FORT RAE 



8 7 



The ice clears close to the post nearly a month before 

 it disappears beyond the Grosse Isle, ten miles to the south- 

 ward. It does not disappear an large — beyond Big Point, until 

 late, sometimes the middle of July. In 1859 this entry occurs 

 for June 20th: "Ice-bound among the islands thirty miles 

 southeast of the fort, and the mosquitoes in myriads." It will 

 be observed that the ice broke up at the post, where the arm 

 is much narrower, on the 30th of May. 



August 1 2th, 1884, the journal reads: "Snowstorm all day." 

 A record of the temperature was kept, with some interruptions, 

 from November, 1883, until May, 1885. No other meteoro- 

 logical data have been recorded in the Rae journals. 



During the winter of 1882-3 Captain H. P. Dawson, with 

 three assistants, made observations on meteorological and 

 magnetic phenomena at Rae. This point was chosen because 

 it is the nearest of the Hudson's Bay Company's posts to the 

 magnetic pole. 



