DOWN TO THE SEA. We: 
miles too far west. At the mouth of the river the 
water was found to be shallow—in some places not 
more than three or four feet in depth—and for some 
distance out into the lake shoals were observed. Small 
sailing vessels or York boats would, however, have no 
difficulty in getting in, but it would be difficult to take 
the former any great distance up the river on account 
of the rapids. Large properly constructed river boats 
might be taken up stream without difficulty for a dis- 
tance of 150 miles to the confluence of the west branch, 
‘and how far they might be able to ascend that large 
stream it is impossible for me to say. With the excep- 
tion of perhaps one spot—the canyon rapid north of 
Tobaunt Lake—I believe the whole river from the 
Height of Land to Baker Lake might be navigated by 
river or York boats with comparative ease. At the 
rapid a portage could be made or possibly a navigable 
channel might be discovered. 
I think it important to mention the above possibilities 
of access to this country, on account of the fact that. 
from Tobaunt Lake to Baker Lake there stretches an 
extended area of promising mineral-bearing Huronian 
schists and trappean rocks, a series precisely similar to 
the silver, copper and gold bearing rocks of the north 
shore of Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods districts. 
The time must come—it may not be far distant—when 
the prospector and the miner will occupy all this vast 
field of mineral wealth.* 
From the head of Baker Lake we were now to com- 
* For full geological and mineralogical details regarding this district, 
see J. B. Tyrrell’s report for 1893, published by the Geological Survey 
Department of Canada. 
