NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN.
Game, Fur-Bearing Animals and Fish.
“So Fine a Country for the Chase That It May Be Regarded as an
Extensive Preserve.”—The Wood Buffalo Used To Roam Over It, but
Do Not Now.—Moose and Caribou Plentiful.—The Indians Kill the
Moose for Their Hides.—Fish of Various Kinds in Abundance.—
Sturgeon That Weigh a Hundred Pounds.—One Indian Killed
Eighteen Moose During One Season.
As fish has always been the staple food of the inhabitants of that part
of the province of Saskatchewan north of the river of that name, and the
fur trade their only industry, it goes without saying that the country
abounds in fish and game. A very few quotations from travellers and
explorers is all that is required to give an idea of the species of fish
and animals to be found in this region, and of their occurrence.
In his account of his passage through the Clearwater country, Simpson
writes:—“This is a fine country for the chase, and so little frequented
in winter, that it may be regarded as an extensive preserve. We saw
three moose deer on the top of one of the hills, and their tracks and
those of the wood buffalo were numerous in every direction. The valley
of the river is entirely sheltered from the inclement north and
northwest winds, but its exposure to the east usually rendered the snow
deep and soft, as we found to our cost. . . . . . . . . Just before
breakfasting we saw, on the northern hills, a large moose, and a band of
five wood buffalos sunning their fat sides—a sight sufficient to make
the mouths of the pemmican eaters water, but they were beyond our reach,
and, taking the alarm, quickly disappeared. The declivities of the hills
seemed, as we passed along, completely chequered with the tracks of
these and smaller animals.”
Mr. H. J. Moberly, chief trader of the Hudson’s Bay Company at Rapid
river, (Lac la Ronge) Cumberland district, forwarded the Senate
committee of 1887 evidence in writing regarding animal life in the far
northwest. He explained that he knew Saskatchewan (north) river and
valley from the mouth of the Saskatchewan on Lake Winnipeg up to its
source in Rocky mountains. He also knew Athabaska river and valley from
its source down to its mouth in Athabaska lake, and was well acquainted
with all the country between those two rivers, from Rocky mountains down
to Carlton, and from there, taking a line via Green lake, Beaver river,
Ile à la Crosse lake, Deep river, Buffalo lake, Methye river and lake,
Methye portage and down the Clearwater to its junction with Athabaska
river, as an eastern line and Rocky mountains as a westward. He knew
well all the country between Athabaska and Peace rivers, from their
mouths to their sources.
As to wood buffalo, at the time Mr. Moberly wrote, there was a band,
probably about two hundred, between the Saskatchewan and the Athabaska.
(There are none there now). They kept on the mountains between Lac la
Biche and McMurray. Another band, probably three hundred strong, was
between Athabaska and Peace rivers on Thickwood and Birch mountains. A
third band, probably seven hundred strong, was scattered through the
mountains between Liard and Peace rivers, and from Salt river to the
foot of Rocky mountains.
MOOSE RUN ALL OVER THE WOODED COUNTRY
north of the prairies and east of Rocky mountains.
The distribution of other game and fur animals in far northwestern
Canada was given by Mr. Moberly as follows:—Reindeer (cariboo),
large—all over the wood countries from Saskatchewan, to the barren
grounds of the north; reindeer, small—all over the barren grounds in
the north, and come south in winter as far as Lac de Brochet, Athabaska
lake and Peace river, close to Rocky mountains; red deer—Athabaska and
Peace river valleys; black tail deer, jumping deer and chevreux—same
country as the red deer; black and brown bears—all over the wooded
country and Rocky mountains; grizzly bears—Rocky mountains, valleys of
the Peace, Athabaska, Liard, and Fraser, but seldom farther than two
hundred and fifty miles from the foot of the Rockies; beaver—Athabaska,
Peace river and in fact all over the wooded country.
In his report of his exploration of the country between Churchill river
and Lake Athabaska in 1892, Mr. J. B. Tyrrell writes:—“The moose
(_Alces Americanus_), roams through the more thickly wooded parts of the
country as far north as Stone river, which is probably near the northern
limit of its range. Seven individuals in all were seen during the course
of the summer. The woodland caribou (_Rangifer caribou_) is said to
occur in the more southern portion of the district, near Churchill
river, but none were seen. The barren ground caribou (_Rangifer
Grœnlandicus_) comes south in winter to the south end of Reindeer lake
and the upper portion of Mudjatik and Foster rivers. It travels north in
spring to the Barren Lands, but a very few animals are occasionally left
behind, one having been shot in July near the north end of Cree lake.
The Canada lynx (_Lynx Canadensis_) is moderately abundant in some
seasons in the more southern part of the district. The gray wolf (_Canis
lupus occidentalis_) roams over the country, but is not plentiful. The
coyote (_Canis lisatrans_) is found occasionally as far north as the
height of land, one having been shot by the writer on one of the small
lakes near the source of Foster river. It is, however, certainly not
common in the district. Red, black and cross foxes (_Vulpes vulgaris_),
wolverine (_Guloluscus_), marten (_Mustela Americana_), weasel
(_Putorius vulgaris_), mink (_P. vison_) and skunk (_Mephitis
mephitica_) are all found in greater or less abundance in the rolling
wooded country underlain by Archaean rocks. The otter (_Lutra
Canadensis_) was found on all the streams north to Stone river. The
black bear (_Ursus Americanus_) roams over the whole country. A few
beavers (_Castor fiber_) may still be met with in many of the streams. A
considerable colony was found in the untravelled country near the source
of Geikie river, but our canoemen brought back word of this (to the
Indians) important discovery, and doubtless the beaver were killed
during the following winter. The muskrat (_Fiber zibethicus_) was seen
swimming in all the streams. The rabbit or American hare (_Lepus
Americanus_) is found everywhere in the denser woods, but it did not
seem to be anywhere abundant.
FISH IN ABUNDANCE.
“Fish seem to be everywhere abundant in the lakes and streams, but the
number of species is very limited. The lake trout, (_Cristivomer
namaycush_) is, however, the largest of any of the finny tribes. One was
caught near the mouth of Stone river weighing twenty-five pounds. The
whitefish (_Coregonus clupeiformis_) is found everywhere throughout the
district, but more especially in the shallower lakes. The blue fish or
Back’s grayling, (_Thymallus signifer_) was caught in Stone river at the
foot of the heavy falls below Black lake. Pike, (_Esox lucius_),
pickerel, (_Stozostethium vitreum_), methy, (_Lota lacustris_) and two
or three species of suckers, (_Catastomus teres_ and _Myxostoma
macrolepidota_) were found in almost all the water stretches.
Mayor Cook, of Prince Albert, when examined before the Senate committee
of 1907, explained that at that time he held the appointment of
inspector of fisheries. He testified that once, some years previously,
on Beaver river, he had seen thirty-two thousand whitefish caught in two
nights, which would average about two or two and one-half pounds each.
They put up the winter supply of fish in three or four nights. These
fish were caught by half-breeds and Indians. The fish were coming down
after spawning, and those catching them set the nets right across the
river. This happened in close season, “but they did not bother about
that; it was the fish they were after.” There are whitefish, trout,
jackfish and some sturgeon in Torch and Saskatchewan rivers. Reindeer
lake and the small lakes all around it are full of fish. They fish up
there until December 1. Sometimes the lakes are open until December 15,
and break up again about May 15 to 20. It depends upon the size of the
lake. If it is a very large lake it will take a little longer. Witness
had seen the lakes open on December 15. Those lakes are teeming with
fish,—whitefish, sturgeon and trout. The trout run as high as fifty
pounds.
The sturgeon run from ten to one hundred pounds. Witness had never seen
one over one hundred pounds. He had seen one whitefish that weighed
seventeen and one-half pounds, and trout that weighed fifty. He had them
for the exhibition in Ottawa, but the train was blocked and did not get
through. The biggest jackfish he had ever seen weighed forty-five
pounds. They have some little bits of things but they range up to that.
In other places they have big fish from ten to forty-five pounds in
weight.
According to Mr. Crean, Methye lake is a fine body of fresh water and is
well stocked with fish. “Wild fowl of every kind abound here. Moose and
caribou are plentiful. The result of Nature’s bounteousness, is that the
native, content with Nature’s provision, grows nothing. He kills the
moose for its hide.”
In his report on the area explored by him, in 1908, Mr. Crean
stated:—“The staple food of the native north of the Saskatchewan is
fish, and with this commodity he is amply supplied. Whitefish are found
in all the lakes and rivers. Green lake is stocked to repletion with as
fine whitefish as will be found anywhere. Ile à la Crosse lake is also
amply supplied. Canoe lake, Marten lake and all the immense water area
comprised of the numerous lakes in this district are well stocked with
this valuable food.
“Game of all kinds abound, the principal species being the moose, the
caribou, the deer, the black bear, the cinnamon bear, the lynx, the wolf
(timber), the fox, the wolverine, the otter, the beaver, the mink, the
marten, the muskrat, the rabbit, and the squirrel. Among the principal
birds found are swans, geese, ducks, partridges, ptarmigans, gulls,
jays, (whiskey jacks), kingfishers, crows, robins and loons.
MOOSE ARE STILL PLENTIFUL
but are being killed in large numbers by the natives and the wolves. The
same remark would apply to caribou of the woodland variety. The barren
land caribou or reindeer come down as far as Cree lake (one hundred
miles north of the Churchill) in numbers, and a few stray farther south.
I shot one in the muskeg just north of Lac Ile à la Crosse.”
[Illustration: Landscape in Clearwater valley.]
Mr. Crean states that an Indian living on Snake lake at the mouth of
Sandy river killed eighteen moose during the autumn of 1908.
“Game, particularly moose,” according to Mr. Crean, “is plentiful in the
Meadow lake district, and easily obtained. Beaver are plentiful in one
or two districts, particularly along Clearwater valley and the rivers
tributary to the Clearwater from the north. They are, of course, very
easily killed, and consequently form a large portion of the fur in the
north. When other fur is scarce, the Indian devotes his attention in
particular to the killing of beaver. Muskrat were extremely numerous and
were taken in very large numbers. Early in the fall, however, before the
fur could possibly be of any use they were being killed in great
numbers.”
[Illustration: THE ATHABASKA COUNTRY]