518 APPENDIX. 



months in the highest northern latitudes that have been 

 visited. It was found breeding on Parry's Islands, in 

 latitudes 74°— 75°. 



FISH. 



Every part of the fur countries, with the exception of 

 the prairie lands of the Red, Saskatchewan, and Co- 

 lumbia rivers, is intersected in every direction by lakes and 

 their connecting streams, all of them abounding in fish. 

 In those districts in particular where the primitive strata 

 prevail, the rivers are merely chains of many-armed 

 lakes, linked together by narrow rapids or cascades. 

 As it is in these parts of the country, at least as far 

 north as the woods extend, where the furs are chiefly 

 obtained, most of the forts or trading posts are esta- 

 blished within their limits ; but if it were not for the 

 abundance of fish, it w r ould be very difficult to obtain 

 due supplies of provision, since the larger quadrupeds 

 are not so plentiful in the woods as to furnish a certain 

 subsistence to a numerous party for the whole year. 

 Meat posts, as they are termed, can be formed only 

 in the prairies, where the bison and deer abound, or at 

 certain localities near the northern range of the woods, 

 where the reindeer pass in large herds in spring and 

 autumn. In some quarters, as we have mentioned, 

 large quantities of geese can be procured for a few 

 weeks, and in others vast numbers of grouse are snared; 

 but, in general, no post can be considered as safe for a 

 winter residence unless there be a good fishing station 

 in its vicinity. 



Ample details of the various methods of fishing in 

 use in the fur countries have been given by Hearne 

 and succeeding travellers ; and also in the third volume 



