124 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[xo. 27. 



The countrj^ about Fort Franklin is slightly undulating and, except 

 for certain semibarren points near the shores of the lake, is well 

 wooded with spruce, tamarack, willow^, and the usual subarctic vegeta- 

 tion. (See PL XVIII, fig. 2.) Much of the ground is covered with 

 Jichens of the genus Gyrophora and various mosses. At the time of 

 our visit the leaves of the tamaracks, willows, and other deciduous 

 trees were falling. The site of the post itself is the summit of a 

 rather steep bank elevated about 50 feet above the shores of the lake. 

 The buildings have long since been destroyed, and only the debris of 

 the stone chimnej^s and the faint outlines of the sills of the principal 

 houses now remain to mark the spot. The original clearing is par- 

 tially grown up to willows, but much of the ground supports only a 

 growth of grasses and herbaceous plants. The site overlooks to the 

 southward the broad expanse of Keith Bay, at the extremity of which, 

 at a distance of 4 or 5 miles. Bear Eiver has its efflux. To the west- 

 ward the ground slopes rather abruptly. A marsh lies between the 

 small lake and Keith Bay, and beyond stretches a broad, low, barren 

 area, flanked by interminable wooded muskegs. To the southwest, at 

 a distance of 60 miles, the summit of Hoche Clark, snow clad at the 

 time of my visit, is visible under favorable conditions of the atmos- 

 phere. The region about the outlet of the lake, on account of the 

 excellent fisheries, has long been a favorite resort for the natives; 

 consequently large game and fur-bearing animals are scarce. 



I remained at Fort Franklin until September 28, securing a valu- 

 able collection. The weather during my stay was usually cold and 

 rain}^ and it was evident that the autumn was drawing to a close. 

 On the day of our departure an autumnal gale delayed us until after- 

 noon, and Ave descended Bear River only a few" miles before being 

 forced by darkness to encamp. 



Bear River issues from the lake by a broad, shallow channel with 

 a swift current, which it maintains throughout its course. The water 

 is beautifully clear, and as the stream is descended the bottom can be 

 plainly seen, and seems to rush by with lightning speed. AATien the 

 water is low, as at the time of our visit, a zigzag course must be pur- 

 cabin, where also Lieut. Hulme Hooper, of the boat expedition dispatched from 

 the Plover, passed a part of the following winter. 



In 1863, at the request of the natives, the Hudson's Bay Company established 

 a trading post on the western side of the little inlet which connects Gray Goose 

 Lake with Keith Bay. A Catholic mission was established by Petitot at the 

 same point in 1866, and continued until 1878. When the trading post was dis- 

 continued I have not been able to ascertain. 



Fort Confidence, on the northeast shore of Great Bear Lake, was built in 

 the autumn of 1837 by Thomas Simpson. These buildings were mostly de- 

 stroyed by fire after their abandonment. Richardson, in the autumn of 1848, 

 reoccupied the site, erecting several buildings, and these were found by J. M. 

 Bell, in 1900, to be in a fair state of preservation. 



