. The Canadian field-naturalist. 62 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XLII tain. The wild currant, crowberry and baked- apples are among the other refreshments which the hill tops set before their visitors. —The Labrador peninsula has nearly the area of Alaska and it is in about the stage of exploration and economic development which had been reached by that other great peninsula when Russia sold it to the United States, as a sup- posedly worthless possession, for seven and a quarter million dollars. But it is not easy for any geologist, who has for a season felt the spell of this
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 62 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XLII tain. The wild currant, crowberry and baked- apples are among the other refreshments which the hill tops set before their visitors. —The Labrador peninsula has nearly the area of Alaska and it is in about the stage of exploration and economic development which had been reached by that other great peninsula when Russia sold it to the United States, as a sup- posedly worthless possession, for seven and a quarter million dollars. But it is not easy for any geologist, who has for a season felt the spell of this vast and very slightly explored land, to avoid suggesting that there are reasons for be- lieving Labrador will eventually contribute to the world's supply of mineral wealth. Neither the fishermen nor the fur traders have ever sought to develop any other wealth in Labrador beyond that furnished by the cod and the pelts. They have, however, given a few hints to the prospector which have thus far remained un- heeded. As early as 1840 a chunk of native copper was found on the shore of Hamilton inlet. Its source remains unknown. The first intimation of the existence of the famous Michigan copper district came from the farmers of the Central States who picked up pieces of native copper in their fields long before the location of their source was known. In the Lake Melville district there are various half-breed trappers (the "liveyeres") who have specimens of chalcocite and other copper ores which they found near trap lines in the interior. Low found extensive deposits of mag- netite and other ores of iron at several points in Labrador^. But thus far little if any attempt to ascertain their commercial possibilities has been made. Very extensive beds of banded iron ores also occur on the Nastapoka islands, which ex- tend along the east side of Hudson bay for a hundred miles north of Little Whale river.^ Dr. Bell and Mr. Low record the occurrence of a vein of galena on the w
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