<Tr> <Th> Mean monthly sunshine hours </Th> <Td> 84 </Td> <Td> 128 </Td> <Td> 167 </Td> <Td> 184 </Td> <Td> 208 </Td> <Td> 221 </Td> <Td> 209 </Td> <Td> 183 </Td> <Td> 89 </Td> <Td> 54 </Td> <Td> 41 </Td> <Td> 54 </Td> <Td> 1,622 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="14"> Source: The Weather Network . </Td> </Tr> <P> Between 1950 and 1959, a team led by H.M. Finlayson conducted water surveys of the Nottaway, Broadback and Rupert Rivers--collectively known by the abbreviation NBR--on behalf of the Shawinigan Water & Power Company, a large investor - owned utility based in Shawinigan, Quebec . Among options studied by Shawinigan's engineers was the possible diversion of these rivers to the Saint - Maurice River watershed in order to increase output at the company's 8 power stations . </P> <P> With the nationalization of privately owned utilities in 1963, Hydro - Québec inherited the preliminary studies conducted by Finlayson and his team on the hydroelectric potential of James Bay rivers . However, other projects, such as the Manicouagan - Outardes project on the North Shore and the possibility of building a large power station at Churchill Falls in Labrador proved easier and less expensive and the Crown corporation devoted only minimal resources to the vast potential of northern rivers . In 1965, Hydro - Québec survey program included exploration of the territory and hydrographic surveys of areas between the 52nd and 55th parallel . </P>

James bay canada where did the water go