Introduction

forced to move due to flooding of the lake. The Aluminum Company of

Canada, however, compensated each property owner for loss of land,
buildings, and livelihood.

Of recent years logging has been of prime importance and many
residents are employed in cutting and hauling timber, particularly during
the winter months. A few make their entire income from farming and nearly
all operate small farms part-time. Cattle raising is the main agricultural
enterprise though some grains are grown and grasses are raised for their
seed. The climate is favourable for raising root vegetables and good crops
are common. The long distance from suitable markets, however, prevents
the industry from being profitable.

The outfitting and guiding of hunting and fishing parties represents a
major source of income for a large proportion of the residents. The proximity
of Tweedsmuir Park, an area of rugged mountains and beautiful rivers and
lakes where fish and game abound, makes this occupation a natural and
important one in the region. Moose, goat, deer, and bear, both grizzly and
black, are plentiful. Caribou, once present in great herds in the plateau
country between Eutsuk and Ootsa Lakes, have now declined to such an
extent that they are protected. Their decline is attributed to the increased
number of wolves rather than to the greed of the hunter. Canada geese and
duck gather in flocks by the hundreds along the shores and marshes of
Sinclair and Ootsa Lakes in the autumn of the year. The more common
varieties of grouse are plentiful in most wooded areas. Fishing is excellent
in all of the lakes, rainbow trout being the main catch.

Prospecting and mining have played an important part in the economic
life of the area. Lead, zinc, silver, gold, copper and tungsten have been
found. Three of the properties have had considerable exploration work done
on them and one property attained some production during 1951 and 1952.

Trapping has always been a basic part-time occupation of the inhabitants,
and residents hold trap lines, though they do not use them every year.
Beaver, mink, muskrat, martin, fisher, otter, fox, and lynx have all been
trapped for their fur.

Climate

The climate of the Whitesail Lake map-area varies greatly, precipitation,
for example, being much greater on the western border than at Wistaria
or Ootsa Lake. Wistaria is the only place where weather records have
been kept for any lengthy period, so information on the climate of the

area as a whole is meagre.
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