at a small lake about 11%4 miles from Nation River and following the
course of a stream which enters Parsnip River 17 miles below Nation
River. Below this the valley widens into a broad comparatively level
tract and holds considerable arable land.

The Parsnip joins the Finlay close to the 56th parallel and about 7
miles east of the 124th meridian. Near their junction the Finlay is some-
what larger than the Parsnip. Manson River enters the Finlay about a
mile west of the confluence. At all stages of water both main rivers
are good for small boats and could be navigated for considerable distance.
On account of almost entire absence of rock along the banks the thread
of the stream shifts from year to year, forming numerous islands,
sloughs, and sand-bars. In places cut-banks up to 150 feet high occur
along the rivers.

T. A. McElhanney, B.C.L.S., said: “In vicinity of the junction the
valley extends from the foot of the Rocky Mountains on the east to the
Wolverine Mountains on the west, a distance of about 20 miles. From
the Omineca to about 15 miles up the Parsnip the valley maintains this
width, when it narrows to width of 2 to 5 miles. All of this may not be
considered agricultural land for immediate settlement. It does, however,
represent closely the area which might eventually be brought under
cultivation on improvement of transportation facilities and building of
roads to give access to the waterways. Reports from different sources
agree that there is agricultural land along the Finlay for distance of 100
miles above the Omineca, and that the valley averages 6 miles in width.
A more detailed survey will probably show in the two valleys an area
suitable for agriculture of between 500,000 and 600,000 acres, the greater
portion of which is within 5 miles of either river. Settlement will be
continuous, as there is probably no place in about 140 miles of waterway
where settlement on one side of the river is not practicable.”

Nature of soil varies, though practically the whole extent has one
common feature—absence of rock in place or large boulders. This
renders cultivation easy when the timber and brush is cleared. On the
western side, in the area most directly affected by detritus from the
Wolverine Range, soil contains a large percentage of fine mica sand. It
was noticed that when fire had run in this district the soil was pretty
well burned and rendered almost barren. In near vicinities of the rivers
there is a much greater depth of sandy loam and humus. In a great
many places where fire had run, the soil, though burned considerably,
was not stuffed, evidence of which was found in the abundant growth
of grass, peavine, and vetch.

Generally speaking, there is not much meadow. Reports agree that
there is a greater percentage of open meadow farther up the Finlay,
affording splendid opportunities for stock-raising. A settler in this area
could readily find a location where a fair percentage of his land could be
easily cleared and made to produce. Potatoes and other vegetables of
good quality have been grown at Finlay Forks, and oats ripened without

Twenty-nine.