Birds of the Bois Fort Indian Reservation. 233 



the fall it swarms with ducks, and consequently is a sporting 

 center for hunters of all that northern country. 



The lands included in the reservation are well timbered. 

 The principal species represented are white and Norway pine, 

 spruce, cedar, elm, cottonwood, oak, maple, willow, various 

 species of plums and cherries, birch and poplar. 



The land is very variable in condition of soil and possible 

 fertility. One-half of it is swamp and is known to the Indians 

 as "muskeg" lands. Over this area is a stratum of peat from 

 six inches to five feet in thickness. When once drained this 

 will make the best of land. The nonswamp eastern part of the 

 reservation is composed of rock ridges flanked with lower 

 land. These lower stretches are clay flats covered with black 

 loam. On these grow birch and poplar forests. The ridges 

 are pine lands, and in the future will not be of much value 

 except for building sites and orchard locations. The swamp 

 areas are in the jungle state. 



The western part of the reservation that is not covered with 

 "muskeg" swamp is a sand region. On it grew much pine in 

 the old times, but when cleared it will be practically worth- 

 less, as are some pine lands east of the south lobe of the lake. 



The region about Little Fork river, in the southwestern part 

 of the reservation, will make good farm land when cleared. 

 Some open areas are fine meadows now. 



The climate is very changeable, ranging from 102 degrees 

 above zero in summer to 60 beloM' in winter. There is a heavy 

 snowfall in winter and an abundance of rain in summer. 



The Indians have been allotted for twenty-five years, yet 

 only a few have ever attempted to improve their allottments. 

 There is rice growing in the lake and plenty of game in the 

 woods and waterfowl among the rice in the lake. 



As is seen, the region about Nett lake is in the virgin state. 

 The same might be said of all the region extending southward 

 and eastward nearly to Duluth and Lake Superior, and north- 

 Avard to the Arctic ocean, much of which is composed of 

 swamps and lakes. 



The above is given in order that the reader may have an 

 idea of the character of the country about Nett lake and the 

 birds to expect in the region and the conditions under which 

 these birds make homes in the section. 



