Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-03-10
GRAND MlSTASSlNl.
The Great Lake in the Heart of
Labrador.

Labrador.
Prof. Raymond Mcfarland of Middle
bury, (Vt.) College, author of the
History of the New England Fisher
les, just published by the University
of Pennsylvania, and well-known
traveller, writes in the latest Bulletin of
the Philadelphia Geographical Society
this interesting account Of his eXplora-
tons last summer of the great Labra-
dor lake, Mistassini:
Grand Lake Mistassini is 101 miles
in length, about twelve miles in width
and is really divided into two lakes by
chain of island that extends through its
middle the entire length of the lake.
No attempt has been made either to
chart, name or count these islands. On
the eastern shore of the lake, also, one
finds a rim of islands very few of which
appear on the maps. The smaller lake
enters the larger body of water through
an exceedingly swift river that flows
northwards. The river empties into
bay before it's waters become mingled
with those of the large lake at Obidouan
Point. We were encamped in this
vicinity two days, and | took the oppor-
tunity to explore the river and surround
ing country. The region for miles
around is well wooded. Along the por-
/ tage between the two lakes, few miles
north of the ffty-frst parallel, the trees
b are mostly black spruce. Other trees
are white birch, poplar, willow, alder,
and along sandy stretches banksian
= pine. Here | found trees of greater
: height and diameter than any others
/ seen along the route to the south. An
= Indian who hunts seventy miles north of
Grand Lake Mistassini told me that he
Y has seen as good timber on the.sides OF
f the Porcupine Range] as may be founc
/ south of Hudson Bay. Three trees that
: | measured had diameters of %, % II
n and 20 inches respectively, and founc
b. many of the prost rate black spruce be
h tween seventy and eighty feet in length
r At this portage also were ripe blue
a berries and gooseberries, strawberry
= vines and those of the Mayf1owe
: (Epigea repens). In fact, found thu
n vines of the Mayfower on the slopes o
:. the Porcupine Mountain, growing along
G side of numerous wild pear that yielded
considerable fruit in the middle o
September.
From Porcupine Mountain we had
magnificent view of the country to tn
south and northwest. The Heghth-o
Land was most conspicuous as it swunI
:. into view from the south, we'll de
20 fined highland several hundred fee
- above the level of the country. TIL
trend of the range is to the northeast
1t approaches to within about twent
: miles of Porcupine Mountain. Wher
- the range is opposite the northern en-
of Little Lake Mistassini it consists @
- several distinct ranges that increase
~ number and altitude as the range cor
y tinues to the northeast. Except wher
mountains occur the region round abou
! is low-lying. Over everything but tn
- deep-green forest of spruce-on tn
~ lowlands, along the water courses an
over the sides and tops of the highe'
, mountains. There is nothing barren
- the region, no desolate stretches of pes
- boys that may be seen in interior New
=" foundland in ATTITUDES farther south, 7
mountain ranges of barred rocks, no dn
Va tressing views of forest hacked at /
the woodmans AK or burnt over by tt
on civilized hunter. 1t is either lake ar
es river on the one hand, or black fore
es on the other. The few patches of birC
Sc and poplar occurring in this region al
to too inconsiderabe to change the sombl
on green of the enveloping forest
lid Within the forest the sun new
on shines. An exception to this rule m;
if be found in the groves of banksian PHI
tilt that occur usually on high sandy ban
be of rivers. These groves are mo
pleasant spots to find and the ground
ng generally coated with several inches
zen gray moss. In the deep forest t
lev moss grows to depths of two
or three feet. The forest is the home
Ter the bear, lynx, marten, beaver, min
It'll otter and other fur bearing ANNA
len No deer are found here. Rarely moo
ley are seen. In the winter caribou cor
down from their summer home farth