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Considering the area of the Mackenzie basin and the fact that it is forested
almost throughout, the quantity of merchantable timber is relatively small and
is confined in all parts entirely to the stream valleys. The best areas are to be
found on the tributaries of the Mackenzie which flow from the west, such as
Athabaska, Peace, and Liard rivers. On Mackenzie river there is probably little
more than is sufficient to supply the needs of the immediate vicinity and since it
is a northward flowing stream its timber cannot readily be used for the settle-
ments that are growing up in the southern part of the basin.

A great deal of valuable forest has been destroyed in past years, both through

the carelessness of travellers with regard to camp fires and also through the

deliberate starting of fires by the natives so as to improve the hunting. Forest
fires are naturally more common along the regularly travelled routes, and in the
unexplored portions of the country Indian canoe routes are often marked by the
patches of burnt forest on the portage trails and at camping places.

Through the efforts. of the Dominion Forestry Department, however, the
waste by fire is by no means as great now, and the natives are being educated to
see the folly of allowing fires to spread. This waste is all the more deplorable
since in that northern region tree growth is slow and reforestation consequently
takes much longer than in more southern regions.

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

During the last one hundred and thirty years the principal routes for the

transportation of supplies into the basin of Mackenzie river have changed a ’

number of times, but in changing, the old routes have not been entirely
abandoned and all of them are still used occasionally.

From the time of the first entry of the fur traders within the limits of the
basin, in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, up to nearly forty years ago,
the main line of transportation was from the Churchill river across the height
of land at Methy portage to Clearwater river. Having entered the basin of
Mackenzie river at that point the routes followed the main streams of Athabaska,
Slave, Peace, Mackenzie, Liard, and Bear rivers to the various trading posts
situated on these streams, for all supplies were then carried in York boats
propelled by crews of half-breed voyageurs or Indians. Winter travel also
followed these routes.

When the main line of the Canadia Pacific railway was about completed,
the route to the north country changed, and with Edmonton as a distributing
point a road was opened up across the height of land north of that point to
Athabaska river at Athabaska. ‘Athabaska river then became the main line
of travel, and in spite of the long series of obstructions in the rapids between
Grand rapids and McMurray, all supplies were transported at considerable risk
and loss down this river, in scows, as far as McMurray. At that point they were
transhipped to river steamers and by these were carried and distributed to the
trading posts, transhipments for the upper Peace river taking place at Vermilion
chutes and for the lower Mackenzie at Smith rapids.

For the upper Peace River region west of Hudson Hope, the line of entry
to.the basin of Mackenzie river was from Fraser river across the divide at
Giscome portage and thence down McLeod and Parsnip rivers to the main
Peace.

On account of the large volume of traffic in fur-trading supplies trans-
ported by the Athabaska River route, the first railway into the basin of

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