26 :

weather during the past season was dry and clear. The first frost came on the night of
October 4th, but did not seem to injure any of the vegetation. There had been no snow
when I left on the 21st of November. The Indians at Cheslata Lake raise potatoes and
turnips, but their gardens were a failure this year, on account of the unusually dry
season.

“The open country is in spots from 2 acres to 300 acres in extent, scattered from
the west end of Cheslata to the west end of Ootsa and north to Francais Lake. Near
tle west end of Ootsa, Lake there is an open tract of about 3,000 acres, most of which
was covered with a fine growth of grass. At the west end of Ootsa Lake there is a large
Hat 2 miles or more wide, and extending up the upper Ootsa River several miles. Near
the lake it is mostly covered with willows. Two miles farther up I found some nice
pieces of meadow bordering on the river and covered with a species of blue-joint hay.

‘‘Most of the country is timbered with spruce, black pine and poplar. The best
jand is among the poplar timber. The soil is gravelly loam, and the vegetation very
rank. There are seven or eight different kinds of native grasses ; the pea-vine in places
was waist high when I was in the siddle riding through the poplar timber.

“There are many small lakes and ponds along the north side of Ootsa Lake, from
one-half to two miles back and scattered across to Francais Lake. They form natural
reservoirs and most of them could be used to irrigate the surrounding land in dry seasons.

‘Of wild fruit the high bush cranberry was very abundant; also the saskatoon or
service-berry. The sual, gooseberry and strawberry were quite plentiful on the trail.
Trout, whitetish, char and a specie of fresh water smelt were plentiful. The Indians
were catching large quantities in nets when I was at Cheslata. The woods swarm with
rabbits. Deer and bear are plentiful, but the smaller fur-bearing animals ar

e becoming
svarce. Fox and lynx are quite plentiful.

Beaver, mink and marten are very scarce.
The Indians are friendly and glad to see white people come.

“There is a water route from the crossing of the Teta Chuck to the east end of Ootsa
Lake, a distance of about 35 miles; smooth water most of the w

ay, only one rapid,
which I did not examine, but the Indians said it was vy

ery short and easy to get over. °

“There are good claims for about 150 settlers in the Ootsa L
valleys to the north and east that I
was good land in most of them.

ake District, with many
did not have time to explore, but was told that there
The present trails are very poor, dim and hard to
follow. The present cost of packing from Bella Coola to Ootsa L

ake is about five cents
per pound.

‘“‘T am well pleased with the country surrounding
Dright future, but can not advise people of very
settle, as the cost of getting in is considerable
there are any nearby markets or easy

Ootsa Lake, and believe it has a
limited means to attempt to go there to
, and it may be two or three years before
means of transportation. People who have had
experience in frontier life will get along more easily than those who have not. There
will be hardships and difficulties to overcome, but those who persevere will. wi

doubt, be amply rewarded. mega

“ December 24th, 1904.”