30 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



embraces the trunk stream from Fort Smith down to the Arctic 

 coast, a distance of 1,300 miles, over which a depth of five feet 

 of water can be obtained. This, with the shore Hne of Great 

 Slave lake, 1,440 miles in length, and the small part of Peel 

 river, is the only part of the section that is now being used by 

 steamers. The remainder of the navigable waters of the section 

 are only available for light draft steamers and cannot be navigated 

 by the deeper draft steamers that now ply on the portion 

 previously mentioned. The Liard river is obstructed on its 

 lower part by a strong rapid which, however, could be ascended 

 by powerful light draft steamers with the aid of a line, making 

 the navigable water on this stream 440 miles in length. Great 

 Bear river, 90 miles in length, also has a shallow rapid about half 

 way up its course which could be ascended in the same way. 

 With this obstruction removed or overcome, the whole of Great 

 Bear lake, with a shore line of about 1,360 miles, becomes con- 

 nected with the Mackenzie system. Peel river is navigable for 

 shallow draft steamers from the Mackenzie to the mouth of 

 Wind river. 



The Mackenzie has a number of other tributaries about 

 which little or nothing is known, but which, on exploration, 

 might prove to be navigable for certain distances. Among these 

 are Little Buft'alo river, Willow river, Hareskin river, Arctic Red 

 river and some others. 



The Lower Mackenzie section is navigated at present by a 

 few small steamers that are operated solely for the benefit of 

 the fur traders and the missions. In spite of its greater length 

 and the depth of its channel, it is, however, used less than any 

 of the other three sections. This, because of its remoteness. 



Taking the Lower Mackenzie section and the Athabasca 

 lake section together, it will readily be understood how import- 

 ant they become in connection with the exploration and develop- 

 ment of the whole Lower Mackenzie region and a great part of 

 the region to the east, which cannot easily be reached from 

 Hudson bay. These two sections of the waterways are to-day 

 suffering from the handicap of being separated from railway 

 connection by obstructions which are not easily surmounted. 

 This handicap will, however, be removed when the promised 

 railway to Fort McMurray is built. It would greatly increase 

 the value of these waterways if the obstruction of 16 miles at 

 Fort Smith could be overcome, either by a tramway or a system 

 of locks, and it is probable that op.e Q£|ti%e.other of these projects 

 will one day be carried out. /\S y^ ^ /^ ^ 



