MacDonell, John. Some Account of the Red River, ca. 1797 [Contemporary copy]. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0035

No 2

first we meet of the Buffalo Fords. Here we often meet of the first buffalo being generally some straggling Bulls, and can get here in three days from the Entrance of the River into the Lake Ouinipique.

Besides the Buffalo we have another resource in the fish that abound in this little river; take care to supply the Canoes with fishing tackling on that account. The Sturgeon of this river is esteemed the best in the North West, but they are only caught in small drawing nets of two fathoms long, chiefly in the spring of the Year. The fish we catch with lines are Barbûe or Cat-Fish, Poisson doré, Pike, and La caiche, a small species of white fish well known in the Saint Lawrence about Montreal – and so common here that I have seen them catch 30 or 40 per man while smoking their pipes.

All along the Assiniboine river may be seen the vestiges of many Commercial Settlements; several of which claim an ancient date. Blondishe’s Fort is the first we come to; next is Fort La Reine according to some, but others say Fort La reine

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 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

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