ACEOSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



about ten tons each, and to these the boat's cargo is trans- 

 ferred. When loaded the scows are piloted one by one to the 

 head of the island in the middle of the river, where a rough 

 wharf is built, and to it all goods are again transferred, 

 whence they are carried to the lower end of the island by 

 means of a tramway. The unloaded scows, securely held with 



H. B. C. STEAMER "ATHABASCA" AT LANDING AT 

 HEAD OF GRAND RAPIDS. 



ropes by a force of men on the shore, and guided with poles 

 by a crew on board, are then carefully lowered down stream 

 to the foot of the island, where they again receive their loads. 

 Accidents frequently happen in passing down the unloaded 

 scows, for the channel (the eastern one always being chosen) 



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