38 



THE SAND PLAINS AND CHANGES OF WATER-LEVEL 

 OF THE UPPER OTTAWA. 



E. Odlum, M.A. (Pembroke). 



Read 7th January, ISSJf.. 



By the Upper Ottawa, in this papei', is meant that portion of it 

 which extends from the liead of Coulonge Lake, a little below the 

 lower end of Allumette Island, to the entrance of Deep River, about 

 seven miles above the head of the same island. This takes in a stretch 

 of nearly forty miles, following the coast line. Enough, indeed, for one 

 attempt — too much to be very minutely handled. 



By a word })icture we shall hurriedly outline the position and 

 nature of this portion of the Ottawa Valley. 



a. The town of Pembroke is situated on the south side of the 

 Ujiper Allumette Lake, and about twenty miles from each end of this 

 section, This town furnishes a good point of reference. 



h. The Allumette extends throughout a great part of the locality 

 under examination. 



c. The Culbute flows on the north between Allumette Island and 

 the Quebec shore. 



d. The Upper and Lower Allumette lakes separate Allumette 

 Island from Ontario on the south. 



e. At the head of the island, westward about eight miles from 

 Pembroke, ai-e the Narrows, where the water flows in a swift current. 



f. Eastward from Pembroke, about four miles, are three rapids 

 almost parallel, and unnavigable. These are the Allumette, Lost 

 Chenal and Beckett's. The last is farthest south, the first farthest 

 north, and the Ijost Chenal in the centre. 



g. Mon-ison's Island lies between the two first mentioned, and 

 Beckett's Island between the two last. 



A. At the lower end of the Allumette are Paquette's Rapids, a series 

 of swift, but not very dangerous, currents extending about four miles from 

 Westmeath Village to the head of Coulonge Lake. From the foot of these 

 rapids, the Ottawa, grand, i)lacid and majestic, glides along, joined by 

 the Culbute, into which the Black River enters from Quebec, a couple 

 of miles from its mouth. 



