DOWN TO THE SEA. 173 



miles too far west. At the mouth of the river the 

 water was found to be shallow in some places not 

 more than three or four feet in depth and for some 

 distance out into the lake shoals were observed. Small 

 sailing vessels or York boats would, however, have no 

 difficulty in getting in, but it would be difficult to take 

 the former any great distance up the river on account 

 of the rapids. Large properly constructed river boats 

 might be taken up stream without difficulty for a dis- 

 tance of 150 miles to the confluence of the west branch, 

 and how far they might be able to ascend that large 

 stream it is impossible for me to say. With the excep- 

 tion of perhaps one spot the canyon rapid north of 

 Tobaunt Lake I believe the whole river from the 

 Height of Land to Baker Lake might be navigated by 

 river or York boats with comparative ease. At the 

 rapid a portage could be made or possibly a navigable 



annel might be discovered. 



I think it important to mention the above possibilities 

 of access to this country, on account of the fact that 

 from Tobaunt Lake to Baker Lake there stretches an 

 extended area of promising mineral-bearing Huronian 

 schists and trappean rocks, a series precisely similar to 

 the silver, copper and gold bearing rocks of the north 

 shore of Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods districts. 

 The time must come it may not be far distant when 

 the prospector and the miner will occupy all this vast 

 field of mineral wealth.* 



From the head of Baker Lake we were now to com- 



* For full geological and mineralogical details regarding this district, 

 see J. B. Tyrrell's report for 1893, published by the Geological Survey 

 Department of Canada. 



