ample scope is provided for the fisherman and hunter. At the intake of the Nation
River is a particularly favourable spot for fly or bait fishing. Hundreds of rainbow
trout, including some Arctic and silver trout, have been caught here in a few hours.
In the lakes may be caught the larger lake trout and Dolly Vardon, the whitefish
and ling. Black bear are fairly common almost anywhere in the valley, while brown
and grizzly bear are to be hunted on the higher hills. Moose-tracks have been seen
towards the easterly limits, though none have been procured so far, and caribou are
known to herd on the higher plateaux. Early last spring seventeen caribou were
shot in “one yard” by Indian hunters. Although tracks were often met with at
different points during survey operations, no deer were seen until last fall, when
eight were observed travelling together. The opportunities offered the trapper are
many. At the present time only a few Indians are reaping good profit trapping the
numerous species of fur-bearing animals. These include the beaver, mink, marten,
otter, weasel, lynx, and large numbers of musk-rats. Many ground-hogs—a species
of marmot—are taken every fall from the open mountain-sides. Although their fur
is more or less valuable, they are obtained chiefly for their fatty meats, which, being
dried and smoked, provide food during the trapping season later on. The various
species of grouse have been plentiful during the past two seasons, and good shooting
is provided each fall when the ducks and geese pass along on their way south.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.

Actual records as to climatic conditions are necessarily meagre, but the weather
experienced during 1912 and 1913 was excellent and favourable to survey operations.
The mean daily temperatures for the summer months of 1913 are as follows: June,
55 degrees; July, 55.2 degrees; August, 58 degrees; September, 47 degrees; October,
87 degrees. The highest temperature recorded was on July 22nd with the ther-
mometer at 90 degrees, and the lowest on October 20th at 10 degrees.

Another matter worthy of note is the apparent absence in a high degree of
summer frosts. Further records would, of course, be necessary to verify this, but
thé prevailing impression so far is that these much-dreaded summer frosts are light.
The first frost recorded was on the night of September 26th, when the thermometer
registered 26 degrees. The presence of the large bodies of lake-waters, the open
nature of the burnt areas, and the heat-retaining powers of the sandy loains, also
the fact that there are always light breezes or winds, would bear out this impres-
sion. Mention might also be made of the general absence of overhanging moun-
tains. and also that there are no glaciers which might have a tendency to encourage
frosts.

Winds in this country seem to be more continuous than is the rule elsewhere,
and almost invariably blow from the west during the summer and until September
15th, when they change to the south-east at times. Very heavy thunderstorms were
experienced during the first part of September. Although flurries of snow fell about
October 15th, the winter snows fall to stay about the end of the month or later, the
average depth of the snow during the winter months being about 3 or 4 feet on the
lower levels, which by report is all off by May 1st. Where the growth is of such an
open character as to allow free access to the sun’s rays, the snow has been known
to pass off about April 1st.

The presence of hot springs at the west end of the second lake will 0 doubt
prove of future value.

PROSPECTED FOR GOLD-BEARING GRAVELS.

As mentioned before, this country was thoroughly prospected years ago for gold-
bearing gravels, but no information is at hand to show that any quantity of the
precious metal was ever taken out. At the present time colours may be found in
most of the larger creeks, and especially on the bars of the Nation River, where
work was carried on until comparatively recent years. All of which would tend to
bear out the opinion that further prospecting might be attended with some results.

25