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GSOI^OGZCiLZ. SX7RVST OF OANAJDIL.
ALFRED R. C. SKLWYN, JMi.S., F.CJ.S., Director.
KEPORT
ON EXPLOKATIONS ON THE
CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS
AND ABOnND
GOD'S AND ISLAND LAKES
1879
/
BY
ROBERT BELL, M.D., F.G.S, C.E.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF PARLIAMENT,
X)-A.WSON BROTHERS,
1880
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ALFRED R.C.SELWYN.F.R.S. DIRECTOR.
54'"l5
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Stri,r A'. JO /:".
50. Striif A'. 30 .£.
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21.
22.
23.
24.
26.
27.
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29.
30.
31.
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33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40
41
42.
43
44.
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46.
47.
48.
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50.
Grty finely niicacfous ,/atf conghmerafe in which tlit pe/Nft ari- ahunJant,
nwll founded and cot,:p.js,d principally 0/ grey iyeniie and light £>ty
•iUiXrtziit. Strike F. dip .■>.■<:, S<...
C'-eyisk ,;-d gneiss. Stuhe 1-. dip X. <Z So ' St'iie X. 30 K .
('f-'y A-neits. Strike F. dii .S" *: K5
MiciKt-oui grey gneiss, finely rihhoned. St> ikt M
Stria- S. 30 /r.
i<-:irs,- cry j;n,-iss. Strike X a E. dip / « 5.
Grey f;>u-;,s. ,\triht X 5 /; .
Dark ,:r.;-,iish grey/elsitic hornhUxdic sJinl. Strike X. 70 ;^' dip X la
F. -■: 65.
Ccarsf grev gtieiss. Strike X. u E dip f. it S.
Light rrddiiU and lery iiglit gr,y gneiss. .,(>,/,,■ A'.
"< rio. Stri,f X. 30 E.
Cnarsegrey i.„eiss. .Strikf X. i5 . W. dip X. i.. E. Stria- X. 18 E.
Dark gr,;.,„i,') grey yl-lsitit liornl'lrndii uhist. Strike A. sjA--- 85.
Stri.r X JO /(-:
Same as 11. Strike X. 16 /;: ,/// 90. Stria- X. ao E.
Dark gr,y gneiss. Strike .;. 70 E. dip S. jo li'. StHit X. 15 E.
Crt-en mica and hcirnhh'ide Sihiii. Strike S- 33 IK dip II'. -2 X^r 50.
Stri.r S. 8 ty. and V. 8 /;.
Ferruginous, dark colored, silicims.Jineiy crystalline hornblende schists.
Strike E. 10 .?. dip X. 10 E -cz 55.
Light grey coarse granite. Elates 0/ yellow mica in white -juartz and
felspar. Also, /ine grained dark grey micacecus gneiss. Strike S 65
E. dip S. 3$ IV.
Coarse reddish grey gneiss. Strike X. 63 IT. dip X'.-j,: A' - 90.
.Vi'»7> A". 30 E.
Coarse reddish grey gneiss. Strike S. 48 .€". dip north-east.
Coarse grey gneiss. Strike E. vo A', dip 5 -o /' -: 45
Grey and greyish red gneiss .Strike X. 45 E. dip X. 45 /;:
Dark grey feisitir schist -adth/ine lines 0/ it ratiji cation. Strike E 10 ,V.
dip X. lo W ^'_ 43.
Same rock as 21. Strike S. 7.. /r dip X w W. Slri,r A'.
Dark j,'rey glossy calcareous schist.
Grey, finely rihloned silicious state, fc'siti, and slightly calcareous.
Strike IK 15 S. dip S. i^ E ■-' 90.
Kery coarse grey gneiss and grey i'uarti rock. Strike X. i^ H'. dip IV.
Grey gneiss. Strike S. 25 E. dip E. js A'.
Dark greenish grey felsitic and hornlUndlc schist Strike S 27 W dip E
27 A-.
Grey calcareous slightly crystalline steatiU'c schist. Strike S. -,7 IV. dip
E. 37^.
Gneiss. Strike A". 70 H'. dip A' '.:o E.
Fine greenish grey gneiss. Strike E. dip X. -<: 3.;.
Greenish grey gneiss. Strike X. 40 A' dp X. 50 IV. Stri.r X.
Green epidotic hornhlende schist. Strike S. 70" IK. dip X. 20 // '. Stri,e X.
(hey gneiss. Strike X. if. // '. dip X. 5.) A" .•> Stri,/' X. 10 E.
Dark grey gneiss iviih veins 0/ green epidotic hornblende schist. Strike
E. dip X. -r 30. StriiK S. 5 (/•'.
Gneiss. Strike S. s,r, E. dip S. so IV.
Dark grey gneiss. Strike IV. ,0 X. dip S. 10 IV. -r. 45, Stricf X. 20 E.
Grey gneiss. Strike IF. 10 S. dip A'. ,0 1.'. -^ ■;:j. Stri,T X. A E.
Dark grey gneiss. Strike X. 20 IC. dip E. 20 N. <:t 85.
l^trike A. 18 E. dip E. 18 S. -' 80.
Very coarse grey gneiss. Strike E. dip S. --c. 45.
Grey quart-, rock. Strike E. 20. 5 ./■/ .\. 20 \\\
Yellow pearl spar in quartz. Strike E. iX.dipN 8 IV
X. uyE.
Light t'luish grey calcareou.f j7lsit!c schd. Strike IK S X Stri.^ V
E. - ■ ^ ■
Same rock as 43, and g,-cy gnei.'fs. Strike S. 65 IV. dip X. 25 IV <: 45.
Gneiss. Strike N. 45 E. dip. A'. 45 IV. -; 43,
Yello^v pearl spar inquarii. Strike H'. 20 .>r. dip S. ioE\ <i 85. Stria
X. :o E.
Grey gneiss. Strike X. dip IV. <: 45 .''
Oey gneiss containing reddish and greenish spots. Strike IV. 15 A", di/
X. 15 £'. -sc 60.
Line grained greenish gneiss. Strike h. dip cp. Siricc S. 26 JK
Soft grey schist full of grains 0/ clear riterous qttartz, with others of
iron pyrites. Strike E. -zi S. di!' X 3 '".<=; 3;.
Striae
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or
^ND AND GOD'S LAKES
AND OF THE
CONNECTING LITERS TO
3XI^ORD
L^KE
FROM TRACKpURVEYS
By a. S. Cochbane, C. E.
Assist, to Dr. B3LL.
1879.
Scale 4- Miles to one [nch.
rrrrr
2 3 +
6 i»
X
M
THE BURLANO LITHOGRAPHIC CO MONTREAL
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55.
56.
57.
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61.
6'2.
63.
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65.
Cii.
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(59.
70.
71.
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75.
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7'.).
81.
h;i.
84.
85.
h7.
;V. 15 E. -C 6tJ.
line grained firetnish ^ni'i$t. strike h. <1il> jr>. Sfri.f S. afi "^.
So/l gny f.hiii full 0/ grains 0/ ,Uar r itfrout quartz, with otkitt 0/
ironpyritis Striki' E. 22 S. t/iA N. JZ /'.-«; 85.
Iron isiiinJ. Sfrpttttine viiih ,aL^\r,- us joints ami hard terpentine rock
n/ii hright grten rolor. Stionf; Hitigii.ti. diiturhancr here.
Very dark grey diorite. Strihe .T. 1/ 5. di/> y. 13 /J'. 5tria A'. 6 E.
Crey ijuart^ rotk. Strike /(', ,/// 5. -r- -tS. Siritr N. 8 E.
Siiiritnn longlotnrrate. Strike A. //// ')<j
Micaceous grey gneiss Jinely ribboned, ."strike S. 43 E. difi A'. 47 E.
Crey/elsitic schist shinning very fine Una 0/ straiijiiatiim. Strike N. f<o
If.dip.V. y>E.-^ 85. .Strides. 70 it'.
Massive grey mica schist with glo.^sy spots. Strike £. 10 A', dip S. 10 W.
Same rock as No. 59.
llark s:>e,n cryiialline diorite. with catcspar .'n the joints, holds iron
pyrites and s»iali veins c/i/nartz.
I .neiss. Strike JV. 65 '^'. «'«/ A'. 27 R. Strict N. -^5 E.
u,-cygneis>. Strike S. (h E. dip N. jr. E Stri..- N 20 E.
Same rock asfsi. Strike H'. 15 ^V. ./// .V. 15 E. Stri.e N. 16 E.
Kearlyllai.k finely crystalline hornhleni schist.
Grey gneiss. Strike A'. 4? /^'
Very light grey fine grained granite . Strike N. 45 E.
Gneiss, i'lp Easterly ■. ^:,
Nearly fd.xck, finely cryslalliuc horuHer.de schist. Strike E. 10 N dip
N. 10 iV. Strut N. \t E
Darkvrry felsitic schist thickly sfn'ttedwilh whitish felspar, giving it a
po'phvitic appearaiitc. Strike ,':. dtp S.
.<;avie rock as 73. Strike X. to J- dip A'. 70 ;/'. «- ■ 45- Stride N. v.-, E.
Same r..ck as jv Strike N. i^ E dip X 1^ ''''-=;- ':.o.
•-ame rock as r\. Stride S. ( ■ /;. dip un, clain. S> >!ce N. 70 E.
Same rock as 73- -S^ '•''>' ■''' 5 ' E. dip A'. 3 ' A'- Stri.e X. s E.
Co>:'pact ./ark grec,!!.<th ^ >cy di'.yUe wilk ; little calcspar in the joints.
.-strike .v. '« /;". dip ~.)o. Stria: X. w E
.Same ioci,- as T^. Strike X- r'.. H: dip X. .4 ^'■- ■■-- 4S.
Fine graia.dgrey (" pepper and salt ".; gneiss. Dip Xorihw.ir.is ve>y
irrceiilar. S/ri.r A' I'A E-
.Same rock at 78. Strike E dip X. St rice X. 25 ^^•
.Same rock us 7S. Strike X. 25 E.
I ompact dark greenish grey diorite. Strike S. 60 E.
.Same rock as 80. Strike X. 8n E. dip X. .0 SV. Striae X. 35 E.
JMrk greyish green diorite schist. Strik.- X. 50 W-'. dip X. .\o E.
Cneiss. Strike X. 20 E. Strice X. 44 £■
(ineiss. Strike E. .'itri.e X. 30 E.
Finely grained flesh colored gneiss. Strike N. 60 tV. dip X. 30 E. Strice
X. ,34 E.
Finely crystalline black hornblende scl:ist full of dull garnets ot large at
peas. Same of it micaceous and holding 1; r.mite pebbles.
Keddisk and grey gneiss. Strike S. 70 E. dip S- 20 /(' -- 70. Stri.Tf 5, 55 E.
urey gneiss. Strike X. 40 ii'.dip Westward &.-. StriiP X. 12 £.
tircy gneiss. Strike X. 60 F. dip. S. 30 /:. Stria- X. 20 £.
95^30
Mil i II I n Mil W J %•«• r
95°30
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(iKOl-OOIfAI- Sl'RVKY OV'FICE,
Mo.NTUKAi., Muy Itli, 1880.
Ai.VR&u R, C. Sei.wvn, Ksw., F.R.S., F.G.S.,
DirfCtor of the. Geologiail Survry.
Sill, — My rcpi>rt, (ioiiUiiniii^- ii burniiKiry of tho rcsiills ol' tlio oiioru-
tiotiH of the Hottson of 1S71». is hoi'owitli rospoctfully submitUxl.
i luivc llio honour to In.',
Sii',
Your t)bediont servant,
KOIJIORT BKLL.
1S8025
r*-, ^.■; *-
I *
) i
REPORT
ON EXPLORATIONS ON TUB
CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS
AND AliOUNI)
(;OI)'S AND ISLAND LAKES,
18 7 9.
sv
ROBERT BELL, M.D., F.G.S., O.E.
Before proceeding to wtuto the results of the work to which thin
report refers, I shall give a brief narrative of the season's operations
and mention the methods pursued in endeavouring to acconi})lish theM^ct^hod^
objects we had in view. In 1878 I had made a track-survey and a
geoi 'gical examination of the l)oat-route from Lake Winnipeg to
Hudson's Bay by way of Oxford and Knoo lakes, and the rivers thence
to York Factory. I had also made topographical and geological sur- Previous
veys of the lower part of Nelson River, and of the upper part of the "'"'^^^ '
same stream, from Lake Winnipeg nearly to Split Lake, leaving untin-
ished the central part. In 1879 I was to corui)lete this and to examine work for 1879.
as much of the Chui-chill River as the season would permit. In order to
accomplish this I proceeded, as before, by way of the city of Winnipeg
to Norway House, which I again made my headquarters for the season.
It is due to the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company that I should ^°nt o?'""^'"
here again express our indebtedness to thorn for their uniform kindness'"""*'-'"-^"-
and for the substantial assistance wiiich they often rendered, enabling
us to accomplish much more than would othervvise have been possible.
In this connection I must mention more part'ciilarly Mr. (Irahamo, the
Chief Commissioner, Mr. J. McTavish of Fort Garry, Mr. Wm. Flett of
the Stone Fort, Mr. Roderick Ross of Norway House, Mr. C, Sinclair
of Oxford House, :Mr. Linklater of Island Lake, Mr. J. R. Spencer of
Fort Churchill, and Mr. Joseph Fortescue of York Factory.
(iKOT.OdrrAT- ><UnVKV OF fANAPA.
Assistant.
Men.
I was assisknl <luvii\<; the season l),y i\lr. A. 8. ('ocln-ano, who had
afcompaiiicd mo on a former survey, and through liis otlicionex^ as an
i'\'l)h)ivr tlie cxtcnl of our fu'Id-work was hiru'ely incirased. On my
journoy west, hy way of (h(^ hikes, I picked nj), at tlie SauU Ste. Marie,
three men whose merits i had tested on loiii;" exploi-ations in previous
years.
A few da,ys aft ei- our ai'rival in Maniloha, the officers of the Hud-
son's Bay ("oini):my kindly aUowed myself and party to take passage
liy tlio steamoi- Colrille (which also towed our York hoat) fi'OTn Lower
Fortdarry to(ieorge's Tslaiid, or the gre.-iter ])art (jf the <listaneo to
Norway House, for which they made no cluii'go. Tliej- also gave me
till' use of the Voi'k lioal referreil to for the summer.
Before ivaching Norway House, although diligent en([uiry was
made, no i-eliahle informati< ii could ije ohtuiruvl with regard to the
Churchill River, the conti-al ])ortion of the I'T'lson., or the country
lying between these two stn^ams ; and even at this ]>ost very little Avas
known on the subject. This arises from the fact that both these rivers
have lung since lieim abandoned as " voyaging" routes by the Hu(ls(jn's
Ba}* Company, and also that no Indians live at or near the parts I was
to examine. At Norway House it was ascertained that a route for
small canoes existe(l between Sjilit Fjake on the Nelson and the head-
cliiiivliiiil{iver waters of the Little Chui-ehill liiver, and I determined to l()llow it and
the latter stream to the (Ireat Churchill, and to descend tins river to
the sea. As it was necessary to find out everything as we went along,
the (luestion of how best to tinish my survey of the central ])ai"t of the
Nelson River was left to lie decided as circumstances might determine.
Ml- rnrliniu's l^t>'"*''*-' leaving Norway House, Mr. Cochrane was instructed to pro-
iusiiiRuoii..*. (,(^.^(1 t,)<Jo(rs Lake and Island Lake and to make track-surve3's and a
geological ev.uinination of their slioi'es, as well as of his routes in
going from Oxford House mid i-cturning to it again. The position of
Oxford .House I had determined the previous year. Mi: Cochrane
performed this service in a very satisfactory manner.
V ,, I left Noi .,,(V House on th(^ 16th of July with four Indians and two
';; '■'"';•,, small canoes, and reached F(i,'t Churchill, by the route above indicated,
on the oth of August, lun mg coiupletcd a track-survey and made :v
geological exan)ina!ion )f the whole distance. On I'oaching the
junction of the Little wi Ji the Croat Churchill lliver, I left most of
my outfit in charge ; f one man, and with the otlier thrci' made an
upward exjiloralioi of tlu" main river for two daj's, so that the time
occupied on the journey between Norway House and the sea, at Fort
Churchill, was oidy seventeen days, two oi' which wei'e lost (nving to
rain.
\iir\v:iy Hou?r
Wllllt of
iiiriiniiiitiiiii.
Aliiiii'lonoil
rivci'p.
R'liiti' to
nifRr-niM, and nelson iuvehs.
►
Fvou) tho moiitli of till' Cliurclnll 1 slartcil in u Itoat with my ow
iiicii to oxiiinine the const of Iliidson's liav iiortliward. hut t'iicuii
Htaticos soon ohliij-i'd mo to ret tin
lliiil
son s
I^av (
omj)any s ship ship fn
iiiilii
Asccml thr
.Nelson l{i\ or.
from Loii(h)ii an-ivcil the same (hiy tliat I i-i'tiiriR'(l to tlu' month of tlie
river, and tlie oa|)tai(i kindly a;jjreed to give a passai^e to myself an<l
men to York Kactory. While the ship was lying at Fort Chiirehiil, I
made an approximate survey of the Kurronnding region.
At York Faetory I ohiaiiied some provisions, and, with the men who
aceompanied mo from Norway House, jiroceeded in the same; small
canoes to ascend the Nelson River to the point which had heen rcacluvl •'
when e« ?-o«/6' for Churchill. The river iihove the iirst rajtids jn-oved
very dilliciilt to ascend and the journey occupied a longer time than 1
had expected, hut with the aid of the game and tish which we obtained
we managed to subsist.
A short distance above Split Lake, the Grass River enters the Xelson t!i;i>s nwer.
on the west side. Having already explored the Xel.soa above this ])oint
both in 1878 and 1870, J determined to ascend the Grass River, and
from one of its branches 1 again reached the Nelson at the fool of Sijii-
wesk Lake. I next made a track-survey of the north-western channels other ?urveys.
and arms of this lake, and then of the channels to and from Duck Lake,
as well as of the latter lake itself.
In going uy, fi-om Pipestone Lake to Norway House I surveyed a ^
small channel of the Nelson, which runs for some miles through the Uirnmrii Moss'
eastei'ii part of Ross' Island, of which both sides were mnpjieil in IS78,
and the island found to be over tifty miles in length. In the course
of these explorations along the Nelson River, observations were taken ot.sorviitioM-.
for latitude, longitude and the variation of the comp.i-^. and a iiiiinlu'r
of photographs were obtained.
On rijaching Norway House again,! founu nut Mr. (,'ochrane had
returned onlv a day or two in advance of myself, and as soon as we
,,..,.' \- I I • Return to
could get ready we set out tor Manitoba in the same v rk hoat in .Mmiitoba.
which we had come. The season proving very stormy wiih head-
winds, we were three wecdcs in reaching Lower Fort (Jarry. ITaving
made a track-survey in 1878 of the west side of fjake Winnipeg from
the Dog's Head southward, the east side was t'ollowed on the present ski-ti-h ot iKirt
. n 1.1 1 I /> I. 1 -r»- 111 "I' I'!''"' ^liore ol
occasion from this place to the mouth ot Red River, and a ski ii LhUv WinnipcB
of its outline taken.
When in Manitoba, it was my intention to have made a geological
examination of the line of the Canadian Racitic Railway eastward frcrn
Red River to Rat Portage, but it was not found practicable to do s- .
11 1 M 1 1 • I I ''t't"!"" '"
and as the season was well advanced I returned to .Montreal, which 1 .Montreal.
reached on the 11th of November.
4 e (lEOLOGtOAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Siiiiiiniiry of TliG following list sliows thc rcHpoctivo loiigtliH of the several tnick-
sur\ejs, surveys which were made hy myself: —
Miles.
1 . Canoe-rotite from Split Lake to Was-kai-ow-a-kti Lake 42
2. Shores of this lake 30
3. Little Churchill River, fol lowing its course 172
4. Great Churchill River, following its course 169
5. Shore lines, &o., iu the vicinity of Fort Churchill 40
6. Nelson River, including some re-surveys; but not the lakes on its
course 212
7. Shores and connectiiiu channels of Gull, Split, and Sii)i-we8k
lakes, not including islands and the smaller liavs 232
8. Grass River and lakes in its course, counting on / the straightest
line through eacli lake, betwcci the points at which 1 entered
andleftit 108
9. Part of the east shore of Lake Winnipeg between the Dog's Head
and the mouth of Red River G4
Total 1,069
Thciee surveys, cheeketl by^ the numerous latitudes which were
taken, and knowini>; the loiigitudos of a few points and the magnetic
variation which was frequently ascertained, enable us to lay down,
with sutticiont accuracy lor present purposes, a considerably amount
Data for a map. of topography. As, howevor, it is pr(jposed that I shall continue ope-
rations during the coming season in the same field, and also extend the
area explored, it is considered best to jmblish a map of the i-esults of
both years' work at the same time, l-'or the same reason I propose
next year to describe the whole region more full}', so that the present
report may no considered as being to some extent only provisiomil.
Map showing jhe area covered bv Mr. Cochrano's exi)lorations havinij; beina: con-
Mr. Cochrniio s "^ , ^ . . .
exploration!!, fined within narrower limits, may be considered as finished, and his
map accompanies this report.
Summary of his The following list shows the number of miles of track-survey
accomj)lishcd by Mr. Cochrane : —
Miles.
1. The channels between Great and Little Playgreen Lakes 49
2. Jack River, from Rossville mission to above the second rapids. , . 26
3. Canoe-route from Knee Lake to God's Lake 27
4. Shores of main body of God's Lake 136
6. Canoe-route, including Rat, Clearwater and Touchwood lake ,
between Oxford Lake and God's Lake G7
6. Canoe-route between God's and Lsland lakes 69
7. Shores of Island Lake, all around 213
Total 586
A somewhat less accurate track-survey, embodying upwards of forty
cmmCIIILL AND NELSON RIVERS.
5 c
miles of shore-lines, which was matlo of tho up))or division of (Jod's
Lake, is not includoU in the foregoing statement.
Tho siu'veys mentioned in the above lists, amounting in tho aggre-
gate to 1,655 lineal miles, were completed in less than three months Time ami meii
. , , , , . , 1 • .11 11 1 1 required.
With the assistance ot only six men. Although they ai-e made only as
accessory to our geological work, they afford a good knowledge of the
principal geographical features of the country, and may be found use-
ful for various other jjurposes at any future time. Besides performing
the foregoing track-surveys, both Mr. Cochrane and I resurveyed in Resurveys.
the samo manner considerable stretches, not included in the above
statements, which I had gone over in 187S for the sake of checking
distances and obtaining greater accuracy of detail.
In the course of the above surveys, I took a large number of obser-
vations both of the sun and ])ole-star, for latitude and the variation of
the compass. Others for longitude were also iiuide at a few points, obsorv'ations.
In addition to this astronomical work, the reiitUng of the barometer
was constantly kept for ascertaining ditterences of level of water and
the elevations on land, and the temperatures of rivers and lakes were Elevations and
noted a> indicatetl by the thermometer. There was not a very great "'°'^"'' "'^*^*
diversity of scenery. However, L exposed about forty prepared dry
plates, which gave as many photograjthic views as it was thought photographs,
worth taking, in onier to show the characters of the ditl'erent parts of
the region explored, or to represent any points of particular interest
met with. A few of these have been used in preparing the illustra- illustrations,
tions which accompany this report.
I made a considerable collection of plants as I went along, and Prof.
Macoun, of All)ert University, Belleville, has kindly furnished a list
of the sitecimeiis which I submitted to him. This will be found
1 !• mi I if 11 • 11 1 BotiinlCiil
in the a])pendix. iiie best jiart ot my collection was made along the collections.
Nelson River, but the greater portion of this was unfortunately lost,
owing to an accident. Professor Macoun has, however, found 237
species among the specimens bi'ought home. Notes were kept in re-
gard to the nature of the woods in .ill localities visited, and tho treses! "'"" °
geographical range of the various shrubs and timber-trees was recorded.
Some remarks on this subject will be found further on. The informa-
tion derived froni a study of the distribution of tho trees and shrubs,
and of the flora genei-ally, in any district, aft'ords us one of the most
certain means of judging of its climate for agricultural purposes. It
will be seen that the general trend of the northern limits of the forest- Xprthem limitg
trees in the region under consideration agrees with that of the isother-" 'P"'''"'^'
mal lines as determined from other data.
The cJiaracter of tho soil was always notetl, as well as any facts Soil.
4
fi
fiRfirifHilcAT- SrliVEY op (>ANAt)A.
ClilUHto.
ZooloKy.
Hal)its of
Maiiiimili'.
Dr. Klliott
Coiios.
which had Ihhmi ascertixiiied I)y the ollicors of the Hudson's Buy Coiii-
paiiy ()!• otluTS ill ro<j;ai'd to tlic (•ro])s which mi^Iit 1)6 raised. Hcsidos
our own exjicricnco in regard to liio nature oC the climato, intormation
was collected from others as to rain, snow, frosts, winds, &c., all with
a view (o ascertain as I'ar as |)()ssil)le how much of the country may
some da}- \)v turned (o account lor the sujiport of man. Kacts hearing
on these suhjects will he given in the course of this report.
Attention Avas paiil (o the zoology of the country explored as far as
our lime would j)ermit.
MammaJx. — I continued to gather infoi-mation as to the hahits and
lifedustory of all the species known to inhahit the district, hoth by
direct observation and by ]irosecuting my encpiiries among the officers
of the Hudson's Bay Company and the better class of Indian hunters.
T have been collecting notes on this subject for several years from all
parts of the basin of Hudson's lUy, and I jiropose to give the results
in a future report. In the meantime I beg to express my obligations
to the gentlemen referred to and also to Dr. Elliott Cones, of Wash-
ington, D.C., the well-known authority in this department, for the
correct determination of some of the smaller species.
Birch. — A list will Ix' found in the a})pendix of tifty-(ive species ol"
bii'ds, of which I obtained specitneiis of either the skins or eggs.
mens"c(iiiectea. '''''' i*^ 'i'^^ ^^Y ^*^' of some interest in ext(>nding our knowledge of the
geograj.)hical range and of the bi'eeding grounds of some of the species
enumerated. Although the mnnber of birds whose occurrence was
noticed is considerable, I iiave not added their names to this list, in
case of doubt. During the coniing season I hope to procure speci-
mens of many of them, along with others not hitherto noticed.
Fishes. — In travelling "light'' in small canoes I was unable to
carry along alcoliol for pi-eservi. g the smaller species, and none can
be obtained at the posts in the distinct. Wlien opportunities occurred,
however, I preservcnl specimens of th" larger tishes with common salt.
Before publishing a list of the fishes jf the district, it will be well to
take advantage of the opportunitie . which it is expected will be
atforded during the coming summer for adding to the numlier of
species ali'cady known, and increasing our knowledge of the distribu-
tion of the others. I may mention that I have ascertained the exist-
ence of twenty-one species in Lake Winnipeg or the adjacent waters,
Fishos of hake Fi'om specimens which 1 sent to Professor IJaird, Professor Gill, of the
Smithsonian Institution, has determined the herring Avhite-fish, which
Herring white- is caught in abundance at the mouths of the Nelson and Hayes rivers,
to be Corcgonus Arfedi. The same tish is abundant at the mouths of all
Piko-perch. the rivors arounil James' Bay. The pike-perch from York Factory ho
I
CHrRCntLL AND NFJ,SON lUVKRS.
7 c
1^.
id.Militics iXH SHzostethinm Pmadetise. A lino grayling wa^^ obtained in r.ra.vliup.
tiu( brooks (lowiii-- into (lie Clmrcliill iioar tlie soa. Krotn a spfcimon
Hiibniittod to ['i-oi: (iill, ho finds the siiocics to l)e Thi/mallus ■^ii/nifer.
Tlio salmon IVcHHionting the mouth of the ('liurt'hill is the same spocios gnim,,,,.
which is more abundant on the oast side of Hudson's Bay, and was
referred to in my report for 1877. A sea-tn.ul is also found in the f^i'i«-tr..nt.
mouths of the (niurchill, Nelson and J laves rivers, as well as along the
east side of Hudson's and James' bays.
Tnsecfs.— Vho (^^leoptera, which I collected in the region of thoCoioopt^ra.
Churchill and Nelsiui rivers, were kindly determined by Dr. .). L.
LeConte, of Philadelphia, and a list of them will be fourd in the
appendix. The Lepido])tera of the district which 1 ex Jew. last i'CP"i"i'tcra.
summer luive been studied by Ilerr (ietVcken, formerly of Stuttgart,
Germany, who has kindly furnished me with the list of species given
in the jippondix. The specimens were collected ]H'incipally by the
Venei-able Archdeacon ivirkby, who resided until 1KT9 at York
Factoiy.
J/oZ/(/,sA-,s.— Owing (o the muddy and brackish nature of the water, ,j^^^,^^^^^,^g^y_
no moUusks are found in the part of lludson'.s Bay near York Factory.
About the mouth of theChurchill river the only living species observed
were the common mussel (.V>/tilus (•duUs) ami a species of X/Yfomw.
Dead shells wei-e abundant on the beacli, of Pertcn Islandicus, Cardium
hUindlmm, Mya arenaria, M. tnmcaOi, Astarte lactea and RkynchoncUa
psittacea, but all tliose appear to have been washed out of the drift-clay,
which abounds fr<mi below the sea-level upward. A list of the IVesh- List of fresh-
water shells collected in the district, together with some from Manitoba,
is given in the appendix.
Waters of the Eet. and Assiniroine Eivers.
In the earlier days of the (reological Survey, analyses were made by
Dr. T, Sterry Hunt of the water.s of the great rivers of what then con-
stituted Canada, as well as of those of many miii<.'i-al s])rings and wells.
As it was considered desirable tocontituie this im])ortant work in refer-
ence to the principal rivers now included in the J)ominion, I obtained samplfipfram
samples of the waters of the Nelson, Eed and Assiniboine rivers for '"•««'"'''''''''■
experiment. A complete qualitat ive and quantitative analysis of each
of the two last mentioned is now being made in the laboratory of the
Geological Survey, and the results will be reported on by Mr. Hoff-
mann. Having also brought home sami)les of each of these waters f,;™_
six years before, which were aflerwai-ds submitted to Dr. Baker
Edwards, F.C.S., for analysis, 1 shall give his results in referring to
the subject of the water-su})ply of the city of Winnipeg. The bottles
8 c
GEOLOaiCAL SURVEY OF DANAIM.
coiiliiining th(^ smnple of the Nelson Rivcu- water were uiifortiiiiatolj'
brokon on tho way to Montrciil, when our boxes wero violently tossed
about on a steamer during; a gale of wind in Lake Huron.
CI
ff
tl
Pity of
WinniiiCB-
Iraportanco of
a better .luiiply
Wells.
Waters of tho.
Rodand Assini'
boino rivers.
CollcctinK of
8umplo3.
t)r. Baker
Edwards'
analyses.
Probable
change in
composition.
The Water Supply of the City nf Winnipeg.
Owing to the rapid growth of the city of Winnipeg, which already
contains a lai'go population, the (jueslion of provitling it with a choajier,
and, if possible, a bettor supply of water than that afforded by the
present primitive and inadequate method has become a mattcu- of great
importance. The waters derived from tho wells sunk in the stratified
clay in and around the city, although clear and sparkling, are not
always pleasant to tho tasto, and they are evidentl}'^ too higldy charged
with mineral salts to be desirable for domestic use. JJesides these
objections, the quantity which might be obtained from such wells
would, no doubt, prove quite inadecjuate for the wants of a largo town.
The water of either the l{ed or Assiniboine Eivor is fairly good, .and
as these sti*eams afford the most convenient sources from which to
draw an unlimited supply, any information as to the nature of their
respective waters will be of interest at the present time. Dr. Edwards'
analyses, to which 1 have roferi-ed, were made in .fune and .Tuly, 1871).
The samples were collected by myself on the 18th of October, 1873—
that of the Assiniboine at Fort (rarry Ferry, and that of Eed River a
few miles .above the confluence of the two rivers. In each case tho
samples were taken from the centi'o of the stream. Tlicy were pre-
served in hard glass bottles, at a pretty uniform temperature, in a
cellar in Montreal until required for analj'sis. Having been kept for
such a length of time, a portion of the orgainc matter has most likely
l)een lost, but the mineral constituents have probably not been affected
to any practical extent. Before the analyses wore undertaken the
greater part of the suspended impurities had setth"' to the bottom, and
the decanted water, being almost clear, was not filtvred. The quantities
operated upon Avere smaller than would have been desir.ahle, but owing
to Dr. Edwards' skill, and his experience .as a water analyst, I h.ave no
doubt his figures represent very nearly tho composition of the respec-
tive rivers at the above date. The samples handed to Messrs. Hoffmann
and Adams, and which were collected in the corresponding period in
the month of October (1879), wei'c taken from each river at a short
distance above its junction with the other. It m.ay be expected that
some change has taken place in the composition of these waters in tho
intei'val of six years, owing to v.arious causes, among which may bo
mentioned tho dredging by the United States authorities of tho bottom
of tho Eed Kivor throughout a considerable part of its coui-se, to the
,
.
CHURCHILr- ANP NELSON lUVEHS. ^ f-
cultivation and drainage of land, an.i perhaps also to the increased rain-
fall in Manitoba during the last few years. These analyses may,
theroforo, bo found to possess some historical interest :—
WATER OF TUE ASSINIBOINE IN J 873. ^ ^_^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^__^^^^^ ,_^
(rrninn per IiniHTiul (fiilluil.
1 . Organic matter (loss by ignition) '^^^^^^
2. Cfilcic sulphate
3. Calcic carbonate " ^
4. Iron, alumina and silica
5. Alkaline salts, chiefly as chlorides ^ ' ' ^
6. Magnesia sulphate 3009
37-80
Hardness hy Clarke's scale , lO-S" •
WATER OF TUB BEI) UIVER IN 1S73.
Tntal K'lliil contents 111
Brains pur Imperial RftUon.
, , 9g Red River
1. Organic matter (loss by ignition) ^ ^ ^ - water.
1 . Calcic sulphate
3. Calcic carbonate "'
4. Iron and alumina, 2-80 ; silica, -98 3- (8
5. Alkaline salts, chiefly as chlorides 5-18 ^^^^
27-16
Hardness by Clarke's scnle, '■'*'.
V will be observed from the- above analyses that (all things consid- comjutrison of
ered) the water of the Bed River is rather better than that of the
Assiniboine This, I think, is contrary to the general belief, owing to
the greater ciumitity of mechanically suspended impurities in the Red
River water. The amount of organic matter in both is considerable,
and would, no doubt, be greater in fresh samjiles.
They contain a large quantity of lime stdts, the carbonate P^'^^ReJative.^^^
dominating in the Red River, while the Assiniboine has the most
sulphate. Magnesia sulphate does not appear to be present m appre-
ciable quantity in the water of the Red River, while its occurrence m
so large a proportion in the Assiniboine water constitutes its worst
feature If the Red River in any part of its course contained magnesia
sxdphate, its absence in the stream near Fort < rarry at the above date
may be accounted for by its having been precipitated by the carbonate
of iron contained in springs and surface water flowing int., the river,
or by the carbonate of potash resulting from the lixiv.ation of the
ashes left by the extensive burning of the timber belt going on almost
every year along the course of the river. And this suggests a means
by which the Assiniboine water might be freed of its Epsom salts, in
10 r,
OKUl-OlilCAI/ HlIRVEy OF CANADA.
caHO it should bo found otlicrwino doainiblo for tlio supply of tlio city,
namoly, by addiiiii^ to il a certain amount of wood ashos, which could
eawily bo obtained ho h)ng as wood iH so lar<^oly usod as fuel. In this
way a saluln-ious salt, tlio sulphate of potash, would bo substitutod in
the water for one which Dr. I'arkos, the well-known writer on sanitary
scienco, says should not excecil threes i^rains to the gallon in a whole-
some water.
stiiKo of w.iitr The samples of water analysed by Dr. Edwards wcro collected after
weri'' colitxtua. a long torm of diy autumn weather, and at a time when both rivers
were rather low. They would, therefore, represent the average com-
position of the streams better than if they had been collected at any
other season. During the spring freshet the waters would contain a
larger proportion of organic matter relatively to the mineral salts, in
summer they would bo atl'ected locally and temporally by the wash
from thunderstorms, while during the winter they would be excep-
tionally pure.
J might mention in connection with this subject that the same year
in which I brought home the above samples of water, I collected speci-
" Aiknii"oftlic nions of the white ettlorescing salt or "alkali " which every traveller
by the Assini- oi)(^erves around many of the lakes and covering the dry beds of ponds
in the region drained by the western branch of the Asslniboine, and
found that it consists principally of sulphate of sodium and magnesium,
together with chlori<ies of calcium and sodium.
A.s to the possibility of improving either of these waters before dis-
tributing them in the city, I may remark that, while much of the
coarser matter held in suspension might be thrown down in settling
ponds, a portion of it is so very tine that it cannot be got i-id of in this
way. The turbid water of the lied Kivcr imparts a muddy appear-
ance to the whole length of Lake Winnijieg, notwithstanding the
immense volume of clearer water sup]»lied by the AVinnipeg Biver,
and along with the milky Saskatchewan it is dischai-ged by the Nelson
Eivcu- into the sea — still very muddy — 700 miles from the city of
Wiimipeg.
Kiltration is the only cft'octivo remedy for this defect, and in addi-
tion to the sand and gravel for removing the mechanical imjMiritiea,
there should be a layer of animal charcoal for elimiiiating the organic
matters. Such a provision would ad<l comparatively little to the cost
of tiltration, since this substance is found in practice to act efficiently
in such cases for a groat length of time. Tlntiltered river waters,
Propapntion of , i i . i ^V • ■ ■ ■ ,
diseases. more than any other kind, are frequently the metliura for propagating
such diseases as tj'phoid fever, cholera, diarrhtca, tlj'sentry, internal
parasites, &c., by means of ^hc living germs which they contain, and
Itiiprovoiuent
of the water.
Filtration.
CllUnrmiJ, AND NEI-,S(»N lliVEHS.
11 C
Kail) water.
wliicli iiiiiltii»ly wilh oxtnionliiiury rapidity in llm wiinii \vtallu;r.
Tim (laiigcr uri.siiitf from this ciuiso will incrciiho in tim cjiso of tho
rivers under considerution, as tho districts ihron^ii svhich they fl<»\v
lu'conic nioro thifkiy inhahitod. Almost tho ontirc! aiva ilruinoil hy tJcoioKy cf tho
tho Assinilioino is holicvod to ho undcrhiid hy soft Hat ly in;,' rocks or'''^*"" '""'"'•
Crotacoous aujo, whilo tho luisin of tho l\fd Kivt'i- lios principally on
Silurian stratii. Its largest hrnnch, liowovor, (ho lU'A Lake liivcr,
which Hows from tiio oastward, rises in the niclamorphie region to tho
west of Iiak(^ Superior.
.\ su|»|ilv of better WHt(*r miiiht be broiitrlit (hiwn at soiuo future oi her i'ns.-<iMo
tinio irom one of tho clear stj'oams of the iVmbina ov lln* KidingHii.j.ly.
.Mountain; or it might be convoyoil from tho Brokca-liead, Wliile-
mouth ov Winiupeg River, or even from tho Lake of the Woods
(which lies at a very coiisidorablo ohnatiot\ above tho Lower Hod
Eiver Valley,) shoidd the city become siitlieiently pojmlous and wealthy
to afford the grciit expense which would be involved in the operation.
Tho streams flowing entirely through the riaurentian counlry, beyond
the Winnipeg, could, no doubt, furnish a still purer and softer water
than any of the sources which have just been mentioned.
A large amount of rain falls in Winnipeg, especially in tho months
of May and June, and probably tho (numtity of most excellent soft
water which is shed from the roof of oveiy house and lost, if husbanded,
would prove sutticicnt for tho wants of its occupants. In order to
preserve this supply, a hirge cistern might bo dug below the bottom cisterns.
of tho cellar tloor, so as to protect the water from frost in winter and
evaporation in summer. This shouM bo lined wilh liydi-aiilic cement
and covered with iron, over which a thick layer of earth ought to bo
spread. A quantity of scrap iron might bo j/ vcd in the bottom.
Tlie only openings shotdd bt- those admitting the feed-pipe and jtump-
tube. The water might bo made to jkiss thr<jugha tiltoring box before
entering tlie cistern. If tho cellar should bo liable to bo Hooded, the
upper j)art of the cistern might be puddled all round after the manner
adopted by miners to keep out water.
It may be interesting to compare tho waters of the Red Ilivor and cinipmigon
the Assineboino with those of rivers in other parts of the world, both £;,',!|,,7e"'"*
in roirard to their solid constituents and to their hanlness. The tbl- "^■®''''*
lowing list shows tho number of grains of soliil matter, of all kinds,
per gallon, in a number of the i-ivers of Europe : — Thames, above
London, 15 to 18-5; Seine, :it Paris, 20-0; llhino, tit liyous, 12-88;
Garonne, at Toulouse, 9'5(j ; Loire, tit Meluing, 9-52; Scheldt, in Bel-
gium, 20-4it; Ehiue, at Basle, 11-97; Spree, at Berlin, 8'0 ; Danube,
at Vienna, 10-15,
|iean
^-
'^'■'»'. imrw-^ihT'
12 c
aeoLooicAL suuvky op canaua.
St. liiiwrence
and Otliiwa
watern.
IIar(Inci>8,
Dr. T. Stcrry limit found tho cli'iir water of tl»o St. Liiwroiico at tho
OascadoH to contain 1171 grainn of solids to tlio gallon, while the
brown wator of tho Ottawa at St. Amm's containod oidy 4"8l icr.'iins,
tho colouring boing duo to a miiiuto quantity of vcgotahio mattor
derived from Bwamjm at tho head waters of tho rivor, while tho invis-
iblo impuritioH of tho St. Lawrence con.sistod mainly of mineral Halts.
Tho hardness of tho St. LaAvrenco at tlie Cascades was found by Dr.
Edwards to bo 3-5°, and of tho Ottawa at St. Anne's 2-5", while that of
the mixed water of tho two rivers supplied to Monti-oal varied from 2°
to 3° according to the season of the year. Tho Assiniboino and tho
Eed River waters, although harder than those of tho St. Lawronco or
Ottawa, arc not much worse in this rcspoet than much of tho water
Bupplied to towns in England, as shown by the following examples
taken from Dr. Wanklyn's treatise on Tr(i/<7' Analysis: — The Thames,
above London, 14° ; Castleton, Derbyshire (water supply), 11° ; Oxton,
Birkenhead, 11'9°; Chelmsford, Flssex, 13*3°; Ivirbyshoro, Westmoro-
hand, 22° ; Chatham, 24°.
•
Geological and General Description op the Eeqions Explored.
Owing to the uniformity in the geological character of large areas of
tho region which I passed over, and tho total absence for long distances
of any rocks older than tlic drift, this report may be shortened and
simplified by including a notice of the geological observations in the
general account of the season's operations. This will be arranged in
the order in which the work was performed, as already indicated.
The track-survey which I made in 1818 of tho upper part of tho
Nelson River, terminated at tlie (Joose-hunting River, about half way
previous survey from Lake Winnipeg to the sea. On my way to tho Churchill River 1
resumed the survey of the Nelson at this point, and continued it to
Split Lake, tho direction being nearly north and tho distance about
iiino miles. Grand Rapid occurs at four miles in a straight line before
coming to the lake, and has a descent of about fifteen feet in the form
of a steep chute. This is apparently the only formidable obstruction
to the navigation of the Nelson River from the south-west extremity
of Sipi-wesk Lake, or from Red Rocks Rapid, on another channel, all
the way to the foot of Gull Lake, a distance of about 160 miles. A
portage of less than 200 yards in length, over a steep ridge of clay and
rock, leads past this chute, at the foot of which the river makes a short
western "jog" and receives the Grand Rivor ou the left side. At a
mile and a half below the "jog " the Nelson gives off a largo channel
or discharge to the right, which flows north-east into Split Lake. The
The Grand
Rapid.
Navigable
stretch.
niiTRcrrn,!, and nki.sov ntvKKs.
i;{ r
!l'
t
/,
lliinitwiKiil
cr.
F,(>w«T ('li;iiii III" IfiM Us (or IkIiiikIs) Ifiipid, willi ;i ilcsctiit nl ntily alioiil
Ivvft '"ct, cM(iii> cKic mile rnillu'i' tlowii.
Hotwt'fii liio (JijiimI U:i|)ii| and (ho vvi'Mtcrii |url of Split Lake llio •iin'iKo
!Xn«'is> is partly rciMisii and partly ,tr''*'y '''"' liondilt'tidic Tlio strike
varies ill dill'ereiil phiecs rnmi S. (»()" to S. SO ' \V. It. is eiit liy a iiinn-
lier 111' dykes ol' dark eolniired dinrile, sdiim <•!' wliitdi, jus! Iieluw tin'
imieliiHi mI' I lie (iiass L'iver, an- wvy lari^c. Their rim lias a ^«'iu'ral
iioi'tli and -^iiiit li leiideiiey. On tlie i.ortli side iil' Sp| il Jjiike, opposilo
llie two iiilels of llie Nelsdii. Ilie gneiss is eiil liy iiiiinorinis dykes of
all sizes and rii'inin^ in many direetinns. helovv C/liain-dt'-JioekK
I'apid. on I he imrlli west side uf l|i(> r'\,r, dark iri'«'y <|iiiirt/.il(' and
hnrnhleiidie xdiisl ueeiir, and also a dark' Lrreeii serpent iiious-lookini^ ''"* "
roek with a soiiiewhal xdiistose sinieliire. The Hiiriitwood K'iver, a I'jj"
lar^d stream, with tiirhid water like lliat of Uie Nelson, enters the
wostorn extremity oi' Split Lake. On imi h siile of the month of lliis
rivi-r, llie rocks eoiisisl of <|iiart/,ose, felsilieand hornlileiidicMlates, niii-''^'''"'''''
niiiu' wesl-soiitli west, mm h eiit iiphy trap dykes. At I he Island of the
head, in Iho entrance of the river, hornhlendic schist is interstrulitied
with rililioiii'd (piart/itc, slrikinii^ east and west. The rocks on some
islands ahoiil a mile northeast of tin! wtvsU'rn or principal inlet
of the Nelson Uiver, consist of dark hhiish-^^reon hornhleiide and niicii
schist, intcrslralilied with rihlioiKMl i;-iioissic hands and with irre^'iilar
layers of soflci', li«f|it :;'ret!ii sidiist, all mindi contorted, 'i'lic rocks of
lh<' point lietwct-n the Nelson and Hurntwood rivers, and the islands
for two mill's to the iiorth-wcsl of it, may he considered as Iliiivjiiian, nuronian
hill h(>yond this, in the same direction, they pass into ;;iioiNs, coiisis'in^
of thin hornhlendic and micaceous layers, alterMatint; with others of
i|iiarlz.
Split Lake runs east-north-east, and is alioiit twonty-live miles loii); Split imkc.
liy two or three widi!. The rocks aloii^ its northern shore consist of
gneiss, which if5 generally of a hornhlendic chavuetcr, iiitorstratiticHl
wit iMpiartzose layers. Towards the west end the strike is ahoiil cast
and west, hut elsewhere it is much tlisturhiMl. J^esides the rocks of
lliironian character jusl descrilied as occuiTinu; at this extremity of the
lake, a n'reen honihlcnde rock, which was nust with on an island nt^ar
the east end. may he of the same an'c. What upjiears to lie another
limited area of Hiironiaii rocks in this pai't of tlic coii?itry, is met with iinmiiian on
on the south side of the (Jrass I?iver where it joins the Nelson. Here, '"''''** '^'^*''*
at ahoiit half :i mile west of the Grand Rapid portage, there is a ril)-
lioned, slaty, hoi'tihlendic rock, together with a cotiVKc variety, and a
daik gray (piartzite, di]i|iing S. 20° W. < (J0°. Those are cut hy a
great dioritic dyke, running ahout north and south. Siliceous ami
14 r
OEOLOGICAI, SUnvEY OF CANADA.
Elevation.
Split liake t«
hornblcndic slates aro tbinul to the wost of (his, Iml at about lour
miles from Oraiul Eapid portage rusty qiiartzose gneiss wliioli is
believed to be Laurentian, appears, di]>piiig S. 40° E. < 60°.
Country around 'l^bo couiitrj' arouiid Split Lake presents a generally even, but
*" "^ "■ .sliglitly undulating outline. The immediato shore-lino is usually rock
bound, but on ascending this a deposit of brownish clay, which appears
to attbrd a good soil, is found to be s]iread ovei- the eountiy. Tlie tops
of the larger and higher islands in the lake are also covered with the
Temperature of same deposit. On the 24th of July the water of Split Lake had a
water. * j i
tempei-aturc of (10°, and on the 11 th of Sc])tember of 51)° T^ah.
According to my barometric oltservations, Split Lake would have an
elevation of 440 feet above the sea.
In order to reach the waters of the Churchill River we ascended a
creek on the north sitic of Split Lake, about half way from its west
end, and from it uiade a portage a jnile ,ong in a north-westerly direc-
tion, over a nearly level surface of b « wnisli clay with small sjtots of
sphagruim, to a pond, from which ano ner portage, one-third of a mile
A'sscan Lake, long, With the Same bearing, brought us to the shoi-e of Assean Lake,
which runs at right angles to the portage trail. The north-eastern
part of this lake, which we followeil from the portage to the outlet, a
distance of nearly seven miles, is narrow and straight. The lake is said
to run about an ct^ual distance soi;th-westward from the portage, and
it must therefore have a total length of about thirteen miles. It hlis an
elevation of about twenty feet above Split Ijake. The rock on cither
side of the portion which we followt'd is gneiss, with a genci-al norfi-
and-south strike.
Leaving Assean Lake we followed a small, ci'ooked stream call" I the
0-mi-ton-wi for a distance of eight miles northward, in a straight line,
Was-'(Hi-ow-a- to a small lake ot the same mime. From this we reached the south
end of Was-' li-ow-a-ka Lake, at the head of the Little Churchill River,
by fl chain of seven portages and six lakes i unning no'-tk-westward, the
whole distance being about seven miles in a straight line. The country
traversed consists of brownish-grey clay, which presents steeji banks en
sann' of *he lakes, in one case eight feet liigh. Where the ground is
level it is covered with wet sphagnuiTi.
The eastern division of Was-kai-uvv-a-ka Lake runs nearly north, and
has a length of about twelve miles. The outlet is on the east side, about
eight miles from the southern extromity, at which it receives a stream;
and another, called Pickerel River, enters (he north end. Opposile (o
the outlet, a narrow channel connects this with an extension of the
lake, which the Indians iid'oi-med me runs south-eastward six or sevcni
miles, and has a width of three or four miles. The south-eastern shore
Wiifl-kai-ow-a-
ka Lake.
about lour
ss whicli is
,' evoii, liut
isiially rock
lich appeal's
,'. Tlu' tops
I'cil with the
Lako had a
f 51)° Fah.
uld have an
! ascended a
•cm its west
jstei'ly direc-
nall s]>ots ol'
ird of a mile
Vsseati Lake,
lorth-easteni
the outlet, a
e hike is said
portage, and
s. It hns an
)ek on either
oneral norlv
iini call"'i the
sti'ai,u;ht line,
o<l tlie soutli
iirchiii Kiver,
westward, tlic
The et)untry
leep hanks on
-he ground is
ly nortli, and
1st side, aiiout
ves a stream ;
Opposite to
Mision of tlie
I six or sevi^n
•eastern sliore
'I I*" ,. 'v ' .,,;,(, iril.il ' ■ ' ii . '■ I
r
m
•■?jr3!:, T.iT-lf; 'rf-, ' I;;,'!.!! t
kMM.
m ir-^ic 1 1 'i:^^
Si
rJt; b\:\
H:'r,r, r.ffi
rHrRrmrr, anp xet.sov ri veils.
15 r
!»W^
a
E W
t.-l
n
H
H
■I
I
of the liiko wjislics tli(> Imsc fi|';i n'dyo of drift, wliicli oxtciids for some
milos to tlio north-east and soiitli west, .-md presents w hare hank of
elay rising ahoiit sixty fi'»'t ahove tlie water, from whieh (lie lake
derives its name. The water is (dear, and on the 2nth of .Iiily'it liad a
(emiKM-atiin- of (17^ Fah. It alionnds with tish. inehidinj;' ,urey trout, i.-j>,h.
some of whiidi are M'vy lari;-e, whitetish, j)ike, pickerel, doi;;-tish and
siiclvei>. Its elevation ahovo the sea aj)poars from my harometrical |.;|py,j,i,,„
ohsci'vations to he 'Jiiti teel. The eoimtry around is ijreen, the timing"
eonsi.-iiiiir of sj)ruce, white hindi. as]ion, halsam-))oplar and tatnarae. '""''oi-
The t;-enei-al coiiiNe of the Little Churcdiill Ifivi'r, all the wav froml.ittio
' . . ■ . , Chiirctiill Kiver
the southern t.'\'ti'emi(y of Was-kai-ow adca Lake to its juiiction with
llu> (ireat ( 'Iniridiill, is nearly northeast, and the distance hetween tlu'
points ahoiit ninety miles in a straii^dit line. For thrive miles helow the
outlet (he river ha-; a tnuHjuil course, and then e>;|iands into a small
lake, hilt helow this, for >ome seventeen miles, it is hrokeii, here and
(lu're, hy rajiids, pa>t some of \vlii(di short portau'e^ re<|uir(> to he Hupiil,-.
maile. Solid i;-iieiss rocdc occurs at the rapids. I)u( elsewhere the hanks
consist of (day, u'ravcl or sand. Kiii'ther on the rivi-r (lows for a few
miles with a ijentle current, amoni;- isl.nndsand lai^oons, with occasional
hanks of (da\', covered in some i)laces with neat four W'vi (hi(d<. The
, ... , , , , , Wood cut.
accompanyin<^ wood-cut is (roni a piioto^-raph taken ;it the iowei- end
ot' this slret(di. lo(d<ini;' up-sU'eam. At tliirty-eiudit miles from the
southern oxlremity of Was kai-ow-a ka Lake, (he Swi((diinL!; Hiver
falls in from tlu' left side, and at tive miles furthei' we ent»'r (he Recluse necluso Iiat<p.-.
Lakes, which are of small si/.e and connccled hy a short sluggish por
tion of the rivei'. So far the woods along the river have heen generally
green, hut htdow these lakes (he timher is ni(.>(ly hurnt all (he way (,)""'""'' '•"""try.
the (ireat ('huindiill.
Cliiy ilc|M)sit.
The rock o(' the east side of Wasdcai-ow-a-ka Lake is a coarseK- ,
S.venilio
crystalline, massive, greyish-red syenitic gneiss, hut along the rivei*,
especially in the (irst twenty miles helow the lake, other varities of
gneiss are exposed at therapiils. The strike is not unitorm, hii( inmost
cases i( approaidies a soudi-westward direction. The Heelusc Lakes lie
in (he norl li-eastorii part of a valley four miles wide, excavated in (he
grca( clay dep(isi( w Inch is evei'\wln're spread ovt'i- (his i-egion. Along
the norlh-wes( side the hanks are from KM) to L5(l feet high. ()\\ leaving
(Ik- lakes a few ra))i(ls occur, hii( helow these, the river, for a long dis-
(ance, Hows in a crookeil clumnel of unilorin l)read(h with a'tolerahly
swift ciirren(. hetwtHUi hanks of clay, varying from twenty to one
hundred and (ifty feet in height, hut averaging from forty to tifty feet.
The ujiper part of this deposit ajipears to he a moditicd (lay, with
occasional layers of gravel, and sometimes a riilge of gravel and sand
KllOls^s.
16 r
(iT,<n.<)iiir\\, SIHVKV OF rANAI>A.
Boulders.
River Wiitnrs.
al)Ovc il ; wliiK^ tiu' lowoi- part is iinstratitiod ami full ol' ja'blilos. willi
sdiiio lioiilders. Tiio lattei' comprise ycllowisli ijrey nuii^iiosiaii lime-
stone ofSiluriaii age, gneiss, and a i;roat vai'iet^- ofr<icks licli)ni;-ini;' to
llic unaltfi'('(l, unfossililcroiis series ol' the oast coast of Hudson's Bay,
which resembles the Nipigon s^roup and which have i'ecn dcsciilpc(l in
my report for iHtT. Boulders of these i'<)cks are aliundant around
Was-lsai ow-a ka Iiai\e and they were also oIiserve(l alonii' the Nelson
h'iver. Limestone y-ravel became almndaiit a I'ew miles below Was l<ai
ow a-ka Lake.
In approachim;- the (ireat < 'liiiicliill. the river, tor a number of miles,
is dee]t and sniootb. and the clay banks have retired to a considerable
distance on both sides. The water of this stream has ii. brownish tin;j;e
and forms a striking contrast witii that of the great rivt'r into which
it falls. The latter is bi-ight and clear, like the St. iiawrenco water,
and on the '.\vi\ of .August it had a tcmperatui'e of (!2° Fab. during
the few days preceding this date, the temperature of the Little
,,, , ,1 „• Churchill averaged ().'{" Fab. Just iielow the junction or '• fork> ' the
i''A'l'"A'"" 'i'-n ''i^'*''' i^ neai'lv a mile wide, and the land on the east sidi" rises from
HOO to -1;')(» feel above its level. Xo J'ock a|)pears in these high banks,
which are evidently composed of drift. Immediately abo\e the foi'ks
the river is much nari-ower, and the clay banks on both sides rise
steeply- to a height of about 15(1 feet. The latitude of the noi'thwcsl
side of the I'iver, opposite the mouth of the Little Chui-cbiil, I found
to be f)!" .'><)' r>7". and the variation of the compass at this locality to
be about 12" ;■.()' !•;. On the lattei' si r^am. at twenty miles south of the
Juiiclion, the variation was ascertaiiic I to be 1(1 ' .'?(!' Iv, .nid at twerdy
four miles it was IT ;!(V F.
rhiirrhill River ' i»~^t'«''ideii I be ( 'Imrcbill I'oi' a distance ot' twenty three miles (fol
••'Fnrki.'" lowing the stream) from the mouth of the Little Churchill. In this
distance it averaged :ibout one third ol a mill' in width and had high
banks of clay on alleniate sides. Numerous ra])ids were met with, and
the total rise in the above distance amounted to 173 fi'ct. lU' at the rate
of seven ami a-half feet per mile. A perpendicular fall, remarkable
for its great width, was reported by an old Indian whoin we met at
Norway House to occur at no great distance furliier up the river. TIk^
iipwanl course of the river beyond the ]»oint which 1 reached, must be
nearly parallel to the Little Cburchill. as the Indians say that in the
winter the vapor from the falls all along this section can be seen from
the latter river and Wasd<ai-ow-a-kaLake. The fundamental r(»cksare
exposed in the bed of Ihe river at the ra])ids, and consist of coarse
Syeniticgnoig.«. greyish- red or light reddish syenitic gneiss, like that of Wasd<ai-ovv-adva
Laki", ami in some ]»arls ])oryiiyritic, |)assing into a somewhat Hne-
I
I
^1
»I»K's. witli
lesi.-iii limt'-
(■li>lii;-il|^ |(»
lc>t'iilK'(l ill
aiit iinimnl
tilt' N'olsoii
)\v W.'is l<ai
KM' of niilos,
onsidoi'alilf
\Vlli^ll tilll,M>
■ into wiiicli
■oiico waltM',
ill. |)iu'iii;;'
■ llu> Liltlc
• lorUs " I lie
r rises IVoni
liiifli hanks,
/e tlir I'oi'ks
1 sides rise
3 iioi'lh-wcst
hill, I loiiiiil
s local ily lo
SOlllll III' llio
(I a( twrtity-
(' miles ( l()l-
lill. Ill this
iikI had hi^'h
loL with, and
If at the rate
rciiiarkahle
II we met at
I' river. Tiie
hod. must he
' thai ill tlie
lie seen from
ital riiek's are
>ist of eoarse
s-kai-o\v-a-ka
iiiewhat tine-
m I
I'
a
cnuRf'rin.L and nei.sox rtvkrs.
17 (•
LCniineil i\'(l gnoiss rost'mltliiii;- a liai'd alti'n'(l icd saiidstoiit'. liotli
rock.s have a very ''dry" charaeter. Tlu' i;oiioi'al strike is iiortli-
eastward or across tlie sti'ike of tlie river.
Tlie dislaiioo froiu llie junction ol' the Uttie Cliiircliill to the nioiitli liMwer p.irt of
,. , . ,. . , ^ . ., . . , Oliurchill River
o) the iMver, according to my survey, is ahout ](*;) nines m a straight iifsirii)eil.
line, and the bearing about N. 33° K. (ast.) A consideraliie stream
enters from the left side at twenty miles below the Little Churchill ;
but with this exception the tribiitarit's ai'e appan-ntly all small. For
the (irst tweiily-tivo miles in a straight course below the ])Oint Just
mentioned, the rivei- bends about a good deal, but I'rom thence it makes
only two (nearly straight) reaches (o the sea. I'l-om the forks to the
end of the first of these, the average width of the river is about half a
mile, and few islands occur, but in the last reach, islands are numerous,
and the width, for a considerable distant!', is upwards of two miles.
The tide extends to the toot of the last rapid, a distance of seven or
eight miles fj'oni the open sea, the intervening .section forming a lagoon i,ag„„„.
about two miles broad. The mouth of the river, which is bounded l>y
.solid rock, is less that lialf a mile in width, and the point on the west
side |trojects some distance beyond the other. The tine harbour of||^"[''yrI
Churchill lies immediately witliin the mouth of the river.
P^'om half a dozen barometric observations, taken on three ditlerent
day.s, 1 found the river, where it is joined by the liittle Churchill, to be
705 feet above the sea. This would give an average descent of ratht-r J.jJ'^'i*"""
more than seven feet per mile to the head of tide water. Ra[iiils arc
numerouH, especially in the tirsl thirty miles, and again in thi' iicighboi'-
hood of the angle formed by tiie last two stretidies of the river at forty
miles from the mouth. ()nl\- one of them, however, is formidabK'"i'l.v une
' _ . piirttitje.
enough to retjuire a ])oi-tage to be made. This is a steep rapid, whieh
may be called the rortage Chute, situated at twenty-eight miles, in a
straight line, below the forks. Here the canoes are carried a distance
of 2(15 paces on the south side of the river.
In tlu> tirst twenty live miles above referred to, in which the river is
more crooked than elsewliere, it runs from side to side in a valley two "^'''i> viilUy.
to four miles in width, of which the slopes, consisting of earth, rise to
heights of two or three hundred feet above the water. Beyond this
distance, tlui high banks disappear or recede further from the river.
The same coarse reddisji syenitic gneiss which was found above the Syenitic gneiss,
forks continued to be met with in the bed of the river at almost every
rapid for a distance of thirty-tive miles, in a straight line, downward
from this point. In some places it was porphyritic from the jjresence
of large crystals of salmon-coloured felds])ar. The strike could scarcely
be recognized. At one place it appearetl to Ik' \V. N \V.
r t
IS <■
(lE(>r,(»UICAI. ,sl RVKY UK CANADA.
! I
Uusty
8anilHtuno.
Cliirofeiirthy
liiuuatoiiu.
Illiistnitiun.
Last Kiio'iHS.
A Hecoiid
lime.stone rlifl'.
Hanks of
liniu:itono iiDil
ilrift clay.
At tlio 011(1 of till! tweiity-liw miles tVom llio ibrks, a rather coarse
greyish rusty sandstone, in liori/untal lieds, nKiUos its a|>peanince on
the rig'lit side mC the I'iver, and eonlinues foi' thi'ee miles, oi- to tho
Portage Chute ahove rot'erj-ed to. hi one place it furms u clitV twenty
foot in height, and rests u])on (he red syenitic gneiss which is hi'reseen
in the hottom of the river.
On the opjiositi', or lel't side of (he river, a clitl'of greyish-butf very
ei'umhling earthy limestone or calcareous marl hegiiis at the Portage
Chute, and continues for eight miles downward with a height varying
from thirty to fifty feet, in this inli'rval the same rock (M'ops out in a
few places on tht' opposite side of the river from hcneath the drift clay,
which is also heajHid aiiove iIh* heds forming the clitf on the left sid(\
Tiie accompanying view, looking down the river, is co])ied from a
photograph taken two miles ami a half hclow the I'ortagc Chute, and
.shows tho appearance of the hanks in this vicinity, ^'he last of the
red syenitic gneiss is sci'n in a rapid at the termination of the long
limestone clilf above descrihed. Ilci'c anothei' escai'|>men( of the marly
limestone, like tlui oiu' Just ]tassed on the left side, and of ahout tlie
same height, hegins on the right side of the immt ;ind continues for
upwards of four miles, while tlic ojtpositc iiank consists of drift
(day with the limestone exposed in one place. Thin irregular and
interi'Uptcd heds of tolerahly pure grey limestone occui- among tlie
murlv sti'ata. The only fossils oliserved were some fragments of
enci'inal stems and c:ists of LcjitiViiti.
The termination of this lowei'inost idilf is ahout seventy !niles from
tlio nu)utii of the river. IJctween it and the commencement of the last
stretch, a distance of upwai'ds of thirty miles, the hanks are from
seventy to one hundi'edand lifty feel high, ami consist of drift clay w<ith
the limestone ci'op])iiig out here and there at the hasi- on either side.
The latter is likewise exjtosed at a short distance hack from the main
haidcs iu tlu; ravines cut hy nuniei-oiis ti'ihutai'V hrooks. The limestone
also occasionally extends across the hed of the rivei'. The ehainiel of
the Chur(diill in this section is evidently of pre-glacial origin. Along
it a considerahle thitdvuess of drift rests upon the uneven surfac(! of the
limestone, tilling its ine(jualiti(!s with a mixture of houlder.s, gruvel
and clay. The undisturbed pebbly and bouldeiy clay is also sometimes
observed to fill the angle l)etween the anei(!nt clitl:'and the river l)ed.
Along this part of the stream the limestone becomes less earthy und
of a dolomitie character. Some of the stronger beds are mottk^d with
white chalky nodules, while othei-s have straggling dark-colored patches
runinng over their surfaces, At the commencement of tho last reach,
or forty miles from the mouth of the river, the rock becomes nioie
'■^^
ratlier coarse
i|ip('!inin<o on
ilos, oi" to the
a c'litV Iwonty
k'li is lu'ri'MCfii
■ yiHli-biitV very
it till' roi'lag*.'
K'in'lil varviui;-
crops out ill a
li llie drift clay,
Ihc \v\'{ sido.
copied IVoin a
iio-c Chute, and
riic lasl of the
tioii of (lie loiii;'
'lit of tjic iiiai'ly
1(1 of alioiit the
(1 colli iniu's for
insists of drift
1 iiTCi;'iilai and
cciir among the
le fragmeiils of
ciity miles from
Miu'iit of the last
hanUs arc from
>f drift clay w-itli
.' on either side.
; from the main
The limestone
The ehaiiiH'I t)f
origin. Along
I'll sui'face of the
lioulders, gravi'l
s also sometimes
the river hed.
s less earth}' and
are mottled with
k-colored patches
if the last reach,
•k liecomes more
1
^mi' ''.'^/'^i' 'V^'\ ■' '■
w
>)•' ; Ai i'^"i;. .■('■'/■J' " ifi'Xi'Mil
mm f V
— m
t
1 l
> a
^'Uu
i
rHUBCHII.I. AND NKI.SON HI VERS.
1!)
ovi'iily IkmI(1»'(I :iii(I of ji lii>Iitfr i^rey or luitV color. The lasl oI)s(M"vimI Huty-cnidroil
t!.\|)o.siir»' ot llif (loloinilo occui'.s iiltoiit five iidIos iiirllior Uowii. JNo
fos.siln wiTo fouml in tliis vicinity.
Hcifiiuiin^ a(i thirty miles i'vinn the iridulh and extending downward
for ten miles, the river Hnromis out anion;;- a y^reat number ol' islands, l^iiinds in tlie
and liejow this, as far as the tidal laj^oon, it is hroad, shallow and niuch
inti!i'i'ii|)ted with i^ruvclly and hoiddriy rapids, the last of which is
opposite to M is(piito Point, hetweon st-von and eii;ht miles from the
niouth. The llat-lyini;' limestones or dolomites do not extend I"' H'*' The limestonos
.sea-eo!i,st on the Churchill, as they ovidt-ntly do on tlie Hayes and ;',';,";,;;^^^^'='>
Nelson Jiivers. Westward of the laii;oon, and on holh sides of the
mouth of the rivei', a ditVeriMit tornuition makes its ai)pearance. This
consists ol'a massivi' dark ,tj;roy (|Uai'l/.ite, wiiich seems to contain more^j ( uuri/itf
or less felspar or argillaceous nuitlei-, and weathers to a lighter j^rey on
old surfaces. It is easily hroken in any direction, arnl seldom shows
distinct traces of hedding. It holds a good many straggling, irregular
and siiort vi'ins of white and irrey quartz, with others ol' a tolerably
regular character. >(early all tho.se contain scales ol specular iron.
Specks of iron pyi'ites were found in -onie ot' th»'ni, and traces of green
carbonate of copjter in one. In another of these veins about two
miles east of the mouth of the river, J found small specimens of a blue
mineral wliiidi appears to be laziilite. .Sjieciriieiis from u mimber oij ^^^^jj^g^
these veins were brought home to be assayed t()r the precious metals,
and are reported on by Mr. llotVmann.
On the west side of the river the strikt' of the (|uartzite f<-'i'i»'it,ion ^j,jjyjy,^,.
appears to be to the .south-westward, and on the east side to the •'^•'Uth- ',!^'^'^'J^[^'^j'j'*|
eastward, as il' the strata were foi'ming the opposite sides of an anti
elinal axis, running down the lagoon and tending to terminate north
ward of the mouth of the river. At Fort Churchill the (juartzite is
very massive, and the strike is a])})arently S. 25° W. On the coast,
about a milo and :i half eastward of the i-ivcr, it appears to be S. 45" E
(mag). At a mile still further I'ust it is quite? distinct, and runs S.
75° K. llert? tluMjuartzito holds an occasional roumled <juartz j)el)ble.
On Eagle Nest Point, about seven miles eastward of the mouth of the
river, the strike, as shown by a bed containing small rounded pebbles
of white (|uarlz, is N. 75° E.
The geological age of these roi.-ks cannot be accurately determined ^^^p^^f^^^.
from present data. Tney contain no fossils, and are a considerable j<J*|.'|]j'^^j'j'^|^
distance I'rom the limestones already described as occurring further up
the river, and which, no doubt, belong to the Lower Silurian system.
They resemble tin' gold-bearing quartzites or " whiu-rocks " of Nova
Scotia (which are a[>parently Lower CambrianJ more closely than any
MMIWM
mb
20
(jEOLOdiPAi, srnvEv ok canada.
I'nit.
otluM' strata wliicli I Imvo seen. As a cnnvciiiciil iiiiiiu' i'ny piT.st-iil
j»iir|M>s('H tln'y mii:;lit li«' calloil tlio Cliiircliill tiiiart/.ili's.
IViil ol" (air iniality. ami [u'rliaps of suHiiicnt tliickin'Ns to Im ot
ucoiiomic vahu', was noliccd in several phu'es aloiii;' llio route iVoni
Split Lakt- to Kort Cliiireliiil. The t'ollowiii,;:: localities may I'o men
tioiit'd; Creek north of llinlsoii's Hay ('om|inny's post, Split Lake;
ontU^tof Assean liake ; sonlliein part ol' Was-kai-ow-a ku liake, hotli
sides; hitfoons twelve miles south of lieeliise l^akes, four fe»'t tliirk oii
top of hank; Chundiill ifiver, twenty one mile- helow the folk-,
tive feet Ihiek on top of hank, l-'or sinne distanee ahoxc and helou the
eommeiieenieiil of the last stretch, the woods occur only in pat(dii"^ in
an opi-n peaty country as lar as can he seen alonu,- (he river.
Anioni;' the islaiuls furthei' down, houldeiy and grassy spaces extend
lietween those which ai'e left dry at low water. For a distance of
(Jnissy s|,ii«cs. ^.igl,(,.j.|| niilos belore I'caiddiii;' the mouth of (he ri\er. open i^'rassy
Ihits extend for a eonsidt'rahle hut irre!i,idar hreadth on either side.
This open eountry is said ro resenihle the iiarren ^'rounds which he^in
to the northwi'st ward of Foi't ( 'hunhill, and are represented in the
aecompanyinu; illustratitm taken from :i photon i;ij,||.
TIk' up])er hranehos of the ('hiii'chill heiui; in a warnwr reijion than
the lower part of tlie river, the water rises in spring' and hursts awa\
the ice in the latter, while it still ret:uns its stren!;'tli. 'This circum
stance, anil the i-apid nature ol' the river, evidently cause <;cc;it pa(d<inL;'
and shoviim' of the ice during' the freshet. ;iiid ihi- hi' liunhl has the
ctt'«'ot of temporarily dammiiii;- hack (he water in numy places. I>clin\
the junction of the Little ('hurclrt'll the hanks are entirely denude(| of
timher, and have an even and uniform slope up to a hciii'hl cf lwent\
or tliirty, and sometimes even forty feet idiovc tin.' summcr-levcl of the
rivor. TIh; ice would also ajjpear to extend annually lo I he v;dleys of
thelrihutary sti-eams, pi'cventini;' the lii'owth ol' timher aionu- their
sides for a considerahle distanci' hack from the main rivei'. Diirin;,!,' the
Slimmer, however, a luxuriant i.;-rowth ofirrass and othei" plaids springs
Ul», and covers these slopino- hanks in most [ilaces w ith a rich n'reeii.
Further down, after the river has expandeil aiiion^' the islands and llu'
hanks have liecome lowei-, the etVects of the spriiii;' ice are no loiiu'er
noti(!eahle.
Marine shells WM-re first noticed in tluMlriftat sixty miles from the
moutli of the river. The locality was towards the (op of a hank, about
150 t'eet higli, <ui (he rig-ht side. 'IMie river at the hase, trom haromet
rieal ol)servation, was '2iH) feet above (he sea, so that these shells
probably occur at an elevation of nearly ."inO fec( above the same level.
As the bank, (which consists of pebbly t;rey clay with apjiarently a
lllu.stratiiiii.
.S|iniiK ii'e.
Uiiie .sliipiiiK
liinili.'^.
Murine stiells
in the drift.
Elevation
uljovo tlie sea.
IM> till' |in'>flll
(•VS to lio ul'
kn
lio roiiti' lVi>m
■N may l"0 nu-ii
<t, S|tlil. Lake ;
ka l/akc, l>i>tli
If I'l'ct lliirk on
low I lie loi'k^,
\ anil Ik'Iow tlif
V iti ])al('lu'^ ill
ivi'i'.
■ s|iact's fxlcinl
• a (li-itaiicc of
•I-. o|n'ii n'rassy
on citlicr siilc.
lis wliicli ln'i;in
'csi'iilcil in llic
Iff i'i'i;ioii I Ii:iii
ml iiiir.sts a\\a\
'I'l
lis circ'iiiii
li'rcat |>ackinti'
iloiihi Ikis |||(>
[ilaci's. Itcjow
cly (l('iiii(l('(l (iT
iiilil of Iwt'iity
IICI'-lcVc! of till'
tlic vaiit'vs of
icr aloiiii' tlicir
'1'. Diiriim' lln'
ilaiits s|ii'iiii;\s
I a I'U'li iffet'ii.
islands and llic
arc no
lolli;'
iT
miles IVom tlu'
a liaiik, about
, li'oni iiaroiiii't-
at tlio.si' shells
lli<^ saiiio level.
Ii apparently a
t
I
I
f
OHI'RCIIIM. ANT) NEL.SOM RIVERS.
21 C
(•U]>|)iiii;' of iiiodilicd cImv,) coiilinncd, willi llic saiiir cliar:ict(M'.s, for a
loiiy (llstiuicc u)) stream, 1 liave no dotiljl tlif shells niav Ik" fuiiiid at a
,ii;reatiT distance inland llnui that ai which Ihi-y wei'e oliserviMl li\
niysell. TIk' species ndticed at tlii.s locality wore Miia arciuirla, M.
Inutfdta, Sd.rh'drd riKjus'x^ and Telliua jiroxhim. Ainoii:.'; the islands
i'lirtlier down, where the iianks have diminished to alioiit sevenl\reel
in hoiiilit and the lu'd of the river has descended to within 10(1 t'eel ol\,, ,, • ,
'^ Micll.s III elay
the sea-level, f(r/(7i /sIdndiciiH i\,\n\ ('i(riliuiii hLiiidlfuni were joinid in ^i' ■^•■:i-le\i-l.
addition lo the fore^nini;- sjiecies. These shells, toi;ctiier with Jiluiiir/in
iK'l/d /)!<ittili:i.'(i, were vei'v ahnndanl in ihe elay jorniini; the IkmI oI' (he
hit!;oon at I'ort ( 'hurchill.
The coniiiarativeU I'a 1)1(1 cleval ion of Ihe land, or I'ctii'ini;' of the sea, Apiiaieni low
' . ' eriiii; (ifllicse:!.
around .lames liay and at l ork raclory was retcri'od to m my rcpoits
for 1877 and 187S. The same iihenomenon is :;' o notieeahle at JAirl
Chnrcliill. Kroin various cireiimstances eonneeli d with the history of
old Fort I'rince of Wales, at the mouth of the river, .ind other data. I
conclude tiial the relative level of the sea and land in this vicinity is
cliani;iiii;' at the rati' ol'aliout seven feet in a century. This recession
of the sea niay be due to a i;'eni'ral loweriuii,' of ifs level rel.alively to
the h'.ml, and j tartly to i he sillin^j,- up of port ion- of II udson > I Jay. in
ttjrrupt iny,- the free How of I he tides.
Spruce and laniarac tindici'are toinid n'ro\\in<^ near the sea coast in iiiiiiifi ,,rilie
favoiiralilc situations as fai' as Seal liivei'. lnyond which their north '"""'"'■
eastern limit cur\t's inland. 'I"he .spruce. alllioui;h not ^rowini;- a> a
continuous forest (piite as far noilh as f'oi't Cliui'ihill, is >till found of
sullieient si/.i' in the neiL^'id'ourhood ot' liiis post to In- used for luiildin^'
h<"iscs, lioats, i*ve. The In'.lsam poplar is rare and of small >\y.i) at l''orl
(Jhiirchill. White hircli. which was found on the main liver. eii^-hieen
miles aliove the foi'ks. i.-, said lo oei ui' al al'out si\t\<ir seventy niile,-
west of the month of the river. Aloui;- the direct ovci'land route from
Port Churchill to V(jrk j-'acliu-y llie timher is reported lo he i;-ciier;illy
small, and lari;i' praii'ii' like openiii;;'- are said to oeein', in wliieh the
i^'roiind is iii_\ .'ind eo\cied with L;rass or other hcrlian'c.
I saw \ oi'\' i:'o(Ki potatoes and lurnips ^row iui;' in the ;;ai<len at ''"it (..it,,,,,^, g,.,,,^„
Churcdiill. Previous l<» the adsciil of .Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, 'I"' cull i ^m'^i^n
vation of potatoes hiid not iieen allcmpti'd, and the possiliility of rais
iiii;- them at ('liur(diill, when .sui^-o'esled liy Mr>. Spencer, was ridiculed
liy ihe oldest iniialiitanls. ilowcxei-, in sjiilc of predictions of certain
failuic. ;;roiuid was preiiare(i, seed plaMed, and a i;ood crop harvoted.
The experiment lias heen icpeated sKcesstully tin' seven conscenti\e
yejirs, so (hat tin' (piestion of ihe practiculiility ofciiltivatinsf (he potato
on tile sjiore of llud'-on s Ha\' in this latitude has heen pretty well
solved.
(IKOLOaiCAI. StrRVEV l)F CANADA.
BicediiiKciiftle T'iiy <'!iii 'jt' cit i'l aliundiiiu'c ill the ncigliltourliood of l-'ort Cluiivliill,
attiiiicii . ,^11^1 ^.^^^^\^, tlirivo well, yi-t the siiiiie i_<;-ii<)ninee or obstiimcy as
that aliove ri't'errcd to, (brnu'rly ))i'eveiiteil any atleiii]it heiiin' iiiaile to
breed stocU on the -pot, so that every fresh animal i'e((Liii'e(l had to lie
liroiiyhl from some other post. Now, (he small lu-rd which is Uept a1
!lhe ])\m'v is reeniiti'd liy i-aisiiii;' the animals calved at the foi't itself.
The oj)cn grassy land ncai- the sea is practically of nnlimite(| extent.
.Much of it is di'v ;ind iindnlatini;', .alVoi-dini;' almndance of past mv for
the cattle. The hiitlcr made l>y Mrs. Spencei' could hai'dly he excelled
for ([uality and tincncssof thivor in any country.
Although I did not succeed in exploring nuudi of the shore of IFild
son's i^ay to the north west of the Churehill, enough was seen to give
me a i^-ood idea of the nature ot' the eojist. The east shoi'c of iiiilton's
I'il.SlUI-l'
Hutter.
Oiiist .\. W. of
tlic Cliiircliill.
HuttdiiV liny.
b'liit Imiilileiy
shoi'ds.
Illiititriitiiin.
DcrivjitiiJii I'l
the liiiiilclci-.
Creiiin .•nlniir
ed itiilomite.
LHtitiiiiu III
(iioH) Korl
I'lairiliill.
I'a}'. which liigins at the [loint on the west side of (he mouth of the
river, runs south-wi'st ward for nearly ten niilo. Korl ('liurcliill is
situ. 'I ted on the wc^t sidii of t he lag<ion, ahout live miles fmin the mouth
of the riv<'r. i'^iom tin; fort, the distance westward aci'oss ine penin-
sula to Huilon'> Hay 1 liuind to lie only a little more lh:ni (wo miles.
.Around tlu' hottom of this hay, and westward, the sIkh-c is extremely
low. When till' tide is out. wide lioulilery tlats arc laid iiare. The«e
descend so gradual ly to the -ea level that it iNditlieiill io cll'eel a land-
ing, cMMi iVcun a small hoat. hookinj; over these Hats, the sky and the
ex'en outline of (he houlders seem to meet in the distance, and their
appearance sugi;'ests •■ a se;i of iioidders"" a> an ;iiipro|iriati^ name lor
them. I'lven within the lagoon of the < 'liui'diill, when the tide is out,
the houldii'N tIatN on either >ide form a consjiiciioiis feature. 'Hiose on
the west an' represented in the accompanying illustration, taken from
a |)lioiogr;iph. looking soutiiward at Fort ( liui'chill. Tlu' Ixmlders,
which ai-e of all si/.es and geiier;illy well idUiidcd, compi'ise a coiisider-
aiile variety ot' rocks, the prevailing ones heiii;:,' those of the unallcrtd
group of the east coast of Hudson's |{ay in the neighbourhood of .Maiii-
toiinuek and Nastopoka Sounds, whicli, as already slalt'd. restynbles the
Xipigon series. ilouldei's of gneiss and lossiliferous yellowish-grey
linu'stonc ai'c also numerous. At somi' places >in liie ^iiort'. within tlie
iirst few miles to the oust wan I of the mouth of tic Chui'ehill Ji'ver,
a very light cream-eoloured ilolomite, resting on the gi'<'y quartzite. is
so aliundant, in a fragmental condition, that 1 have lit tie <loulil it occurs
in place immediately beneath, or at no great distance otl'.
While wailing at lAtrt Churchill loi- the sailing of ihi' Hudson's Hay
Conipany's ship, in oi-dei- to proceed to N'ork l-'acloi-y, I oblaine(i the
latitude ol the ]ilace by tivo ditt'ei'ent ob.servation ot' the ineriiiian alti
tude of the sun, taken by Troiighton's fej»eatiiig cinle, as t'ollows; —
&
lis
■wimirinniiiiihirtttt
(!IIUUCI1II,L ANT) NELSON IU'»'Kl{s.
(1.) ...
(2.) ...,
O.) ...,
(1.) ...
(5.) ....
Moan . . ,
5,S'
58'
58
5S'
58'
58 '
■14' 54"-t;i
44'
4 1'
44'
44'
44'
21; "SO
'M "'70
55 "-20
5(1 "-90
41! "-04
The inoutli of llic river i.s ahoiil 4' f'lirllier north,
that the vai'iatioii oi' the e(>in])!i.s.s at Miis locality
irh]., but oil the river, at twenty-seven miles souti
I found it to he only 0° 3(»'.
1 al
is at
iward
so asee
Jjresen
of the
rtaiiuMJ
t ahoiii
mouth,
\'iii'iMtiiiii III
the I'diiipiisH.
Completion of Trarl, Siin^i'!/ nf the Xelson Eire/:
On the L'Tlh of Aiii^'usf I lel'l York Kaelory, aii<l camprd on Point o(
Marsh, or the extremity of l>eat Point, between Hayes and Nidson
rivers, and the next mornino' slarti-d to aseend tlie latter to T,ako
Wiiiiiipeii-. My r<iport for ISTS eontains a ileseription of the lower
part of tlie N>dson, wliieh w;is explored diirino' thai season. It will
not ho meossary, tJierefore, ai^'ain to flescrihe this seel ion. fit reuai'd
to tlie qiustion of the navin-ation of tliis stretch of the river, it was
stated that the shallowest plaee diseovei'ed by m\' soimdiiii^-s was at liie
head of the tide, al>reast: of ''(iillam'^ " or the l.owei-Scal Island, When
at this hx-ality again, last Aii-iist, I eaivfully sounded the whole wi.llh
of tlie I'iver and found the deepest water to be ten feet, as before. 'I'he
bt)ttom consists of shingle, resting aj)])arently on boulder <da\-, whi(di
here forms luith lianks of tlie river and the Seal Islamls. •• (lil!,ini's "
Island and the south bank opposite to it wore lound. by liaroineUM', to
have ea(di a height of eighty feet, while the north bank rises to upwards
of 100 feet abf>ve the river, '.''he bouldei's and the pebbles of thr drift
in this iieighb(»tirhood are mad( up largely of the ro(dis ol' the sujiposed
equivalent of the Nipigon series of the oast side of Hudson's Ha\.
Specimens of almost e\ery variety of these •-Irata may be picked up
along the banks in this pari ol I be river. Three miles above llie Seal
Islands I found a larg«' piece of white ([iiarl/ exactly like thai of' the
veins in the grey quart/Jle of the mouth oj' the < 'hui'cdiill. It also
containeil '••des of H]>eeiilai- iron preeistdy similar to those of (he
('Imndiiil veins. At "The ('a(die, " which is on the north side of the
river opposite Heer's Island, or sixteen miles from the Seal Islands,
ll' . ■'"■ iieroit;! large and a few iiiuncns*' angular an<l partiallv
ided blocks oj' this grey (piartzite. One of them contains some
white ({iiartz pebbles similar to those occasionally observed in the rock
ill place a .'hurchill. The accomjiaiiying illustration, from a photograph
taken ou the nortli west of the river sit sixty-three miles from Point of
.Asfent 111' till"
Nel.son Kivur.
Sliiill()we..it
jiiiit ot river.
SimijiliiiK.s.
.Seiil Isliinils.
iH'i'iviitidii ul
hiiiililcr.' .
C'li Ill-oil ill
MUaitzife.
■k
HtiiikH of tlio
liiwer N(.'l..!cin,
24 c
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Fiisl Klicis-'.
Marsh (tlio oxtivmil}- of Bojicoii Point), will soivf to show tin' apjicar
aiico of tiio clay Itaiilcs of the Nelson alony; its lowoi- soctioii.
I'iisil/nuistom' The I'^ii'sl or Lowosl LiincsloiK' Rapid j>rov('(l (o bi; about sovc^nty-
si'voii MiiU's ill a straight line from Point of Marsh, oi- about niiu'ty l)y
the river. The foot ol'lhe rapid is in latitude 5(]° :HV (M". Here, and
at Iweiity-lwo miles higlier up the river, the vai'iatioii of the (•oni|)ass
is 11*^ ;!(l'. while at (he place where the above photoyi-aph was taken it
is S'^ If)'. Two more stroni;' rapids over limestone occur at uiiu' and
tell miles respectively above the lowest one. The tirst ii'iieiss is seen in
the bed of the river ten miles higher uji, and the limestone in the
banks disappear.s at two ov three miles further on. TIk' high cluy
escarpments of the lower ])art of the river continue to the liiniestone
Kapids, where they still have an elevation of about 100 feet, but they
have diminished somewhat where the limestone disappears; and the
Tfriniii.iiioii (it|,;i,.j. hjiiiUs skirting the rivi'r terminate near the loot of a chute with a
hiirr i-l;iy ImiiKs '^
:ii i\\(i\e I'lict ncriieiidii-ular pitch of twelve feet, sixteen miles above the Third Ijime
Cliiito. Ill ' _ ^
stone Rapid. Hcyoiid this, an occasional liank of chiy is st-en as lar as
(iuU Lake, but around this body of water and up to Sjilil Lake the
country appears to be geiiei'ally pretty level. A lew spccii's of marine
shells wei'c observed in the Upper parts ol' the clay banks all the way
from till' nioiith of the river to the twelve feet chute Just mentioned.
The only specii's met with at this upper limit were Saj'iciird ru(/osii
and Tillii<(t iimxiiiiii. 'I'lie elevation, as indicated liy barometer, was
upwards of "JOIt feet above the st-a.
Ill iii\- I'eporl tin- 1S7S it was stated that the lower part of the .Velson
liivci' appi'ars to tlow in a pre-glacial chaniu-l. Evidences of the exist-
enci' of such a channel were found in various |daces along the river all
the way lo Sjilit Jjakc. It was also mentionetl in the report referred
to. that the straight portion of (he river between this lake and 8i])i-wesk
lies in a channel scooped out during the ghu-ial period along the course
f a great dyke ami afterwards tilled with pebbly elaj'. In the neigh
Marine
ill c-|ii\ .
I'le tfliiii;
I'li.iiiiii'l.
Hivcr cliannri
iiliiiiK a sriMi
.|yl<e.
Ldd.-c.-^liiiinii-, lioiirliood (;f the liimestone Raijids, and for some miles both above at
Ac. in liollows ... ...
ill
.1 :n Hollows
l,uuli(ercla,v. bt low them, (he hard lioulder-elay has been excavated in many placo
and the hollows tilh'd with loose boulders, shingle, gravel, sand and
strtititied clay. JMir a number of miles beti)i'e conuiig to the i-'irst
Limestone liapid the bunks ^n\ both sides are about ]2(( feet high and
consist generally of unstratitied pebbly clay, but at a point on llie
north weH( side, between two and three miles below tiie rapid, from
twenty live (.> fifty feet of sand, gravel and cobble stones rest upon 100
CoiiiiicMtioii uffcetof this clay. Close liy, to the northeast of this, the river l>ank
consists of \ellow drab line sandy clay, and a little fnrtiier on in the
same (lii'ccKoll ll t'oniil(»lf< of thirty feel of U»ulder.x, cobble-stones and
riviT l)uiil<5'.
I'liiril Mmr-
rHi'RrHtr.i. anp nelson rivers. 25 r
pebbles fit the bottom, ovcrhiid by iiiiioly Ibet of sjiihI jiihI ni'iivcl. On |.'irsti,iiiic,<ii>nf
the sanio sido ()(' tberiver, !it tlic liiot ot the r!>|M(l ilscit', Iddt'ccl ul'thc *'"'"'
hani drift chty, which Iioro shows mu-voii joints with rusty suftacos,
I'est upon Jwcnty t'ci-t of huti'-coloiirLMl fossilifci-oiis lioloinilf in ii^arly |/,X'i'i'i'te'rMus
hoi-i/.onta! b"(is. It is slialy at (he base, but ai llic lop some of ||,o<l"l"">''p-
in'(ls arc two feci thick. 'I'licse hold tlinty and uhilcclndky uodaics.
A clitl', I wont;- feet hii;'li, of i:;i'oyisfi biitl' dolonnic, niottlc(l wit h yellow.
runs along- the cd i^c of the rapid on the other side of tli(> river. A tnoni;-
the fossils ohserviMJ hci-c w;is an (ht/io<riris Iwo and a half feel loim- and , ,.
■^ .-■icMriij 1, 11)11'-
si.x inches in dianietci'. On the south-i'sisl side, just below the Secund -'"'"' "■'n'l-
liimestone K'a|)id, nine miles above the tirsi. a clilt, twelve feet \u'^\\,
ill the edge of the river, is Ibi'mod of lioriztMilal lieds of eriimblinii; biitV
and ii'reyish doloinitt>. At about a mile below Ihi- locality these beds
wi're obscrvt'd to bo slio-htly undiilatiny'. .\ 1 the Third liiincslonc ,
IJapid till* rock is e.vposcd in hori/.onlal beds al I lie looi nf ihc clay
iiiud\ along the south-east side of the rivei', and (onsi.sts ot bluish grey.
drab and l)iill", somewhat arenaceous doloniilc. Near the fool of this ,
rapid a considerable stream, wliich 1 took to be ihe Limestone J^ivei-, ''"'""''"^■•
enters on tlie op[)osite side.
l*"or the nt'.xt eleven miles the river is vei-y swifl, and then a ra)pid.
two miles wide and full of knol)s and lit tic ridges of gneiss, begin, , and
contiinies for live miles, or to Ihe Twelve-feet Chute alreaiiy luen-
tioned. This might l)e appropriately termcil the liroad b'apid. In r.n.M.l K.npi.l.
•'•oimr from the lowest of these raijids to the other, liie bank> on
both sides diminish from a lieighl of about (mic hundred Icel. a I ."'."'J',""'.','""'
the former to about tifly or si.xty at the latter; yet the sui'facc of'»er liwi i.e.i.
the ground prob.'ibly slopes in the sami- direction as the river, llu'si,,, i n\(-i-
(U'seent in (he hitler being apparently greater than would be accounted'"'''
for by the ditVerence in the altiludi- of (he banks, supposing the lops
of the latter to l»e horizontal. On the n(»rth-west si(U', the clay bank
is (|uite continuou.-; and almost bare all the way to within a mile of
Ihe Twelve-fe<'t Chute, a distance of over sixteen miles by theriv.i'.
Xear thi' Third Limestone Hajiid the bunk was observed to be more or
less distiiu'tly stratitied throughout ils whole height. On (he opposite
side, (he up})er pur(, and soinelijues i(s whole depth, consists of
gravel and sand.
Along the above inlerv.al between the rapids, ledges of tln> dolomite
crop out from beneath t1ie banks here and thereon both side-^. 'IMie
last exposui-e is on the s uth-east side at the botti>m ot" the Hi-o.-id (five
miles) Kapid. Ihre it is finely arenaceous, of a mottled light '''idsh- 1|,^;';;;-.';;;;''^
grey color, and holds some of the same fossils as thost' found further
down the river. The fossils collected at the three Linicsnuu! IJapids
I
Fll.ssil^
cxiiiiiiiii'il liy
Mr. WliiteHVci
Nclsiiii Hivpr
.'iiiil Maiiilnliti
llllllllllllcs III
I'lii'ii ,»ic
HiviT I'cir i:'.
miles lioliiw
liiill liiikc.
(iiill Kiipi'l'^-
Si.v ni pills
iiliovc Twelve
feet Chute.
Isliiiiils.
Ileiiil in llie
river.
(•nil liiike.
Slit:l>l ni|iiii
2(i r GEOLOGICAL 8URVKV OK CANADA.
liMvt' Ikm'ii I'xainiiu'd Ity .Mr. Wliitoavcs, and lii.s io|M>rl upon tlicm
is nivcn as an a|t]ioii(li\. Fi'imi tlii.s it will lie soi-ii (liat we
liavc liiTc nidsl ol' (he sjiccicN cliai-actcriHtic of (lio iloloniilc wliiili
occurs aioiiii; I lie Kcd Kivcr in .Maniloha, and wliicli y\\: Wliitoaves
ii'i^ards as c(|iiivalcnt lo llic Icad-licarinij liincstoiic of tlic Wi-slcrn
Slates (»!• a Ik ml tlic iiori/.on of (he I Mica forinatioii. In passinii; tlir()ii,L!;ii
Manilolia on llic way lioinc. I iniidc a coiisidcralilc addition to oiir col-
lection ot'l'o.ssils from llio l>aiiks ot' llie lied K'iver. in tlie jiarisli of St.
Amlrew's, ;ind some from llie same parisli wcvc |ir<>s(Mitcd liy .Mr.
William .\lnrdoel<, ( '. K.
l-'roni tlie Twelve-feot Cliiile to llic foot of (lull iial<e. tlie dislaiico,
in a straii^'lil liiu'. is fori y-( lure miles, and llie liearin;^ a lilllo south of
west. Tin" IJiver in the inlerval is of very iiiie(|iial width. IJapids
occur in many jilaci's, aixl numerous |iortai;es re<|iiire to he
made. In the last foiii- or live miles hcfore enterim;' (iiill liake
the worst rapids in llie whole course of I In- Nelson IJiver
are eiicoiinlcrcd. They may for coiiveiiicMK'c he called Ihe (iiill
riapids. 'Pile lower chute of I his interval has a desceiil of ahoul. fifty
I'eet ill less than half a mile, and r('(|uires a [)orlas;"e of IHH) paces lo he
made in order to '^ai past it. The upper portion of Ihe (iiill Rapids is
divided amoiii;' islands, hut its total fall must anioiinl lo moi-e than
that of the lower eliiiti'. .Six princi]»al rapid> occur lietweeii the
Twelve-feet Chute and those just, ilescrihed, and the whole ascent in
lliu river in this space <'aiiiii)l he far from 1(M( feot. Ahoiit mid-way
down this section, the rivi'r divides amoiii;- islands, the lar,i;"est of
which may lie ahoul four milcN loni;'. Just ahovi^ llitsse itilands, the
upward coil r.'-e of the river inaUes a Ih'ImI to the southward of ahoiit
six miU's, and then resumes its I'ormer coiirsi". Nine miles ahove
the Twelve-feel ("liiite, a hrown water river falls in from iho south,
which appears lo he the lar^x'st Irihiitary from that side holow Split
Lal<e.
Gull Jjake is nieroly an exj)aiisi()n of the river, and runs with its
i;-eiicral course, which has the same hearing (a litth> south of west) all
the way from the coinmeiicemeiil of Un? Jiaurentiaii gneiss to Ihe liead
of Split J.,ake. It is twelve miles lonp" .'md four wi<le in the middle,
and ctnitains a few islands. The distance from tlu' head of (iiill LaUc
to the outlet of Sjilil Lake is eighteen miles, and Ihe avt'rage width of
Ihe river is nearly one mih'. An easy ra[iid, Iwo miles in length,
occurs at the outlet of Split Lake, and two short ones ahout mid-way
hetween the twf> lakes. An occasional hank of (day is seen along the
section of the rivertinder description, hut, asalready stated, thecontitry
in the ncighhourhood has a generally level appearance, the only excep-
rill HCIIII.I; A.M) NELSON RFVERS.
;t r
tioii lieiiio' I'(.\- Hill (a pari oI'iIh" ridi^r nmninu- |(;isl tlic .mmiiIi nul ol r„v ii,ii.
W.'iskai-ow !i-l<:i Liikc). wliidi is visilijc to (lir nnrtli-wo.siw.MiMJ iVdin
the lower i»ar( of Split \jnkv. TIk' Assoan |{ivi>r t'litcrs llic iiorlli >i<lt' vssu.m Rivrr.
Ileal- I he oiiilcl, and al ;i iiiirrow placo, Just west of jl, ijicrc i> a |>i'i'-
I'cplililc cin'rciit in I he lakt'.
l''roin llic Irrinination ol' liic rDssilil'iMoas (lojomili'-' lo (Lcouilrl ol'
Split Lake, tin- rocks aloiii:; (jio Nelson K'ivor eoiisistr of Laurent ian i„iMr.'nti.iM.
,i,niei>> ami hciiisls. willi the exeeption ol' a small area of what appear
to lie Iluroiiian strata at the foot o|' the lowest (inll IJapid. At a n.irniiiiMuii
jioint on the north side, alioiit one niiU' helow this rapid, a coarse <;rey""" ""i"''"-
iiiiea-schist, witii slriiiij;s ami hiinchos of white (|iiai'l/. aloiii;' the hed-
(liii,!;-, (lips N. If)' 1'',. Sd". Crossiiii;- the foot of the rapid itselCisa
hand of line-ii'raiiied inassiNc miea-sidnst, passini;' into dark' L;'re\'
<|iiart/,i(e. rilihoned with streaks of wliit<' ipiails and red felspar. The
ilip is X. Id" Iv S(l', A dark liiielycryslalli/.cd dioi-ile. prohaMy
I'orinini;' part of a dyke, was oli>ervei| at the sides of the rapid.
"^riu- Laiirentiaii y,neiss, in the section whitdi has heen imlicaled, ,
_ _ ^ li.iiii'eiili.iii
|ireseiits some variety in eoinposilion, color, Icxturc, and in tlio (diar >-''i'i-''--
acter of its strat ilieation. w hiidi it is unnecessary to docrihc minutely in
the present report. Sometimes the ij;iiei.ss passe.> into hornlilende or
mica schist. In a few places the latli-r is studded with ii'arnets, and it (i,iinei,v.
i;'eiieraiiy contains veins of coarse, lii^'lit-colorcd •j;raiiiti'. The strike, sYrit'o.' *""'
which was ihh'oi'iUmI in many places, was nowliere found to prescr\'c a
i^'ciierai unifoi'inily of diredion for an_\' coiisidcralilc distance, hut in
the niajorit}- ofall the eases noted it had a iiorthwi'sterly ti'iideney.
On thellrsi island ahove t he narrows near the out let of Split jiake.a^^j.j , .^,
il'reon hornhlende ro(d\, whicdi may lie lluroni;in, runs S. 15'^ W., vor-
tical, and on tln^ east side of the point formiiii;- the narrows theri' is ;i
jiocullar lii;'hl redd ish-y; rev i;neiss, containiiii;- a soft (ddoritic mineral.
The weathered surfaces are very thickly pitted, an<l liave a roiinh,
spongy appearance. Split Lake and the g<'"'<>.ii'y "' '*'^ shores liavc^
lioeii already referred to in descrihiiii;' nn' route tVoin Lake Winiiipi;!;;
to the mouth of the ('hiin hill IJivcr.
(/ri(ss Rircr.
llaviiii;' alr(^ady surveyed the seetimi of the Nols(Ui Ifiver hctween
the ''Jou:" at the foot of the (iraiid lia[tid and Sipi-wesk- Ij.ake, I I'ol-
lowed the (irass River hetwi-eii these points, in returning to Norway
House, after completing (he ex[)loratioii of tlu^ river helow Split l^ake.
The upward course of the (Jrass Kiver fnun its junction with the t rwiinl cuiuxi
»T 1 1 1 • •! 11 ■ II" 1 • ot river.
rselsoii hears southwestward, nine miles to the outlet ot \\ itehai
(" Stinking") Lake, from which it runs soiithwanl, or ]>arallel to the
2S r
(iKnl,()(;i( Al, SIHXKV nl' CANAMA.
Cliiiin iif
^IriK-'i-'liiii;
Wiiilcnim
l/.lkc.
W iiili'init;
\.:y\<v l»
Nelson, (ill' twi'iily miles, lo llir SlMiiiliiiii' roek l):i|)iil. A (■;iii(ie route,
.seven or i'ii;lit miles in leni;tli. le;i<U I'mm llie lie;ii| i(| iliis nipiil imtoss
111 I lie Nrl.snn. h'tiihi I lii> fii|iiil I lie " rivef " is ml lii'f ii elijiin of si mtx,
;i'lini;' l.'ikes cnMiH'elcil liy ii:oi't>\\ >. w il li mm e nr less eurrenl, liif lliii'l y
eii^lil miles ill ;i -.(.III liwoiwMiil liireet imi. In ilic lieail nl' Wintering'
l,;ike, wliere llie I'iekerel K'ivei' (Invvs ii willi llie same ii|>\\ anl emirse.
Alii'iil liall'waN ii|i llii^ ->lrelrli, at liiiiiil Lake, llie main lifaneli nf
I lie ( Jrass l>'i\ cr iiiill- llie one w c |ia\'e lie>'ll tuljiiw ilii^'. The nIiiiM nil lie
trnm Si|ii wesk Lake in Hiiiiil wimmI l,'i\ cr mr-ses Wintering' Lake al
rin'Iil aiiu'le--. ( >ii llie |iitsenl ueea'.ioii wc Inllnweil the part nt tins
niiile lyiiii;' liclwceii tlie latter ami llieniiilci nj' Sijii \\c>k Lake. 'I'lio
ilislaiiee i> a I" nil tiiiiilrcii miles in a general east wan I ijireel ion. [''foiii
the eastei'ii li;iy oT W'iiileriiii;' Lake we inaije a |iorta^'e of one luile .ami
l.itMiliiit l.iKi . ''" ehaiiis to the wcslmi |iait of liUiiiliiii;' Lake, wliiili iliseliar;^es into
llie iNelson liiver, seven oi'i'i,i;lil miles hclow Sipi \ve>k Lake A creek
«iiil\- a few chains in lonu'lli. eiileriiin' Ike soiilli side ol liainiiiii!,' Lake,
Tni-i- IViri I '(• <iiniliicic.l lis to a siii;ill >licei of water, from which a I rail, ealleil (,'ross
i'orlau'c, one mile ami a l hire I Iohl;', I > roll l;' hi iis to t he oiii let of Sijii-wesk
Lake.
1 lia\e already referreij to the siippo.sfil ilnroiiian rocks al (lie month
ot' ihedrass l.'ixci'. .\ I ahoiit three miles from the Nelson, a rusty,
(ill..!!'.'-. i|iiarl/,o,-.c variely of i;iiei>> dips S. 10' Iv (1(1 . [-"or two miles
Ini'tlicr ii|i, lioiiililcndir gneiss is seen in piace^. ami al the end of this
(li,>lan(e it dips S. Id l\. S(l\ Here some lari;'e dioritic ilykes run
across the ri\cr. .\t I he litsl rapid, al'oiil seven miles tVoiii I he inoiitji.
a rililii.ned fclsitic red 'j,lieis- has also the >;ime dip.
i.r.Mi ilvkriii \| III,, St.andiiiLi- rock l.'apid. a ureal dioritic d\ ke erovst',- ihc rivei'.
.■^tiiiiiliiii,' rin'k ,-^ I -^
'^iii'iil. Ii i,-, divided hy vi'i'lical fissures, one of which has detached from the
main rock ihc mass (shown in the .accompany iiii;' illustration) to which
the r.'ipid owes ils ii.aine. l''or alioiu a mile ahoxc tin- rapid, the
iiiieiss, whiidi dips N. I.V \V. S(l'. is full of trap dykes. Thence all
iIh' way aloiii;' (he route to the outlet ofSijii-wesk I;ake. (he rocks con-
sist ot di tie rent vai'ietics of i;aieiss, often cut l>v trap d\ kes. The general
,SH|llll IV<>,-I .,.,,. 1-1 1 1 ' 1- • • .
wnni .<irilic. strike in tills interval is southwest ward, the ijireetions ran;.;'inij;- troiii
ahoiit W. to S. I'd ' \V.
,„ .. The count rv i raversed li\' t he ( Jrass K'iver route lie( ween its mouth
( li.inuter (il
ci.iirinv .ilinii: joid Siiii-wesk Lnk'e presents ii-cnerallv an itndulatinij- apiR'arance.
'I'he land is usiuilly of a clayey nature and the soil often i:;ood. There
seems to he \-ery little swamp, as far as could be jiidu'od hy lollowiiii;'
the eanoe-roiite. Aloiiii; the river, and around the lakes on its course,
the ro(d<s ai'e seen lieneath tlii' (day on the islands and ends of jioints.
Jlall-way up the north-west side of Wintering Lake (wliiidi is Iburtceii
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
liilZS |2.5
■^ 1^ II 22
2.0
1.8
1.25 11.4 ill 1.6
V]
v:
w
^
'/
/A
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
1.^ WEST MAIN S MET
WEBSTEK rl <. 145S0
(716) 872-4503
Z
rniRr-uiLL and nelson rivers.
20 r
'
or fifteen miles long) a rocky hill overlooks the water for a few miles.
Here, und in some other places on the route, the woods are burnt, but
nio.st of the timber in this region appears to be grcon, and of a thrifty
growth, the spruces sometimes measuring over six feet in girth. The
water of (irass Kiver is slightly tu-bid, but that of Landing Lake is
clear. The barometer indicated that this lake has an elevation of Elevation of
thirty-six feet over Wintering Lake, and tifty-four feet over Sipi-wesk^'""''"*^^''-
Luko.
Explorations hy Mr. A. S. ('ochrank.
Finding that the method which would be most advantageous for mo
to adopt in making my (surveys of the Churchill and Nelson Elvers,
would not require the aid of my ass-istunt, I assigneil tt) Mr. Cochrane
a separate region to explore, in order that by working independently
of each othei', we might examine a larger area of country during
the season. He was instructed to make a topographical and geological instructions,
exploration of the region lying to the south of the route which 1 luul
followed the previous year, using (Jod's and lslan(l Lakc-s and llu-ir JJf^^XVoxttrd
connecting waters from Oxford House as a basis of operations. l[o """*•-'•
was also directed to make observation -i and colled intbrmation as to
the fauna of the region, the climate, soil, timber, and the character of
tJie country generally.
The accompanying map, on a scale of one inch to four miles, Map.
engraved from the original, as prepared by Mr. Cochrane from his
own track-surveys, exhibits the leading topographical features of the
region which he explored. It serves to sim])lify very much the
following description, which is taken from this gentleman's account,
aided by his i)lans, notes and spr cimens. He proceeded fi-om Norway
House to Oxford House by the Hudson's Bay Company's boats, and at
the latter phice obtained a canoe and men through the courtesy of Mr.
Cuthbert Sinclair, the cfficcr in charge. The route which he followed R^«to to Ood'i
to GckI's Lake, leaves a bay oi\ the south side of Knee Lake about
sixteen miles from its western extremity, and proceeds by way of
Wolf and Wolverine Rivers and Swampy Portage, which is nearly two
miles long and terminates on the shore of (rod's Lake.
(iod'sLake runs north-east and sjuth-wesl, and has a length of forty Ood's Lake.
eiLfht miles. Its widest iiorlion measures fourteen mMes acnyss. At
rather more than half-way up from its north-cast (ixti'cmity, is the
Manitouwapa, or Wondei'ful Narrows, where the lake contracts to
a few chains in width, and a luri-ent flowing to the north-eastward
is perceptible. A canoe-i'oute to Oxford Lake leaves the north-west
side of the upper portion of the Lv^' by way ot Touchwood River,
3
30 c
QEOLOOirAL SURVEY OP CANADA.
Inlet.
Outlet.
A >rrtiilion
L.ike.
Knife Hivcr.
Surrounding
country.
High shore.
Burnt timber.
Clear water.
Large trout.
Origin of th
name of the
la«e.
Route from
Oxford to
Ifland Lake.
Portages.
which flows into the latter. The river from Island Lake enters the
south -western extremity of God's Lake, and here the Lon^ JJapid or
Kinoiitchewan is encountered. (Jod's Lake does not discharge into
Knee Lake, as hitherto represented on sketch-majts, hut by God's
River, a large and rapid sti-eam, which, on uniting with tlio Little
Severn from the south, forms ihe Shamattawa Kiver. 'riic ouilet of
the hike is on the north side, ahout mid-way between Swampy F'ortago
and its north-east extremity, YcrmiUon Lake lies not I'ar lo the
north-east of the foot of (Jod's Lake and sends its water into God's
River, some distance below the lake of the same name. Knife Tiver,
about tiie same size as Touchwood River, eiiteis tht» south-east ^ule of
the lake twenty miles fi-om its north-east extremity.
God's Lake, being comparatively free from islands, jire.sents to the
ejo a greater expanse of walei- than any other in this part of the
country, but Island Lake is about one third lai'ger. The region
around God's Lake, as far as can be judged from its appearance from
the lake, is rocky but mainlj- level, and the sui-tace of the water lies,
apparently, only about tifty feet, or less, below the general surface of
the land immediately surrounding the lake. Between Knife River
and Manitouwapa, a distance of eight miles, the bank is higher than
usual, the rocks in some places rising as much as 200 feet above the
level of the lake. The timber has In-en burnt at ditVeront times over
more than half of the tract visible from the lake, and the same con-
ditions are said to extend far into the interior all around. The water',
which is clear, is said to be de(]> thvoiighout most of the lake, and it
abounds in fine fish, the more valuable of which are the whitetish and
grey trout. Specimens of the latter are occasionally caught of great
size. This circumstance has given origin to the fables told by the
Indians of the mj'thical trout of huge proportions rejiresented as
inhabiting these waters. The present name of the lake has in some
way grown out of the legends connected with this supernatural fish.
Having completed his exploration of God's Lake, Mr. Cochrane
returned to Oxford House for a new outfit, and then proceeded to
Island Lake by way of the route which leaves the eastern extremity
of Oxford Lake and passes through the south-western division ol' God's
Lake. Betwen these two sheets of water the route traveiscs Rat,
Clearwater, and Touchwood Lake. In order to go from Rat Jjake to
Clearwater Lake, three portages required lo be made (the intervening
space being broken by two ponds), namely, the Long L'orlage, 3759
yards; Ant Portage, 873 yards; and High-hill Portage, 1538 yards.
The country between Oxford Lake and the south-westei-n part of God's
Lake along this route is not quite so rocky, nor is the timber so much
burnt as it is around the latter lake.
V-
rHURniii.i, A.\n nki.son rivers.
31 r
r
The Kitudiuliovvaii or Loiil,' Rjipids, n\ the hoivd of God's Tiiike, aiv
piisHt'd \,y three portiijjjos, with u total lon/jfth <if2l(>0 yards, and a
dtMnichaige 12:54 y.inis Irmir. Ahovo these the upward course of Ishiiid
Luke River tui'iis t-ast-south-east, and passes thi-ough llio lower part of Beaver-hill
Bcaver-hill Lake, whi stretehos to the soiitli-westward ahout thirty ^"''"
miles. At the end m|' this leaoh of the river there is a short demi-
cliarge into a small round lake, iroin whieli a portaire of t)50 yards
leads n> into a' Dlj), I small sheet of watei' ealled G(H)se Lake. The
Kinoiitehi'Wiuioo.se, or f.ittle Ijou^j; Kapids, fall into the southern part
of this lake, and ar.' sniinounted Ity four portages, having an aggregate
length oi'Or)"! ynnls.
From Goose Lake the Island Lake Jliver has a nearly direct upwai-d I'.iand Luke
course, hearing southward, all the way to the lake from whieli it takes
its name, the distance heing twenty-three miles. Its volume is about
the same as tluit of Trout IJiver (between Oxfonl and Knee Lakes),
and its width, which varies much, may average about 200 j-ards. In
«ome parts of it^ course if passes between walls and banks of bare
gni'is-; roek. which sometimes i-ise to the height of tifly feet or rather
more. Indeed this cliai'acter ])revails all the way from (lod's Lake.
The rocliv p.'iiM.s are the narrowest, and in the intervals lu'tween them
the river often opens oul into reedy ;uul marshy l»ays with clayey soil
around them. The Island T^ako post of the Hudson's Hay (Company, po,^ ^f j,^g
in charge of .AL-. lanklater (to whom Mr. Cochrane was indebted for "•^•^"""'*"''*
much kindness), stands on an island near the outlet of the lake.
Island Lak-e lies nearly east and west, and its greatest length is Island Lake,
about seventy nules. The niaiii body of the lake, however, measures
oidy forty eight miles, and has an average width of twelve miles.
Both the northern and .southern shores curve gently to the south,
parallel to one anothei-. The whole form of the main lake, and the
positions of the inlet and outlet, present a striking resemblance to the
outline of the human stomach and the situations of its oriHce-s. This
lake is very appropriately named, being literally tilknl with islands in Many islands.
ever\- part. The aggregate area of these islands is appai-antly as great
as that of the wnlcr-surfa?e. The number probably amounts to several
thousands, and they present a great variety in form and size, the
largest being sevei-al miles in length. .Mr. Cochrane counted upwards
of one thousand adjacent to the main land all around, most of which
are iiidicaied on the accompanying map, and the whole of the interior
(yf the lake is studded with an ecpial profusion.
A narrow and straight bay runs west from near the outlet for a Narrow Bay.
distance of nine miles, which, for convenience of desctription, might bo
called Narrow Bay. From its n )rthern shore a canoe-route starts to
32 c
OEOI.oairAL 81'RVEy OK CANAKA.
Inlet.
Clear water.
SurrouniliiiR
country.
Soil.
Productiveness
God's Lake.
Route from
Juckson Bay.
Peat.
Old Wife's Lake, and a .similar route to Doer's Lake leaves the west
side of Iwland Lake JJiver about two miles above Pelican Rapid.
Several deep bays occui- on the south side of Island Lake, and one
extends from the eastern extremity, u distance estimated to be about
eighteen miles, when' it receives tlie Sai^awitcbewan Hiwc, which is
believed to be the principal inlet of the lake. The water of this stream
and of all the other feeders of the lake is of a dark color, conti'asting
strongly with the clear water of the lake itself.
The land about Island Lake is level, and has an avei-age elevation
above the water of apparently less than titty teet. The woodfa in the
neighborhood of the lake are mostly grei'n (oi- uiiburnt), so (hat the
country presents a more pleasing appearance than that around God's
Lake. The proj)ortion of soil to n)ck is also n)uch greater than in the
neighbourhood of the latter lake.
Soil of the District. Large areas of low sani'^ land occur on Oxford
and Knee Lakes, e.spocially (»n their uortluiii sides. These tracts
sui>port a uniform gi'owth of small spruce timber through which the
forest fires have generally run. The higher grounds, where not rocky,
present usually a stiti' liglit-colored clay, and .soil <jf this description
with more or less loam, is found along the valley of the Trout River
Oxford House is situated on a stitf clayey soil, which here produces
barley and all kinds of garden vegetables in perfection. This locality
is I'emarkable for its abundance of wild gooselierries, acres of ground
in some places being covered with gooseberry bushes. The land to
the north of the lake, opposite to Oxford House, ri.ses to an elevation
of about 200 feet, and apjtears to be higher than any other ground in
this part of the country, i was informed that it consists entirely of
soil underlaid by drift materials, no rock cropping up in the vicinity.
Mr. Cochrane estimates that on an average about half the length of the
immediate bank or shore-line of God's Lake may consist of rock, while
the other half is made up of clay, sand, gravel, swamp and marsh.
From the generally level a})pearance of the country at a distance, -.'nd
its resemblance to i-egions which are covered with soil, he thiidis it
probable that the greater part of the artju is overspread with soil or
loose material of some kind. Along the route from Jackson Bay, at
the east end of Oxford Lake, to the upper part of (Joil's Lake, the
country is more diversified than in the neighbourhood of the latter
lake. Although the general outline is more uneven, the proportion of
rock to other kinds of surface was estimated by Mr. Cochrane to
amount to only about one fourth of the whole. The soil or loose
materials consist of loam, clay, sand and gravel, or of mixtures of
these. Peat and sphagnum are found in the low grounds in many
rnrRcHiLL and nelson rivers.
33 c
places. On the north-west side of Swampy Lake, below Knee Lake,
then? is a l.cil of ^^ood peat of considerable extent, which shows a per-
pendicular face of lour or five feot above the level of the water. Peut
of tine (iualit,\ occurs at Clearwater Lake and Swampy Portage Lake.
As :dready mentioned, rocky banks prevail along the Island Lake
Eivcr, although, at the wider parts, clay and other soils are met with.
Around Island Lake, although the action of the water has, in the island Lake,
course of time, washed away the loose materials and earth, leaving the
underlying rocks exposed along a great part of the immediate banks,
yet on going back a short di.stance, a covering of good soil is generally
met with. After Mr. Cochrane had completed the circuit of Island
Lake, and when he was at the Hudson's Bay Company's post near the
outlet, I find that he has made the following note in his field-book,
under date of .'i 1st August: "The soil I have seen in passing round the ^xtraoi^frora
lake is very good indeed, being generally clay of a light brownish
color, mixed, in most places, with a little tine gravel. In nearl,y every
case where I went inland for any distance, the rock seen along the lake
shore 'isappeared or was covered with soil, and the trees were of a
larger a 1 better growth than near the water. There is a very good
garden a. this post, and certainly I have never seen potatoes look
better than they do here." The other varieties of soil which Mr. Viiricties of
Cochrane noticed around this lake include clay, sand, vegetable
loam, and sandy and gravelly loam.
Timher of the District. Spruce is the most abundant wood every- .pimbor.
where in this region. Xext in order comes aspen, white birch,
tatnarac, balsam-poplai- and Banksian pine. In many places the spruce
attains a veiy good size, and is used in the form of logs and beams for
building purposes. It is also sawn into planks and boards for all sorts
of carpenter work. The tamarac and Banksian pine sometimes have
a diameter of about twenty inches. Balsam-fir is common and of
good size around Island Lake, some of the trees measuring nearly foui-
feet in circumference, but it is scarce at God's Lake, and only i-arely
seen and of small size as far north as Knee Lake. In going southward
the rowan or mountain ash was first seen on Island Lake. Ground
maple was met with only on the south side of this lake. I may hei-e
mention that on the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg, George's Island,
off Poplar Island, is the most northern locality at which I have seen
this species.
Geolooical Features of the Region Explored by Mr. Cochrane.
Laurentian gneiss is the prevailing rock throughout the whole district oeniogy of the
1 • district
between Knee and Island Lakes. It presents little variety, and no in-
Uneisji
Granite.
Character and
strike of gneiss.
34 C (lEOLOOIOAL SI UVEr OK CANADA.
clications of useful minonil.s wore fouiul in lliis foniiHtiuii. The colour
is* UMually some shade of grey, g-Miorally rather light, but Mometimes it
is reddi.sh-groy, and more rarely a distinct red or j)iidv. The stratiti
cation, which in most ytivts is moderately distinct, is often bent or
contorted. In some places the gnei.ss has a spotted appearance, r.nd
occasionally strongly contrasting bods are seen, but, as a rule, it is of u
very uniform charactei-. Its average texture is of the medium variety,
or rather tending to be tine-grained, but coarse forms are occasionally
seen. Judging from the specimens and Mr. Cochraue's description, an
area of very light grey, tine-grained granite occurs on the s<»uth-ea8i
side of God's Lake, about midway between the Narrows and the north-
east extremity ; and another, probably of small extent, of light grey,
coarse granite at the outlet of Beaver-hill Lake. The latter consists of
plates of yellow mica i)i white ([uartz and feldsj)ar. Both of these
localities are surrounded by Laurentian gneiss.
In order to save a more tedious description, the general character
and the strike of the gneiss throughout the i-egion explored by Mr.
Cochrane is here given in tabular form. It will be evident from this
that no prevailing or general direction can be detected in this part of
the country. The bearings are all magnetic.
Tablk showing the Generai. Character and the Strike of the
Gneiss in the Eegion lo the southward of Oxford and
Knee Lakes.
Between Oxford Lake and God's Lake.
1. Five miles up Rat River — Greyish Red , West
2. Noilliern part of Rat Lake — Grey West.
3. Three miles N. of southern extremity of Rut Lake — Mil aceoiis,
grey, finely ribboned West
4. One mile K. of Iligh-hill Portage, Clear-wiiter Lake — Coarse
grey S, 22MV.
5. Clear-water Lake, two miles E. of la.><t — Grey S. ,'." VV.
C. Narrow.s, at centre of Clear-water Lake — (.'onrse frrcy S 12 VV.
7. One mile and a-half IS.E. of Narrows, Clear-water L;ike — lJ.i,'lit
reddish and very light grey a. 50' K.
8. Point N. side, centre of Touchwood Lake — Coarse, gn y S. 60° E.
Around (rod's Lake.
9. On Island, eight miles N. of Iviaoutchewan Rapids, W. side —
Dark grey S. 70" E,
10. On Island, three miles S. of Narrows — Micaceous grey, finely
ribboned S. 43" E.
11. Island, W. side, three miles N. of Narrows — Grey S. 60" W.
12. Island, W. side, four miles N. of Narrows — Grey S. 40° E.
13. Point, W. side, seven miles N. of Narrows — Reddish grey . . . . S. 70° E.
14. Point, entrance to Bay, N.W. corner East.
' I
CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS. 35
15. Point, S. end of Fishing Eagle Klvcr— B'iuoly grained, flesh
coloured ^- ♦^'*' ^■
16. Eleven miles K. nf Swampy Portage 8. 20' W.
17. Three miles K. ofOod's River S. 52" W.
18. Irtlund, fuur miles E. of God's River East.
19. Point, eight miles E. of Uod's River— Finely grained (•' pepper
und salt") «• 30" W.
20. Island, nine miles E. of Uod's River— Finely grained (•' pepper
and salt •) S. 16" E.
21. Point, eighteen miles E. of Narrows East.
22. Island, thirteen miles E. of Narrows— Grey S. 45"' \V.
23. Point, eight miles N.E. of Narrows— Grey S. 60' E.
24 . Island, six miles E. of Narrows S. 63' E.
Along Island Lake River.
25. Head of Kinoutchewau Rapids— Ferruginous, dark eoloured,
siliceous, finely crystalline, hornblendie, schistose S. 80" E.
2G. Point on S. shoreof Beaver-hill Lake, near outlet — Coaise red-
dish grey S. 68° H
27. Outlet of Beaver-hill Lake— Fine grained, dark grey, micaceous.S. 65' E.
28. Portage at outlet of Goose Lake— Coarse reildish grey S. 48" E.
2i». Pelican Rapid— Coarse, grey S. 70' W.
Around Island Lake.
30. One mile N. of Hudson Bay Co.'s post— Grey and greyish-red. S. 45' VV.
31. Near mouth of Main-land River, head of Narrow Hay— Very
coarse grey '^- ' ^ *^
32 Western extremity of main hody of lake, just south of Narrow
Bay-Grey «■ 25^ E.
33. Near head of Pipestone Bay S' '?«' ^■
34. Point between Pipestone and Highway Bays— Fine greenish
grey East.
36. West shore of Highway Bay, three miles from extremity-
Greenish grey S. 40' W.
36. Point four miles E. of Highway Bay— Grey S. 16' E.
37. South shore, four miles eastward of last— Light grey East.
38. Island, five miles further east— Light grey S. 40" E.
39. Point fourteen miles west of Fox Island— Dark grey 8. 80° E.
40 Island in Land-locked Bay, twelve miles W. of Fox Island—
,,,.,.„ S. 80' W.
Ui ey
41. Island, six miles west of Fox Island— Dark grey S. 20' E.
42. Island, five miles west of Fox Island S. 18° W.
43. Island, just west of Fox Island— Very coarse, grey East.
44. Island, four miles noith-east of Fox Island S. 65° W.
45. Island, near N. shore, eight miles north of Fox Island S. 45° W
40. Point on N. shore, eighteen miles north-westward of Fox
Island— Grey, and with reddish and greenish spots S. 75° E.
47. Point about the middle of the north shore, or twenty miles
from Fox Island—Fine-grained, greenish East.
i
3G c
flROLOnlOAT, St'RVEY OF rANAt)A.
!i
• t
j, 1
iluronitn.
Schist-
c(>nKlomernte.
Qrcy mica-
schist.
Magnetic iron.
Garneta.
Hurnninn on
God's Lake.
Schist on
Touchwood
Lake.
Ifwonion. The large tn)n<jli of lliudiiian schists. Ac. in whieh
Oxfonl and Knee Liikes niv liichKlt'd, wnw dcHcrilu'd in my re])orl for
1S78. The strata of the eastern ])art of the former hike consist of
greyish micaceous ami moi'C or less calcareous schist-conglomerate, its
jtebhles, which are well rounded, consisting mostly of granite and
opaque white (|uartz. On F?at River, a short distance .south «)f the old
Wesleyan ^fission of Jackson Hay. the strike of this rotk, which is of
the same variety as that of Oxford House, is east and west, and the dip
southward at an angle of .'^<»". The same conglomerate is found also
at the head ot Trout Hivci\ but farther down the stream, is mo.stly
grey miea-schist without jiehhies. I found beds of magnetic iron ore
interstratified in siliceous slates where Trout River falls into the head
of Knee Lake. ;ind not far from this locality .Mr. Cochrane observed
the calcareo-micaceous schist-conglomerate, holding granite pebbles,
associated with finely crystalline black hornblende schist, full of dull
garnets as large as peas. N'o new tacts were noted in regard to tlie
Huronian rocks of the shores of Knee Lake.
Ml'. Cochrane's specimens ;ind notes show that on the shores of the
larger division oi'tJod's Lake, rocks which we may consider Huronian,
occur a short distance west of the outlet, at the eastern extemity aud
on both sides of the Xarrows. About a mile west of the outlet there
is a compac< il;"'k, greenish-grey diorite witli small quartzite pebbles,
running S. '. (»nag.) and dipjiing noi'thward, and on an island
about thret ..i. ^ fui-lher west <larkgiryish-green <liorilic schist occurs,
dipping S. 40° W. Compact dark grecnish-grcy diorite with a little
calcspai' in the joints, occurs ai'oiind the bay ut the eastern extremity
of the lake. The strike is in various directions, and the dip at diil'ercnt
angles from 45'^ u])wards. At the extremity of the first long point on
the south-east side of tlie lake, or about eight miles from the bottom of
the bay just referre<l to, the rocks run nearly east and west, and consist
of dark grey felsitic schist, thickl}- spotted with whitish felspar, giving
it a porphyritic appearance, together with a nearly black finely crys-
talline hornblende schist. On the same side of the lake, three miles
noi'th-east of the Narrows, dark green cr^-stalline diorite occurs, with
calcspar in the joints. It holds iron p3'rites and small veins of quartz.
Two miles nearer tlie Narrow,s the rock on an island is a massive gn'v
mica schist with glassy spots. The dip is here southward at an angle
of 50°. In the Narrows it consists of grey felsitic schist, showing
very tine lines of stratification and dipping N. 30° K. < 85°.
A dark greenish-grey felsitic hornblende-schist occurs on the eastern
part of Touchwood Lake, and a similar rock was found on a small
island in Clear-water Lake. About the middle of the south-east shore
nilRrillM, AND NEI-SON RIVERM.
.'{7 ('
of the uppor division of <ii)ii's l.iikf, <;i'i'(Mi mica jiiiiI hor!il)U»tid»' schist
was mot with, dipping W. X. \V. <; 50°.
The lliirdiiiaii strata arc hiriiciv dovcloitod around Iho wcsti'rn j)art Huronimi
ot'lsUiiid ]a\\h'. and thi'V occur aijaiii al its eastern cxli'cinity. On the Mund Laku.
shores ol" the narrow liay, wiiicli runs west from the vicinity of the
outlet, tlie followiiif^ rocl<s were titund dark i^roy felsitic schist with
fini' lines (»f stratification , dark i:;rey ij;lossy calcareous scliist ; j^frey
finely ril)honed siliceoii> slate, felsitic and hij;hly calcareous; <^rcy
felsitic silicious slate, and a felsitic slatt' of an olive-|;rey coloi'. The
strike varies from S. "<•" to S. S(l ' W., and the dip is northward at
various aiii^lea from 45° uj)wards.
On the south side, in the entrame of Pipestone Bay, a lon^ narrow
arm. openinn' olY the lake at eiu;hteen miles from the outlet, beds of a
.i,M-ey calcareous, slightly ci-ystalline stcatitic schist are associated with •"^'•"'titiccbigt.
dark irrecnish-irrev felsitic and hornhlende slates. Here the strike is
about S. S. W. Tobacco pijics are carveil by the [ndians out of the
steatitic rock.
Alonir the south side of the next bav. or at a distance of twenty-four
miles south of the outlet, the principal ro(d< is a <,n'ceii epidotic horn- Oreen sohiits.
blende schist. Associated with this ari' dark iireen finely crystallino
hornblendic and dioritie schists. The dip here is N. •2i)° W. at a con-
siderable an^jle.
Laurentian ii;neiss occupies the shore between the dit^oront localities I'^i'irentian
of Iluronian rock which have just i>ccii ilescribdl. The same I'ock is
also found about tlii' outlet of the lak<\ but at a point on tlie northern
side, foui- miles south of the outlet, the Ifuronian system is represented
by the siliceous schist-conglomerate which is so largely developed at ^^^j^.^^^^^
tiie east end of Oxford Lake. A grey ipiartz-rock is found on the next^'omorate.
prominent point, four miles south-east of the last. Further U|» the
shore, or sixteen miles from the outlet, a very dark grey diorite was
met with, and at about twenty miles the rocks consist of soft grey
schist with harder varieties of the same color full of grains of clear
vitreous nuartz, together with many of iron pyrites. The dip in tliis
neighboiJv:,.M,d i,; r.orthward at high angles. Fine grained greenish
irneiss, having the same di]). was met with two or three miles further
east. This may be eithei- lluroiuan or Laurentian. To the eastward of
it, the ordinary grey Laurentian gneiss was found all along the shore orey gneiss,
as far as the bay at the head of the lake.
On Iron Island, which lies close to the north shore between the two
localities of Iluronian rocks last described, Mi-. Cochrane found dai-k
o-reen serpentine, with calcareous joints, along with a hard fine-grained. Serpentine,
semi-crystalline rock of a deep green color, as if due to the presence of
38 c
OEOLOUICAI. SUKVEY Of CANADA.
chromic oxide. As tar as I am aware, this is ihe Hrst locality at which
serpent iiu' has heon tliscovertMl in the IFiironian rocks to the tiorth-
wcst of Luke Superior. Its association with the i^reat iliorite dyke
cutting the ;;nciss alon^ the Nc'son Rivor aliovc Split Lake was
dcscrihod in my i-eport for IH7S, It was also referred t(i hy i)r. Har-
rington in connection with his investigations of the mineralogical
relations of these two rocks. A tohaccn-pipe, carved out of a tine
Serpentine variety of serpentine, was presented to me hy an Indian on the X(dson
LaK.*^"" '^**' '^'^'^''' '^'"* •"*"'^' '-''"'' '^''*' "'""«' <''»ii>ic from the great Kein-dcer Lake, to
the north of the Churchill itiver, into which it discharges in ahout
li>ngitud(^ lO.T. At the eastern exti'emity of the main txiily ni' Island
Huronianroi-ks '^'die, the llnronian rocks are again met with in the form of light
tsland.*"^"' hliiish-grey calcareous felsitic s(dust towards the north side, and ol
grey (piarl/rock towards the south. A (juart/ vein in this vii-inity
contained pat(dies of yellow pearl-spar, but no indications of metallic
ore was found eithei* hero <;r in any other vein around Island Lake.
u , .. -. The strike of the Laurentian gneiss in the neighhorhoiid of the
KelatiiinB of >-> -^
^dU°*'*'' Muronian i-ocks appears in most cases to coire.ipond nearly with thai
of the latter in the vicinity of Oxt j-d and Island Lakes, but around
God's Lake both systems seem to be much disturbed, and it is difllcult
to ascertain their relations to each other, Ki'om the table alreaily
given, showing the sirike oi' the gneiss in a (onsidorahle numbei' of
localities fliruughout thi;; region, it is evident lliere is no lendeiicy to
a general uniformity of tlirection over any cousidei-ahle extent of
country.
The di lections of the glacial stria' in forty-four localities, at which
Mr. Cochrane noted them, are given, along with a list of those recorded
by myself in the other parts of the disti-ict.
strata.
Glacial utriiv.
i;'
(tlaciai, Striai.
Having already referred to the superficial deposits and the glacial
phenomena generally, with the exception of the stria;, in the course of
my description of the regions traversed, it only remains for me to give
the directions of these grooves, which, for the sake of Ijrevit}', I shall
state in tabular form. They are all referred to the magnetic meridian.
Distances are given in straight lines.
Little Churchill Eiver.
1 . Four miles below outlet of Was-kai-ow-a-ka Lake S. 30" W.
2. Tlilrteeu miles below « " S. 70° W.
;i. Eighteen miles below " " S. 85° W.
4. Outlet of lower Recluse Lake, various directions from S. 5° W.
to S. 40" W , also S. 80° W.
OHI'lirmi,!, AM> NKI.SON IIIVKKH. 39 f
6. Eiiglo Rapid, two milcH in ii ntiuii;lit lim- helow th«^ Itini Two
HftB, bott ilistmit, S. 10 \V mid 8. 80" W.
Grtut Churchill Hiirr.
G. Six mili'H above thf III. .nth of 111,' I-ittl.- Cliiiivliill S r. W.
7. Fivo miles almv.' the laHt, S. to H, r. VV.
H. Fom miles below tlitiiiiMilli.if thi' l.ilth! ClmiThill, S. lo W.
iilul !S. 7" W,
a. At Fort Chiiichill. (Here, in on.- plafc, the walls on opposite
sidei) of II ^u|) are b.ifb jjiii.iv. d.) S. 'Jn ' W. t.> S. :(() ' W.
10. On the east side of the month of the I'hunhill H K)' K.
11. On tiie coast of Hudson's Bay tw.> mid a-lialt niile.s eastward
of the river S, 1 5" W.
\2. On the coast of Hudson's lUy five mill's ej^Ktwnrd of the river S 'jo K.
.V(7,so/( Hirer.
13. Third l^imestone Rapid, distincl fr..ni S to K. to S. 6o E.
14. Hroad Five-milis Rapid, Just above the lerminatiou ii the
horizontal dolomite, S. .'". W., al.so up the slop. K gneiss
S. -15' to S. 05' W. On level surlaceH or iKMiuiil eour-e. . , S. .10 W.
15. Just above tlie twelve-feet chute at the head ol tlie rapid last
mentioned S 4.''. W.
IG. Month of river from south, eif,'hi milts above last locality, or
thirty-four miles below the outlet of (iiill Lake 8. .'".:> VV.
17. Twenty-eiglit miles below (5ull l.iiki- He,.") W.
18. South side opposite large islaml, twenty mil.s below liiill
Lake S.TO'W.
19. Bend in the river, si.\teen iniks below (!mII l.ak.' S. GO W.
20. Foot of lowest Gull Rapid, newer set S, 4,". W , older set S. GO' W.
21. Middle Gull Rapid S. 70° W.
22. Upper Gull Rapid S. 80' W,
2a. Point midway ui) louth side of Uull l-ake S. 85' VV.
24. Five miles above (lull Lake, S. GO' W. and West.
25. Seven miles below outlet of Split Lake West.
2C. Three miles below outlet of Split Lake S. 85° W.
27. Near H. B. Co.s post, about midway up north shore of Split
Lake, the strias iuteraett each other at various angles, but
the average direction is S. 85" W.
28. Mouth of Burntwood River, Split Lake S. 70MV.
29. Western inlet of Nelson River, Split Lake S. 70° W.
:!0. Chain-of-rocks Rapid, three miles aliove Split Lake, one set,
S. 2.5° B:., the other S. 70 W.
Graas River Route.
31 . Grass River, five miles from the mouth S. 75' W.
32. Outlet of Witchai (Stinking) Lake West.
33. East side Witchai Lake S. 72° W.
34. Grass Biver, five miles south of VVfitchai Lake S. 7o^ W.
40 C GEOLOaiCAL SURVEY OP CANADA.
35. From last locality nearly to Standing-rock Rapid, several
places S. 70'- W.
3G. Around Burnt Lake nt the forks of Grass River S. 70" W.
Sipi-tcesk Lake.
37. N.W. side of Sipi-wesk Lake, about ten miles from outlet,
S. .30° W. and S. 45" W.
38. Islands in the lake, about fourteen miles from outlet S. 40" W.
39. Diflfercnt places about midway up the lake, wliich is about
thirty-five miles long, S. 40 ' W. to S. 50= W.
40. About six miles from the south-west extremity of the lake.
Here the under-surface of an overhanging wall of gneiss
is striated S. 35° W.
The following are the directions of the stria? in the God's Lake and
Island Liike region, as recorded by Mr. Cochrane, the bearings also
referring to the magnetic meridian : —
Around God's Lake.
1 . Island two miles south of entrance of river from Touchwood
Lake S. 15" W.
2. Point on east shore, opposite river from Touchwood Lake.
(One set, S. 8° E.) S. 8° W.
3. Point at Narrows S. 70° W.
4. Island three miles north of Narrows S. 20" W.
5. Island four miles north of Narrows S. 12° W.
6. Point seven miles north of Narrows S. 35° W.
7. Entrance of bay at north-west extremity of Lake S. 30° VV.
8. Outlet of Wolverine River into Fishing Eagle Lake S. 34° W.
9. Point six miles west of God's River (outlet) S. 44° W.
10. Point two miles west of God's River S 35° W.
11. Island four miles east of God's River S, 25° W.
12. Island eight miles east of God's River S. 18° W.
13. Point nine and a-half miles east of God's River S. 10° W.
14. Point eleven and a-half miles east of God's River S. 5° W.
15. Island near south-eastern shore, eleven miles east of God's
River S. 70" W.
16. Point fifteen miles north-east of Knife River S. 24° W.
17. Island twelve miles north-east of Knife River S. 18° 'VV.
18. Point six miles north-east ot Knife River South.
19. Point of large island two miles north of Knife River S. 16° W.
20. Point eight miles north-east of Narrows S. 20° W.
21. Island five miles north-east of Narrows S. 25° W.
22. Point four miles north-east of Narrows . . , , ; S. 30° W.
Between Jackson Bay, on Oxford Lake, and southern part of God's Lake.
23. Northern end of Rat Lake S. 20° W.
24. Large ifland two miles from south end of Rat Lake S. 30° W.
and
also
rnURPHILr. AND NELSON KIVEBS. 41
25. Island in nortli west end of Cloarwater Lake S. 30" W.
26. At Narrows, Clearwater Lake S. 30 W.
27. Point near soutli-eii.'-t extremity of Clearwater Lake S. 30^ W.
28. Point nix miles south-west of outlet of 'rouuliwood Lake. . . S. 18" \V.
29. Point two miles west of outlet of Touchwood Lake S. 20' W.
Around hliiiiil Lake.
30. Kettie Island, half way tip lou^' narrow bay at west end South.
31. Small island two nlile^ from southern e.xtremity of Pipestone
Bay «.'.;5 W.
32. Point west side of Highway P.ay. foui miles from southern
e.xtremity ^i^""'-
33. Point east side of Highway I5ay, three miles from southern
extremity South.
34. Point one mile north-east of jiortage from Highway Bay S. 10^ W.
35. I'oint five miles south-east of [)ortage from Highway Hay. . . Lv .'> W.
36. Island fourteen and a-half miles west of Pox Island S. 20" W.
37 Island in landlocked Viay, twelve miles south-west ot Fox
Island S- 8;W.
38. Island one mile east of Fox Island S. 16 W .
,39. Point three miles north-east of Fox Island S. 16 W.
40. Point on north shore filtuen miles north-west of Fox Island. S. 20 W.
41. Po'. t nineteen miles south-east of H. B. Co.'s Post S. 26' W.
42. Point sixteen and a-half miles south-east of H. B. Co.'s Post. S. 6 W.
43 Point on small island seven miles south-east of II. B. Co. s
Post ^ « W.
Lake.
T,
J.
NOKTIIKKN LI.^nT^ <>K FnU K.^T TkEES.
It would be impossible, within the limits of u feport like the pi-esent.
to give all the facts collected with I'eforcnce to the trees and shrubs of
thircountry e.^plofod ; still, the infortnation secui-ed in rcgai-d to this
subject may prove tisefid for reference at any tiiui; hereafter. The
timber has already been incidentally alluded to in describing the regions
explored, but it may be worth while here to note sotne facts in regard
to the range of the trees whose northern boundaries traverse the part
of the country under consideration.
Tf/itYt' »SjorMce— (the '• Pine " of Kui.ert's Land).— This is the most
northern coniferous tree. On the east side of Hudson's Bay the last
of it i.i seen on the coast a sh-.rt distance north of Richmond (iulf On
the west side it termintites about Seal Hiver. Thence its limit runs
north-westward, and is reported to cross the McKcnzie River about
200 miles below Peel's l.iver.
7^^„„„,,c— (also called "Juniper " and "Eod Spruce")— On the east
Bide of the bay it accompanies the spruce almost to the extreme limit.
It is abundant at York Facloiy. Along the lower part of the Nelson
J
42 o
<»EOI,Or,irAL SURVEY OF" rANADA.
I
Rivci- it is of fair size, but on the Cliurchill it becomes small towards
tho sea. Its northern limit runs north-westward to the McKenzio
Hivor, which it is said to cross below Peel's River,
nanksian Pine — ('C}- press.") — This liee appears to attain its great-
est perfection on the southern branches ot" tho Albany River, where 1
have seen large groves with tall straight trunks, Ireo from branches,
and about two feet in diameter at the butt. The original forests of the
lower part of the valley of the Moose IJivei- having been destroyed by
tire many years ago, a crop of white birch and j)o|ilars now re[)laccs
the former coniferous timber, so that the pro])er northern limits of the
different species of the latter can scarcely l)c defined. A young and
healthy growth of Banksian pines was seen on the Missinaibi branch
of Jiis river a few miles below "Hell's (iate," but none were observed
to the northward in this region. It was abundant along Steel River,
Init ceased to be noticed on the upper part of Hayes' River. In going
up the Nelson River, it was first met with about twenty miles below
Gidl Lake. It was found on the upper part of the Little Churchill
River, and is «aid to be very abundant along the (ireat Churchill above
the point which I reached, and also around Athabasca Lake. Its
northern limit is reported to cross the McKenzie below Peel's River.
Balsam i^'/r— (also called "Single Spruce" and "Silver Pine "). —
Abundant around the southern part of James' Bay and on good dry
soil along the Albany River. Mr. Cochrane reports it as common
around Island Lake, lint scarcer on God's Lake. It is rare and of small
size at Knee Lake. In going down the Nelson River, it is scarce below
the Sea River Falls, and the last tree which I ob.served was at tho out-
let of Sipi-wesk Lake. On the Grass River some good-sized trees wei'c
seen as far north as the Standing-rock Rapid. It is not a common tree
along the east side of liake Wiimipeg, is scarce between that lake and
Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis, and appears to be absent to the
westward of these lakes, although to the north-west it reaches the
McKenzie River.
Wliite Cedar. — The northein limit of this species touches the .southern
extremity of James' Bay, and to the north- westward it crosses the
Albany River ai some distance from the sea. It is, howc^ver, abundant
in the upper Albany country and in the Lonely Lake and lOnglish
|{ivcr regions. Its northern boundary crosses the Winiupeg River a
few miles south of Pine Falls. Near the south end of Lake Winnipeg
it IS met with, of good size, in the bay to the south of Grand Marais
Point. In Manitoba, it is found east of Red River in the Big Woods,
and even in Kildonan, fj'om which its western limit runs towards the
south-east angle of the Province and thence southward in the United
.
rnrRCHIM. AND NELSON RIVERS.
43 c
States. Coflnr brushwood <rro\vs around Cedar Lake on the Groat
Saskatfhcw.iii, iioar its mouth, nnd trees of fair size aro reported to
occur oil tlic island in Lake Winnipeg opposite the mouth of this river,
and again on the south side of Long Point, in the same neighbourhood.
I have not seen these cedars myself, l)ut they are described as belong-
ing to this species. The locality just mentioned would, therefore,
constitute an ontlying patch, removed 100 miles to the north-westward
of the north-western point of the main aiea occupied by this tree.
Willow.— ^VUal appear to be three distinct species of willows, two of
which. iKAveviT, can only be considered as shrubs, extend northward
beyond the mouth of the Churchill River, and are the most northern
species of deciduous wood.
Balsam Poplar ("Rough-barked Pi.plar/ " Cotton Tree," " Balm of
Gilead." &c).— On the west side of Hudson's Bay this is the most
northern species of poplar. It is abundant around York Factory, and
attains a fair size along the lower part oi' the Nelson Eiver. In
descending the (ircat Churchill it becomes smaller and scarcer until
the mouth of the river is reached, where it is rare.
As2)e7i (Trembling-leafed Pi>plar).— This tree, which is .so abundant
and of such a thrifty growth around the southern i)art of James' Bay
and on the border of the prairie regions of the Nm-th-west Territories
does not extend quite as far north as York Factory. In ascending the
Nelson River it. was i\(it met with until within a few miles of the
Lowest Limestone Rapid. It extends northward nearly to the junction
of the Little with the (Jreat Churchill River.
White Birch (Canoe Birch).— This spt-cies termiiuites on Hayes'
River, a few miles below the Steel River. On the Nelson, the Hrst
tiee was met with at seven miles betoro coining to the Lowest Lime-
stone Rapid, or at seventy from l\)int of Marsh. In descending the
Little Churchill it <lisap]ieared about midway between tiie R'eeluso
Lakes and the mouth, and in ascending the (Jreat Churchill, it di.sap-
poared at eighteen miles above the forks. Along the Burntwood River
aii<l the upper part of the Nelson it is large enough for building
canoes, but becomes better for this purpose to the northwestward, and
is said ti) be very good aroiuul Lake Athabasca.
/?o?rr7?* ( Mountain Ash).— Common along the east side of Lake Win-
nipeg, and it is seen here and there along the Nelson River as far as
White Mud Falls, where it disappears. Mr. Cochrane met with it on
Island Lake.
Pigeon Vherry.—Vouud around Island and God's lakes, and northward
to Knee Lake. On the Nelson it extends to a point some miles below
44 c
OEOLOOICAL SURVEY OK CANADA.
Sipi-worsk Lake, and od the CIrasB Rivor to the junction of tlio west
branch at Burnt Lake.
Forest Preservation.
Up to 1878 the great region covered by this report hud been annu-
ally devastated by forest lii-es, ranging over large ai'cas and destroying
the timber in different localities from time to time, until, j)erhaps,
more than half of it is already swept away. Li that year I made a
point of calling the attention of the Indian chiefs and head men to this
great waste, and informed them that it was the wish of the (iovern-
inent that the timber (which the Indians had not before conwidcired (jf
any value) should not be thus destroyed, and requested them to make
their temporary fires on the beach or on hare rock, and to extinguish
their camp-fires in all cases before leaving. This they all promised to
attend to, and the result has been that during 1879 no forest fires, as
far as I could learn or observe myself, had occurred. The saving thus
effected is worth to the country many times more than the cost of our
explorations.
Ml
notion of llio west
ort hud been annu-
reas and destroying
me, until, j)erh:ips,
lat year I made a
ul head men to this
iwh of the (lOvern-
cfore eonwidcircd of
'sted them to make
, and to extinguish
hey all promised to
I no forest tires, as
. The saving thus
han the cost of our
APPENDIX I.
ON SOME SILURIAN AND DEVONIAN FOSSILS FROM
MANITOBA AND THE VALLEYS OF THE NFLSON
AND CHURCHILL RIVERS, FOR THE .MOST PART
COLLECTED BY DE. E. BELL IN THE SUMMER OF
1879.
BY J. F. WHITEAVES.
I. From the Banks of the Eed Eiver, in hie Parish of St.
Andrews, Manitoba.
HeceptacuUtes Oiccni, Hall. {—Coscinopora sulcata, D. D. Owen, non
Goldfuss.) A tine specimen, which, when perfect, was ])r()l)al>ly
at least one foot in diameter. The occurrence of this species at
Lower Fort Garry (which is in the parish of St. Andrews) was
tirst placed upon record by D. Dale Owen in 1852, on page 1S1
of his "Eeport on a Geological Survey of Wisconsin. Iowa and
Minnesota." According to Professors Hall and Whitney
(" Geology of Wisconsin, 18(52," vol 1., p. 429) R. Oiceni " is the
common and abundant species of the Lead regioi. und the one
known as the 'lead-coral,' from its constant association witn
the lead- bearing rock."
Favosites proUjicus, Billings. A characteristic fragment. This species,
which was originally described from the Hudson River group
of Anticosti, occurs also, as will be shewn further on, in rocks
of the same age at Stonj- Mountain, Manitoba.
Jlalysites catenularia, Linn. One good specimen.
Mmticulipora {Monotrypa), Sp. Indt. A fragment of a rather largo,
hemispha'rical, or possibly sph(i>roidal coral, apjiai-ently allied
to Monotrypa imdulata Nicholson, but too imperfect to allow
the whole of its specitic characters to be ascertained. To
the naked eye the specimen appears as a portion of a hemi-
Hpha3rical crust, about three-quarters of an inch thick in the
thickest part and half an inch in the thinnest. The convex
und presumably upper surface is almost covered with small,
4fi r OEOLOtllCAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
irrejfiilur, but moslly annular, siliceous concrcUons, and tho
concave face looks as it' i( had been broken from a much
thickci" mass. When viewed with a lens the coral is seen to bo
made u]) of minute, polygoiud, thiii-wallod, contiguous and con-
tinuous corallites, of ditferent sizes, apparently arranged in
groups. The larger coi-allitcs arc about one-sixtli of a line in
diameter, and the snuiller from one-eighth to one-tenth ol a
lino. The cells are entii-ely tilled with mineral matter, and
the shape and position of the Uibuhe cannot be satistactoi'ily
detined.
Zcvphrentia, Nov. sj). Two imi)erfoct specimens of aii apj)arently
undescribcd species of Zaphrentis or Streptclasnuh
Actinoreras Lyoni, Stokes. The types of A. Lyoni are from Tgloolik
and Ooglit, in Arctic America, but Dr. Bigsby, on page 170 of
the " Thesaui'us Siluricu.s," gives F'ort Garry as one of the locali-
ties of this species. A. Rlchardsoni of Stokes, from Lake Winni-
peg, may be the same shell in a ditferent state of preservation,
for, according to Stokes' descriptions, the only ditference between
A. Lyoni and A. Richardsoni is that in the former "a small tube
is seen within tho siph uncle, but no radii have been traced from
it," while in the latter the tube is said to bo small and "sur-
rounded by numerous lamina* or plates tilling up tho siphuncle."
Jn Stokes' figures, however, the siphuncle of A. Lyoni is repre-
sented as larger in proportion to the size of the shell than it is
in A. Richardsoni. In the extremely large size of their siphuncle
and in the apparently entire absence of any radii proceeding
from the central tube, which latter cannot be discerned at all in
some individuals, the two specimens collected by Dr. Bell at this
locality, and several others from Stone Fort, Manitoba, in the
collection of the Survey', agree much better with the descriptions
and figures of A. Lyoni than with those of A. Richardsoni.
Ilhi'mis, Sp. (allietl to and possibly identical with I. latidomitm, Hall).
An imperfect cast of a small lllwmis, most likely the same as the
trilobite from Fort Garry referred by D. D. Owen to /. crassi-
Cauda, Wahlenberg. The specimen collected by Dr. JJell is,
however, clearly not the true I. crassicauda, for in the origiiud
figure of that species in the "Petrificata Telluris Suecame "
(pi, 2, figs. 5 and 6) the central lobe of each of the ten body rings
is represented as equal to about one-third of tlie entire diameter,
whereas in the specimen from St. AndroAVs the central lobes of
the body segments are equal to nearly three-fourths of their
*
Al'l>KNI)IX r.
4r c
and the
a miu'li
icon to l>t»
and coii-
angod in
u line in
jnth of u
liter, and
istactorily
H)j)arenlly
m Igloolik
iige 170 of
'the locali-
ake Winni-
eyervation,
ce between
, small tube
traced from
. and "snr-
siphuncle."
m irt repre-
i\l than it is
ir siphuncle
proceeding
ned at all in
. Bell at this
itoba, in the
descriptions
•dsonl-
rsatus, Hall).
) same as the
1 to I. crassi-
' Dr. Bell is,
1 the original
•is Suecame"
jn body rings
tire diameter,
sntral lobes of
iirths of their
greatest dianu\ter. The llhcnun from this locality is to.) imper-
I'cct for the spe<Mes to be idciilitiod with much certainty, but if
not nctually identical with 1. latidormtm, it appears to bo very
closelj' allied to it.
2. From Limestone E.vpid.s 100 Miles rp the Nelson JiivER.
Leptosna scricen, Soworby. Not uncommon.
iilrop/u)menatemustriot(t,Ihi\\. One specimen. According to Davidson,
S. teiuiifttridtfi, JIall, is merely a variety of S. rhoiuhoidalis,
Wilckins.
Stropho7nena Jililexta, Hall. Several detached valves.
Strophoinena suhtenta, Conrad. A single valve.
Rhynchmella Ant i cost i.ensis? Billings. Two imperfect, badly preserved
and small examples of a species of Jl/iynchonella. a]>])arently
identical with some larger and more perfect casts from the
south-west shores of Lake Winnipeg, in the collection of the
Survey, which have been identified by the writer with the R.
Anticosticnsis.
Murrhisonia beUicincta, Hall. (=J/. major, Hall.) A single lai-ge cast,
which corresponds fairly well with the figures and description
of this species.
Aaaphm megistos? Locke. A cast of the pygidium oid}'.
3. Prom " First Birch Brook," Nelson Eiver.
Strophovieiia alternata, Conrad. One valve.
Ecculiomphalus, Nov. sp. A single specimen.
4. Fro.m the Second and Third Limestone Rapims of the Nelson
Eivek.
Receptcmdites Otceni, Hall. Several fragments.
Hahjsites catenularia, Linmcus. According to Dr. Bell this well-known
species ij quite common at this locality.
Eridophyllum, Nov. sp. A single fragment. The same species was
collected by Dr. Bell at Fort Churchill, but in loose pieces of
rock, and there is a fine specimen of it in the Museum of the
Survey, from Stone Fort, Manitoba,
4H (•
OfioLOOtrAI, HljllVEY OV C\NAh\.
Struphomena alternata, Conrad. One Mpeciinon.
Murchisonia belttcincta, Hall, (z=M. major.) A largo cast, precisely
similar to one from the locality last mentioned.
Madnrcn (near M. Bi(jsh\ji, Hall). Two tolerably pei-l'oct casts of a
shell which may bo an extreme vai'iety of M Bujiihyi, but the
outer whorl is wider above, and more obrKjuely compressed
below, between the periphery and the umbilical margin, than
the corresponding parts of the shell of M Buisbyl. are. In a
figure of the latter species recently published by Prof. WhitHeld,
the aperture is represented as a little higher than wide, whereas
in the most perfect of the two Macl ureas collected by Dr. Bell
at this locality the maximum width of the aperture is about
one-third greater than its height.
Endoctras (Cameroceras) annulatiim? Hall. Throe distorted and imper-
fect e.Kamplod of an Endocenis, which agree in most respects
with the detinition of E. annulatum. The outline of their trans-
verse section is rather oval than circular, l)ut this circumstance
may be due to lateral compression.
Oncooeras, Nov. sp. One tine out somewhat distorted specimen.
5. From the Junction op the Little and Great Churchill Efvers,
Zafhreniis. Nov. sp. Two specimens, one of which is the same as those
from St. Andrews, pi*eviously mentioned.
Colamnopora cribriformis, Nicholson. A small but well-pi-eserved
example.
6. From Fort Churchill. (Loose.)
ErUhphyllura, Nov. sp. Identical apparently with that from the
Second and Third Rapids of the Nelson.
Bhynchonella capax, Conrad. One vavy imperfect sjjocimen.
Actinocems Lyoni ? Stokes. A fragment of a si])hunclo, consisting of a
cast of four of the chambers.
f'7
The fossils from localities Nos. 1 , 2, 3 and 4 are from limestones or
dolomites which evidently belong to the same geological horizon. On
stratigraphical as well as on palajontological grounds there is good reason
for supposing that these rocks represent the upper part of the Trenton
Limestone, and that they are the equivalents of the Galeua Limestone
of Wisconsin and Illinois. At Stony Mountain, Manitoba, they are
immediately and conformably overlaid by true Hudson River rocks.
APPENDIX I.
49
(rociscly
m
Tlio few fossilHCollof'todojj the bunks of tho (,'huivliill, from lociilitios
NoH. 5 and C, are InsntHciont to establish the exact ago of tlie rocks in
wliich thoy ocfur, but it is probable that both are referable cither to
the top of tho Tronton Limestone or to the lower part of the Hudson
liivcr group.
*i. From Stony Moiintain, Manitoba.
In 1S75 Mr, R W. Ells made an interesting collection of fossils from
this locality, on behalf of the Survey, which has i:ot iiithcrto boon
reported on. Stony Mountain, it may be mentioned, is a hill some
fifty feet in height, on the western bank of the Red Ei%'er, not far from
Fort Garry. The 8))ecies obtained by Mr. Ells are as follows: —
Choptetes delicatuhis, Nicholson. Two specimens.
Monticulipora, Sp. One good example, Tliis is the common Trenton
and Hudson Rivor species which Mr. Billings identified with
Stenopora fibrosa, Goldfuss. It is also the coral figuretl by Prof.
Hall on Plate 24, figures 1 g, h, i. (c(et. exd.) of the first vo-
lume of the Pal.Tontology of New York, us one of the forms of
Cfui'fetes lycoperdon, Say, Dr. H. A. Nicholson places the coral
i-epresonted in these figures among the synonyms of Choetetes
Fletcheri, Edwards and Haime. In C. Fletcheri, however, the coral-
lites are said to be rounded or oval, with comparatively thick
walls, whereas in the present species the coralliLus are clearly
polygonal, with thin walls.
Monticutipora (Diplofrypa) Whiteavesiif Nicholson. Two small speci-
mens growing on the shells of brachiopoda.
Favosites prolificus, Billings. A fine large specimen, identified and
labelled by Mr. Billings himself.
Streptelasma corniculum, Hall. Several well-presei'^'ed examples of a
rather small Streptelasma, with a well-developed and smooth
epitheca, precisely similar to the small individuals of S. corni'
cula figured by Rominger. These Stony Mountain Streptelasma;
represent the Hudson River group coral commonly referred to
S. corniculum, r.'ither than the typical form of that species from
the Trenton Limestone.
Crinoidal Stems. Detached joints only.
Ptilodictya (Stictopord) acuta, Hall. A few characteristic fragments.
Strophomena nitens, Billings. Eight perfect examples of an entirely
smooth form of this species.
StropJwmena Hecuba, Billings. One dorsal valve.
fl i»,
'
60 C OEOKOdlCAI, MIllVEY OF (.ANADA.
Orthis tcsliidinuria, Diilmuii, Abundant,
Orthis subijuadrata, Hall. Many porfoct and wt'll-prosorvod spocimciiM
of an iinuHually coarsoly rihbwl variety of tliis hIicII.
Rhynchonella capax, Conrad. Several larji^o and perfect examplew.
Mnn'hisonia gracilis f Hall. 0\w wmall cast.
Ci/rfolifes ornatus? Conriul. One iniporfoct cast.
Ascociras Newhernji, BillingH. Tw(» specimens. ,
The collection mwie by Mr. Ells at this locality shows, Hrst, that a
largo portion of the mass of Stony Monntain consists of limestoncH,
with clayey )»artings, which are identical, both in their litholof^ical and
pala>ontoloi,ncal characters, with the well-known i-ocks of the Hudson
Rivor or Cinciimati ,i<roHp of Soutbei-n Ohio and elsewhere; and,
Hecondly, that these Hudson River rocks of Stony Mountain overlie,
immediately and conformably, the buff-coloured, fossiliferous and more
or less ma<^nosian limestones of the Red River valley, which have
already heen assumed to be the representatives of the upper part of the
Trenton limestone.
At Stony Mountain Dr. Bell also made a small collection of fossils,
consisting of the following species.
Orthis tesfudinaria, Dal man.
Orthis siibquadrafa, Hall,
Rhynchonella capax, Conrad.
Cheirurus Icartis, liillings. One pygidium.
Calymene Blumcnhachii, Billings, as of Brongniart. An imperfect pygi-
dium. This is the common Calymene of the Ti'cuton and Hudson
River groups, identified by Billings and Dr. Nicholson with the
C. Blumenhachii of Europe. Mr. S. A. Miller, however, says that
the true C. Blumenhachii has not been found in North America,
and that the species mistaken for it is the C, senaria of Conrad,
which latter is a synonym of G. calliteles, Green.
A few fossils were collected by Dr. Bell at various places on the
Churchill and Nelson Rivers, which appear to be of newer age than
the Lower Silurian, buttwhich are insufficient to indicate with much
probability the exact geological horizon of the rocks in which they
were found. The following are the localities at which these fossils
were collected, with notes on the species.
irtfiriinifHiiiaMi
AI'PKNIIIX I.
8, Thrze Miles Haht ok CHuiiniiM, River.
51 r
Pentammis (Sp. Utult.) Throe casts of the ventral valvo of a rather
tinoly-rihhod Pentamrrm m some rcspocts like P. orcidenialis
Hull, from the tUiolph limestono of Eloniand llespelor, Ont.
\). GiM-AM's Island, Nelson Eiver.
Atn/pa reticuUiris, Linnivus. Two specimcim. Upper Sihiriun or
J)evr)nian.
10. Walksr'h Island, Oxford Lake.
Atrypa rdirukiris, Linmtus. Five detached spoeimcns, four with very
Hue ribs and one with remarkably coarse ones. Matrix a pale
bi-ick-red colour, just like that from the last locality.
11. York Factory. (Loose.)
CyathophyUum Davidsoni, Milne- Ed wards. (=Acrrcvlarla profunda,
Hall.) One characteristic but much worn specimen.
Favosites (Sp. Lidt.) A small rolled and rounded mass, of a species
with small corallites.
The fossils from the last mentioned locality are certainly Devonian,
but they may have boon drifted from some distance.
ArrKNDix II.
JilST OK PLANTS COLLKCTKI) UV DW. K. iU-LL AKOINIJ
THI<: SIIORKS OK HUDSON'S JUY AND AIX)N<i TilK
C1IUR(MIILL AN!) NELSON IJIVKUS IN ls77 AND 1ST;>.
Tlio Npccimona have bcoii kiiully (letcrinincd by Prof. John Maeouii,
F.L.S., Albert Univoi-Hity, Bcllovillc,
I. East coast of lliulsou's Bay. ?
II. Clmrohill l{ivor.
III. North oml of Lake Winnipoi--.
IV. NelHon River between Lake Winnipi'^- and (lu- roa-^tol' IhnU'.n's
Bay.
A. Phints crosHing the Aretk- Cii'cU'.
Catai.oui K.
No8.!
Banunculacea;.
1 I Anemone parviflom, Mithx
2 " multifida, D
3 'I Pennsylvanica, Linn
4 Thalictrum dioicum, Linn
5 I "' Cornuti, Linn
Ranunculus aquatilis, var. tricliophjilus
<i multitidus, Pursli
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
acris, Linn.
16
16
" Cymbalaria
" sceleratus, Linu
" flammula, var. reptans, Gr
Caltha palustris
Actoea spicata, var. rubra Gr
Ntmph^ace*.
Nuphar luteum, Smith (leaf only)
FCMABIACEiE.
Corydalis aurea, Willd .
" glauca, Pursh
I. 11. 111. IV,
54 c
I i«
(iEOLOdKWr, Sl'UVKV iiF CANADA.
0\TAi.()(aK—Coiiti lined.
Nos.j
CnUCIKEIt.K.
17
IS
1<>
20
21
22
2 a
NaRtnrtiiim palustro, DC
Caidainiue liir.suta, Limi
" pratcnsis. Linn
Arabis Diiininioiulii, Or
! Erysimum chfirantiioidus, Linn . . . ,
i Sisymlirintn sopliioidcs, FisdiiT . . . .
I Draba incana, Linn
28
29
30
■M
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
VlOLACK-K.
Viola ciicullata, Ait
•■ cimina, var. sylvestiis
ClSTACE^;.
Hndsonia toinentosa, Nntt
Drosei(ack.^i-;.
Drosera rotundifdliu, Linn
Cahyopiiyllack^k.
Lyt'linis aju'tala, Linn. . . .
Aivnaria iateritiora. Linn .
" pcpidides, Linn .
Stellaria longipes, Goldio.
Cerastiuni avvense, Linn. .
" alpinnm, Linn.
Sagina nodosa, Freni;! . . . .
Okuaniace-i:.
Geranium Caroliniauuni, Linn.
I'oLYflALACE.K.
Polygala Seneca, Linn
LEOUMINOSiE.
Astragalus Canadensis, Linn . . .
" hypoglottis, Ker
" aipinus, Linn
" frigidus, Gray
" adsurgens. Pall
Glycyrrhiza Icpidota, Nutt
Hedysarum Mackenzii, Richard.
Vicia Americana, Muhl
Lathyrns maritimus, Bigel
" ochroleucus, Hook . . .
'■ palustris, Linn
I.
IL III. IV.
■y*"^;
«:;«'
4«Bi''4.-
ir. IV.
ATPKNIUX II.
CvrAi.nc.i K— Cuntimicil.
.ro c
Nos.
48
40
50
51
r>2
53
54
55
56
5V
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
I. , 11. , III. , IV. A.
Rosace^;.
Pruniis rcnnsylvanica, Linn .
Dryas intogrifolia, Vahl . . . .
Geiim rivale, Linn
" strictum, Ait
Fragaria Viiginiana, Eiiiii, .
Poteutilla Noivegica, Linn . .
IC
I<
(1
II
II
AnRerina, J,inn
fnitiiosa. Linn
tridentata, Ait
palustriK, Scop ;
Pennsylvnniea, Linn
" nivoa, Linn
" argntii, Tinsli
» flal)eUiforn)is, Nutt
Rnbus Cliamaimoius, Linn
" trifloius, Richard
» mctiius, Linn
" strigosus, Miclix
Rosa bianda, Ait .■■,■■
Amidancliier Cnnadonsis, var. oliionuilolia. (Jiiiy
Pynis sanibucifoiiu, Ch. k Sciil
SAXii''iiA<-.Ari:.'K.
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
Ribes prostiatnai, L'Hcr
" rntji'iini, Linn
" oxycantlioidfS, Linn..
ParnaHKia painstiis. Linn . . .
Saxifraga aizoides, Linn
u Hivcnlus, Linn. ?
" tricuKpiduta, Kotz ,
Heuchcra liispida, Pursh
Mitella nnda, Linn
HALOBAOEyK.
Hippiiris vnl,*uis, Linn
Myiiophyllinn spicatum, Linn.
ONAOHACE.-t:.
Epilobium angustifolinm, Linn .
<' latifolium, Linn
» coloratum, Muhl. . . .
CEnothera biennis, Linn
IjMnEIiLIFKI!^"
Heracleum lanatura, Micbx.
Cicuta virosa, Linn
Slum lineare, Michx
ARALIAf'E^f:.
Aralia hispida, Michx.
f
56 c
HEOIiOdlCAI- SIIIVBY 0\' PANADA.
Catai,o(;i k— t'imtiiiiii' I.
N08.
II. III. IV.
• 5-
;!
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
CORNACE^.
CoriniK Ciiiijulonsis, I. inn. .
« stolonifera, Micli.x.
Capiufoliace.i-;.
Linn.T.i bovuali.s, Gronov
Lonioerii involticmta, 15ank.s . .
Vibmaum paiuiflonim, Pylaif,
RUBIACB.1
Galium tiifidum, Linn
" boreiile, Linn .
Composite:.
Narclosmia palmata, Hook
" safi;ittata, Beuth
Aster graminifolius, Torr. & Cir. . ,
" ji'Stivus, Ait
" multiflorus, Linn
Erigeron Canadeusu, Linn
" Philadolphicum, Linn , . ,
Solidago lanceolata, Ait
" Canadensis, Linn
Achilla'a millefolium, Linn
Leucanthumum aicticum, D (J . . .
ArtemiKia Canadensis, Michx
" biennis, Willd
" vulgaris, Linn
Antennaria dioica, Ga-rtn ,
•' plantaginifoliii. K. Hi'
Senecio palustris, Hook
" ?
" aureus, L., var. obovatus. ,
Arnica foliosa
Hieracium Canadonsc, Mielix. . . .
Taraxacum palustre, D C
LllBELIAfEii;.
Lobcl'a Kalmii, Linn
Campanulacka:.
Campanula rotundi folia, Linn,
Ericace/K.
Vaccinium CTspitosum, Michx
" oxyco"cus, Linn. . .
" Vitis-Idaca, Linn..,
" Canadense, Kalm .
" uliginosum, Linn .
! I
*
♦
* «
I
i
« «
«
i
■,'
A.
APl'ENIHX II.
("aiu,0(:uk— Continued.
57 (•
Nob.
121
125
126
127
128
120
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
14!)
15(f
151
152
163
Au toistaphylos uva-iirsi, Sprcng
1' iilpina, Spreng. .
Andiomuda jioliloliii, Linn
("iiBsaudra calyculata, Don
Kahiiia glaiua, Ait
Ledum palustrc, T,inn
'• latifolium, Ait
Pyrolii minor, Linn
auiinida, Linu.
" rotundifdlia, Linn,
Planta(;inace.k.
Plantago major, var. Asiatica, Docaisno.
Pbimui-acka;.
Primula farinosa, Linn
" Mistiissinica, Michx
Trientalis Americana, Pursh
Lysimachia ciliata, Linn
" thyrsiflora, Linn
Lentiuuliacb.i-:.
Utricularia vulgaris, Lini.
Pinguieula vulgaris, 1-inn.
SCROPHULAIUACK.V;.
Veronica peregrina, Linn
Castilleia pallida, Kunth
Euphrasia offiuinalif , Linn
llhinanthus (Jrista-galli, Linn. .
Pedicularis cuphrasioides, Stuph
" liinsuta, Linn ?
LabiaT/i;.
Mentha Canadensis, Linn
Drac ocephalum parvillorum, Nutt .
Scutellaria galericulata, L
btachys i)alustris, Linn
BORUAGINACE.*;.
Mertensia paniculata, Don
" maritima, Don . ,
Gentianack.i-:
Genliana Amarella, var. stricta.
II. I IIL I IV. I A.
154
155 I Pleurogyne Carinthiaca, Griesb. var. pusi
156 j Menyanthes trifoliata, Linn
ila.Or.
58 f
:• i t
(iEOI,0(ll(^\l, SUKVKV (»K CANADA.
CAT.vi.ipdrK— I'Diiliiiiioil.
Nos.
157
1-.8
iny
160
IG]
162
163
1G4
165
166
167
108
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
17G
177
178
179
180
181
('lIKNOPOI)IACK.T-:.
Cheiiopodiiim album. Tiimi . . .
" gliiucum, Ijiuii .
POLVCIUNACK.K.
I'olygoninn aviitilnro, lAnn. ..
" jiinphitiinrn, Linn.
" ciliuode, .Miclix. . .
" viviparum. Linn. .
" lapatliifdlium, Ait
Rnmex maiitimus, Linn ,
'> salicifolius, Weinn . . . .
EL.KAiiNACK.K.
Elccagnus argoutea, Fursli
Shfplicrdia (Janadunsis, Nutt . . ,
Sa.ntalace.k.
C'omandra iimbellata, Nutt. . . . .
EmI'ETHACE/K.
Empotinm nigrum, Linn
Uuticack^k.
Urtica gracilis, Ait
Betitace.k.
I Ik'tulfi glanduloaa, Michx.
! Alniis indina, Willi!
Salicace.k.
Salix Candida, AVilld. ...
" myrtilioides, Linn.
" VL'stita, J'ursli
1! ?
" ?!
CoNIFERiK.
I.
Juniperus communis, Limi
" Sabina, var. procurabcns
Typiiacb^k.
Sparganium simplex, Huds . . . .
" minimum, Bauliin.
n. I III.
IV.
A.
Al'l'ENDIX ri.
CvTAiiidiK— -('iiiilimiod.
59 r
Nos.
182
183
184
185
18G
187
188
189
1 90
191
102
193
194
195
190
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
200
207
208
209
210
211
212
2 1 :!
214
J. ! II. t 111. IV. i A.
NAIAnACB.T-:.
Potaniogutdii liKciis, L
nifcsceiiK,Schra(l .
« jHH'tiuntiis, Linn.
" iHufdliatus, I. inn
Alis.mace.k.
Triglochia nmritiniuni, Linn. .
Ol!C'ini)A('E.K.
Habeiiiiria rotnndifolia. Ricluud .
" hyperboroa, LinfU. . . ,
Spiranthes Romiinzovianii, Cham
Corallorhiza innatii, R . Br
Cypripedium guttatum, Swartz ?
IniDACE.v;.
Sisyrincliium Bermiulianum, Linn.
LlLIACE.^1-:.
Smilacina trifolia, Desf
" bifolia, Kev
«' stollata, Desf
Lilium riiiladelphiium, Linn.
Tofieldia palustris, Huds
.JlNCACE.I-;.
Lnznia iiaiviflora, var. midimocarpa (irny
Jnncus alpintis. var. insiuni,-^ Fries
" ISaiticus, Detliartl
" tenui.s, Willd
CYPERAI.'E.K.
Elfocharis palustris, 11 Br
Scirpus atrovircns, Muhl . .
" validus, Vahl
Eridplioruni gracile, Roth
Carux aristata, 11. Br. '.'....
" aurea, Nntt
'- cancscens, Linn . . . .
" gynocrates, Wormslv
" sioparia, Sclili
;' stramiuea, Selik . . .
'' striata, Lam
<' vesicaria, Linn ....
" vulpinoidea, Michx
01) c
(ii:ol,O(il0AI, SURVEY OK CANADA.
CATAi.(i(iiK--Contiiiucd.
Nos,
215
216
217
218
210
220
j21
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
Gbaminea;.
Alopecunis nd.stulatuH, Miohx . . .
Calaniagiostis Langsdoi-ffii, Trin.
AgrDStis sciiliiii, WilM
Glyceiia tliiilans, 11. ]'>r
Poa al[iiim, Linn
" erotina, Ebrli
" laxii, U.Tnkt;
Festuca oviiui, Linn
Elymus daHystachyum
Hoidcum juliatuni, Linn
Beckmanuia c-iucn>foimis, Hook .
E(juisetacea:.
Eiiuisetum gylvaticum, Linn.
" limosuni, Linn . . ,
FiLlCES.
I'olypodium vulgaro, Linn. . . .
Asplenium Tricliomanes, Linn
Aspidiuni frag runs , Swaitz
" spinuloBum iSwartz .
var. dilatatum, Cir. .
CystopteriB fiagilis, Bernh
Woodsia Ilvcnsis, R. Ur
Butiychium Lunaria, Swartz . .
LvCOPODIACEil';.
235 I Lycopodium tlavatiim, Linn.
Musci.
236 Spliagmim subsecnndum, Necs ,
237 1 Polytrichnm strictum, Hook . .
I.
IL
in. IV.
A.
APPENDIX III.
LIST OF FEESII- WATER MOLLUSCA PROM MANITOBA
AND THE VALLEY OF THE NELSON RIVER.
Thofollowinpj list includes soiiu' species collected in Manitoba, which
Mr. Whitcaves, ol'tho Geological Survey, has kindly determined.
Lamellibranohiat-v.
1. Unio rectus, Lamarck. Red River, Manitoba.
2. HyridcUa {?) radiata, Lamarck. Numerous in Lake Winnipeg and
the Nelson itiver.
3. Ifyridella lutm/a, Lamarck. (=^Cn'o s,UI<imidcm, Harnes.) Red
Kiver, Manitoba.
4. Lampsilis flavus, Ratinosque. (=Unio rubuji.nosut^, Lea.) Red
River, Manitoba.
5. Theliderma qiiadrulu!<, liiitiiwtiquc. (=^Unio lachri/mosus,lniii.) Red
River, Manitoba.
6. Dysnomia plicata, Lesueur. Red River, Manitoba.
7. Metaptera alatus, Say. Red River, Manitoba.
8. Complanaria complanata, Barnes. Common in the Nelson River,
but larger and finer in the Red and Assiniboinc Rivers.
9. Strophitus Pennsylvanicus, Lamarck. {=:Anodontn undvlata, Say.)
Lake Winnipeg and Great Plu3'green Lake.
10. Anodonta (Sj). uncertain.) Red River at Winnijjeg.
Nos. 4, 5 and G are characteristic Western species.
11. Sphoerium'transversum, Say. ") Both found in numbers in the
V stomachs of sturgeon caught in
12. Spharium striatimim, Lamarck. ) Great Playgreon Lake.
Gasteropoda.
13. Valvata (Tropidina) tricai\nata, Say. Found in the stomachs of
sturgeon caught in Great Playgreen Lake.
5
62 r
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
14. I/imtuva stagnalis, Linnd. Lake Winnipeg, Nelson River and iaUes
and rivers to the south-eastward.
15. Linnophysa catascopium, Say. Groat Piaygreen Lake.
16. Phtjsa heterostropha, Say. Inhabits the same waters .is fjiwiirva
stagnalis.
17. BuUnus hypnorum, Linnd. Ponds in Manitoba.
18. Helisoma trivolvis, Say. Around Winnipeg and in Manitoba.
19. Helisoma bicarinatm, Say. Lake Winnipeg.
20. Segmentina armigera, Say. Abundant in Gi-cat IMaygreeii Tjakii.
i
iaUes
inna'a
APPENDIX IV.
ko.
LIST OFLEPIDOPTIORA FROM THE NELSON AND CHURCHILL
RIVERS AND THE WEST COAST OF HUDSON'S BAY.
HcMT Gftt'ckeii of Lii Tom- de Peilz, Switzerland, liiifs kindly supplied
the followini;- list of the Lepidoptera of the region explored. The
spocinicns were collected by the Venerable Arehdeacon Kirby (now of
London, l']iiu,liind ), who laboured for many years in this and other
parts of the Northwest Territory.
1. Papilio Turnus, Linn.
2. " .Zolicaon, |{oi.-<d.
3. Colias (!hristina, Edw.
4. " Chippewa, Ed.
5. " Nasles, Boisd. Churchill.
6. " Nor. s/>. Allied to C. Ilccla and C. Boothii, but distinct
from both. Found at Churchill or north of York Factory.
T. Danais Arcliippus, Fab.
8. Argynnis Triclaris, Hub.
9. " '''J'iii;,^ii, Thunb, var. Laga.
10. " Atlantis, Edw,
IL " Freya, Thunb.
12. " Chariclea, Schneid.
18. Melita>a Tharos, Drury.
14. Vanessa Milberti, Godl.
15. " Hunter, Drury.
16. " Cardui, Linn,
17. " Atalanta, Linn.
18. " Anti/>pa, Linn.
19. Limenitis Artheniis, Drury.
20. Erebia Discoidali.s, Kirby. \"ork Factory.
21. " Fasciata, Butler. North to Churchill.
22. •• Mo. sp. North Churchill.
64 c
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
3!
23. Satyrns Nephele, Kirby.
24. Chionobas Jutta, Hubii, York Factor}'
25. PolyommatuH Xunthoicles ? BoiHd.
26. Macro^loHsu Flavofasoiata V
27. Alypia Maccullochi ? Kirby.
28* Tolea Polj'phenms, Linn.
29. Platavclia Partljenoi>i,Fab.
Fvidontly Houth of Yori< Factory,
APPENDIX V.
LiSTOFCOLEOPTKliA COLLK(TKJ) BV JIR. 1{. liHLL IN 1879
ON Tir 10 N i<:ls(3N an i ) c m r Rt • in ll h\ v e rs.
The spt'cios of Colcojitcru collected (liirini; my exploration of the
NelHOii and Chiirchill livei'H have been kindly detennined hy
Dr. J. L. LeConte of Philudel))hiu, who has forwarded the following
list of them.
1.
2
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
8.
I>.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Carabus ttedatus, Fabr.
Nebria Sahlbergi, Fisch.
Calathiis ingratus, Dej.
Platynus ruticorniH, Lee.
Pterosticlju.s orinonuni, Leach.
" empetricola, Dej.
Amara lm'matoj)iiH, Dej. (=iiStereoeerus similis, Kirby & Ijirils
laeUHtris, Lee.)
Dj-^tiscuB eonfluen.s. Say.
" anxiuH, Mann.
Gaurodytes lutosus, Crotch.
Gyrinxis (immature and undeterminable).
Lathrobium Hi mile, Lee.
Silpha Lapponiea, Linn.
" trituberculata, Kirby.
Coccinella 12-maeulata, (zzrinoarnata, Kirby, =picta, Randall.)
Hippodamia qninciue signata, Kirby.
Bupre.stis Nuttalli, Kirby.
Melanophila Drummondi, Kirby.
Chrysobothris trinervia, Kirby.
Photinus (Ellychnia) corruscus. (small var.)
Podabrus, allied to piniphilus.
Telephorus fraxini, Say.
J
an (
23.
24.
25.
2«;.
27.
2H.
2!t.
:m\.
31.
32.
;;.3.
in.
«IEOL(j(»r«AL NL'RVKV OF CANADA.
CVi(H'oplmlii.s u^M'estis, Kiiliy.
Xylotri'clius lui.lululiH, Suy,
Acma'.)|w pmlonsis, l.aici,. (=«tri^rilata, Fab.)
l-cpfiira Miil.ai-irt'htaia, Kii-I.y.
se.\ iiiaciila)a, liimi.
chrysoconiu, Kiihy.
Moiioiiuiiiiuiis ,s<iil.'llutiis, Say.
Poiioiioclicnis niixliiN, Ilal<l.
OiWKlacliiia Cliildiviii, Kirl.\.
OdoxuH vitis, Linn.
Clirysonii'la spiica". Say.
<fi>ni(i((ciia ai'clica, Mann.
<inipto,|..ra l.innu-inala. Say. (=Pli,.iponnis, Ma,.n.=vitivo.-a,
3(1. Stoiiotmcli(d
.'!7. M('!oc Atnei'ic
38. Lej)3'j-iis c.nlon, I.
'honias. )
IIS ai'ctadis, Sj
V
tniH, Lcucli.( —
an^'UHti('^)llis, Loc. )
inn.
J
.VPPKNDIX VI.
I
I-IST OF HIHDS KIJOM TIIK K'KCloN IIKTWKKN NcHiVVAV
HorSK AND KORTS OmiRCIIILL AND VoUK.
'I'lic lolldwinij,' is ii lisl oCtlic birds, of which oithn- the slxiiis or (he
e^f^-s Wert' uriiuiily ohluitu'd, in the ro^^noii hulwocii Norw.-iy lloiist- lunl
Foi'tH Churchill anil York. Many otiicr H|t{'ciitH were; nott'il, uiul !i list
ot these is r-cscrvod to h« vcM-jtuMJ hikI unlargcd Uin c(nniti,u; season. I
am indcl.lcd t(. Mr. II. (I. Vcnnor, of (lie (Joolo^'ical Survey, and Mr. }'.
Kiiotzing, natiiralistand laxiiUM-niiwl, for assisting in the dotorrnination
of thd skins. Several of themii were j^iveii to me by Dr. Percy Mathews
and .Mr. Henry Johnstone, of York Factory.
I. //(ilid'tus leuf^ocep/iafus, Bald ea^h\ Katlior scarce.
2 Pandioii h(ili(rtiis, liriss. ; Osprey, or Fishing eagle. Common.
Several nests seen along the Churchill and Grass rivers.
.'{. Folco coumunix, Gm. ; Peregrine or Duck hawk, male. York
Factor)'.
4. " cohimhiiriiis. Linn. : Pigeon hawk. Norway House to Fort
Churchill.
Kjiarrrrhis, Litni. ; male. York Factory.
sacer, l-'orst. ; (iei- falcon. York Factoiy. A tine specimen,
presentiid l)y Mi-. Foi-tescue.
7. Buteo borealis, (Jin. ; Eod-tailed hawk. Fort Churchill.
H. Rrachjiotns palmti'is, BecJi.^!.; Swamp owl. Fort Churchill and
York Factory.
1*. Nyi'tea nirat, Daudin; Snowy owl. Abundant throughout the
district in wint(M-.
lt>. Surnut alula, var. Hmhonica, Gm. ; Hawk owl. Fort (>hurchill
and Yoi'k Factory.
11. Corv'iii Arnericanm, A\n\. , (Common cj'ow. On I^ake Winnipeg the
young were able to fly in the beginning of July. Not
often seen in the woods. Common on Hudson's Bay.
12. • corax, Linn. ; J{avon, or Barking crow. Breeds throughout
the district.
5.
(i.
68 r
fiEOEOGICAL SURVEY OF PANAPA.
13. Ceryle Alcyon, Linn.; K ing-tiHher. Lake Winnipeg to York
Factory, liaro towards Fort Cliurciiill.
14. Colaptcs auratuSjlAnn.; Yollow-hsliafted woodpecker. Very numer-
ous, owing to the abundance of food afforded l)y the
extensive brides. The Hairy Woodpecker is also very
common.
15. Gollurio borealis, Vieil. ; Great northern shrike. York Factory.
16. Loxia leiicoptera, Gm. ; American cross-hill. A specimen, which
flew on board ship in Hudson's Strait, was presented by
Dr. Mathews.
17". Quiscalus purjmreus, Bartv. ; Purple blackbird. York Factory.
18. Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Gra. ; msilc, HustyGrakle. York Factory.
1'^. Melospiza ihelodia, Wils. ; Song-sparrow. Norway House.
20. Dcndraica ^fi'f«ra, male, Gm. ; Yellow-poll warbler. York Factory.
21. Eremophila nlpestris, Forst. ; Shore lark. Fort Churchill and York
Factory.
22. Flectrophanes nivalis, Linn. ; Snow Bunting. York Factory.
23. Turdus migratorius, Linn. ; American liobin. Common throughout
the district.
24. Tachycincta bicolor, Vieil. ; White-bellied swallow. York Factory.
25. Chordeiles Virginianus, Gm.; (western variety) Night hawk. York
Factory. Common southward. The Whip-poor-will was
not seen nor heard north of Norway House.
26. Lagopus albus, Gmel. ; Willow ptarmigan. Abundant at Churchill
and York in winter, and comes as far south Jis Norway
House.
27. Bonasa umbellus, Linn. ; Rutled grouse. IJare as far north as York
Factory.
28. " Canadensis, Linn. ; Canada grouse. Rarc^ at Fort Churchill.
29. Pedicecetes phasianeUus, Linn. ; I'in-tailed grouse. Some of these
birds were shot near Dog's Head, Lake Winnipeg.
Thence I have found them eastward as far as Long Lake
and Pic Kivor on Lake Su[)erior.
30. Strepsilas interpres, liinn. ; Turnstone. York Factory.
31. Gms Canadensis, Linn. ; Sand-hill crane. Norway House.
32. Botaurus minor, Gm. ; Little bittern. York Factory.
33. Gambetta Jiavipes, Gm.; Yellow-shanks. Common throughout th»;
district.
APPENDIX Vr.
69 c
ipcg
r to
York
Vci-y niimer-
ttrordcd by the
:or is iils^f^ "^'*^''y
ork Factory.
Hpccimcn, which
as prcrtontcd by
38.
ork Factory.
39.
e. York Factory.
f House.
40.
(.. York Factory.
41.
liurchill and York
i-k Factory.
42.
)mmon throughout
43
V. York Factory.
44.
flight hawk. York
45.
Whip-poor-wiU was
iouse.
undant at Churchill
46.
ar south as Norway
47
AS far north as York
48
iro at Fort Churchill.
49
,usc. Some of these
ad, Lake Winnipeg,
as far as Long Lake
; Factory,
jrway li«nise.
Factory.
,mmon throughout the
34. Gambetta melanoleuca, Ginel. ; Tell Tale: Stone Snipe. Norway
House.
35. Trinyoides macularim, Linn. ; Spotteil sandpiper. Norway House
to York Factoi-y.
36. Numenius borealis, Forst. ; Eskimo curlew. Abundant in July and
August at Fort Churchill, as were also the Hudsonian
Ciu'lovv, Goldon Plover, and other species of which no
specimens wei-e brought home.
37. Aei/ialitis semipalinata, Wilson. Soraipalmated Sandpiper. York
P^actory.
Larus cmjentatus, Brunn ; Hei-ring gull. PVt Churchill.
Sterna hirundo (?), Auct. ; Black-headad tern. Very common in
the larger lakes and on the shores of Hudson's Bay.
Erismatura rubida, Wils. Ruddy Duck. York F'actory.
Anas boschas, Linn. ; Grey oi- Slock duck, or Mallard. This is the
eomnionest duck in tlie district. Breeds in considerable
numbers along the Nelson and Little Churchill Rivers.
Dafila acuta, Linn. ; Pintail duck. Breeds near Norway House.
Bucephala clanyxda, Linn. ; Common Golden-eye or "Tree Duck."
Also breeds near Norway House.
Spatula clypeata, Linn. ; Spoon-bill duck. On Lake Winnipeg the
young were nearly full-grown in the beginning of July.
Queryuedala Curolinensis, Gm. ; Green-winged teal. Verj- common
near Norway House ; scarce northward.
Meryusi cucuUatus, Lirm. ; Hooded merganser. Young going south
in llocUs on the Nelson River in September.
" ineryanser, Linn. , Red-headed merganser. Common through-
out the district.
Pelionetta perspiciUata, Linn. Surf Duck. York Factory.
Anser Canadensis, Linn. ; Canada goose. Breeds in considerable
numl)ers along the Churchill River. Most of the young
could lly in the beginning of August.
50. " hyperboreus. Pal., var. albatus ; Lesser snow-goose. One
specimen which had been shot at Fort Churchill was pre-
► sonted by Mr. J. R. Spencer. Is very rare on the west
side of Hudson's Bay.
51. Anser hypcrborei(s. Pal.; Common White wavy. Abundant at
Churchill and York dui'ing the spring and autumn
migrations
<iE(H,(»()l('Ar. SIKYKV liF CANAIiA.
\l
52. Ct/gnus Americanus, Shai'])less , Whistliiiii; swan. A few aro shot
every spring at Foil Cliurcliill, tVoni whicli place a speci-
men was ])resentecl liy Mr. J. H. Spencer.
53. Peiecanus fuscus, Linn.; Brown j)elican. Hreeds in the smaller
lakes near Lake Winnipeg- and north-westward. Several
specimens were shot in Lake Winni])eL!; in Octohor.
54. Ca/ymbus septentrionalis, Ijinn. ; Ked-tliroatcd diver. Vdi'k Factory.
Mr. Ross has shot a specimen tlyiiig past at Norway
House.
55. '' (o)'quat us, Ih'nnn; Cii'eat Northern diver, lireeds in many
lakes throughout the district. Mr, Fortescue informed me
that in the spring of 187S, just after the ice broke up at
Vork Factoi-y, gj-eat numhers of these birds congregated
in the mouth of Hayes' River, a circumstance which had
never been observed in any jn-evious season.
The Passenger Pigeon was seen in small flocks in the ujtper ])art of
the Nelson River in the beginning of Se])tember, 1878. It very rarely
passes York Factory, and has never beei) known at Fort Churchill.
The common American Snijte was met with near the Nelson River
above Split Lake. I saw one specinu-n of the "Woodcock at, Vork
Factory in the end of August last. This bird is not uncommon in
^Manitoba, although the fact is not generally known. The Pine
Grosbeak was frequently seen on the Churchill River in the end of
July, showing that it probably breeds in this region.
APPEINDIX VII.
VARIATION OF THK OOMPASS.
The following list shows the variation of the compass in twenty-one
localities in the territory explored during the season. The observations
were taken with as much care as was possible while making such a
rapitl survey of an extensive region, where one had to attend, unaided,
to such a variety of different matters. The local attraction, which exists
ill man}' jilaces, especially among the Laurentian and Huronian rocks,
sometimes renders it difficult to ascertain the tru(! variation for any
locality. Sir Ilcnr}' Lefroy (who visited this region in 1^43-44), in a
letter which I have received from him on this subject, says ; — " I used
a new 7-inch compass, and used it carefully, but the results differ
much more than T can account for. This is particularly the case
where a change of geological formation occurs — say, for cxamjile,
about the narrows of Lake Winnipeg -and I should be greatly in-
terested in a good comparison ly means of A.M. and P.M. sights on
the 'Dog's Head' and the 'Bull's Head,' and on the opposite side to
both. =t= --^ About Oxford Lak(> 1 have 12° 58', 10° IP, 14° 21', in
near ])roximity." Among other causes influencing the variation in
this region, besides that oi' change in geological formation on a large
scale, above alluded to, I have noticed beds of magnetic iron, dejjosits
of iron sand, dykes of diorite, great magnetic boulders, sudden change
in the genei'al level in passing from one region to another, proximity
>■ a cliff or bank oi- even of a thick grove or (when very close) a
S11. de large tree.
N'nriiitinii K.
1 . Little Churohill River, 24 miles south of its junction with the
Great ChurcLil). (The north side of the "forks" lieiiig in
lat. .OV 3n' 57.31" and about long. 95" 30') 11 30'
2. Little Churchill River, 5 mile.s north of last lo 30'
3. At the north side of the junction of the Little with the (Jreat
Churchill River, in the above latitude 12' 30'
4. Great Churchill River, 22 miles north of the above junction . . 15 00 '
5. Great Churchill River, 21 miles from its month G" 30'
0. Fort Churchill, on the west side of the river, 4 or 5 miles from
its mouth. (Lat. 58" 44' 43.04") 11 00'
72 c
UEOLOdlCAL Sl'RVEV OP CANADA.
7. York Factory, S. W. side of the fort. (In 1878 I found only
about 5° 30' at the N. E. side, but there ai)pears to be some
local attraction there) 7' 00'
8. Hill River, about 20 miles above its Junction with Fox River
(1878) 9' 4r.'
9. Nelson River, e.'i miles from Point of Marsh, or the N. K.
extremity of Beacon Point 8 ' 45'
10. Ncl8on River, First (or lowest) Limestone Rapid, (lat.
56° 36' 6."), about 77 miles in a straight line from Point
of Marsh 1 1 ' 30'
J 1 . Nelson River, Broad Rapid, 23 miles S. W. of last 11" 30'
12. Nelson River, outlet of Split Lake. (Lat. 50° 16' 27") . . . . . . 18' 00'
13. Grass River, outlet of Witchai ("Stinking") Lake, about 12
milesS. W.of theupperendof Split Lake, or about lat. 56°. . 16' 30'
14. Nelson River, north side of outlet of Sipi-wesk Lak(;, at south
end of Cross Portage. (Lat. 55 13'29.38") 16' 30'
15. Nelson River, Chute at outlet of Duck Lake (Duck Portage).. 19' 15'
16. Nelson River, 12 miles below White Mud F'fills. (Lat.
54' 45' 48. 14") 14' HO'.
17. Nelson River, Western Channel of East River, 5 miles south
of Pipestone Lake 16' 30'
18. Nelson River, Junction of Pine River with East River, 6 miles
above Sea River Falls 16' 00'
19. Norway House 14° 00'
20. Point at east end of Mossy Point (at outlet of Lake Winnipeg).
about one mile north of Warrens Landing 1 0° 45'
21. Ln' V. kVinnipeg, north side of Poplar Point, near extremity. . 15° 15'
I am indebted to Sir J. 11. LefVoy, of London, for the following
" memorandum oi' observations of variation on Lake Winnipeg in
1843-44."
Variation E.
1 . Fort Alexander 1 3' 56'
2. Grassy Narrows 14° 14'
3. Opposite Bull's Head 16° 18'
4. Opposite Dog's Head 16° 24'
5. By Beren's River 16° 55'
6. Point near Wesleyan Mission 14° 26'
7. By Mossy Point 19° 23'
8. A little beyond (lat. 52' 29') 15° 27'
it. Norway House 15° 13'
10. Second Rocky Point 17° 03'
The following wore taken in 1877 in connection with the Dominion
Lands Department : —
Mouth of Poplar River, east side Lake Winnipeg 15" 20' E.
Black River, nortli of Winnipeg River 13 00' E.
a.