WHITE MUD AND EAT RIVERS. 



439 



and consist of oak, elm, ash, maple, aspen, and poplar. 

 Near the crossing place there is a fish weir, where large 

 quantities of pike, suckers, gold-eyes, and other species, 

 are taken by the people of Prairie Portage, who have 

 established a fishing station here, as well as one at Lake 

 Manitobah, some miles further east. 



The woods fringing the river at the crossing place are 

 very important. The oak and elm are of the largest size, 

 being often found 2 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter, with tall, 

 clean trunks. The hop and vine twine around the under- 

 brush, and give a very attractive appearance to the belt of 

 woods which fringe White Mud Eiver 



Wishing to ascertain the character of this stream to its 

 outlet, we gummed the canoe, and once more launched it 

 for a short voyage down the White Mud Eiver, to the 

 fishing station on Lake Manitobah. Mr. Dickinson pro- 

 ceeded down the river, the carts, with Mr. Hime, jour- 

 neyed on towards Prairie Portage, while I rode to the 

 fishing station, in company with a half-breed who was 

 familiar with the history and progress of the station since 

 its commencement. 



We soon arrived at Eat Eiver, a stream of much interest 

 in connection with the floods of the Assmniboine. Down 

 its valley the water of that river flows into Lake Manitobah 

 during freshets, and by making a very shallow cut, a 

 permanent communication in time of high water, could 

 always be maintained. The fishing station at the mouth 

 of White Mud Eiver consists of about half a dozen houses, 

 which are only tenanted during the fishing season. Very 

 large quantities of white-fish are caught here, and no 

 doubt when the demand requires it the station at the mouth 

 of White Mud Eiver will become an important source of 

 supply. The Assinniboine prairies extend to the banks of 

 Manitobah Lake, and their elevation as seen here and at 



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