12 ; DEPARTMENT oF LANDs.

Bay post, Fort Fraser, with an Indian village of about 200 people, and at the western
end Stellaco and another Indian village, somewhat smaller than that at Fort Fraser.

Forr IRAser.

Fort Fraser Townsite is distant about five miles easterly by wagon-road from
the Hudson’s Bay Company's fort at the lower end of Fraser Lake. The Goyern-
ment Agent's office, where pre-emptions are to be recorded, is at Fort Fraser. The
immediate surrounding country is notable for its luxuriant growth of grass and
vetches and the very light poplar which constitutes practically its sole timber-
supply. Clearing is very easy everywhere, whilst in many places natural meadows
await the plough. Here are found some of the oldest residents in the district,
many of whom haye made extensive improvements on their properties, notably
Mr. Peters and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Oats grown on the latter’s property
during the past year averaged 105 bushels to the acre, which goes to show the
great fertility of the soil in this neighbourhood. Practically all of the land in
this vicinity has been already acquired, having been taken up years ago. The
Nechako River, which at this point makes a large bend—in fact, changes direction
so much as to almost double on itself—has been utilized for navigation, but is
generally considered dangerous on account of the shallows which exist at normal
stages of water a few miles below. Gasolene-launches for the greater part of the
Summer months ply between Fort Fraser and Stellaco without risk of ruin on the
many rocks of the Nautley River, but as fall approaches and the water becomes
lower they find themselyes restricted to the lake alone. About fiye miles below Fort
Fraser a fall in the river will be found of utility should occasion ever demand
water-power.

STELLACO AND VICINITY.

Stellaco is situated about one mile west of the Indian reserve of the same name
at the west end of Fraser Lake. In the days of railway-construction it was one of
the busiest places along the line, but is now just the farming community it was in
former days. Stellaco lacks a railway-station, but boasts both a post-office and a

school. The settlers are extremely industrious, and their industry is vouched for by
’ the magnificent crops of vegetables. Almost without exception the residents are
“old-timers” who took up land years before railway communication, when the
Hudson's Bay Fort, near the present Fort Fraser (eighteen miles distant by trail),
was their nearest store and neighbour. There are no stores at Stellaco, all necessary
provisions, ete., being purchased at Endako, which is about three miles and a half
distant. Stellaco would not be worthy of mention were it not for the fact that its
residents to-day were its settlers and agriculturists before Endako or a railway
divisional point was thought of. A few quarter-sections of land cpen to the settler
for pre-emption in the vicinity are bounded on the south by the Stellaco River. The
falls of the river, while being noted for trout, should prove an unending source,
should local industry ever require power.

VICINITY OF FRASER LAKE.

The area of arable land on Fraser Lake closely approximates 15,000 acres, most
of this lying on the south side. A large area of rough, partly open land, suitable
for grazing, supplements this. Most of the arable land is composed of white clayey
silt. This varies in depth from a few feet to many feet. The soil in wells dug 30
to 50 feet deep was practically uniform from top to bottem. This silt is composed
largely of clay and should be very fertile when brought under cultivation. It does
not bake hard like many clay soils, but when mixed with loam, which is generally
found to a depth of several inches over most of this district, it is easily worked and
produces abundant crops. Its great depth and uniformity make it a very rich soil
indeed. Silty soils, being composed of much more uniform-sized particles than
average clay soils, give more air-space and greater depth and activity to plant-growth.