vegetables. These have been successfully grown for many seasons at
Fort Liard, latitude 60° 10’ N. At present the area is remote from
transportation. The only settlement is at Fort Nelson, a Hudson’s Bay
post near the mouth of Muskwa River. Garden produce is grown on a
small scale on a near-by clearing and Indians grow potatoes. Freight
charges now on supplies are 22 cents a pound. A few trappers and
Indian bands are the only residents. The Fort Nelson River is navigable
and also the Liard.

North of 59° 15’ to the northern boundary of the Province is an
extensive area drained by Black River, owing westward to the Liard.
This area is not explored, but Indians report it similar in character to
the area farther south, a region of swampy flat country, much of the
surface covered with moss, with strips of hay meadows along Black
River.

Along Fort Nelson River and considerable distance up the Fontas
and Sikanni some good spruce and cottonwood fringe the riverways in
patches seldom over half a mile wide. There is a marked absence of
rock-exposures and little is known regarding minerals. Trappers report
seeing coal-seams on the Upper Sikanni. Samples of gypsum have been
picked up on the southern part of the plateau. Where rock-exposures
occur along the main rivers rock is usually dark clay shale, occasionally
showing signs of clay ironstone. There is considerable game. Moose
are fairly well distributed. In parts of the plateau they range in herds.
Wood-buffalo, once plentiful, are seen near headwaters of Hay River
and are reported by Indians in Black River vicinity. Fort Nelson is
considered an important fur-trading post.

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.
TABLE OF DISTANCES.

(Williams Railway Survey.)

Miles.

Vanderhoof to Fort St. James ............ccccccccceeeceeeees 30.5

3 Ocock RIVEr ciiekn ieee neae ds cea ewi a dae sae 49.0

5 “SilCOM, GRAVEL > Achsresaaeacnasha-a da Snes diechatve orale 59.0

‘ Poison: "Creek ce cadasc cteis sa bd wara cae oe wiengeeane 67.0

is Summit, near Horseshoe Lake ................ 92.0

- Manson River isa sa ésie.ssera emi isisrerae ince aiageredbiaiars 147.5

= Binlay Forks = og sca cctinew env ige sid Sane oa avearneadess 188.0

is Rocky Mountain Canyon ...............000005 273.0

ne Hudson, Ope. isi aiivnecaiacdiannn coke anes sameecas 296.0

PEACE RIVER. mass

Head (Finlay Forks) to head of Rocky Mountain Canyon...... 71
Head of Rocky Mountain Canyon to Hudson Hope (foot of
Canny On) cutee ana 8 ew 'eeaieen wt aveceuaog geset aides’ snacsmeiba Ward ana deice ate botabeath

Hudson Hope to Fort St. John ............ 0. ccc cece eee eee eee 51

Fort St. John to: Dunvégan .. i66 eas ccasaeoeewenws oedae aie edcee 117

Dunvegan to Peace River (Crossing) ...........00cceceeeeeeee 61

Peace River (Crossing) to mouth of Notikewin (Battle River).. 96

Mouth of Notikewin to Carcajou Point ...................0008 59

Carcajou Point to Fort Vermilion ............ 0.00 cece eee eeeeee 93

Fort Vermilion to Vermilion Chutes .............c0ccceeeeueeee 50

Forty-eight.