APPENDIX 477 



This area comprising the Barren Grounds and a portion of the 

 lightly wooded region to their south and west. 



12th. That throughout this arable and pastoral area latitude 

 bears no direct relation to summer isotherms, the spring flowers 

 and the buds of deciduous trees appearing as early north of 

 Great Slave Lake as at Winnipeg, St. Paul and Minneapolis, 

 Kingston or Ottawa, and earlier along the Peace, Liard and 

 some minor western affluents of the great Mackenzie Eiver, 

 where the climate resembles that of western Ontario. 



13th. That the native grasses and vetches are equal and in 

 some districts superior to those of eastern Canada. 



14th. That the prevailing south-west summer winds of the 

 country in question bring the warmth and moisture which 

 render possible the far northern cereal growth, and sensibly 

 affect the climate of the region under consideration as far north 

 as the Arctic circle and as far east as the eastern rim of the 

 Mackenzie Basin. 



FISHERIES^ FORESTS AND MINES. 



15th. The immense lacustrine area of the eastern and 

 northern portions of the area under consideration implies, from 

 the evidence given regarding the quantity and quality of fresh 

 water food fishes, the future supply of a great portion of the 

 North American continent; while, though there has been 

 obtained less evidence regarding sea fish, yet the following have 

 been found on the northern and eastern coast, within the scope 

 of the present inquiry, viz. : salmon, on four of the rivers 

 emptying into Hudson Bay on its western shore, and in all 

 the rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean, except the Mackenzie, 

 where an entirely different but also valuable species, the Salmo 

 Mackenziei, having the local name of the Inconnu, exists in 

 great numbers. The capeliug is found on the coast of the 

 Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay, thus implying the presence 

 of cod upon banks near by, and the rock cod has been frequently 

 taken. The Greenland or harp seal, and the gray square 

 flipper seal are common to the eastern coasts, while the present 

 favourite whaling grounds of the 'New England whalers are 

 Hudson Bay, Pox Channel and Boothia Bay. These animals 

 are all found, with the walrus and porpoise, off the mouths and 

 in the estuary of the Mackenzie, as well. 



16th. The forest area has upon it a growth of trees well 

 suited for aU purposes of house and ship building, for mining, 

 railway and bridging purposes, far in excess of its own needs 



