38 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS.

last five months; sometimes four, November to March. Low thermometer is never
accompanied with wind. Blizzards, as also floods and droughts, are unknown. Very
cold snaps (—80° to —40°) occur each winter. These vary, but are usually of
short duration—two or three days. The ayerage winter thermometer is around zero.
The Dominion Meteorological Department has a station at Fort St. James. Its
records show the average rain and snow fall for the past twenty years averaged
15.35 water-inches yearly.

BABINE LAKE COUNTRY.

The distance from Fort Fraser to Babine Lake by way of the old Babine Trail,
which follows the valley of the Ormonde Lakes and Beaver River, is approximately
forty-eight miles. This trail leaves the Yukon Telegraph Trail on the north side of
Nautley River, and after leaving the Indian reserve, for five miles passes through a
dry stony country, timbered with scrub jack-pine and poplar, and at the present time
disregarded as inferior. For the next fourteen miles, howeyer, although much of
the land appears similar, small meadows appearing from time to time, too small for
practical use, suggest fertility. By trail Ormonde Lake is eleven miles from Nautley
Indian Reserve, and Oonabunket, connected with it by a swiftly flowing stream,
which passes through excellent land and skirts a meadow lying to its south, is found
about one mile farther, though some distance from the trail at this point. Both of
these lakes are well known amongst the Indians for whitefish and trout, and
periodically the natives camp on Ormonde Lake to dry and smoke their catches.

At the west end of Oonabunket the general elevation of surrounding land is
quite low, and only a low divide separates Oona from Fraser Lake. Disconnected
meadows, in all about 150 acres in extent, discovered at this point proved invaluable
during the season for feed. This was both excellent and abundant, and the natural
boundaries of the meadows needed little improvement to hold the horses, while a
creek of some 25 feet in width provided water. On the higher lands north and west
of Oonabunket the ground is very rocky and much of it is of no value, but farther
west, beyond Summit Lake, the country improves again. Summit Lake lies over
the summit as one travels northerly, and is drained into Babine Lake by Sutherland
Creek and Beaver River. Unlike either Ormonde or Oona Lake in appearance, it is
almost circular and only about half a mile in diameter. Ormonde and Oona Lakes
are both narrow and about three and a half and five miles long respectively. Lakes
of similar shape and appearance to Summit Lake, some larger, some smaller, are
encountered in this locality most unexpectedly by any one roaming through the
woods, and along their shores the tracks of moose, bear, coyotes, beaver, and otter
could not easily escape notice.

Leaving Summit Lake, the valley widens, and from the trail, which several times
crosses Sutherland Creek, glimpses are occasionally caught of meadows made by
beaver and bottom lands unsurpassed. About fourteen miles from Summit Lake the
trail crosses Sutherland Creek for the last time, at a point about half a mile from
its confluence with Beaver River. Turning westerly, it then follows the Beaver River
Valley to Babine Lake, and in doing so passes through extensive meadows, which
must be seen to be appreciated. These lands are alienated and lie idle, but would
be invaluable to the cattleman. The slopes of some of the surrounding hills are
clothed in peavine and would make excellent range land. The area of such ranges
and meadows, of course, while offering opportunity, is limited and does not allow
locations for many. The large meadows before mentioned extend more or less for
ten miles along the valley, in some places wet and covered with willows, others dry,
firm, and producing excellent grass, and at others, again, broken by belts of spruce
and poplar, usually narrow, and often only a few yards wide.

As one approaches Babine Lake traces of game become even more numerous,
and the grizzly bear adds to the list of the valley’s fauna. In the river may be seen
shoals of fish—apparently landlocked salmon—of a bright-red colour, about S to 10