BEAVER CANALS, MEADOWS, AND TRAILS. 201 



is still other evidence tending to the same conclusion. 

 Alonii; the canal there are roots from two to four 

 inches in diameter cut off at the bank on opposite 

 sides, below the surface of the water, and removed. 

 Alder bushes in great numbers, even when branching 

 across the canal several inches above the ground, are 

 found cut off to free the channel from obstructions. 

 Besides these several considerations, the canal term- 

 inates in dry ground; and the intermediate space 

 through which it is carried is of such a character as 

 to preclude the possibility of the formation of such a 

 channel by natural causes. 



This canal may be regarded as typical of these 

 works. They are usually cut through low, swampy 

 ground where the supply of water is obtained by fil- 

 tration from the adjacent lands, after forming a chan- 

 nel for its reception. With dams at each change of 

 level to prevent the channel from drawing off the 

 water, they can be carried as far as pools of surface 

 water can be found. 



It is not uncommon to find, at bends in streams, 

 canals cut across the neck, apparently to shorten the 

 distance in going up and down by water. One of this 

 kind has been shown (Plate XIV.) in connection with 

 a lodge. There are a number of these canals within 

 the area of the map, three of the largest of which are 

 shown in sections 4 and 28. The engraving (Plate 

 XXII.) is from a photograph of one on the section last 

 named, and it is introduced to show the beaver mead- 

 ows on the Esconauba as well. It is a view across a 

 bend in this river, showing the stream in the foreground 

 passing by from right to left, and again in the back- 

 ground flowing in the opposite direction. The canal 



