322 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



short, the country extending from this lake to Mr. Gould's farm on 

 Grand lake stream must be considered timber land instead of farm- 

 ing land. 



The water in these lakes, not e.xccpting Grand lake, was filled 

 with minute particles, much resembling some of the confervae, 

 which proved to be a Protococcus. The water, drawn from a con- 

 siderable deptli, was also found to contain them, and they did not 

 appear to be more abundant in one part of the lake, than in another. 



Having returned to Junior lake stream, we dined on the point 

 of land extending out into Grand lake; and while here, found 

 among the boulders on the shore, a mass of Bi Sulphide of Iren of 

 great compactness, and weighing several ounces. It js our opin- 

 ion that the many Indian traditions, and the stories of early set- 

 tlers, in regard to great metallic wealth among the hills around 

 the lakes, are referable to the discovery of pieces of Pyrites similar 

 to the one just spoken of. That there may be, and probably is, 

 some iron and copper scattered through the granite, is not difficult 

 to believe, but the many circumstances which must conspire to 

 make a mine of either of these metals profitable will be noticed in 

 the chemical report. 



At the mouth of Ox brook, a small stream entering Grand lake not 

 far distant from the point just referred to, and into what is called 

 Whitney cove, we commenced an overland tour in seai'ch of "Ox 

 brook lake." The vegetation around the lake was unmarked from 

 any noticed before in the vicinity of similar bodies of water. In 

 a swamp of large extent which we passed over in approaching the 

 lake, I found a Juncus, subsequently, referred with specimens from 

 another locality, to the rare Juncus Stygius, L. 



The rest of our journey back to Grand lake stream was soon 

 accomplished. 



Upon the following day we passed down Big lake, examining 

 the shore untouched as we ascended the chain. I cannot resist 

 the conviction that there is some excellent farming land lying along 

 some parts of the southern shore of Big lake, and there is needed 

 only the encouragement of fair roads to have such clearings under- 

 taken by good settlers. 



We reached the town of Princeton late in the evening of 22d 

 August. 



The continuation of the survey of the western branch was 

 resumed on the 27th, the intervening time being occupied by ex- 



