86 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



general too cloudy for observations of aurora. However, displays were seen on several 

 nights, as follows: 



July 19-20, Fort Severn. Faint streamers, scattered, not much motion. 



July 24-25, Fort Severn. Streamers and sheet, generally distributed, not brilliant Init making sky bright. 



July 31- August 1, Winisk. Very bright aurora, generally distributed. 



Aug. 5-6, West of Trout River. Bright aurora over whole sky, but not colored. 



Aug. 2G-27, Ekwan Point. Very bright aurora in north, especially 9 to 12 p. m. 



Sept. 2, Fort Albany. Very fine, 3 large arches, then streamers, whole sky. 



No magnetic stonns at any time prevented observations, and only in a couple of 

 instances did irregularities in observations make us suspect a magnetic disturbance. 



Evei-y care possible was taken of the instruments and watches; still they were subject 

 to very varied treatment. Sometimes they were at rest in camji; at other times in the 

 canoes, tossed about sometimes rather livelily by the waves; again they were subject to 

 alternate canoe and portage travel. They were always under my own immediate care, 

 within reach in case of accident, and they were always portaged by myself. 



We are indebted to the officials of the Hudson's Bay Company for their uniform 

 courtesy and desire to aid us. In particular I may mention the Commissioner of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company at Winnipeg, Mr. N. M. W. J. McKenzie of Fort William, Mr. A. 

 W. Patterson of Lac Seul, Mr. J. Margarson of Fort Severn, and Mr. Charles H. M. Gordon 

 of Fort Hope. All of our stations at the Hudson's Bay Company's posts were on their 

 grounds. I wish also to mention Mr. H. Dellaire, of Revillon Freres, at Attawapiskat, and 

 Rev. J. T. Griffin, of St. Paul's Mission, Fort Albany. We are also indebted for many 

 courtesies to Dr. Otto J. Klotz, assistant astronomer at the Dominion Observatory at 

 Ottawa. 



DETAILS OF THE TRIP. 



Leaving Washington on the evening of May 16, Mr. Wise and I proceeded to Fort 

 William, Ontario. Here arrangements were made with Mr. N. M. W. J. McKenzie, the 

 manager of the Lake Superior district of the Hudson's Bay Company, for a letter of credit 

 and introductory letters to the posts under his charge. Some personal outfitting was 

 attended to at Fort William and the various points previously occupied by magnetic part ies 

 were visited. As the weather was not suitable for magnetic observations, we left on 

 May 23 for Graham, where we were met by the manager of the Lac Seul district of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company, Mr. A. W. Patterson, with whom we made arrangements to go 

 on the next day to Lac Seul Post from Hudson by the Company's launch. The weather 

 continued cloudy, with rain and quite a snowfall. 



At Lac Seul we were able to make the first magnetic observations of the trip, hasty 

 glimpses of the sun enabling us to obtain proper sights. We here obtained a complete 

 outfit, comprising 2 canoes, 18.5 feet long, and a complete camping-outfit, with provisions 

 for 6 persons sufficient to carry us to Fort Severn. The question arose as to the number and 

 size of canoes 2 small ones or 1 large canoe. The small ones necessitated more men and 

 required very skillful handling on the coasts of the Hudson and James bays. They were, 

 however, more easily handled in narrow and shallow places, and, if anything serious had 

 happened to one, the other would be in readiness for use. A single large canoe would have 

 been heavy and in some places would not have stood the rough usage to be encountered in 

 the shallow waters of the Albany. Moreover, if it had been smashed, we could not have 

 obtained another at any of the posts after Osnaburgh. Hence 2 small canoes were 

 finally decided upon to start with. It was extremely difficult to obtain Indians to accom- 

 pany us for more than a few days at a time, and provision had to be made generally for 

 transporting these Indians back to their homes. We at last obtained 2 Indians who agreed 

 ) o make the round trip with us, and 2 more who went as far as Osnaburgh House. 



Leaving the kindly hospitality of Lac Seul Post, where we were the guests of Mr. and 

 Mrs. Patterson, we engaged at once in the rough work of the expedition. The first part 



