p. 102 | A NEW INLAND SEA

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, February 17, 1885

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 7

A NEW INLAND SEA.

So extraordinary was the story published not long since in the daily papers, describing a lake lately discovered in Canada as rivaling in size the greatest of our inland seas, that it was at once denounced as a hoax or an exaggeration. Later and fuller reports, however, seem to confirm the first. Within three hundred miles of Quebec, and within one thousand miles of New York City, nearer to the settled portion of Canada than any other lake except Winnipeg, stretches an immense body of water hitherto unknown to geographers, and estimated by the imperfect surveys already made, at least, to equal Lake Ontario in magnitude.

A glance at any good map of Canada will show directly north of Quebec a small lake named Mistassini, or Mistassinnie, but which henceforth will probably be called Little Mistassini to distinguish it from its great neighbor. Last year M. Comeau read a paper before the Quebec Geographical Society asserting that the size of Lake Mistassini had been greatly underrated. An exploring expedition was sent out by the Society, and the account now given to the world is furnished by Mr. F. H. Bignell, who commanded the transport expedition which preceded the main expedition in charge of John Bignell, P. L. S. This account declares that the great lake is entirely distinct from that already known by the name of Mistassini, and that it is an expansion of Rupert river, just as the Great Western Lakes are expansions of the St. Lawrence. From Sept. 10 to Sept. 17, Mr. Bignell voyaged on this great lake, noting deep and numerous bays and inlets, and beautiful islands, on one of which he was compelled to harbor for some days because of the high seas. He had then sailed 120 miles, and had not reached the widest part of the lake. The waters swarmed with many species of fish, fur-bearing animals abound on the shores, and the surrounding lands are well wooded and, in part, arable. The main surveying party will remain in the field for two years. It has already been proposed to connect Quebec with the lake by railroad, and it is believed that many French-Canadian farmers will be attracted by the vast area of fertile land.

One of the most curious facts in connection with this lake is that, though map-makers and the general public have been ignorant of its existence, it has long been well known to the Hudson Bay Company, which has had a trading station with the Indians on its shores for nearly a hundred years. The region was so rich in fur-bearing animals and so profitable to the Company, that they have sedulously kept to themselves their knowledge of the magnitude of the lake. Mr. Bignell is a man of scientific attainments and a member of the Quebec Geographical Society, and there seems no reason to doubt the substantial accuracy of his description.—Christian Union.