150 LABRADOE 



end of the lake is shallow, being filled with sand brought 

 down by the river. The Hudson's Bay post was situated 

 on a sandy plain near the inlet ; it was abandoned in 1873, 

 and subsequently destroyed by fire. The old journals 

 of this post show that the first snow fell about September 

 20th and remained until the following June. The lowest tem- 

 perature recorded was 55 F. Geese, ducks, and sum- 

 mer birds arrived about the 10th of May and were killed 

 in large numbers in the open water at the head of the lake. 

 In the autumn and winter, ptarmigan were very abundant, 

 while caribou and bears were frequently killed in the valley 

 and on the surrounding plateau. The spring catch of fish 

 was always notable, white fish and trout being taken in 

 large numbers in nets set about the post. In the summer, 

 all the inhabitants used to go in canoes with the winter's 

 fur to the post at Northwest River. Before leaving the 

 place, potatoes and turnips were planted and left to the 

 care of Nature until the return of the traders in September ; 

 it is not surprising that the comments on the crops were 

 unfavourable. 



The river is easily navigable from the head of Winokapau 

 Lake to the Grand Falls portage, situated on the north side 

 of the river some forty-five miles upstream, at the foot 

 of a continuous rapid, which extends several miles to the 

 mouth of Bowdoin Canyon. 



In order to pass the Grand Falls, and reach the upper 

 part of the river, the valley must be left at the foot of the 

 rapids, where a portage, up the bed of a small tributary, 

 rises abruptly seven hundred feet and then, by gradual 

 ascent for two miles, leads to a small lake on 'the level of 

 the plateau. The route then leads through fourteen small 



