Show 83 as the year this latter date must be accepted as the year of first exploration of the lake The exploring party probably launched their boats (likely two boats two men to each boat) on the Weber in the vicinity of Ogden the point of rendezvous and descended to the lake Their course around the lake is a matter of con- the 14 maintains that: J Cecil Alter jecture They had obviously started around by way of the south end of the lake and found streams and game animals and birds at first but they suddenly met with grief and plentiful want on the westerly shores Why should this party waste time poling or rowing boats southward along 30 miles of the east side of the lake as suggested by Mr Alter? The east and southeast shores had already been explored and numerous small streams flowing from the Wasatch into the lake had been thoroughly trapped It seems on the other hand that the party must obviously have floated down the Weber to the lake and then struck a course straight westward toward Promontory Point The Bear River Bay was already well known because of Bear river and activi- their having landed on any of the islands but it is highly possible that they might have crossed to Fremont Island which lies not far distant from the mainland just off Promontory Point At any rate the small group of acventurers very likely skirted ties about its 14 Alter mouth There James Bridger is no record of 71 72 |