This river La Verendrye's sons followed up till they reached the junction between the North and the South Rivers, and then they probably learnt a good deal more of the Southern Saskatchewan, on which they may have built one or two posts.

La Verendrye himself thought that this would prove to be the best route by which the French could reach the Western Sea.
By this time the French Government was becoming alive to the importance of these discoveries, and it conferred a decoration on La Verendrye, and allowed him to hope that he might be furnished with means for further exploration.

But he died soon afterwards, at the close of 1749, and after his death his sons were treated with gross ingratitude and neglect.

The self-seeking Governor of New France endeavoured to secure the fur trade for his own friends, and sent an officer with a terribly long name--Captain Jacques Repentigny Le Gardeur de Saint Pierre--to continue the exploration towards the Pacific.

From 1750 to 1763 the French occupation of this region of the two Saskatchewan Rivers was extended till in all probability the French got within sight of the northern Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of Calgary.