14 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



through which a " creek " (stream) runs, or on 

 which there is a " slough " (pronounced " sloo " : 

 small lake), but make quite sure that neither of 

 these sources of supply runs dry during the heat of 

 summer, or floods your land too much in spring 

 when the snow melts, also that the water is suitable 

 for drinking purposes. If you are close to a large 

 lake or river, which you have definitely ascertained 

 from local information does not play the tricks 

 described, it should be a desirable location to choose. 

 Water can be found anywhere by digging a well 

 from 12 to 50 feet deep, but this entails a lot of 

 work in finding, and also watering the stock with it 

 when found, unless a windmill is used for drawing it, 

 the purchase of which would entail too much of an 

 inroad upon a small capital. 



If you should have no timber on your homestead 

 it would be well to apply to the local agent of 

 Dominion lands for a permit to cut what you require 

 for building, fencing, and fuel from the nearest 

 available supply that grows in the neighbourhood 

 of your ranch. The office fee for this permit is 

 25 cents (Is. Oid.). You are allowed — (a) 3,000 lineal 

 feet of building timber, but no log exceeding 12 inches 

 at the butt end, unless it is cut from dry trees ; 

 (6) 400 roof -poles ; (c) 2,000 fence-rails ; (d) 500 fence- 

 posts, 7 feet long, and not more than 5 inches at the 



