42 The Musk-ox 



started into the Barren Grounds. There is a 

 period in the summer at Great Slave Lake when 

 any number of dogs could be sufficiently fed on 

 the quantities of fish that are then to be caught 

 in the lake ; and no doubt enough fish could be 

 stored to feed them in the season when the lakes 

 are frozen, if the dogs remained at the post. Even 

 so, that would keep busy a number of especially 

 engaged fishermen. But when you started for 

 the Barren Grounds with all these dogs, your 

 feeding problem would be an overwhelming one 

 indeed, for only in the midsummer, when the 

 caribou are to be found in large herds, would it 

 be possible to kill meat for a great many dogs ; 

 and in midsummer you would not, could not, 

 use dogs at all ; at that season the Barren 

 Grounds are invaded by means of the chain of 

 lakes and short portages which begin at the 

 northeastern end of the Great Slave Lake. 

 Even travelling along the river the question of 

 dog feed is a serious one, and you are obliged to 

 carry the fish which have been caught the pre- 

 vious summer and stored at the posts in great 

 frozen heaps. It is obvious, therefore, that there 

 is no easy or comfortable way of getting into 

 the Barren Grounds. It would be impracticable 



