cntr ;nce of Hudson'.', Strait, aHd it appears that, once within that entrance, the progress to the westward was comparatively easy— a circumstance also observed by Sir Edward Parry. He says (p. 19) : " We continue to gain a u-reat deal of ground, the ebb tiih:-< obsirucUmj us very little. Indeed,^ "■om the very entrance of Hudson's Strait, but more espccialUy to the westward^ of ihe Lower Savage Islands, it was a matter of constant surprise to find our dull sailing Bhips make so much ])rogrpss when beating against " 'resh wind from the wostv,'ard." V > .. . „ , .._,,. '■•om Sir Edward Parry's work, ■d induced Frobisher to stand Commander Becher, commenting on this passage fr : "Doubtless this facility of getting to the westwar says on.' The tides rise within the Straits to a height of about thirty feet during neaps, according to Sir Edward Parry ; during springs, they must have at least from eight to ten feet greater range. It is this feature of high tides and the resulting strong currents which have great influence upon the formation of ice in the Straits and pre- vents them from freezing across. _ , ,t i , In 18U, Lieut. Edward Chappell, R.I^.,of H.M.S. '• Eosamond," visited Hudson s Bay, and in the narrative of his voyage, published in 1811, he pointedly adverts to the advisability of merchants sending a strongly built bri;,- into Hudson's Strait early in ihe 7nonth of Ju7ie, no as to VGndi Cape Saddleback before the Company's ships arrive, with a view to trade with the Esquimaux of thotse coasts. He also states that a vessel intended for this trade should nol remain later than the beginning of October in the Straits '■'^ The period included between " early in June " and the ' beginning of October "within the limits of Hmlson's Strait, sulRciently cstajlishes the fact that, in the opinion of Lieut. Chappell, as derived from practical observation in the " Kosamond," and a careful study of the subject, the lup-igation of thoStr/iits is safe for a "strong brig" for a period of aljout four nionlhs, or during June, July, August and September— say from the 10th June to the 5lli Octo'oer, or four lunar months. If for a " strong brig " we substitute u strong steftmor like a Newfoundland sealing-steamer, and fit her with modern and really inexpensive mag/ioto-electric lights for night work, the ditiiculties Lieut. Chappell encountered v.»uld bo vastly diminished, and very probably, ".n additional ten days added thereby to the reason for navigation in October, making the period exceed four calendar months, for T.iout. Chappell states that it is not to be expected that ships, during their (I). Beclier on tlie Vovnge of Martin Frobisher. Royal GeoKruphical Society, 1812, vn'^a 12. *>farrative of voyiige to Hudbou'ii Bay ua His Mujedty's ship " Uosaraond."— By Lieut. Edward Chappell, R.N., London, 1817. » !0, Ad mi rally, return to luiropo from Hudsor.'s Bay,will over meet with I >nso ieo ; that is with floo or pan ice Ifo ,h writing of the Hudson's Bay Compuny-H ships, whicl a o TtatocUo st^rt from \orlc Factory homewards by the 20th September, and so eiact is o n h 9 sratments that ice ,s not to be expected to bo met with by saiirnAei^iy on ^heir homevvard voyage, that ho enumerates the different kinds of vvorlccFone on ai ri val it fork Factory close to Port Nelson in the following words •— with'iooU'ico' n VlfoSS V^'' ''"P"' ^"T^ '^''i '■^^"'•" *^ Europe, will over meet prenamTions ^; Id. 1^ 'til' '"' T"? ''' ""^ «hip anchored on York Flats, undid all the ])iepaiation9 \\hicl haa been made for manoeuvring whilst amonicst the ice • such is ro-stow.ngour anchors and putting below ice-ropV ice-anchoit ice axes &cnnd wo rejoiced in being rid of them." f > ^ anv^uuis, ice axes, &c. , ana Iludslin's str'^itTin'tliTIl of"n «'^"'^''^«^'"V"" '» '?^^'-^on to the navigation of the iiu ison s bti.iits in the fall of the year. In Tact, it reduces ice precautions to the early or summer voyages only, and besides conferring unexnocteJ safetv udo^^ ;aro;-^K'o^^ijeS^^Hir' t-':^ ^^^z:^:z^Az t luTi^'a^idtiTofri^'T.r"^ '"•'"^' ^i^«, '""^' niJhts'ortt -fkirof^tiryoa ill J lino and p,u t ot July there is little or no ni>rht Once within the eastern entranoo, the Straits are seen to expand into a broid Zr i^' '''V"'"'Z''' ^\"^''^-' ^''y- ^'■'^«" I'^'''^"^ li«-^ about hf way betwe^^ e Isorth or Terra Nivea shore and Akjiatok Island, at iheentrance loUno.ava^u' h•, clear sea way on cither side of Green Island being about 50 miles in wikh In' tSlTcff ;;: ''^'"''"/l """.r^" ' '.' '' ' ^^«^'« to give any'dii^c ions fo avom n. the thickest of the ice 111 those Straits,?t would be to keep pretty near the North Shmo fm we a ways observed that side much the cleares^as nronly t^T Wnds bl^^^^ Tolftlrsidl^'X^) "' """"'^ '^^ ""^ ''' ^'"^^-^^ ^'^^^^^ l4e o^erg^wth bleaks up mtho Bay and is carried ],y winjs and oiments^ia o the' Sits Ho ;'<;;ecL^te^',s;e"5°""™>''-=-f"-— belbiTd^eouM ho,,o?o i^l/^n ''^ ^ ""^ ^'''' ^'"'"^' ''' ^'^^ northward or inshore welTli nv^, . T^^^ ^ measure, the expediency of which is v!^ V 1^ . M''^'' ''^«c"«tomod to the navigation of icy seas " r4^ But th s ) en en^il V °n^ ''" ""^""T' *''/ ^^P^"'«" ^^at the entrance to^ the ^raismi-^ have 1 ay ri orf I Sblv Fov n' "^ weeks earlier, before the ice broke up in Hudson': U. "^'? P'ol^'7'y l^ox Channel, and begun to come down the Strait. Sir Ed F 1 i-v^^^^^^^ ^^""''T- '' '^'« H.B,Company's ship •' Prince of Wales," informed nLtdiVo v^ V^^^ ^^«'^'^'«"^' ^-^''^^l tho North Bluff lying immcdKuely abcne the Savage Islands, about the middle of the Straits, they seldol -lisappeive.'-.^'' '' astonishing, that, before the return of the ship, the whole of the drift ice in the Straits' by Ilor^o^ EuT^" '" ""^''"'' ^''^' ^y '^^ "^''^^' ^'^•'^'•y" and^'Ualiforaia" in the years 1746aad 17^7; (3} An Acooiint of Six Years' Residence in Hud-on's Rtv frm, 17'" tn i"?ft -.,.1 i-m , ,-4t i. 10 mot with any very serious obstructions except from iv body of ice which thoy usually have to penetrate near Cliavles' Island, and which,7; from the freciuoncy of itt! occurrence in that situation, lias obtained the nun.c of " Charles' Patch." " Long experience," 8ir Kdward continues, " has brought those who frci[uent this navigation to the c(mclusion that in most seasoi;s, no advantage is to be gained b}' attempting to enter Hudson's Straits earlier than ilie first week in July, the annual disruption of the ico which occupies the upper and middle parts of the Strait being supposed not to take place till about this time. In the course of one single j'oar's experienso in those parts, we have seen nothing to recommend a practice different from that at present pui-sued by the ships of the Hudson's 13ay (Company." Jiere again it will be observed that the remarks are made with reference to sailing ships, and also v/ith reganl to the exigencies of the Hudson's Bay Company's trade, which could riOt be benefitted by an eai'lier ai'rival, as their vessels make only one voyage in the season, and their ]jurposes are served if thoy arrive at York Factory in August. Parry's expedition found the tides at the Savage Islands,' botbro referred to, to fall at dead neaps 29 feet, the time of high water at full and change being 7.35; no ice was seen by Parry after attaining a westorl}- position, a tew leagues beyond Savage Islands, except one or two bei-gs. This distinguished navigator draws particular attention to the fact that the ebb tides which come down the Straits are not so strong as the flood tides which go up it. He says that the ebb tides afforded very little obstruction, at.d that he was constantly surprised to find his " dull sailing vessclsj make so much progress." Some idea of the difference between the difficulties of going up the Straits in July and returning down the Straits in September, may be inferred from the follow- ing conr i)arisons. Sir Edward Parry entered the Straits on the 6th July, and was abreast of the Upper Savage Island or^ the 25th and abreast of Charles' Island on the 28th of the^ same month, being -2 days in effecting the passage. Eeturning, ho was abreast of Charles' Island on 'the 20th September and passed out of the Straits on the 23rd; occupying three days for the return passage, and reaching the Oikneys on the 9th October, or 19 days in all. Lieutenant Cha])poll entered the Straits on the 28th July, and passed Charles' Island on the 22nd August, being 24 days in coming up the Straits. Returning, he left York Factory on the 18th September and reached Cape Eesolution on the 6th October; passing from York Factory through Hud.son's Bay and Straits out into the open Atlantic in a week. He reached the Orkneys on the 19th of the same month ; being 21 daj's making the homeward voyage. Both of these officers sailed in the cumbrous old fashioned vessels in voguo half a century since. With a sealing steamer like those now engaged on the Newfound- land and Labrador Coast in the seal fishei-y, the homeward voyage fi'om Ycrk Fuctoi-y, would probably have been accomplished in 13 to 15 days. THE ICE IN Hudson's bay and straits and on the Labrador. Q. State to the Committee the information you hive galhorod regarding the ico in Huilson's Bay and Strait, also on iho coast of Labrador ? A. The extent to which ice forms in Hudson's Bay is not known, but judging from the statements of Ilcarne, whose opportunities *br acquiring information were excellent, ton miles from the shore may bo the extreme limit in the deeper and nortb-westorly portions. The southern j)art of the bay and the eastern jiortiou pro- bably freeze over a mucli larger area than the north-western portion, where the water is not only deep, but the.o are excellent reasons for supposing that a wai'm under-current comes to the surftico there, forming a polynia, as in some parts of the extreme north, such as al the entrance to Smith's Sound, also in Bellot's Straits, and in the Spitzbergen Seas, and on the west coastof Behring's Straits. The cause of those polynias will be found in any of the recent Arctic explorations by s-oa. 11 li tlioy usually (([ucncy of itn tch." " Long lis navigation attorapting to (li.-ii'uptiou of supposed not cxperienso in from that at gain it will be and also v/ith 1 could not be in the season, referred to, to being 7.35; no agues beyond t that the ebb vhieh go up it. was constantly the Straits in orn the foUow- ibreast of the 10 28th of the was abreast of i on the 23rd ; ys on the 9th )assed Charles' ]Murning, ho on on the 6th ts out into the 3 same month ; in vogue half a the Newfound- go from Yc rk DOR. ;arding the ice ut judging from arination wore he deeper and rn jiortiou pro- ion, where the g that a warm ne parts of I ho )t's Straits, and 3 cause of these Hearne states that in the northern part of Hudson's Bay and Straits " the sea is fimen over several miles from the shore.' Ho is referring to a statement of the ornitliologist Pennant, who, when describing the habits of the Black Guliemots or Sea Pigeon.s remarks that these birds " bravo the coldest winters in those parts bv keeping at the edge of the ice in the open water." This passage, as illustratin-r fi physical phenomenon of great importance in the navigation of Hudson'H Bavin °tho early sumnaer months is of especial interest and may be cited at length. " Black Guliemots, known in Hudson's Bay by the name of Sea Pigeon. Those birds frequent the shores of Hudson s Bay and Straits in considerable numbers ; but more particu- larly the northern parts whore they fly in large flocks; to the southwai-d they aro only seen in pairs." * * * «' My friend, Mr. Pennant, says they brave tho coldest winters in those parts by keeping at tho edge of tho ice near the open water ; but as the sea at that season is frozen over several miles from the shore, I believe no one s curiosity ever tempted him to confirra the truth of this, and it is well known they never make their appearance near the land after lue frost becomes severe " (1) Ilearno had so many opportunities at the Prince of Wales fort, near the mouth of ChurchUlEiver,ofmaking observations upon tho ice in the north-western part of Hudson s Bay, that his statement respecting the distance it is formed from tho coast line may bo accepted without fear of exaggeration one way or the other lie objective point in Hudson's Straits it is desirable toattaiaat the earliest possible date in the summer is North Bluff, in tho rear of tho Upper Savage Islands, rom vvhich place, as ali-eady stated, the Hudson's Bay Company's ships generally take ticir departure across the Straits into Hudson's Bay. Baffin anchored here in 1615. Un larrys chart, the Savage Islands are represented as a small group, eleven in nuniber, protecting the entrance to North Bay, a deep opening in their rear. In his '^? rl ^J'}^^^^'^ of ^''« •'^•■fe'cst isl.nd, which ho examined and described in 1821. ihe clitts of the eastern island rise between tour and tive hundred feet above the sea and the nighcst portion to which Parr>' ascended, is from six to eight hundred feet above the ocean hence the group is a conspicuous object, and atfords anchorairo ground. Hero Parry took his observations on the tides, which shewed them to rise, neaps about 30 feet, as stated elsewhere. North Bay in the rear was entirely free troni ice. "^ Tho great rise and fall of the tides in such a narrow strait, gives color to tho statement that ice never forms entirely across it, for it is well known that no agent IS so jiowerful in preventing the formation of ice in northern latitudes as strong and continued tidal currents. Hence the suggestion of Lieutenant Chappell and ifobson that Hudson s Straits should bo entered early in June, before the ice breaks up in the bay and IS earned into the Straits, acquires special importance in connection with -9 1774 180.T 1809 1791 17911 1784 1780 1799 1798 1807 Arrival during tho month of August. :-^ 1783 I 1811 j Arrival during September. Date of arrival abreast Charles' Island. f July 20th. 1 July IJlst. \ July 28th. Julv 29th. July 29th. ^July 3l8t. fAug. Ist. A\ig. Ist. Aug. 4th. Aui,'. 4th. Aug. 4th. Aug. 6th. Ai:g. 9th. •< Aug. ICth. Aug. 19th. Aug. 19 lb. Aug. 21st. Aug. 21st. Aug. 22nd. Aug. 22nd. t Aug. 22nd. f Sep. 2nd. |Sep. 13th. These dates of tho arrivals of tho Hudson's Bay Company's ships at the different posts in Hudson's Bay, afford no criterion from which a judgment may be formed of the navigation of Hudson's Straits. This will appear from the following conside- rations : — Firstly,— They were, in former times, and until the introduction of superior vessels or steamers, slow sailing merchantmen. /Secott.'//!)/, —During tho greater portion of the period covered by their annual voyages they were convoyed by war vessels and subject to tho inevitable detentions and precautions incident to a time of war. Y^/i^yj/i/^—jSro object could bo gained by early ari'ival of sailing vessels at the western enlrance to Hudson's Bay, since but one voyngo each year to and tVo was all that was required by the exigences of the trade. DANGER ARISU'fO FROM ICE. 7 Q. Have you obtained any information you can offer tho Committee regarding the dangers arising from ice ; , , , n A. Sir Edward Pairy states that " the effects to be apprehended from exposure to tho swell of th« main ocean constitute tho peculiar danger of first entering the ice fliiout the mouth of the Hudson's Straits, which is completely open to the influence of whole Atlantic. A very inconsiderable quantity of loose ice is sutfirient to shelter a phip from the sea, provided it bQ closely packed ; but when tho masses are separated 13 il)|)oll, R.N., xtromity of 1 1813 in the breast of land. )th. 1st. 8th. Dtli. !)tli. list. l8t. Ist. 4th. 4th. 4th. (Jth. 9th. Gth. 9th. 9th. lUt lUt. 2nd. 2nd. 2ad. 2nd. 13th. the different bo formed of tving consido- n of superior thcii" annual ble detentions rcssols at the anil fio was ttce regarding i-om exposure tering the ice he influence of it to shelter a are separated l.y wind and tide so as to admit the swell, the concussions soon become too violent or a ship, strengthened in the ordinary way. to withstand for .anv length of time On this account, it is prudent not to enter the ice without a fair prospect of gettinrsovon or eight leagues w, hin the margin. For the same reason.\also, when^l kolf to be beset near the sea, it is better to make a ship fast to small than to large Zee. in order to avoid the heavier concussions occasioned by the latter "(i) ^ The Newfoundland the Dundee and the Norwegian sealing steamers beins propoi-ly protec cd, push their way into the apparently illimitable fields of ice S March and April in pursuit of seals, seeking the ice, fo? it is there only that"iev can capture the seals There are now five and twenty sealing steamers of ] , n 'o % in Newfoundland waters, and during the past ten years tiiejHiave nearly d i-ivc^i he sailing sealing craft from th s, formerly styled, hazardous enterprise. It I u t uniea! sonable to suppose that at the present day, when ice navigation is so tl orou" h y understood, not only by the captains of sealing vessels, but by steam wh Ueis "th';! the passage through Hudson's Strait, successfuUy accomplished fbr 200 ylrsbT^^^^^^ and unwieldy sailing vessels and vessels of wa,.; should now become an^^asy Kern Two, and often three, Hudson's Bay ships have, for a period of nearly two^entuS' annua ly passed through Hudson's Straits and Bay, and for a considenible pai t o tli^ time they we. c convoyed by the cumbrous men of war of old times. Numerous whaling vessels have also traversed these waters, and it is announced ih^tilZyTvl n? orTu M kT '? ^^'^ I ^ ^'^ r^'^ "Sain a wl,aler to that well known ground , Si of Churchill, Marble Island, and the coast towards Rowe's Welcome, .to seek for ho reported remains of Sir John Franklin. The F-ench not unf. equei ly sen vessels tl7o;;?f 'l ""T" M^'^'' ""/ """" '^''y ^^^*'-«^°d *'^« f«'-*^- All tl.eie ?rets show that oid-fashioned sailing craft successfully accomplished, for nearly two centuriel for tlie purposes of a limited trade, a supposed obstructed and hazardous navigation' which the interests of a country as large as the empire of Germany now inSte us to encounter with the modern protected steamer, the magneto-ole.tric light Ind the experience of trained and skilful men. u '^ ngni, mu tno I am informed by Atr. Horetsky that the Hudson's Bay Company never lost ono of their own vessels until the year 18Ci, wlisn the "PrincJ of VValos" and consort went ashore at Mansfield Island, " with studding sails set." COMPAaiSON BETWEEN THE ICE ON THE COAST OF NORTHERN LABBADOR AND HUDSON'S STRAITS AND BAY. 8 Q. When ..n the northern Labrador coast, had you any opportunities for con- ,-h.rt'J!^JTV ''^'lu" -^'"'^ ?^^ ^^ ^h« pop"'*'* imp'-eBsions resi^ecting the icy ^Zf^Zf '^■'"'^'l '^ •'"'■' T'i ^^y l^'-^ve arisen from the accounts which Imv^ bS Si i'^^n ? r' ^^V"^""^ the climate and coast line of the northern Labt 'T he \ orn i n i''^"" '^' T!'^'^ " '''''''''^ '^^ ^''^^'- ^^^ descriptions given by m'th .; rih i''\"''f^'"''',?* ^''" ^'r-'''^ attending an approach to that co'st as far tl as Hebron, before the month of August, are no doubt truthful pictures of realties, as they appeared for the first time lo the eyes of the ineKpor n'ced audsmen. But the coast line of northern Labrador is the unfor u.ia o red, lent of TlTe'nielhr- -^^'^'t"^ l-^^''r *'^'-«° ^"^^^'-^^^ --«« - sub^rSicl^e Sianir' strenn s and the rTr^n iTq? r^ ice stream the Baffin's Bay and Davis' Strait ice siieains, and the liuu^o . s Strait ice stream. All ..f these ice-encumbered currents nicet in the summer on the coast of northern Labrador, and are the cause of its P^riyHT^i^y^^!'' "^'"'''''y of a N-onh-wcst pa.sage.-By Captain William Edward '"*****!? "■.'5V*' ■ tar I ... I .IJ.-HI 14 cxcoplionally cold climate. Tho reason why the eaHtorn ontranco to lIudMon's Strait iH eiicumhcicd in early cummer, arises from the ice of the combined east Greenland and Davis Strait current sweeping in a broad stream past its entrance towards the Labrador coast, on which it is pressed by tho earth's rotation. The effect of tho accumulation o{ ico on the coast of northern Labrador and from very remote regions, is not only to render access there difficult before August, but it shortens greatly the summer season for fishing, tho fish only approaching tho shore when the ice leaves it. So striking is this etfect, that salmon fishing commoncos at tho Hudson's Bay P'ort, on tho Churchill Eiver, two degrees north of Port Nelson, before it begins on Sandwich Bay on the southern Labrador, and five degrees south of ChurcLHl Kiver in Hudson's Bay, When the Indians and fur-traders are fishing for salmon on tho norlh-wostorn coast of Hudson's Bay, north of Port Nelson, tho entire coast of Labrador, during an average of years, is blocked by ico from tho Straits of Belle-Isle to Capo Chudleigh, and is inaccessible to fishermen. So import- ant is a correct apprehension of these climatic conditions, as affecting the fisheries, and tho accessibility of tho coast from the sea, that I venture to introduce a series of tables bearing upon this subject. Hoarno tells us that the salmon fishing season at Churchill begins in tho latter part of June ; he also mentions the occurrence on that coast of innumerable schools of caplin coming in shore to spavvn as soon as tho ice leaves the coast. Generall}-, the caplin precede tho cod and tho salmon on the Newfoundland and Labrador coast ; it is not likely -that tlio habits of this fish have changed under similar conditions in Hudson's Bay. Tho following tables show tho periods of first arrivals and last catches of cod on the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts. Li framing these tables I have been careful to eliminate extreme seasons, for tlio cod have been known to approach tho shore during an exceptionally early season, a fortnight or three weeks sooner than during tho average of years. Early and late springs oc nr in the movements of fish just as regularly as in tho movements of migratory bii is, or in the leafing and flowering of plants. The salmon and the cod generally come within a week of one another, and the Eskimo of Ukkasiksalik, lat. 55° 52', have a tradition that tho salmon may always bo looked for on the day of the first spring tide after tho 16th July. In 1875, a very late season, codfish were not taken there before the 7th August; in 1870 they came in on tho 20th July, and this accords with the oxporionco on other parts of tho coast. 15 Tablk 8howing tho upproximato moan date of arrival of rod monr^Z^TTt and mean lonL't h of tho li.sIiiiHr Ko-mnn f,... ,„ • nt ,' ^'^ ' ^'^^^ of dopui-turo Southern and Northorn Labrador North-ca-storn Newfoundland, 47-30 48-20 48-30 50-00 49-30 51-00 51-30 NeWFOONDIiAND. (Over four degrees of Latitude.) let Juno. 10th Conception Bay Bonavista Bay ....... '."'.. in*i, ,, Notre Dame Bay ........;. I ^^^ \\ Cape St. John to Par. Point.".".'.'.'.'.'.'.'." I 20 h « White Bay I f ^ ." oai.e Rouge Harbour.'......',":::; i;;;;::' •• • llT „ OapoBauld to Cape Onion ""'I Zu « Mean Date of Close of Fisheries. Mean Length of Fishing Season. SouTHERij Labrador. (Over three degrees of Latitude.) 52 00 53-24 54 26 54-56 Chateau Bay iBdtteau.K iln(li.in Harbour....",". 1 ,-., I Cape Harrison ■.,:.":;. :::::::;;- I J^[J 20th November. 10th " 10th " 1st " 1st " 1st " 20th October. |- 143 daya. 20th June. 12th July. 55-14 .54-57 55-27 53-30 55-52 66-33 e7-30 58-30 58-46 NoKTHBHN Labrador. (Over th. ee and a half degrees of Latitude. Aillik Kypokoic .:.:.".'..".".: Hopedale Double Island Har'bour ".':::: Uklcasiiisalilc [Nain loifak :.":::!:'::.".".':::: Hebron Lampson 1st October. 10th " Ist :' 1st " ■87 days. 20th July. 1st October. 20th " 1st 20th " 1st (1 22ad " 1st 28th " 1st 28th " Ist 28th " 1st loth August. 25th September 15th " 1 15th (1 \ 61 days, ei- an cod area ^Z^ '^^^:T^ S,ilcS7' "If ''f'''' '""^ ^1^^^^^^^^^^^ approach the shore bout oiT week Ktorf.,'^' ^'' f""" '^""^''^'l '"''«''^' ^ho cod to the north." """^.O'lo \\cck later for every degree of latitude we advance timn utL wS?ngthr:;;j:?o?j^s:;i:;l:^'^'fr^^ t r/«'^ --'^ ^-■^•'- "-th vicinity of" Hebron no 'lu" Xom T^" ^ t '*'""'^"^« ^^' Newfoundland craft in the Auo-u«?. Thatthe'capinocom-^ntron?;^!^ '^"'^^^^ the loth long since been notieJd by loarrnnTotWM^^^ S '", ^^^'^^^^ H>/^«on'.s Bay ha.s coast of South G.voMlan,i: b t hrnoint to wl • T ^'^"- T^^"" '" abundance on the regards the movement oft eslln.ont^l^.,'' espeoal attention i.s directed fis the .season in Northern II L^Ba^ '^' '^''^'''^^ ^^'' t^^<^ the Atlantic coasts of Nor her Labrador X '.f^'^^^"^' «« '""^'h longer than on «uch imposing proportions ^''''''^'^^'' '''^^^^ ^he fishing interests have assumed 16 J-JKy^!}^ >T explain to tho Committoo what you moan by tho '^ rotation of tho oarth" ahoct.n^. tho ,cc on tho ooa.t of Labrador. Stalo also if thir*' rotaUon " oaho DomSV °"'""' '"^ "«t°^^o'-thy influenco upon tho climato of other pa^ts A. Allusion has boon maclo to tho influence of the rotation of tho earth prossinir he ,cc.encnmbcrod Arctic currents upon the Labrador coast; whilo, howeio t? the effect of this rotation ll.o inhospitable climate of Labrador is mainly dur/t s unportan to bear .n mmd that tho same influence of rotation is the proxin ate cau o ofthelertd.tyof heJs^,rth.West,ofthoriseof the Isothormals from W.nn pe^^^^^ ToTb o 'pi';-o"R''''p"'^'^'''T "^" '^'' ^""^''^^ '''^"^ •^^'•«^^''>"^ ^'-^"^ Manitoba Kml no,th of Pn.o Eiver Pass, and, ,n a word, of ail those genial conditions of summer tKf .7 vv\''"?r.'''" '" '"•"!;" '^' '^•'"^'■'•"l ^''^ commercial future of ManitolmZ the North-Wcst. Tb.sgroat influenco bas been too much nei,^lectod in seeking for the causes of that singular d.spos.tion of climate which the Governmont expbra ions gel^-:^Zn^ira:\Xr!^^^""°^^^"^'^° ^^'^^'--^'^ ^-'•- Tl.o.exp.aPnatio;^?n^ w.cfTi''' ''T'^'^y "f ^!'? *^'"':"''^.' 'T^'"*"" ""^''''y P«'"^ "^^ th« s'-^'-^aco of the earth from wes to oast varies with :ts latitude, On tho sixtieth degree, or about the lat Uido o^ of Pans It is a little more than eleven and a half miles during the same period whereas on be oqi.ator tho motion of any point from west to east is at the r ito of eighteen miles a minute, ilenco it is that any current, whether of a river or in the ocean, (.rot bodies of air far above the surface of tho earth, moving from no -ho sou h in the northern bemispbore, must necessarily remain in tho roar of tho increas ingly rapid terrestrial movement which carries them round, and must consequontJv deviate towards the west. Tho arctic current moving gene -ally from north to sou h^ continually trave.-sos, as it gains a more southern lutUude, portloTs of the elrtL's surface, wbich are moving with increasing rapidity towards the cast, owin<. to its rotation; the current s as it wore, left behind, being a body posses inja^^'dislinc motion of Its own, and tho result is that it has always an increasing west^erly rend as It progresses towai'ds the equator. Tho reverse of this is tho case with thu Gu f btream, which flows generally from south to north, and is cnitiniially attaining pai s ofthe earths Hurfuco, which have a rapidly diminishing motion from west tS east and the tendency to leave it in tho rear grc.ws loss in p.^oportion, lonco Tts do?iat?on 13 towards the east or in the direction of the earth's rotation. uoviauon In the southern hemis|)here, exactly the rcvorso action takes place. This law of deviation is observed by all moving bodies, such as winds, rivers, balls in motion etc idvcrs in tho north rn hemisphere blowing from north to south eat away tho 'west bank, whereas rivers flowing from south to north attack tho cast bank Rivori flowing from east to west have their currents accelerated, and from west to oast retarded, because they flow respectively with or against the motion of tho oarth J^"nd'toZ^ra'cf"^^"'""' '"^ ''' ^"^^^^^''- '^'"^-^ «^^^-- -^^^'^ '^l->- The Labrador current is thus affected by the rotation of tho earth, which causes It to press upon the coasts, and as it rounds capes this pressure is removed which causo.atoncestronglooalcur:entstotho westward, tho cause it is fo ired of many shipwrecks and tho loss of life, especially in vicinity of Cape Eaco, Newfoundland and in a loss degree Cape Sable, N.S. Tho eftect of winds from the Pacific on lo valley of the North Saskatchewan I should wish to doscrM^e, after havi,.:; notic.^ o geographic.il position of the Great Fertile Belt, which has been ascertain^ed to exist so lar to the JNorth-VVest. +1, ]^: ^^' T'" r^ '^^•^^i^^ ^^ ^^"^ Committee tho concluoiona you have deduced from the statements advanced ? j ^^ xiwui A. Reviewing the statements advanced, tho following conclusions appear justifiable irom the premises. i r j Ist. The season on the coast of Northern Labrador, south of Hudson's Straits is from eix weeks to two months later than the season on the coast of Hudson's Bay at and for 17 '• rotation of tho this " rotation " ato of other parts earth pressing ilo, however, to lainly due, it is proximate cause m Winnipeg to ifanltoba to and lions of summer of Manitoba and seeking for tho nt explorations explanation in i* the earth from t the latitude oi ; in tho latitude iO same period, at the rate of 1 river or in the from north to r of the incroas- it consequently- north to south, of the earth's fc, owing to its ?sing a distinct ivostorly trend, with tho Gulf attaining parts I west to east, its deviation e. This law of in motion, etc. iway tho west bank. Eivorjj 1 west to east of the earth, south always which causes amoved, which cu'cd of many Newfoundland, Pucitic on the ng noticed tho inod to exist so 3 deduced from •pearjustifiable < Straits is fi'om Bay at and for some distance north of Port Nelson Th in :e tions auducod considera- in June; ad;^ ftiJLX onrui;::; "^Za't^'lt '^' "'^'' ^"^-»'« ^tmits, early I ast Greenland and Baffin's JJay, down tho vvo.tcnnt,'" p n ^'' ^^'""'^"^'^ ««"»!"« ftom the i^;ts di::rrs.sirsi^^?^::::.^^l^' ^ ov^- ^-^ ' -^«-^ ^^fbro tl.an .'several miles " f.'m th"«ir;i'Tt^r:dn" f 1''" "'^>' --■ f'--- -re .ndced any ice does come out of IIucLn's jL T ' ". 'm'"^'" ^''«^'^«'- '»u<^l> or ^s com.ng from the Bay, .oaliy comeslvn fc^ CI • nnd a '" 1''"' '"l" '^^ «J-'^«" ^^ li.M.b. "Terror," represented on the a-com >• m,,: a "^ **hown by the drift of two reasons for sunnosin-r tint vo.-u iihi • ^ "^ '"^' Admiralty chart Thp.n nr« would imply the cl/Snt^:c un'.^ Jo of Ton"'"'' 'T'^^''^'^^'^ '% the ti 5 is i? ■space of time to carry the ice from ot-^T^mZ'^'^;"."''^ ^'"^ '^ consi it b le conhned channels leading into Hu.lson's Sn.n f > ''' Hudson's Bay throu.rh tl o nireiy met with after passing cClesisla.d 'v. '"^"^ «-'^P'^7«"^-o teaches that^ce s Moreover, from the description of the ic i m-' t '^ t'?^ I'"'''!"'^''* ^^'^ ^'^''tre of the Bay posed of hummocky, or ho'avy a? t c c^wScom '^''r' " ^''i'^''''' '^ ''^ '^^JyoZ' ;orth. It IS more probable thfit tho HudHon'sS /"'" / "^^ CiKuinel fiom tho jmits of the Bay itself, The second easo. iMhatf .'"'''" "^^ disappears within the the west coast of the Bay, admitting the tulmon u.I r""'^ ^P*^"'"^' «f ^he ice on part o June, even so far 'north as Church rn""^''"' 'F ^'^^ '^''''^' '" '^^^ latter ot the only cause ot the disappea tance of thrBiv iV. ^,'«^'^'"t'0" i'^ the chief if ally iouiid in the eddy near the centre of J>nU^^ ?', ""'' '^'^ I'emnant is occasion- way into Hudson's St'raits the" woul 1 1 mos S'blo ' "^^ . F ,'^'' ^^^^ ^^^^ f-">'d ^^ held and Digges Islands, but (his par. i 'Ze J ittd oar nitre Itlu d i'si'S T'^' T* ^'^« '^ "»^'- Baj. Why does the central patch not follow the «tro' m "^ ''^ ^^'"^ '^""''^ «f the comes down, as shown by the " Teir^.-.s" drift "^'"^^^ ^'^^^^'"'^ *^«^ C*'^''nel nudso;;.^!^^C^;;!;;!;--f«„th.i^h^^^ .^a the entrance to miles in breadth, is suflftciontly ncT f1 r TefeZ.oh- ' channel.never exceeding 45 nagneto elecfric lights froai one side to the oL^r 't th'^'^^'i '""'"'i'" ^>' '"^^^'^^ ^' taken of information convoyed resnectin.. H 1 ' .• ^'' '"'^''"'^ ^dvaiiuige cau bo summer " a tidevvay, whc4 the t l.s "^^ 4'^,, "''^^ ice in lb e ear'; vhcie the daily «wing of iho tides is fi^^m J2 to •'^ ^.?'-,""^'' ''' «P'''«fe'-^. ^'> ^cot and : nd forward through that space twice every davf,"h "' ,^"''''>''"i? i^" l>ackward •)g. which a sealing steamer can avail hor?clfS' tt uT^^' '"'"^ constantly open- vessel, except with a fair wind. ^^' ^""^ '^^'«^ ^™ useless to a sailing THH CAPLIN. .Iravv. /,,„„ their habits nlid relation, ?° "*"■>■> "'"'""' ''"Jictio,,. y„a would I 1: 18 A. In nof.rno'rt account of " a journey from ' Prince of Wiilos' Fort, in lIiidHon'H Bay, to the Northern Occnn,"(l) ho noticoH the occurrcncu of'(ii|)lin in lIiulr'«''''« ag« that a sh, 'aueoatNei..on; yet, neeev.aryTsf'h is V ;/'''" was a ^roo.i harbour a ■Lako Wiiinineir, In (.K.f h. , \t ' .V ^^ '•''" ^'i«t extent of fnni.j..., ,'."'.' ''f'.^ '^^ as Fninr.o n, ,".....' '''^' the >foi,so.. Kivo,- ro<-o,Vo. n,' ..fi''''"''^'>' Uiau.in.rinto T .,N„ \u- *^""<-u nasK-aU'iiewai) and of tl,,. . 7 '"^ \t ' .V ^^ '•lio vast extent of fnni.j..., ,'."'.' ''f'.^ '^^ -^T^— — -r-^^ h,s ships vvintereJ, 20 guvo way on the Kith May; uiul on llu' jlli Jiiiio, niiiotcon oaiious ladon witli liirs 1)aHHC(l llioni oil thoir way to York Fort, hIiowIii^ that tho rivers in tho interior had won opoti some weeks inx'vioiisly. Iloaino I'uinishos us willi a strikinj^ instunco of diffoioni'o botwoen tho (dimato of tho Kott t'oast and tlio valley of" Nelson Ifiver, u few miles 'nland. lie relates that in tho year 1775 " in my passage IVom Cumberland House to York Fort, 1, as well as my Indian crompunions, killed them (the Teal) in tho riveis we passed throii;^h as late as the 2()th October. Al those times they are entirely involved in tut, but delicately white, and may truly be called a great luxury." (1) This passage shows not only that this species of duck lingers in tho Nolwon Jliver Valley until the 20th October, bu* that the route is passable lor itirch canoes until that date. In this particular it does not appjar to be earlie:' closed by frost than the old canoe route through Kainy Jtiver and Lake to Lake Suporioi'. There is this tlill'eronce in the two njutes to be noticed : the Nelson Itivcr Valley is a down grade towards the sea, at a rate of about twenty inches to the mile; tho Lake Superior route is an up and a down grade rising to about 1,400 feet above the level of the '^oa before it descends to Luke Suiierior, which is (JOO feet above the sea level. In oinor words, a traverse from Lake \Viniii[)og to tho sea by the Nelson Jliver Valley in- volves a descent of 700 feet in about -100 milos, tho Lake Superior route an ascent from 700 feet to 1,400 feet and a descent to Lake Superior of 000 feet above l!ic ocean in 350 miles. PORT NELSON. 13. Q. Will you now repeat to tho Committee, in a general form, the deductions you httvo drawn in relation to Port Nelson us ii:; objective point for communication between t!;e valley of the Saskatchewan and Kuropo? A. Tho geographical position of Port Is'elsoii, when studied with regard to the l)rospcctive commercial interests of tho North-VVest and Manitoba, suggests conclu- sions of a startling character. Port Nelson is upwards of two hundred miles nearer to the mouth of the Fraser iiiver, ono of tho projected termini of tho Pacilic llailvvay, than it is to Halifax on the Atlantic Coast. In other words, it is, so to speak, already more than half across the continent, within tho wide limits of tho Dominion. Then again, the distance of Port Nelson from Liverpool is nearly one hundred miles loss than Liverpool is from Now York. The rela ive distances measured on the globe being 2,!)'j0 milos and 3,020 miles. If two of tho Dundee sealing hteamers, similarly found, were to start at the same hour in tho month of September, ono from Port Nelson, the other from New York tho probability is that they would arrive on the same day at Liverpool. Port Nelson lies under tho sumo parallel as Dundee in Scotland, and it cannot escape notice that numerous tine sealing steamers from thg Scottish ))ort, have, since tho 10th March, been pushing their way among the same kind of ice as that found barring Hudson's Straits, in pursuit of seals. From twenty to five and twenty of those sealing steamers are now engaged in the same puisuit on the coasts of New- foundland and tho Labrador, seeking the ice, whose prrsouce wo lament later on in the 3'ear. The employment of these, or steainoi's siuiiliirly constructed for summer work in Hudson's Straits and Bay, would afford a wv.l:- Ij 'M to;- tho exe.cJs.0 of that special skill and enterprise which at present finds J. '..■tii|i');ai'y employment only in the destruction of half u million sportive ci-eatures — tho life of ice encumbered seas. But tho modern sealing steamer has led the way to tho solulion of thai all im- portant problem which has in view the creation of an ocean port, and an extensive sea board for the future commerce of the almost illimitable North-West. Tho skill and esnorienco in navigating tho Labrador current, loaded with ice in March and Ai)rit, V i.r'h would otherwise gradually die out wilh the inevitablo dccli:io of the ser' ;'.-■,• ' y, wi'l yet attain furtlier dovciopmont in tho greater work of opening half u L;>ruj;cut I the industry of millions of men. (1) A journey to the Northern Ocean. Page 448. 21 «' t!i(i OCCIUI tho Moti throiii;, a nadir..! },,onl- ;.! .1 t . ''"'"^ "'" ^olnon R voi- roachos w.d.iM a Hl.ortor 'iHlaM.o fvnm Live S han Zw V "'''''?'^ '''"' '''« "'^"«". <'■••". foregoing „.,aon.cntH, open t,, hKu^ o«,Z.k n. '/V- '^' "' '"">' ''" '"''^'■••od Diiooting aJtonlion to ll.o m,.r n '^"""'" " "•^""t <«»r m'.iitl.M in tho year ^Jonoial, showing H.u w'^^n u.r rel w\\n'''p ''^^ '••>' "'« «'"-viyo-: HOU, onstwani, if will bo nic ha a I. 1 !''° ^""'■' ^'''^«<' '^'^"^ "l>'>vo tho f-of, startcl 'fro,n I'ino Jw/ I a'":,^V'of 'a'' ."" '' .'"""^'■^•'' ^-'"^"'^ "^ ocoun at Port Noimn., in tho samo ,. ,. i /'^'f ^""'"'fe' K'ado to tho woight of hoof woui.i' rcw t! Lai ^f tt Woi:?'' ' ." f ^:r"'" "'^ ''""^'•"d Livoipool boforo its rival in tho.a , llil • 1 . i' "'"' "^'""lly might ho in An.ik. .ho naturo of thoeo a "« J.s t' " lui"^.^ «' ^'"' •'"- cohJ 'I "at.irai broak in tho LauJo ti h ho ^.^^.^^^ "^^ '^ t'avor.so,i by tho Canadian Sic iwtvflST^^^^^^^^ fT"^ ''' tho' oountfy jm.H.ag« of thoLauroiiti.ioH wi.oro tl v 3l • n r *'''^' ^? Montreal compoi.s tho f>-iclo. n,nnorou.s M.hordina ^,^0.^ Thf hu n of tl'' '''" "? '°r^'' ""'' '"^«'^«'' A^.;a,n or a hundred weight of bcof would havo o ma n ',''" «^««"ts Nvhieh a bushol of tinont, "" "' ''"^ natuial isothormals across tho con- •'oundnry lino botwoen Br t^" ^mo.fcranlT,^^^^^^^^ "^"^ noar tho .0 supervision of Dr. Josej.h Hon Ho ret rv of fL I' 'h'''"'^ published under AVushington. In the i.itorior of BrU\-.^rAme,ia , H ^'"'"^««»'"" Institution at wo had tho observations of Blae isto Lctor P,Vhi.^H '""' T?''? 1"'«^'«'^'^ ^^ 1872, tho records of tho ilmlson'.BayZn^^^^^^^^^ olaborato discussion of tho r" f C It^ Tn. T^"^"^'!^ *" ^^72 wo havo tho States and adjoining BWUsh 'Te^iZ^' "^XS^'l^ ^^^^ *^-' -''. ^^o United m ., ' .^-..v.iiv/ v^uiiris, i^e.. or Ihn .Smithsonian Institution ; also tho obsorvaHnn"«''nf7i .'''«,'"'' t"»n«actions of the Boundary Survey ; our own Me eon Ecal Z-otl. , f?""^,'^'' International tl.o supervision of the Diroctr o/ I e'' io Lm^^^^^^^^^^^^ T^ P"'?'''^'^^^' "»d«»' you compare this chart, thus independen Iv conslnic od 2i V'' «"b'n ttod. If youwi.l find an extraordinary ciincidenc^ botw< en ff^ ' ^''*', ™^^^^^ to, ■sothennals of .Tt degrees and Ig r^ies and t ^f.^n n^ embraced within the "K.p of Colonel Dennis. Tho well knmv^•Lh^ "'"'' '^.'"''"'^ yoUow on tho ... Manitoba, lies between tho «:;;.! ril^^he^.^^^^^^'g^'^^^^ ^' r^"''''"^ ^^^'"^'^^^ t.u-0, and tho .one con,prehondod within thosoTs'nhtml.^too'^^rardrtreS^^^^^ 22 •55 .1' west, and ombraces the Valley cf Peace Eivor. If a railway were to be projected to the Pino Eivcr Pass it would be wholly within its limits, and follow ro-iirhly the co irse of the natin-al isothermal of 34 degrees from Red flivcr to Peace Puver. Now, if the soil be Huitablo for agricultural parpo.scs, the deduction from the coin- cuience named and from Known facts i8,that the climate is tolerably uniform thoughout It 13 the distribution of heat during the summer months which determines agricultural adaptation. The winter cold of Manitoba is greater than the winter cold on the coast of Labrador ; but it is a dry uniform cold, and it is very far less inconvenient to the senses, or in any other way, than the moist cold on the Labrador. The conditions required for the adaptation of a certain area to agricultural purposes, apart from altitude above the sea and the character of the ""il, are gener- ally reduced to two, namely the mean temperature of about 90 days, as during the summer or grovviiig months, and the degree of humidity during that period. There are, however, two other conditions which exercise a very great influence upon vegetable growth throughout an area extending over many hundred miles to the north-west. These are the measure of the sun's intensity as regards light and heat, and the duration of the length of the day. As we move from Manitoba say in jat. 50'^ to Peace Itiver in lat. 56°, this important fact has to bo noticed, that the length of the day m summer increases in a greater ratio than the sun's intensity of light and heat diminishes. It is not heat only which att'octs the growth of ve^'cta- tion, it is also the duration of solar light in the day. The longer the day the greater the total amount of heat and light which will be received by vegetables. In order to illustrate this important point in relation to the causes which assist in prodiicin<' the favourable summer climate over that rcmarkaMo north-westerly strip extendin<'- to Peace River, I submit the following table, showing the sunYi intensity and the lemrth of the day on the i.arallels of 40«, 50», 60», during the growing season, or from May to October. (1) ° ' j It will be seen from this table that in lat. '40*^ the sun'.^ intensity is represented by 88 on May SUt, the day being 14 hours 38 minutes long. In lat. 50"^ the sun's relative intensity of light and heat on the same day is 87, but the day is 15 hours and 50 minutes long. In lat. 60, which is some degrees north of Peace River, the sun's intensity on the 31st May is represented by 85, but the day is 17 hours 26 minutes long. During the fortnight fron June 15th to July 1st, the sun's intensity closely approximates in lat. 40«, 50° and 60«; but the day is widely different in length and the heat and light have a longer time to act upon vegetation under the more northern meridians. Thus from June 15th to July 1st, the sun's intensity diminishes from 00 to 88 between lat. 40° and lat. eo^ ; the daj', however, on July 1st is 1 1 hours 46 minutes long in lat. 40° ; 16 hours 4 minutes long iu lat. 50° ; and 1:3 hours 18 minutes long in lat. 60". Great and sudden are the changes at the close of Septop-- ber. While solar intensity is represented by 57 in lat. 40<^ it is only 36° in lat 60" and the day is already 18 minutes shorter in lat. eC^ than it is iu lat. 40°. The winter there may be said to have begun. 0.) For further information on the sun's intensity and on the h^igth of the day, reference mav be had to tables contained in a paper on " The relative intensity of the heat and ligk of the snnTpon different latitudes ot the earth." By L. W. Meech ; published In the Smithsonian lieport for 1856 joctod totho ' the co.irse )m the coin- thoughout. igi'icultural cold on the iconvenient igricultural are gener- during the d. t influence ed miles to 8 light and nitoba, say d, that the 11 tensity of I of vogeta- the groatci' In order to diicing the ;tending to the length from May epresented the sun's » hours and the sun's 16 minutes lity closely sngth, and e northern 3s from 90 \: hours 46 ■i hours 18 of Septep-- in lat. 60", 40°. The ence may be ;he snn upon for 1856. -.. *„w.« .„ s.„. nf^^J;^^.y.j^. Le„,t„ or .„ r,. in L»li- May 1. do 16 do 31.. June 15.. July 1.. do 16.. do 31.. Aug. 15 . do 30. , Sept. 14.., do 29.. un's Length ensity. of Day. a. it. 70 15 '44 79 16'66 85 17-56 88 18-28 88 18-18 84 17-42 77 16-38 68 15-24 57 14-08 46 12-46 36 11-26 taror,rSm;:;rh?^/,'^^^^^^^ summer tempera- ^t may be briefly stated that it ^ he tr^ck onhe ZTaTr'iV* «r^ '" ^«°'toba, West, which bears a similar re ation tn +1.1 „f i^"^^ ^**"®*'^ ^"^' ^te North! America,asdoesthoGulf Stream to ho no«„ ^*'"<'«Ph«'-« ^f that part of North same unceasing povver namelv 7hl .«.^m /." '*" ''°^'*^''- ^^ '^ influenced by the over the area i^ traverUs ^' "''^^ ' "°*^*'°°' ^"^ ^^'^^^^ its climatic influence dopo^fm^rif Th'e ir^Sultn" £Ve^:ir!tY''''e' T^l"^ -th-easterly, i^isingover the summit of the ran "es the™ Ifli^^^^^^^ f ^^ ^^''^^ Mountains bined influence of the earth's ro^at'^onn!?J?i. deflected to the south by the corn- winds from the nortl^ The cold 'Ss aci.l^^''"'' -'^ '^' compensating coTd meridian which passes throuS the Lakrorthn fc^^ «" the 95th tlio i«othormaIs are pressed Shvfhrin ^ • ^t /^''ther to the eastward ;vlHeh push them to tfo Sh-eas wa?d In bolh .Ti"^^ '^' ^"^'^ «f ^'^^<^o, leading cause in determining tho cmu-se of the foH ^' 'll"^" "^ ^^^ ««rth is a are broad generalizations, sub ecttHirrpron^^ ^^^^^' ^^ it observed, climates. The valley of Nott II ^rannZ:^ ^ ^^'^^^ 'oca tions arising from its^ low leveTabove X^ sen StT ''.\^-''' '«^«' '^'^^^'^^ Nelson, the canoe route dovrnHaj^rsEv^ersSwsmiLS^^ ^'"-'^^' !""^^ ^^ ^o^'t t.-om the canoe route from Lake SupeHm 1^^+ . n '^'^^'r^'^f .'», Voint of climate '•auso, however, in this case is in pa^.rassijn ,blo t uTfJ^^ ^^\^^^ «^' ^^^'^- The iho sea is reached. The cold winds fmm R, i I - « ?"*^ °'' *'*^""ty ™i!os from vicinity of the sea board to a ^x" t e^ten^ temp-^rature in th^ g'reatiy raodifled. Jte*., .onc-o h- . ,i^nn? . , ^ "^''*^^ '"''"^^'^ their influence is yalley of Nelson Eive, a.^latVart'tl^'S 0^'^ ^-,''T:p ^^'^ ^'^^^^ ^-1 i" the ^^^y he ,uoto. La France, who stated^hat "< mthin ^ur^ 'fi^el^l^Ji ^^ Sra? 24 i York, the cold continued and thoro was ico in the river in June, when above that they had a fine Hprinir, all the tracs in bloom and very warm weather up to the groat Fork in the beginninff of Juno." According to Ballantyne, vegetation in the valley of Hayes Eiver, thirty miles fiora its nioutli. on the 2;]rd June, was found by him to bo in an advanced state, the trees being covered with foliage; and on the 25th Juno lie described the spring to liavo long begun on Ilill River, and " along its gentle sloping bunks the country was teeming with vegetable and animal life." This is on the canoe route from York Factoiy to Norway House, and a littlo to the south of the valley of Nelson River proper. Oxford House is situated on Holy Lake, and Lieut. Chuppell remarks, that owing to the richness of the soil and the geniality of the climate, this place produces a number of excellent vegetables. Dr. King, who was attached to Caj)t. Back's journey to the Arctic Ocean, states that at the commencement of this rapid streai.. (Hill River), halfway between York Factory and Norway House, the argillaceous clifts are seen rising in some places 100 feet above the water level, cajiped with iiills of at least twice that height ; and at those parts of the stream win re it is expanded to a breadth of several miles, innu- merable islands appear, stretching in long vistas, and well wooded, producing scenery of extreme beauty." (1) The occurrence of such deep deposits of drift-clay in this valley are of great importance. The same traveller states that Steel Eiver, the name which Hill River takes after flowing 57 miles, "serpentines through a well wooded valley, presenting at every turn much beautiful scenerv, but nothing to equal what IS seen along the shores of the former stream. The m'outh of Steel River is forty- eight miles from the sea by the winding course of Hayes River, into which it falls. The brigade of boats for the interior usually leaves York Factory about the end of May, (2) which shows that the rivers are open even in the cold borderland within twenty miles of Hudson's Bay. Wo must bear in mind that ice is often found in the lakes, iicsir the water shed, west of Lake Superior, about the middle of May, and Lake \Vinnij)eg is sometimes im|,assable at its northern extremity during the first week in June. From these comparisons it will bo seen that the character of the Nelson River Valley is of an exceptionally fiivourablo character away from the coast hne. It can scarcely excite surprise that there should be a large tract with a good climate, and great depth of drift clays in the vicinity of the valley of the Nelson River, for the following reasons : first, it is the lowest portion of the whole Basin of Lake Winnipeg, and is constantly under the influence of the drainage waters from L.iree hundred thousand square miles of land, lying altogether to the south of the narrow depression, not, perhaps, more than forty miles broad, through which the Nolson Rivci' finds its w%iy. The great thickness of drift clays upon several of the rivers noticed by different observers, on the canoe route from York Factory to Norway House, must necessarily produce a good soil, and the two conditions, soil and a humid climate, concur to sustain an exceptionally fine forest growth for this region, and an abundance of animal life. It is a curious and very noteworthy fact that' Nelson River Valley should be the migrating grounds of very large numbers of deer. The cariboo migrate from ^nith-east lo north-east, in this part of the countrv, on the apjiroach of winter. They cross Hayes River, some thirty or forty miles back from York Factory, in Sep- tember, moving towards the Nelson in largo numbers. How far they go to the north-west does not appear to be known. (1) PnRc 267 "Narrative of a Journcv to the Shores of tlic Arctic Ocoan, ia 1833-34 and 1835, under tiie command of Capt. Hack, R.N. By lUchard King, M.K.G.S. London ; 1836. (2) Ballantj-ne, Hudson's Bay. 26 ,5^^/'^|!o^'"^'a''o the measurements anil distances between St itions on the pre- sent \ork Factory and Norway Houhc route, according to Tliomiwon, the astronomer and sarveyor of the North West Company :— ■ "a^'ynoni.i ^**"°°^- Distance in Miles. YorkPactory ^ Hayes Eiver /...V.V.VV. "......! b'^ Steel River 97 Ilill River to first Fall ..!..'.'l.!.!.!."........ !.*..,.' "." 32 Fall to upper part of River .*.'...!!.".",!!!!......!!.!!" oO Lac de la Savanne ."!.*,!!!!!!!.'.'.!! '\ Jack River (Riviere aux Brochets) ....'.".".'...,..'." 10 Knee Lake .», Trout River '.".'.'..*.".*.".".'.'.'.'.'.".".'.'.'.".'.'.'.".'.!'.'/. 13 Holy Lake (a beautiful sheet of water). *.'.!^".'!!^'.'.'.".'.'.'.".'." ."."."" '."'.'" -jo Small Brooks and Lakes on a great .plateau ,..., '50 Brook with Beaver Dam (Each away Man's Brook). '>8 Hare Lake (di.scbargos into Sea Rivbr) ' "7 Sea River (part of the Nelson) 3,-, Play Green Lake (Norway House) ...^[.[ ......]. U Total Geographical Miles 372 " A ]^\ ^: ^^"'' <^"q"""'«s ha^'o embraced the natural facilities possessed by a larrro and distant part of the western portion of the Dominion where settlement iscontcm- pated tor direct communication with the seaboard and the open Atlantic. They nn 1i,Ik f'i n '^ ^"^' '^'«-^ '? '^ ^'^'-y P'-omising aspect. But there is still one point on which the Committee seeks for information, namely thj best manner of verifyinff by practical test the correctness of your views on a subject of such vast importance nn I!/'"' ■''^ ^ , ^"^ ""J'^^'^'^ ^y '^'"^^ y"'''' statements can bo put to this test, in f;' T"T'f .^"^, ^P'-'C^y way, so that the necessary information would be placed in the hands of the Government at an early period ? iKv^.^'i."??^'?^'''?^i'".*''® ^™* place, the ocean communication with Port Nelson, uuough Hudson s Straius, application might be made by advertisement in Newfound- If'r.i"'''^'!^''^'''"'', f ^"'?^ ^''' ^®"*^^'"^ *^'" ^'^« summer service of a first-class sea'ing ^ulfn 'f ■ f'^v.*^'''"'',"^'''^''*''"^*'^""* "^*^"' and well found in all particulars Such a steamer might be chartered to sail from St. John's on the 10th June ne.xt ^';,Z'irf'''''\''''^I^^^^ the 1st or 10th of October; ho(„.n , Vl "^"- ?^ the sea.son lor navigation by steamers. During the interva bet\\een the arrival and departure from Port Nelson, she might be em^ao-cd with -i competent staff in surveying the approaches to Port Nelson, and the "channel of fZZTu ''•\^'";/^^ or above Gillam Island. If time permitted she might go to ChuichUi, and obtain information on the voyage, and at the fort there, respecting the hsh.ng resources of the north-western portion of Hudson's Bay, which, according to Hearno and others, is rich in marine lite. " wnnM\lT)^'!''*'.''"''"-^'''r""''f^'"^'^'^i'"''^''''^'' supplies to Port Nelson, whose duty ..n ^;f^, "• """>«^'=^t^"l.>: ^"^ l>egin an exploratory survey oi' the right or north lunk of the riyei-, for a railway. This party would proceed up Nelson River as a Z\VSou':^Vj!:^'^'^''^^^^^ Factory, or in boats taken with 7 ,,! /w '^y^''"'"-, .^f'^^y ?'""'^' '^^'-■^"^l the main river as far as the mouth of iia nt Wood River which is about halfway between Port Nelson and God's Rapids at the extremity of Playgreen Lake. ^ ' \r,.\J:!!V ^"'7 '''"'i^ "'""^^ another pra-ty, organized at Winnipeg, coming down the L n .'r 7'i"^^'"''"^'?'"'^'- ^^' ^^'^ ^^''''''''y "^^'^^ pai-fy had succeeded in nn ling a favorable crossing for a railway between Norway House and the heal of ^plit Lake, the attention of the first pr -ty would be wholly devoted to the solociinn ot the best ground in the direction of Port Nelson, on the south side of the river and 26 towards Hayes Rivoi-, Iho Norway House ])arty woiking up to the discovorcd cross- ing place on the Nelson. The accom]i;inying plan of the Nelson Eiver, from a survey by an officer belonging to the Koyj.l Navy, shows that Nelson River valley has a considerable breadth towards Hayes JJivor, and as th9 upper part of the last named river IS occupied by very thick deposits of drift clays, it is probable there is a con- siderable area of drift clay land on the south side of the Nelson, but some distance from it. If, howev. r, no passage across the Nelson, near God's iJapids or elsewhere, could be found, both parties would proceed up stream, one up Burntwood Rivei, the other up betting Lake, and examine the country for a rout ; on cither side of those rivers to the rear of Cumberland House, the partv from Port Nelson returning in time to reach the steamer before the 1st ()cto])er. The supplies are easy matters of detail with resources at both extremities of the route traversed, and the country watered by a large river, through which freighters' boats have passed over portages already measured and mapped, as shown by red lines on the ])lan of Nelson River herewith submitted. The entire results of these explorations could be prepared in detail before the close of the present year. In conclusion, I may bo permitted to state that the followin'i- reply to a few onquirios I have recently addressed to Colonel Dennis, in relation to the pro-rrcss of Manitoba and the North- West, will serve, one would suppose, to convince tlio most sceptical that the vast area, lying due west and north-west of God's Rapid.^ on the -Nelson River, can only be efficiently served by the opening of the Hudson's Bay Route. XT J The progress of Manitoba, starting into life as it were but yesterday, is a most iorciblo lever in this enquiry. With the rapidly increasing population of Great Britain and Ireland, now approaching 83,000,000, an urgent demand for new homes must arise within the next ten years. A vast area, if made available and accessible will be absorbed, particularly where returns can be obtained from the prairie soil during the first year of settlemonl, and where the natural horbao-c gives instant indirect means of support. The settlement of a limited wooded area is the work of a decade; the settlement of a fertile praiiie region of equal extent is the work of a single year, if accomplished with judgment and ordinary forethought. (^Memorandum.) Department of the Interioii, Dominion Lands Office, Ottawa, 16th April, 18*78. The undersigned begs to reply as follows to the several queries submitted to him a few days back by Prof. Hind, on the subject of settlement, &c., in Manitoba and the North-West. 1. A statement of the quantity of lands so far entered— the greater portion of which is of course in Manitob.i, but a considerable quantity is situated in the Terri- tories, and a small portion along the Rainy River, in Kecwatin— gives 1,123 155 acres, up to the 31st October last. ' 2. The Dominion Lands townships surveys not having extended as yet to embrace the Saskatchewan, no return of land settled upon has been obtained from that ])ai't of the Territories. £. The approximate population of Manitoba is 35,000, of which Winnipeg con- tributes between seven and eight thousand.. 4. The number of steamers on the Had River, ijetween Fisher's Landini^ and Selkirk, is ten, of which seven are large steamers belonging to the Rod River Trans- portation Company. In addition to these, the Hudson's Bay Company have one large steamer running from Selkirk to Grand Rapids, and two ;;toamers, one of which IS built of steol, running on the Saskatchewan between Grand Rapids and Edmonton. J. S. DENNIS, Surveyor-General. 2T intei By Mr. Charlton:— ^■lJ\^TJ'' T." "''"'■^[',^«'- of the navigation of the Nelson Rfvor; arc there many liiiifiiiiii'iiii By Col. Dennis :— . ftt7sTt'?o?(rii;';'hr '"r''""^ P™ctically, on the section on the wall, the order T.,0 1^:^ou^:i^^^^ aif * r' '''"'^' ' ^^^ ^^'^^'-'l^^ ^^e matter, the country from the P Zr v^t P P'«S'««- ^^ Tne upper one is an ideal protiio of on the other nndThZ^n^^^^^^ ^ !^"''* ^"'f " ''" ^^^ '^"^ ^anri, and Biite Inlet way, from B, n d Inlet rrnrol'"" ' • ^'^«"«^^"^' !"•««'» ^'^ *''« Canada PaciHc Eail- of time, rec a med f, ta n r ;? " ""^^^^"^ ^l'^' ^^''^''^'^ ^hich will be, in the course "iorvod bv in ^1 ,• '• " "V *■"■",■" '""■"'"' "'■ America,, tcrritor? „Uo wo j.l -■--aW»»««M«>«|»,-»»t.« Oi with in a certain ra""ostingpo,.iod w,>„l,l cover tl,e whole moati, of 31,: D, Hmitk .— Vcs ; so far as tlio crops are being carried. By 2Ir. Loir,: ,■ — •' ^tatementsvvild umfv'u^^^^^^ ''"'^" f^"""'*' T do not know whether tliost lavio-ation. 29 It, but in tho oi'tion of (ho 1" port eiUioi- tho Atlantic ■Rivor ?— I ttttlomcnt of II posts. I ' vogo til bios to maturity tatcmeiits I ansiderably ^ fact would in a region, suitablo for p through 'obviating ying to bo ifflciilty of ! accounts, an is quite no being a passed to It not this No ico compara- jxtent, on houses on iiinst any for Iiand- 1 beliovo N^ow it is noantimo month of ', it is as ordinary ber tlio.so times the into tiie consider early from Nevvfbundlu.id for the Struiir'mdVl.^.V'ir'' T'^^''''^^'" h steamer to .start th.ng. HO entirely as to remove ninc-tontlH of u> , ! ' , "' ']^''"' ^''^ ^''"^'i^i"" '^1' agumst this navigation. Tl,at is tl e ^i ' t o "rim S"';, '''T'^y ^"^^'^^ '^'''^^^ sugges that all questions relating to thrnav.Vu nf T '. ,^'f' ^^'^'•«. ^ ^vould beg to view always namely, the capabriitL of the S: f ''"''' ^"'''' this one poinUn tho sailing ves.elH. If you rk^o the di ^enf, ^^^ ^'^''^'^^'^ '^ '''^■'-' -*■ ■s agreat trouble in getting tluouS Tud n s Sti^ u -r" ^"'' '^"^' '^'''^ ^''" ^^i"^ north-west wind which p "event. .Ruling vc^f.faHn , l' """ l^^'^^'^''^ "^^'-^'^ or >:m-h as openings in the ice; a steanier c-in p I- , in f T '''''"""^M'" "f opportunities, 't..- and can elfect the passage un^i con I fin 'f '^'Iv^V'"-" *^^' '^"^'' opporf.n- impossible for an ordina'ry s^/ilh^'veLeUu gir tL-o'gf ^''"^' ''''''' '' '^^^'^^^^Y occai^s^hSs;^; ^;!y^r^::^z ih ^-«;r^'^^'^ ^'^^^-^ — » ;t appeared that after endeavouring fo'et 'out -Lav^ ?'^'' '^' ^'-'iV^nd -ng o.dy 10 or 12 days-the ships had t? re^mn Thn7^? r' ■^'''"'''>' "^'^^^'' '-""^^ir. the case also as to other places.^ ' ^^""^ " '" "^"'"^^ ^"J- It has boon Hudson's Eay, asVorived from experitnee a'S iul' '": • '^'' ,r'--r''' P^""^''^" ^>f portion of James' Bay. All iho com itions n.. '"^' !^'^^^7 obtained in the southern west portion of HudsL's Jiay I much e^L - t,^"'""' '-/''« '■''■'"''^te in tho north- il.,t,^it:rii«;::-¥ ;f;^^sP^;?:.=- now employed by tho , " ---c.,.,0 vriLu iigaru lo llij Jiuuson s Uuy Oomi)an\' the " Labrador " T l..„i n — - v....p,w^uu oy uio was infor.ned the 4iliiies tho Co p^^^^^^ onioy 0^?;^'""' "^ of seeing her; and excited surprise. Should I be trcsLsin.. W n l , .r Pi»««i»« < ''rough tho ico opinion on this subject? ^icspas..ng ,t 1 asked Mr. D. Smith to state his at ™0n|^St;;I^^.^° ;:;^iS:^ cJ^z^rr' '^''r'-'y - '^ -- groat facilities for navigating Hudson's St •lits'n if *"''"'"'" ''^' ''^'^'^'^''^^l ^'^'T ■sa.ling vessels, which i^had^bec, fbmui w 'e^lj^tft H^^ "^ *'^^««"«^ ^'^^^ ''=»J Hudson's Straits. But I thinic that with on ov ! / '' ^ communication with getting through the Hudson's Strai'tsT^ , U H,- s,^3 ''''' '!'•>■' '"'^'^ "^^'^'' '"'"^^'l goes from the country. The - Labradm ■',•;; '"«>' es, and bringing out thoir car- the sealing vessels ar'e well tuilVst gth, ed '^,«{£^ -Jf ^ you describe, and purpose of encountering the ice. I am c a re vfn nli?^""' // "'^^ expressly for tho open up communication with tho HuZn s Bi^v f n^ n /'^^'^^ ^^'^^ ^^'^'''^^ to M;ell worth while attempting whatevo could be^diLTo'lh^ '"^ ^''^'"'^' '' ^^«'^'^ ^' of a titting character, well manned, to oxa nine em v nnHiL'"^/ .'^^^Z^" ng vessels he inland rivers, with a view to ascert-vin ? thn tf ' ^" of Hudson's J}:iy and bo afraid of is tho shortness of the season wi/, l-^ u ^T''^^"' VV'^t I Aould Hudson's Bay Companv',; office' s to broni J f '''''' P'"T^'^:'''''^' '"^'^ been found by tho J3ut I think it veryVell w..7th whne attomn in .' fT *""'" ^^^'^'^ «f open navigiUion of Hudson's Bay with tho North w'^t To". ^ q''T/ '? ^'^"^'^"'Hoalian by wav MMll not bo found pra"ticab"lo. I think t'i, .,"■;:, ., "A' "^ "^"^ somewhat feurfulit ink that, as the Gov ornment arc sending out u 30 itHtill rao.o beneficial. ' •'"l'l''«'nonting tlio present «to.-o, uiui rondenng 10 cniiso Jiiiy or the £y Mr. Charlton .•— iV/r. 7). ^'m/M ,,_Tn Hudson's Straits. ^^^ Q. JIa« tl.e '. Labrador - or any other steamer visited York Factory ?-I thinlc By Mr. Lowe .•— Q. Thei'o I'cmaiiiH the ouoHtion wlinn.n.. ;r. «i time, occur, the Hudson's Su-aUs vo. Ij I o n .,^" .^M^ T 'i''"' ^'^"^'^"^ ^''i«'» ^o-nc- we know that Mr. Sn.ith has stat J he UuZ 5 Ew " ' •'^•■^' '''^"'"^'•^ ^-^^ ^""'•«^'. back, from hndi,.g the Straits closed That difficu ^v n! T T .^^'"^^'"^^^'^ ^riveu' steamers. In those extreme seas and avI n t .. ^ ^-^ ^ "°^ '''""" '" i-oforenco to with ice. will they be nav^-.^abir /v «"eammN ? ? ^ \^f ?""*'. ™''''« ''>^" "'^"""y HUcd they could on airoccasion^lret sfeaZs t J-T^^^ "'"'^ """^ "^y'"'^' '^ H.-0 unquestionably well man^ned^ an tLv i^^^^^ nt I' '■'' ^''« ^^''^'r"'^ ^"^ "^''P^* the ibor ion ery even By the Chairman : — wouldrequirevosselsspeciallySd/orthat i^..- T- ^ '■ "^ '"'^""'^" furthei^it adapted for service el^ewhere"^ tl ev wo , t ,f .''""l^"" «°^-^'««; they would not bo much more expensive and adapte ?o that looclnr"'' *^«/'»«^thed, aad would bo would be possible to navigate iCon''^ Sir ^^^^^^^^^ .?' *^' ''^^''^ ^'"^° ^'^"^ '"' vessels. "= ^•'°" '' ^'^^ -^™« you might turn them into sailing the^'L!fw;;TL%fi^|,^ -od in thewinternavigationof ^^/^o^-^:^n-~i^^Z :£^ ^-^^^ P««itively as to (hat oncration. I had their scheme of toleinvpl ^con L n ^atiS^ hco, including Dr. JA,rtin, in with regard to tho naviLtion of 1 e 41 T n!i = ' r*"' -^^'^'*^''' '^^ -Lawrence ; but have spent many wint^erso differon\n^?'% i '^'" '^'^'"'^^^'hat doubtfu . I to be o'n board ono of tho e vessd^^" ^'T Z' nl ''''* '''"' •''^'"^ ^'^""'^ '^^ '"^^ (Laughter.) I really do think iV^J'od/f it ' To'"iI t"""' ')'''' ""^^ ^'''^'^'^ ten you might navigate tho St Lafvrenr n w nh.,. f poNsiblo, ],crluips one year in you could do it regularly for the pm-pos^^^^ of Trac o ' T . o '^''''' ''''^' '"^^^'^ ^^'^"^'''^^^• navigating the Hudson's Eay, an, IhK ono n??^ V '""'^ "^'^"^ schemes for specially fitted for that purp? (fand mud^ ^''""- -^ ^^^ ,^^'''"'^' ^'^l^'n'o vessels currying capacity would\e^nces^i^^;t; limited^'"""'' ''""^ ""^''"^''^ ' =^'^^^ ^^^« Pro/. «■«,(.— Do vou c,,!]' ,r„ " T*.; . ■"?:.. '',!°'"'S- „S''» '« ■' ■i"»» vessel. as Pro/. i/<>u/.- tons, and that is sraali. uuiyini, capacity as wo luwo experienced is very 31 nd those con- li timo to (ho id rorideritig ii'n, thocaiiso iiay or tho y ?— I think vhich somo- --Of course, imos driven roferonco to siially tilled h myself, if s Bay ships 'inmandors, service. I g\n^ to the A number navigation lid bo very Straits cveji lartori ng a further it luld not bo .1 would be irae that it to sailing ligation of n. I had Fortin, in once ; but ibtful. I d not like 'st people. 10 year in whether 1 ernes for e vessels and tho ' got out Jout 550 I is very ..ig.utet^^j;llli:;'^;^sS!'if^;=:^ huvo been n,ado through the! Slra.ts I'uto in oTtotr f h'a i. .T '""' ^^f ''"^'^"^'^'^ bo no difficulty in moving the crops the same year From a I u' n"'T' "k"'" ^^'""'^^ to bo no difficulty in the fall of thl year in goJting thro^ tllo SiTs ' ''"" "'^"'^ By Mr. D. Smith.-— Q. You do not spoalc of exceptional vcars ?—Nrn- nf «^„ n. exceptional years, ilut then the Jond^Uorn TntrodS In J^n ^'^■^^'^ . «''« ''''wnys matters so thoroughly ,hat you can .c c ly con"l"re thL w^H^^ '^T--'' when you employed sailin<.- vosseN Tako tlmrnln If -i " ^^mihw conditions of proLeding\,oi is totalfy ditf o"nt ftom vl aT t w s'^^^^^^^^^ vogue ; they have learned now to deal wiU; lH;^k'e aZio-l t n^ "'''''' '' solejy U.an of danger, .,- pushing in. it to tO^^^^ peSl/^^^-^^o^ thelSs^.ty'w^'Tue:^^ '^^V 'f ^ '' '-""- ^h^ Straits and iKivo'found ^th;;f i^ o„ N i 1o ^muK^^^ t *''f .-'PpHo.s by tl, out by Canada and the United States. Thi - ve „ufed ■/ v^^^ ' 'f" T^'^'^''"' from shins fi.nt fl.o.- 1.,,,.,. i„„i . -. .>„ I... ':l.,^'^ Hutteied a very considerable loss purposes. They in of ...0 uUson s Bay (Jo.n,)any Iku e carried in the great'bulk of tJ oir Straus and have found that it wouM bo very much ci.p..nn,. il ? >ut by Canada and the United States. Th - Z „ufe" -VSl ' mm sh.ps that they have had to do away with or divert to oti I tCTn^"'"V'n'""''^f '^'' introduction of supjdies by way of IR, iCiLcS"^'^^'*''^^^'^'''^^^"*''^ ^^- W the^oa{t,^yxt at tho along the coasts Json's Bay or York except for those posts Q. Would not a railway from Fort Nelson completelv alter nil ihn, difficulty IS getting up tho Haves route Avhich is n 3.;.! i^ l .' ^ S'-cat No doubt a railwa^^ vLid be of great u;e"ta^Lrsronis1o:TS!'~^'^'■^ ''"''^ -(Mr. Smith) down there you co-'uld hlu;ii; e.;pecr;)coSe"To'ro.cn? 1 *°? '\?'^- ^"^^-Jou got another, before the middle of ffiobfr"^ iV T,o^^^ 'T T >'«^"- ^^'^^ Biver and (he harvests in it as 1 do ^' '^' '"""'' «'^°»'^ ^he Rod crops'^''n.''''"--'''""''^'"''^'''^«*h« -'^''J« -«"th of September to get tho Bu Mr. Thompson (Cariboo) .•— Q. From information we have Tocfiivnrl ni.,Mif +u^ i- route were established, and a proSreq^^^^^^^^^^^ ^'f''' '^ ^his would it not bo available t^>^ r.i:^\TZ\^\:i''^ri^^^^ Certainly? if vesso s were Dioivirod for fi,;. „ "yj^ i^ulu jeai r — i rot. Jlnid— tho mhUlle of Marfrom iJveiC. and t . '^r^T/'T' V^^'>' ^^''^"'^' ^^'-ii't about June. Tho «taten4t ^0 ly ^L' L lave Le^^^ Straits about the 1st entrance can always be elfected Lre easily eatn June tha "in Tnv' T f'""' 1^ 100 comes down from Hudson's Straits ' Th..,.r.fn,^ /i ^'^^^ /," -^^'J before the Liverpool, or any other port, in tho'mont? aJT' hTvoTJ^ tinsft l' ^: ^^"'-''-"^^ of bringing out emigrants to tho North- West bv tho Pn.f^, ?/''*' "t'T '"'*'' '^« their despatch by the°Northern Pacific liailwayfw"sluu\l''the ''T^J''^ "^^ f former, which would require but one transshipment oor^ilwn?/'^'^ "^ ^^"^ There is leave the .>or(h of Scotland till the end of June or the b eginningof July. ^^^^tiifKn -w-v-wnrmmM . 32 no .'oaHon they shou .1 not go out oarlit>r iftho courso wore boHcr for navmvtion lint ti.ey ,uvo Omul ll.at it is lu-ltei- not to attoinpt it. Of coui-.u lliov l«avo triod to" voBsok " ' '' ^'"''' "''i'"'"'"''"^"' "'"'- "*' ^«"'-'''' ll'^'y '"'v« <»'"'l H«ili>.K Q. Woiil.l thoro 1.0 any .lidi.uKy of ol.laining a connoctod koHos of tables similar to tl,uso^r,ve„|,yci,ai.|.orc'II,ott 1.0 dates <)n vvliicl. the Hudson's Bay ComnanyV vessels sailed horn the Orkneys for York t^ietory or James' Bay ? ^"'»I>""y J/A »S//i^//t .-—Xo diHic'ully, 1 presume. T/u; IVitiii'ss .•—If one could obtain thodatosfor a period of 200 youfH, thov m'^ht prove usetiil. j > j ■• o"^ Mr. Smith .-—I have n^ doubt the Hudson's Bay Comi.any would bo L'lad to --ivo any information in their possession, and I shall make a point of ondeuvourin^Mo obtain It. Ft there are in hn-land any L s on this subject 1 shall muko a poinr of ondoavotirincr ,o obtain them. It may be worth while to notice a report as to the discovery lately of sotno old records in York Factory, recor.ls for 100 or 150 ye-vis which were stato'J to have been sent to the Hudson's Iky House in Mnijland. Hav'tn- asked for information with re-ard to this matter from England, 1 Hnd they have no l|MowIed^je whatever of any such i»apors bavin- been found. (App'ai.se and l.ui^'litor.) Ihe report appeared, I think, in some Xew York paper., but, so far, the Company have not seen it verified. It may bo true, though I know nothing ofit. By the Chairman : — Q. Can you state, Mr. Smith, in what month or on what day of the month the Hudson s Bay Company s vessels, as a rule, leave York Factory on the homeward flip lo Britain ^-I-rom the lOlh to the 25th of September, I tb-nk-i am not sure- or from that to the 1st Octoboc. It depends altogether on the time they have boon able to got into Hudson s Bay. It is sometimes very late before they get in, and they have to work day and night at the little re.iu.rod to be done thore^.o as to enable them to get out. I think it is towards the close of Sopfombor. q. You never heard of any groat difficulty on leaving later in the season ; there IS no particular hurry to return, only that they are making oiio triix, and they have accomplish their task; is it not that they are hurried to' got out on account of ice- bergs ^-UiHiuostionably it is from tho difficulty of getting out at all that they are desirous of leaving as early as possible. 1 have mentioned tho fact that it is only in 10 Straus the d.HiciiIty occurs, and in one case they could n .t got through and had to come back. Still this navigation would bo very desirable if it could bo found practicable. By the Chairman : Q. You have visitel tho valley of the Qu'Appello ?— Yes. ' (I What is your opinion ol its agricultural resources ?— Xot very favourable as to tho southern portion, or that before you get to While llill-i Colonel Dennis, Surveyor-General, Ottawa. WiNosou, Nova Scon.v, June lOlh, 187S. tT ^"^*^^"n ^'^'T^ T-"^, licrowith tho ad.litional ovidoiico respecting the navigation of Hudson s Bay, to which 1 alluded in April when before the Select sTanding Cmnmittee OP. Immigration and Colonizatioi,. ° _ I have supplemented my evidence with an outline of a phi'i rolatinir to tho important subject ofcolonizing tho North- West. ^ ■ iiiivi/^ation. lavo tried to UHod Huilin^ iblos Himiltii- Company V tlioy might tcliid to ,1,'ivc luvourin^ to a point of t IIH to tllO 150 yoais, nil. Ilavmi^ tlioy liuvo ip'uiiso aiul HO far, tlio ng of it. month tbo iiomowaid 1 not wurc; have boon n, and thoy. to enable *on ; (iioi'o tlicy liavo lint of ico- t thoy ai'o is only in 1 and had bo found iiirablo as nppoa-., t<. afford an impm^^^^^^^^^^ ^"fiO'T i" TIudson'H n„y ,,, . . j>'-l'"'ly oqnippod Hailing " ,1 "h ''" '"'^'""''•i'i'y of 11. l.^o, ' ^t ^^""'■•T*' .'■^luonto.! by JvhaloH d.n-i n.r: ,„, '' t^.'^ ^-- |''»< "h» vvatorn , 1^ , ; '],7" '"'• t^^^ont,:^'^:;:;;^;;;:^'-' ^-^^ '"""'"'"^''^ "• -^'-^'^^."io «11'4.00() wo t hof^Zt '!'-bl^ .-« <'« not I'oar of rinkM and danirorwonri.'n.V/'" 'iT'V '""^ ''"'''< to lOii many Brili.l, wIu'tJ . ",, ",|,™ ^ '". Amoric,,,, ,w,„l„,.„ . >„ ,,„ „„, , , , Tho "OrrayTaft," .< .< ^ ;) 1871. It is wortliy of notico tti'i< " 1872. out again intoDav*.' C 'its hnTTL'' ''J'^*^"'' ^'^ ''«vo gone into 11^1 ';"" n '""^ '^ gonorallyinDaviH'Sf...; V '^ *''« ''"^O'-ds of thoir rat. I. , ? .^"''«**" « Bay and 187S. igation of onimittoo g to tho nrw/ttTT -•■■ 84 i 03 ! •auoqoimi^ no a[«qM •HO wJaJg ■J » n •^^r w V i i 1_ K 2! 1 a §-2 a d "I a Si o •OS * 5 B v 1.1 S!. e-i a o3 C8 Q to to 00 00 CO m CO to 00 00 o o "CO be 3] ox t ^ P- a O ■aSounoj, O M r-l to S3 ' si '* ® *• : 00 jj I- r- • fO r-l •f -* T)< .tl M to to to 50 00 00 00 00 o o o « a.'^ o li a •I 6-. 31 m lo P5 lo o CO CO »o "«}< #-( CO CO CO S :2 •n in m lo in to CO to tf to , 00 00 00 00 OD ^ t^ »-^ f ci -* — . ri 4n ci l-T — ■ to c t- C( X Cq CO rH a ^t a z t « 4> O CI h "5 "" in o ( »n in »c CO to t£ 00 00 oc in oj Tj< S"© a ^-3 3' o 00 in < ?0 CTi to < O pa 5 ■S3 MM •O C3 09 a 33 to 'rt ^ -0 ra t^ 3) .a (d to 00 Cl E3 o o E O C .i fc ■a ^-^ s^ a ; j; :5,; ■ --J :»<-• y S OS ~ CS * o !- swoao K O a; 4^ 33 o 30 13 to I oo pq c o -a s ft aj -a to o & C3 .2 s p to e3 fcC c c o fee c '$ o CO n 65 -g^s ' 3 ttg^ w !'§§ JS^"" s) « .- K aj^MTS > OJ 00 •goo > 3 ■o „ 1: ost on ber 1 bone ; died (J >J ■J 03 •anoqai^qj^ 'HO ainqAi •no cajadg OS o 03 III o a 02 ■aSBnuoj, .— ( : oo Q : CO ; « ^H CO :« « 1— t f^ : 00 ig g • 00 : 1— 1 j o ; <£> i ?^ :« ta • t- t- : 00 00 00 • f-( c^ :oo 2 r •4^ : t ; o P4 4> t5 m ••o CQ o Tab 00 I a 03 a . a o • o 2^ o O 03 u 03 03173 03 CQ a 03 5 c - ■ § £■38 .£ i^ • ^ u ■ •xJOH CQ c o be s Id W 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1870 1872 1874 No \ extrac Londc indust variet the CO Colonu in Vai them i the Po traded thing i I nizatio utiliziri Saskati reach ( 37 i TTnSn? ^ tho rnnual value of tho catch of the American Whaling Fleet in nudeonsBay wilhthe ruhng prices of Oil and Bone, for each yearrcompiled flTimit^ ^^'^'' Commissioned of Fish Ld 'FisZies o a Li a, to be a 3 C6 Annual Value. Galls. $ 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1870 1872 1874 1 42J 817 92 576 11,200 4,416j 1 89J 8,398 12 1,184 2,945 Whale Oil. Galls. 89,545 49,952 59 J 1 61 18,032 00 i 99,168 95J- 2 25 J; 2,769 92 1,920 2 55 I 7,499 75 103,520 1 59 3,052 80 a o l-l oa a. (U be as _a M 1—* ^ cd Lbs. $ 1 197,936; 1 28 102,336 1 45 33,472j 73 20,800 82 52,880 33,856 65J^ 20,800 43,900 26,580 48,950 90,400 51,500 49,300 28,700 10,100 22,040 16,259, 12,0001 66 88 1 53 1 80? 1 71jf 1 37 I 1 17f 1 02j' 85 1 28 1 2oJ 28,974 OU 23,390 ;0 64,893 50 163,322 66j 87,407 22 67,541 00 I 15,043 39 10,352 50 18,734 OOi 20,811 52 14.472 00 77,721 52 53,848 50 177,333 02 427,638 86 238,564 34 200,299 95 39,689 87 27,408 50 64,428 00 42,984 20 31,096 00 Total value of 11 years' Catch ji 371 023 36 NoTK.— 32 gallons of oil are taken as equivalent to one barrel. extract Mrs'ta^Ztl*?." S^""""^ ."""u- ^"'l"""^^ ^^ *^° ""^^^^ ^'^^'y' ^ l^^ot" the extiact Ml. btaibuck introduces into his voluminous and elaborate history from tho London Quarterh,Jiev lew. It may place the indirect results of agreat and haza«.. -'-'yi'ii'g relief in England wei^e as follows:- -o'-cgate nurabei of paupers receiving Ad-ilt able-bodied paupers, 1,(511,872 All other paupers (exclusive of vagrants) 8 573 478 ^<^*'^' 10,185,350 or veiy nearly one million each ^ of $W for each person This is the dark and ray less side of the picture; let us now turn to the brirrht side and^end^^^^^ «ome gleams which may lessen the sLowfi^ Us THE GENERAL PROSPERITV OV THE PEOPLE. There are two remarkable features to be noticed in relation to the general prosperity of the operatives and labouring classes of the British Isles^ naLfy £ of the condition of the savings banks and the diminution of crime ^' Ihe computed capital of the Post Office savin-°83 23'> '^'^ i8^« ■'.'.■.■.'.■.■.■.■..■.■.■. 70;?80;i20 Increase in ten years £23,990,888 Tho decline of crime in ten j-ears is thus shown : England and Wales, number of convictions in 1867 . 14 207 *^^ do 1876.. ;;!";'. i2;i95 Decrease 201*^ Scotland, number of convictions in 1867 TnTn '' do 1876 .■::::::::::::::::::;: ^;^^g Decrease Afj-i Ireland, number of convictions in 1867... 9^7^10 ^"^ do 1876....:.::::::::::;:::*:::: tui Decrease ggg Notwithstanding these striking illustrations of tho increasing comfort amon- the masses of the people, we are confronted by those dominds of h .In^Z ^" which required for its relief in the United KiiUrand L^land in Ss&.IsTm^, 'it UmtdXS&SUmlBii 41 instit'itions. "^ mnnoioii.s .iml cmciout private charitable durin^i the coming decade ? ^" ^''*'l'''' '^'^"* '^'"^ ^^'^ *» «xpect pendhl;;^S:Ss;;1m;:;r,Sn7tt''""''^^^ ^^^'-^^^^ -neve im. !;eco.ssa7yAvo.ivvhir ?! nZ;,?"^^^ '^'^^ «««i«t in this peop b seodneto bettpi- thp;vr.nnH;f;^., . '" :""'""& "'7 practical charactoi- amona: any measures sanctioned by the oontroliin.. .int'm.Mf ^.""Pf."'" ^^o^«'""ment, and tions somewhat like the fo^^^^^^^^^ '^ one dollar an acre, subjectSo condf SaskatchevvanSistiS ' ' ' ""^ P"'"^^'"' ^^^ ^ f^^« passage to the Quebl^rCtrnd^ti^^T^^^^ nt;Tstf ^¥r'^ '^°" J^v^^p^^^ ;^ charged for the nomination to TfiL lo of 00 ac.es tiU^l fT, '^ ^^tv*? ■^'' IS to be paid bv the Savino's Rnni.. V-. +i ri .^.^'^'^ i" ^^he Saskatchewan District the Canadian Govl-mMSf «" nn nnn "^l'""'^"'' T?"'*^ .«'™ "" """""I '■"'»"><> *» sheds, „,m-i«,m7,u3"inMli„f.;V°',\ "'■''='' ""> ''""•«" '»'• transportation, large ,',.,.,i„n of'^ilfchrnW r'.,tnt i'lI'Sle' cZr '° "'° ""'' °'- *''^^«'»»''' » ac™s"rr:;%"8?™e2ST''A'=- "f-'T'f */»•'""' "■^='■333 f»™ !<"» of 100 :-'SlcSaS^^SsS^»w:t"^ ™PP0..t, tive ,.e..so,. to the f-i.y.'i,2o'o;oVT;S;Xtt:;;?2L';';^el,f ^b^SLirZl^ tea dollars. '' ^ PfiJaDie by the settler in connection therewith being an office fee of 4 j ./-v ^»f Tin ) t 1 1 rrtr-t v^XT'^^rT^'nzrrr 42 li dihtiibuted. If one per cent, only of the funds now in the Savings Banks in the United Kingdom and Ireland were annually devoted to this purpose, it would require 27 years to occupy these lands. The oinijjfrant would hiivo to bo conveyed to the District Agencies beyond Manitoba, and south of the North Saskutchowan, through the St. Lawrence Route, which would give a groat impetus to the construc- tion of that portion of the Pacific Eailway which lies between Lake Superior and Eed Eiver and beyond, through the valley of the As.sinniboino and Pipestone Creek. Tlio beautiful map published by the Department of the Interior in March, 1878, and bearing your name as Survc.yor-(iencral, contains the following cstiniates on the subject of available land in the North-West. Acres. " Vast legion, generally excellent soil with nbun- danco of wood and water ; proved to be admir- al>ly adapted totb*" "^ th ofccioals, cspeciallj' wheat 176,910,000 " Mixed prairie and tiniv' .,i rather light, but pro- duces fair crops, gooa grazing lands 80,000,000 Total ot Agricultural land 250,910,000" or, throwing off 910,000 acres, there are according to your estimate, about 401, OOO square miles of available agricultural land in the North-West, with no inhabitants, or more than three times the area of the United Kingdom and Ireland, with thirty- four millions of inhabitants crowding one another, and a million of fliem crying for bread. The artja lying north of the Saskatchewan, watered by the Beaver Eiver, the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, will ])robably be best reached ultimately by the Hudson's Bay and Nelson Eiver Eoutc. Time will bo required to open out this short cut to the Far West and across the continent. Until that line of communication is opened, the St. Lawrence Valley will bo the route followed. It is evident that the principle and method outlined in the foregoing sketch can bo applied in many different ways. Societies already existing, or formed for the jjurpose, duly recognized by the Canadian Government, might be empowered to grant nominations to farming lots on similar conditions, the Canadian Governmerit alwaj's possessing and retaining the necessary security to prevent misappropriation, by holding the title of the land until one year or more after settlement. Very truly yours, ' HENEY Y. HIND. Ottawa, 4th November, 1878. Colonel Dennis, Survej'or General, Dominion Lands, Ottawa. informa- only say Liiuu iL vvuiiiu uiiuiu iiiu \y}iy j^icat piuaouio tu uv iiuivi v\j nuu m ""j •> ly tO tnc valuable testimony of Professor Hind, given during the last Session of Parliament. I am afraid, however, that I can throw no additional light upon this very inipurtaul subject. Five years ago I published a little brochure upon the North- West, and at page 5 therein will bo found some reference to the navigation of " James Bay." I am 43 decidedly of the opinion that navigators will always find open water in Hudson's Bay during throe months of the year, say from middle of July to middle of October ?aT';n'"^'K''W^''"" f/^""*^' ^''y' I ""'^ «"'^ ««y that there are no good harbours, shoal water being the groat drawback ""^^b-'uu I observe in Mr D A. Smith's evidence" before the Select Committee of last Se H.on tho statement that the Hudson's Bay Company's officers have found the Beason of navigation to last only from two to six weeks. I think Mr Sini h must have misapprehended the facts, as it is within my own knowledge that the ^^'3 feS^ ^' y '^'''p ^•"'•^^tcrs (vessels from 20 to 40 tons) perform voyages from East Mam to Moose Factory and back during at least two and a half months of iho sum- mer, besides being employed for at least a month in attendance upon the LonZ ship, while tho latter discharges and takes in cargo ' ^^onaon Mr. Smith also stated that the report of the discovery of some papers or records OelaCng presumably to dates of arrivals and departures (t and from Yo.'cFicto^ was erroneous. Such may bo the case, but I fool assured that by writing to AlS lac ojy wo could obtain a copy of such dates and other data extending over a pS of at least one hundred years. I can speak authoritatively upon thisf as some five on^nes of arrivals and departures wore written by myself in^he boAk to vXch I K -u-^ "^"lY "^^"t'«" ^'^/ther that in tho year 18-75, tho barque " Lady Head " a ve«;sol built on th^ Tyne, and for tho West India trade, m-rivod at Moose ScTort or rSor in Moose Eoads on the 20th September, md ^ve despatched her oX? hornet 1^ voyage on the 13th October of the same year. She m",t with ko in the Sd7e of Hudson's Bay lost her rudder, and became temporarily disabled. The Cama^n (James, since dead) erected a forgo upon tho ice, cut up his best bower anchoJwtS a carpenter s handsaw manufactured therefiom gudgeins and pintles, rigged i il ry Sot'>,".';^n™"'^''^'^[-'^'"'^'"'^^'^^^«^-'^^^hed i safety after a 29%-" S 1 nose iKcts are suggestive. ■' In conclusion I can only say that in my humble opin-lon, Prof. Hinds' scheme is perfecily feasible, the more especially when we consider the use of steU vessels Slto^f trelSriig^"'^"^'^^"^ clay by day in the production and manaS: Rn..pr^'''^*''^''lf"'T''^^'",^T"'''''^ *^ *he losses sustained by the Hudson's Bay Company ,n the shipwreck of several of their ships, They never to the best of my knowledge, lost a ship of their own excepting the ''pZce Arthur ''mrffl?! Bo;i'"n?tf '"^'^'^'n" '". ''''' "J^^" '^^"^««^^ ^«''"^ 't 3:f:: «.•.<;»** \/ V ( '"^-jCHlair | // "'"*"■-(■ if;. •>— .— 1 if^Hs Uw>'' c*^'' c* fe \a> \ (,. 1-'^ .x" X lo. 1 4 < »'■■ d 'Zra/L ''%c.»'{i»"^\ ^ \ I -r- >.5^' 1\W3 ij f- y«i *^^^: wkaniriu'.t, " HiJU- 'ffiift^i" iin^^ti. t itnL^tisntm /,. .iaJ^-'P'"^ »iV ^:^i. t. ifor-i.' 'V*-"-^) A^-' \ \ X \ %, \ \ \ \ \ / \ -^. UV» ^r^ B A F F I " \ L^i-^ A y op"' si. \ -J'auUd InJ/iA a \ V \ Jn"^' V OH"'' lO^T \ ■ -L ^<'-»V •vV»5* •v»V^ / ^«5i ^ Ul vA __J^.\ >.C^'^*J4 i<^ /ihiin^ \ J^iirJ %4 6i:^3^^ ^ \v> '^> IH"'^ \ ■i((t" , 2 3««^'^'' y .lilin"' illy \ ^^■^i y.iin «- :? vi? r '^J^-vVv .^ fl.^ffkl''" \ \ \ ^'' ItinLfpusttiw I, 1^ ^\ i0^ ^. JJ < H- 'i^ *^.,il.""« -^ m'..F !.><^ ■^^^ «>>, ■««-. / \ \ l},^- \ / \ ■X \ "^•\ ^/ \ ''X \ \. \ < V \ \ \ \ y ^ \ \ \ \ :V / / y c >' V 5? // N / /] ^ ^^22^^^^^Izzzz^Szzzzzz mi^rr'm i / /.,« / Prinlnl •lid Publlihail tindn Ola aiiparliitaiidinrr of J Johnston, c n . Dapirtniantof Ita Isurlor m4fm3i^.^^s2^ .-0 "^W* ^ ■^"' ^^:i^^-r;:i£?:!L__--hi'-. vita" '" '''"' JVWto ^'•Jffpijtktininii. .VV^,iSr^ f »««1' ^ I"*?' ... / .>«^ F^^ \ L>J'li:;''' ,1 a.3«'' \ '^ ./ Q in m. w i\ iri) ^ '\ SHEWING THE EXTENT AND SITUATION OF ITS /i ^'^jIaIX^^ ' HiiiUnii Ue.'4titi.(>t4 Mih Co MontrPHl