78^ REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Muskeg Lake and then to Dog River. There are no rapids on the Muskeg 

 River between Kaogombk and Muskeg Lakes though there is a portage that 

 saves considerable time when travelling light. From Muskeg Lake to Dog 

 River there are numerous portages and this portion of the river would be very 

 difficult to travel in the late summer. 



Our main cache was established near the mouth of the Muskeg River, and 

 from here supplies were carried to the main party via Des lies River. The port- 

 ages on the Dog and Des lies Rivers are fairly well mapped, though on the latter 

 it is necessary to make more portages during the dry months. Both the east 

 and west branches of the Dog River were travelled and improved. There is a 

 much greater volume of water coming down the west branch. 



We did not use the canoe routes on the easterly eighteen miles of the two 

 base lines. The routes on the first base line are in a north and south direction, 

 and so of no use to us. The Muskrat River is about seven feet deep at high 

 water, but at the time that we crossed it there was scarcely a foot of water, and 

 the river is filled with driftwood. On the second base line the portage route to 

 the east was found but was not used. The route from Lac Des lies to the east 

 branch of the Dog River was found and used. It is mapped fairly well though 

 our men reported that there were new ones now used in some places. 



Lac Des lies is one of the finest lakes that we have seen in this district. 

 There are over one hundred islands and the water is clear, though not of great 

 depth. 



The route we used in coming out was via Grassy Narrows, Ricetalk, Upper 

 and Lower Kaogomok Lakes, Ricetalk Lake is very shallow and is completely 

 filled with wild rice and forms a good feeding ground for wild fowl. 



Moose, deer and bears are quite numerous as are also the smaller fur- 

 bearing animals. Most of the country is trapped. The only fish caught were 

 pike, though it is likely there are trout in Lac Des lies. Partridge were particu- 

 larlv numerous. 



The magnetic variation ranges from zero and o le degree east. The only 

 marked difference was as mentioned previously under "rock formation." 



No falls of any size were found on the rivers, and it is unlikely that there 

 are any water powers of any consequence within this work. 



The heat during the months of June and July was excessive, especially 

 as we were for a considerable part of this time in fairly open country. There 

 was no frost during the months that we were in the field. 



We have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servants, 



Phillips and Benner. 



The Honourable the Minister of Lands and Forests, 

 Toronto, Ontario. 



