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Sabie

46

The skins of polar bears (Thalarctos maritimus) are frequently obtained
by the furtraders at the trading posts at the mouth of the Mackenzie, but the
range of this animal is restricted to the coast and islands of the Arctic sea.

The basin of Mackenzie river is still the best fur producing part of the

North ,American continent and a great many of the high-grade furs are

obtained from it. These include beaver (Castor canadensis), muskrat (Fiber
zibethicus), lynx (Lynx canadensis), red, cross, black, and arctic foxes (Vulpes),
otter (Lutra canadensis), mink (Lutreola vison), marten (Mustela americana),
fisher (Mustela pennanti), wolverine (Gulo luscus), wolf (Canis occidentalis),
weasel (Putorius), and skunk (Mephitis hudsonica).

One of the most important animals in the region is the rabbit (Lepus
americanus), for not only do the natives depend to a very large extent on it
for food, but its skin also provides them with clothing and sleeping robes for
winter use. : :

Most of the migratory game birds of economic. importance in North
America frequent the basin of Mackenzie river during the summer months.
As goon as spring commences millions of ducks and geese of various kinds
migrate northward to breed in the lakes and marshes of the region and of
the coast and islands beyond. The marshes at the west end of Athabaska lake
are a favourite halting place in this migration and large numbers of birds are
to be found there in spring and autumn.

Spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp tailed grouse, and ptarmigan remain
in the region throughout the year and are found more or less abundantly
throughout different parts of it. saat

The lakes and streams of the region abound in food fishes of various kinds.
Whitefish, lake trout, pike, and sucker are found in nearly all the lakes and
streams. Grayling, pickerel, and goldeye have a more limited range. Herring
are found in the Mackenzie below the Liard and are abundant in Great “Bear
lake. The inconnu ascends Mackenzie and Slave rivers as far as the rapids at
Fort Smith and is abundant in Great Slave lake the whole year round.

The only industry, apart from the agricultural one that is just being
developed on the southern fringe of the basin, is that dependent on the fur-
bearing animals. Virtually the whole population, except the farming
communities referred to, are more or less interested in the fur trade, and the
few scattered settlements that are situated at intervals of 100 to 200 miles along
the main rivers were originally established, and are still maintained, for the
purpose of trading furs with the natives.

The fisheries, if we neglect a small industry on Lesser Slave lake, are still
undeveloped except for purely local use. They are, however, one of the most
valuable assets of the region. Thousands of whitefish are caught annually in
Athabaska, Great Slave, and some of the smaller lakes. In 1887, McConnell

estimated a catch of 500,000 pounds of this fish in Great Slave lake, to supply

three posts, and from Athabaska lake Ogilvie states that about 80,000 fish were
taken in the autumn fishing to supply Fort Chipewyan alone. Great Bear lake,
though containing the finest quality of fish of any of the northern lakes, is still
untouched, and besides whitefish is known to be well stocked with lake trout
and the Great Bear Lake herring.

TIMBER |

The whole basin of Mackenzie river is thickly wooded (Plate VIII), with
the exception of a narrow strip north of the east end of Great Slave lake, which