OTTAWA, September 8, 1905. 



Hon. RAYMOND PBEFONTAINE, K.C., 



Minister of Marine and Fisheries. 



SIR, I have the honour to submit herewith my report on the 

 expedition to Hudson Bay and northward thereof, in the 

 steamship Neptune; to which, on your kind recommendation, 

 I was appointed officer in charge by a commission authorized 

 under an order in council of August 13, 1903. 



Permit me to here acknowledge the kindly and valuable 

 assistance afforded me by Colonel F. Gourdeau, Deputy Minis- 

 ter of the Department of Marine and Fisheries, by Commander 

 G. O. V. Spain, and by all the officers of the department at 

 Ottawa and Halifax, with whom it was my duty and privilege 

 to work. 



The greater part of the credit for the complete and successful 

 accomplishment of all the instructions for the voyage is due to 

 Captain S. W. Bartlett, the officers and the crew of the 

 Neptune. Their prompt and cheerful attention to orders and 

 their willing co-operation in all matters relating to the expedi- 

 tion deserve the highest praise. 



I have great pleasure in calling attention to the valuable 

 work of the scientific staff of the expedition. Dr. L. E. Borden, 

 by his skill and attention, kept everybody in a good general 

 state of health, and in addition rendered great assistance in the 

 collection of specimens and data relating to ethnology, botany 

 and zoology. Mr. Andrew Halkett, Naturalist of the Depart- 

 ment of Marine and Fisheries, was indefatigable in the work 

 of collecting specimens in all branches of natural history. Mr. 

 C. F. King, who was attached from the staff of the Geological 

 Survey, took charge in an able manner of the topographical 

 work, and was willingly assisted by Messrs. Caldwell and Ross 

 and by the officers of the ship. 



