Forr Fraser Division. 19

and fireweed, reaching a height in places of over 6 feet, interspersed with clumps of
willow-bush and poplar. ‘he northern slopes are generally moss-covered and thickly
timbered with pine and spruce. Balsam also is found on the higher hills. The soil
in these ridges is chiefly a light clay loam, dry and gravelly, covered on the southern
slopes by a layer of black loam varying in depth from’ a couple of inches to over a
foot, and formed by the annual decay of the rank vegetation. The valleys between
these ridges contain a very large quantity of excellent land. Hay meadows are very
numerous, also large willow-swamps, most of which are easily drained and brought
under cultivation. The soil in the bottoms is a heavy clay loam with a covering of
vegetable mould. On the benches the soil is lighter, with a mixture of sand, and
the timber consists of small poplar, pine, and spruce from 8 to 15 inches in diameter.
The climate is generally drier and warmer than the average of Northern British
Columbia, the summer frosts being less frequent and severe than in other districts
and the rainfall in the summer very light.

“There are numerous settlers in the country, most of whom are located along
the north shores of Francois and Ootsa Lakes, and along the wagon-road from Burns
Lake to Ootsa. Vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, carrots, etc., can be grown to
perfection in this district and yield very heavy crops. Very few attempts have been
made to grow fruit, but berries and the hardier fruits should be raised successfully.
The winters are long, but not so severe as in the Bulkley and Nechako Districts.
Snow lies on the ground from four to five months in the year and averages about a
foot in depth. The lakes are frozen for about three and a half to four months.

“Lakes are more numerous in this district than in any other part of British
Columbia, and fish are very abundant. In Francois Lake the trout, both grey and
rainbow, grow to a very large size, the grey trout especially being taken occasionally
as large as 40 lb. In Ootsa Lake the grey trout is not found, and the rainbow are
much smaller than in Francois Lake. Most of the small lakes are also full of fish,
trout, whitefish, suckers, and a coarse species of chub which are very poor eating.
Game is not very abundant, though deer are fairly plentiful, and moose and caribou
are occasionally seen. Grouse and rabbits are numerous, but not as abundant as in
other districts. 2

“Phe chief difficulties of the new settlers in the country are lack of transporta-
tion facilities and a market for their produce. The only road through the district
is that from Burns Lake to Ootsa, and the suitable Jand on this road and adjacent
to the large lakes has all been taken up.

“The chief crop grown in the country is potatoes, value about 1 cent a pound,
and it does not pay to haul these to the railroad. The future of the district depends
on the cattle industry, the country being essentially adapted to stock-raising. The
range on the hills is very extensive and the snowfall light. With greater transporta-
tion facilities and a better market, the Francois-Ootsa District should have a great
future.”

The Inspector of Pre-emptions, in a report on this vicinity in 1914, said: “ This
district can be reached by several different routes, the most favoured being by way
of Burns Lake, a station on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. At this point there
is an up-to-date hotel, general store, post and telegraph offices. From here to the
north side of Francois Lake a good wagon-road has been built, covering a distance
of fourteen miles. Francois Lake is a beautiful stretch of water sixty-five miles in
length and between two and three miles wide, on which two gasolene-launches make
regular trips, carrying freight and passengers at reasonable rates. A number of
the settlers here haye large areas under cultivation, notably My. Harris, who has
over 300 acres in crop. Oats, hay, barley, and vegetables are grown extensively.
During the past year the Government established an experimental farm on Mr.
Harris’s property, which is proving a great benefit to all the settlers. On the north
side of the lake, with the exception of a number of claims at the western end, there
is no land available for settlement. As a rule the country is lightly timbered with