REPORT JV.rANICAL 



OAkDCN 



ON EXl'LORATIOXS ON THE 



CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS 



AND AROUNO 



(lOI)'S AND ISLAND LAKES, 



1879. 



l^OBERT BELL, M.D., F.G.S., C.E 



Before proceeiling to state the results of the work to which this 

 re^Dort refers, I shall give a brief narrative of the season's operations 

 and mention the methods pursued in endeavouring to accomplish the 3iethods 



. . o i pursued. 



objects we had in view. In 1878 I had made a track-survey and a 

 geological examination of the boat-route from Lake Winnipeg to 

 Hudson's Bay by way of Oxford and Knee lakes, and the rivers thence 

 to York Factory. I had also made topographical and geological sur- Previous 

 veys of the lower part of Nelson River, and of the upper part of the'"'^^^^^' 

 5 (same stream, from Lake Winnipeg nearl}^ to Split Lake, leaving unfin- 

 *■ ished the central part. In 1879 I was to complete this and to examine work for 1879. 

 as much of the Churchill River as the season would permit. In order to 



^Z) accomplish this I proceeded, as before, by way of the city of Winnipeg 

 to Norway House, which I again made my headquarters for the season. 

 It is due to the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company that I should ^ent of '^^^' 

 here again express our indebtedness to them for their uniform kindness assistance. 

 - and for the substantial assistance which they often rendered, enabling 



^vl us to accomplish much more than would otherwise have been possible. 

 In this connection I must mention more particularly Mr. Grahame, the 

 Chief Commissioner, Mr. J. McTavish of Fort Garry, Mr. Wm. Flett of 

 the Stone Fort, Mr. Roderick Ross of Norway House, Mi-. C. Sinclair 

 of Oxford House, Mr. Linklater of Island Lake, Mr. J. R. Spencer of 

 Fort Churchill, and Mr. Joseph Fortescue of York Factory. 



^ 



en 



