4 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



in inorganic sediments, often to the point of exclusion. Third, the water itself, 

 though free from finely divided inorganic sediments and therefore tiarslucent, 

 is colored in various shades from yellow to dark brown, and contains a considerable 

 amount of finely divided organic matter in suspension. This water is of the kind 

 commonly designated as "muskeg" water, and in some cases is opaque for depths 

 of more than two or three feet. 



Many of the smaller lakes and ponds are of the nature of shallow rock basins, 

 the bottoms of which are occupied, often to a depth of several feet, by living 

 and dead vegetable matter, for the most part in a suspended or semi-buoyant 

 condition. Such areas are usually more or less filled with aquatic vegetation 

 of the lower or higher orders, and are habitable in different degrees to various 

 species of fishes. In the larger lakes, exposure to wind and wave action or to 

 water currents, and the distribution of sediments made possible by greater depths, 

 combine to produce a greater variety of environmental conditions than is possible 

 in smaller areas. Here we find that the shores in exposed places usually consist 

 of clean stretches of rock, while the smaller indentations, especially those connected 

 with shore ravines are from their protected character transformed into swamps. 

 They show the same features in general as the smaller inland lakes. In many 

 places, where the amount of inorganic material is at all abundant, we find sand 

 or sand and mud beaches, which are more apt to be formed where there is sufficient 

 movement of the water to carry away the lighter organic materials. 



The conditions prevailing along the main shore of Georgian Bay are similar to 

 those of the larger inland bodies of water in respect of the alternation of bold rocky 

 shores and shore swamps or sand beaches. There are, however, important differ- 

 ences, resulting from the greater degree of exposure to the action of wind, waves, 

 and ice, and the dilution of the discolored inland water with that of the main body 

 of Georgian Bay. On the main shore and among the shore islands and reefs, ex- 

 posure to the prevailing westerly winds is naturally more direct than in inland 

 situations, and the influence is to be seen not only in the diminished soil accumu- 

 lation above water, but also in the more strenuous action of the waves on rocks 

 and shoals. More especially, however, there are extensive movements of the 

 entire body of inshore water, which moves in and out according to the temporary 

 direction of the wind. In the inshore bays the difference in level often amounts 

 to fifteen inches or more, the lower level being associated with offshore winds and 

 the higher level with inshore winds. The movement of the entire body of water in 

 this way produces currents in and out among the islands and assists in keeping the 

 shore zone free from all sediments of a lighter nature. Shoal areas thus consist 

 of cleaner rock than is found inland, and such sand beaches or channels as exist 

 are likely to be formed of clean sand rather than a mixture of sand and mud. 



The fact that the inland water courses connected with this Archean area are 

 occupied by brownish muskeg water means in general that a large volume of this 

 water, together with a considerable amount of organic detritus, is constantly 

 being carried into Georgian Bay. Here it comes into contact with the clear, crystal- 

 line water of the main body of the bay, and quickly loses its identity. In general 

 the shore water shows little of the inland or muskeg character, though it is slightly 



