GREAT DOG LAKE. 



43 



The valley of this river forms the winter route of the 

 Indians from Thunder Bay to Great Dog Lake, and while 

 the Great Dog Portage, by the circuitous route of the 

 Kaministiquia, is not less than 43 miles from Fort Wil- 

 liam, Great Dog Lake is reached by the Valley of Current 

 Eiver, in an eighteen or twenty miles march from Thun- 

 der Bay. 



In making their winter journey to Great Dog Lake, the 

 Indians generally proceed from the Mission in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Fort William to the mouth of Current Eiver, 

 and ascend its open and unencumbered course, reaching 

 Dog Lake in one day from Fort William. A cursory 

 inspection of the map will show that the direct line of 

 route from Fort William, or rather from Point Meuron, 

 through the forest, if a track were cleared, would save 

 several miles.* 



The height of Great Dog Lake above Lake Superior is 

 710 feet, and to reach it in canoes or boats by the route 

 of the Kaministiquia involves portages, which in the 

 aggregate amount to 325 chains, or four miles in length. 



As a mean of communication between Thunder Bay 

 and Great Dog Lake, the Indian trail up the valley of 

 Current Eiver, appears to be of sufficient importance to 

 require this special notice ; a bird's-eye view of the 

 country, from the summit of the Great Dog Portage, 

 showed no mountainous range between that point and 

 Lake Superior apparently equal in altitude to the great 

 barrier of Dog Lake, which exceeds 850 feet above Lake 

 Superior. It acquires additional importance from the fact 

 that a travelled Indian canoe route and winter road exists 



* In Current River speckled trout are numerous, and its valley abounds 

 with red and black currants, raspberries, strawberries, and gooseberries, 

 wherever sufficient light and air for their growth obtains admittance into 

 the forest which covers the country. 



