THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 37 
river above Baker Lake, where some improvement to the chan- 
nel might be made. 
Just what length of time this route may be opened for navi- 
gation I am unable to say precisely, but would judge that the 
river portion must be open at least five months, and the inlet and 
larger lakes about a month less, that is, during the months of 
July. August, September and October. Thus the possibilities 
and expense of navigation from Hudson Bay towards the west 
by way of Chesterfield inlet have been pretty well determined. 
In the Mackenzie basin, Charlton Harbor, at the head of 
Great Slave Lake, limits navigation from the west, and on its 
northern shore, by the mouth of the Lockhart River, is as 
pretty a town site as can be found in Canada. Between these 
two terminal points the only existing way of communication is 
by means of the excellent canoe route followed by our party. 
For heavy commercial traffic a railway could be constructed 
without serious difficulties by avoiding the lakes along the Han- 
bury river route, there being no great elevations or other diffi- 
culties to overcome unless it be the remoteness of the district 
and the scarcity of timber. 
Should any kind of electric transmission become desirable 
the two grand water powers of the Lockhart river and Dixon 
Canyon could be utilized to great advantage during the open 
season. 
Besides the discovery of the Thelon as a commercial water- 
way, the resources of its valley are of great interest, particular- 
ly its timber supply and herds of musk oxen, both of which are 
of great value to Canada. 
For the preservation of the musk oxen, which may be so 
easily slaughtered, and are already rapidly diminishing in num- 
bers, I would suggest that the territory between the Thelon and 
Back rivers be set apart by the Government as a game preserve. 
The chief food supply of the country lies in its great bands 
of caribou, and its fish of various kinds, which are abundant 
in all the lakes and springs of the district. 
The Thelon valley, though affording fine grazing lands for 
musk oxen and caribou, can scarcely be looked upon as a de- 
