44 



BED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



between Dog Lake and Thousand Lakes, on the west side 

 of the height of land.* 



The area of Great Dog Lake, according to Mr. Murrayf , 

 whose opportunities of examining it were considerably 

 greater than those of the members of the Exploring 

 Expedition, probably exceeds 200 square miles ; the 

 country surrounding it is hilly, and covered with forests in 

 which white spruce prevails, interspersed with groves of 

 aspens, and occasionally dotted with the Weymouth and 

 Banksian pines ; white and yellow birch are abundant, 

 and some of them of large dimensions. The lake is 

 bounded by bold primary rocks, and studded with in- 

 numerable islands. 



The traverse of the canoe route, from the head of the 

 Great Dog Portage to the mouth of Dog Eiver, is about 

 11 miles in length, and the lake is seen to stretch far to 

 the north of the last named point ; the canoe route fol- 

 lows closely the direction of its longest diameter, which is 

 nearly due north and south. The depth of water, as 

 ascertained by occasional soundings along the line of 

 traverse, is very considerable ; in one instance, 72 feet 

 was recorded about 200 yards from a low rocky shore, 



* During the year 1858, Mr. S. Dawson was employed in examining the 

 country between Lake Superior and Red River with a view to establish a 

 line of communication. In his report of the operations carried on during 

 that year he speaks favourably of a line of road between Thimder Bay and 

 Great Dog Lake. The subjoined extract is from Mr. Dawson's report for 

 1858 : — " To commence at Lake Superior, a land road would be required 

 from Thunder Bay to Dog Lake, as the navigation of the Kaministiquia is 

 utterly impracticable, except for canoes, and could only be rendered other- 

 wise at an enormous outlay. Dog Lake is distant from Lake Superior 22± 

 miles, and at a higher elevation by 718 feet, a difference of level which 

 renders a canal out of the question, notwithstanding that the supply of 

 water in the Kaministiquia would be ample. The only way of. reaching it, 

 therefore, is by land, and the surveys have progressed so far as to show 

 that a good line may be obtained in a distance of 28 miles." 



f Report of Progress for the year 1846-7. (Geological Survey of Canada.) 



