50

From Fort Smith there is an unobstructed run of about 1,300 miles, to Fort
McPherson at the head of the delta of the Mackenzie, by way of Slave river,
Great Slave lake, and Mackenzie river, and recent soundings have shown that the
steamers that make this run could continue out to the Arctic ocean nearly 200
miles farther through one of the eastern channels of the Mackenzie. The
steamers of the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Northern Trading Company, and
Lampson and Hubbard Company make the trip to the delta of the Mackenzie
once a season, but they are run on no regular schedule and solely for the
convenience of these companies. The round trip is made in about four weeks.
These boats each make a second trip later in the season either to Norman or
Good Hope. This trip, made in August, is usually the last of the season, though
navigation could be extended into September.

Accommodation is provided for passengers on all these boats, but if travellers
propose getting into the country away from the main line of travel on the
Mackenzie river they must make their own arrangements for transportation up
the tributaries of the Mackenzie. 7

Besides those water routes over which steamers now run and which have
a total length of river and lake shore-line of about 3,600 miles, there are, in
the northern section of the basin, navigable waterways tributary to Mackenzie
river which have a total length of over 3,000 miles of river and lake shore-line.

The whole system of waterways is divided naturally into four sections, each
of which is separated from the adjoining one by natural obstructions or falls
or heavy rapids which steamers cannot surmount. These sections are: (1) Atha-
baska River section; (2) Peace River section; (8) Athabaska Lake section; and
(4) Mackenzie River section. These waterways are tabulated below, the distance
being given in round numbers because of lack of accurate surveys:

Navigable Waters of Mackenzie Basin

Mackenzie River section:

Mackenzie river, below Great Slave lake.. .. .. .. 1,200 miles.
Peel river, to mouth of Wind river.. .. .. .. .. .- 2150 4
Br cheve y mecied BXSeS Ti Sa) Ad AVE agai VR ogy Ra ce ee ae ence ea Ss a 4 90 sé
Shoreline, Great: Bear lakers csc cS eae ale es 1,360 ee
BE CEB TLDS INR at ee ae! ey ot sone pe MEM Pee Ol sme BA or eg oe IT SESE Se ches 440 «¢
Shore-line: Great slave: lake... oe eee 1,440 =
Slave river, Fort Smith to Great Slave lake-. .. .. 200 *
\ ee
UNS 0 FS SSR EOS ee re ARDY or SRE OS APR mn ep eas 4,980 fe
Athabaska Lake section:
Slave river, Athabaska lake to Fitzgerald... .. .. 100 miles.
Peace river, Slave river to Vermilion falls.. .. .. 220
Shoreé=line. Atha baska, wlaee oe eh oe ec ces 560 ey
_Athabaska river, Athabaska lake to McMurray... .. 170 es
USIOHT Waters Piven Get Se ag as SE SOS a
PROM coes sre eu ee ares Nee Co tuileisife 5. oe gs icc. ae 1,130 a
Peace River section:
_ Peace river, Hudson Hope to Vermilion falls.. .. .. 550° miles.
Athabaska River section:
Athabaska river, Grand rapids to McLeod river... .. 325 miles.
Teaser slave Tiver and Wee... Te ee ERG ESS
Total: ee ee ee ee atte ee ee ee ee ee ee 44:0. $s
Total for whole Mackénziet basin 4itsc8s eee oe 7,100 miles,

The Athabaska River section has a length of navigable river and lake of
about 440 miles, on which steamers drawing 2 feet of water may run.