pasture”, and regarded as suitable for settlement. The
population density on the prairies is thus about one person
for every 41-5 cultivable acres. On this basis, the North
Pacific Region, with its 15,400,000 acres of cultivable
land, should support a population of about 375,000 in
order to bring it up to the same density of population as
prevails on the prairies. The present population of the
Region, as computed, is about 110,000, which is 265,000
less than the potential total.

Here it should be made clear that this 375,000 popula-
tion, as forecast, is not all agricultural population, the
assumption having been that mining and other industrial
developments will be similar in magnitude to those in the
Prairie Provinces, where the manufacturing industry and
the exploitation of the oil, coal, and other mineral resources
have become an important part of western economy.

Agricultural land has been taken as the yardstick, being
the only measure available.

Calculated in another way, the 1941 Census of Agri
culture indicates that the total area of occupied farm land
in the census areas within the Region is between 3,500,000
acres and 3,700,000 acres. Subtraction of the higher
figure from the computed total of 15,400,000 acres of
agricultural land suited to settlement leaves 11,700,000
acres of land in the same category. On the basis of 1 person
to 41-5 acres of occupied farm land, as obtains in the

Prairie Provinces, these 11,700,000 acres would support a
population of about 282,000.

It is, therefore, concluded that between 265,000 and
282,000 would be a reasonable forecast of the population
that may be expected normally to settle in the Region
within the discernible future, and under such conditions
as can be at present foreseen. Addition of the 110,000
people now in the Region would indicate a total population
of 375,000 to 390,000. In view of the very conservative
basis on which this estimate has been developed and the
large areas for which the economic potential cannot be
even roughly appraised, we may be justified in forecasting
a population of 400,000, to bring to prairie level, for the
North Pacific Region in the discernible future.

On this point, it might be mentioned that in 1911
there were less than 2,000 people, including — traders,
missionaries, and Indians, in the Peace River Valley.
The railway penetrated the district in 1916. By 1921,
the population had reached 20,000, and in 1931 it was
about 60,000. Today, with 66,000 people, only 3,500,000
acres, or about one-third of the district’s cultivable land
suited to settlement, are occupied and, according to the
1941 Census, only 1,430,000 acres, or about one-seventh,
are improved.

Very little is known of the character of the soils in the
Mackenzie Valley below Great Slave Lake. Only small
areas about the trading posts have been cultivated. The
valley lies within the sub-Arctic forest zone, which is
characterized by light rainfall and, except close to the

rivers, poor drainage. These factors, together with the
presence of permanent frost near the surface, would appear
to make farming an uncertain occupation.

Soil and climate indicate that agricultural settlement
may push as far north as Simpson. The valley of the
Liard has been reported as subject to chinook influence
and its climate has been favourably compared with that
of the Peace. Reports on the Hay River Valley have
been variable. Information as to the soil indicates a
large proportion of swamps and muskegs, which may
later repay draining. Some favourable references have
been made to areas in the eastern section of Wood Buffalo
Park. The fact is that no comprehensive information is
available concerning the large area embraced by the drainage
basins of the Nelson, Liard, Hay, and Mackenzie Rivers.
It is a characteristic of the northern agricultural fringe
that much of the good land does not occur in large blocks,
but is interspersed with a high proportion of poor land.
Even to the south, in the soil-survey areas between Fort
Vermilion and Hay River, it was found that not more
than 20 per cent of the area could be regarded as suitable
for agricultural settlement.

Although this presents a rather dark picture of the possi-
bilities for agricultural settlement in the Mackenzie and
tributary valleys, there are certain factors that favour a
moderate degree of agricultural development in this area.
Along the Slave River and the southern shores of Great
Slave Lake, cereals, hay, potatoes, and garden vegetables
can be produced. The lower Hay River has agricultural
possibilities and the lower Liard River, the favourable
features of which have been particularly mentioned in some
reports, comes within the line established as marking the
limit of Western Canada’s agricultural belt. For the most
part, these areas are forested—in some localities, heavily—
and clearing would involve heavy expense. It would
appear that the exploitation of such areas would be limited
by the local requirements for such crops as can be economi-
cally produced.

In the northern part of the Region lie the sub-Arctic
prairies. It has been said that they will carry settlement
as far as grass grows and that domestic cattle, if sheltered
through the coldest weather and protected from flies, will
thrive on these grazing lands. Much has been written
about the extensive ranges for the year-round grazing of
reindeer in the Great Bear Lake district; in some cases,
the inference has been that a limited commercial develop-
ment of reindeer herds might be undertaken.

The Dominion of Canada, in the vast extent and diversi-
fication of its agricultural lands, offers many millions of
acres of greater promise for grazing animal herds than
those hinterlands. Certain species indigenous to the
area, notably the reindeer, thrive on these barrens, and
every effort is being made to increase their range and
numbers, primarily for the preservation and development
of the human values in the northern aboriginal population.
Quite apart from humanitarian considerations, it seems

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