In the Arctic Regions. 29 
been low, but our information did not enable us to 
judge whether the decrease was merely casual, or going 
on continually, or periodiéal. The distance of this 
island from Norway House is thirty-eight miles and a 
half. 2 
The westerly winds detained us all the morming of 
the 9th, but, at two P. M., the wind chopped round to 
the eastward: we immediately embarked, and the 
breeze afterwards freshening, we reached the mouth of 
the Saskatchawan at midnight, having run thirty-two 
tuiles 
Sunday, Oct. 10.—The whole of this day was oc- 
cupied in getting the boats from the mouth of the 
river to the foot of the grand rapid, a distance of two 
miles. There are several rapids in this short distance 
during which the river varies its breadth from five 
hundred yards to half a mile. Its channel is stony. 
At the grand rapid, the Saskatchawan forms a sudden 
bend, from south to east, and works its way through 
a narrow channel, deeply worn into the limestone 
strata. The stream, rushing with impetuous force 
over a rocky and uneven bottom, presents a sheet of 
foam, and seems to bear with impatience the straiten- 
ed confinement of its lofty banks. A flock of pelicans, 
and two or three brown fishing eagles, were fishing in 
its agitated waters, seemingly with great success. 
There is a good sturgeon fishery at the foot of the 
