292 Topographical Notices. 



The whole of the lakes, not only here but in every part 

 of our routes, are deep and clear, (shoal, or rushy shores 

 beiny seldom seen) and they seem generally to be stocked 

 with fish of various sorts and excellent quality. In this 

 particular, the waters of the Nesswabic surpass those of 

 any other river I have seen in the country. In its larger 

 lakes, eels and catfish are taken, of a size and plumpness 

 seldom seen in the Ottawa ; but the most noted fish is 

 called the white trout, Mdiich is caught in abundance, both 

 winter and summer, frequently forty pounds in weight. 

 It is of a light silvery hue, and cream-coloured in the flesh, 

 but in shape and flavor resembles the common speckled 

 ti'out, which is also plentiful in the same water. Neither 

 of these kinds are found in the Grand river. 



The range of lakes above described continues for about 

 twenty-five miles, beyond which the stream winds through 

 an open marsh of considerable size, and the first thing of 

 the kind we had met with. Here it divides into two 

 branches, and our chart directed us up the most northerly. 

 About two miles from the swamp, this channel begins to 

 make a considerable ascent, being interrupted by several 

 small rapids and a fall twelve or fifteen feet high, within 

 the space of a few miles. The route here is extremely te- 

 dious, from the scarcity of water, and number of fallen trees. 

 To the south of the stream, the shores are broken and fre- 

 quently swampy : but we were now close upon the divi- 

 sion of the waters, and some interruption to the fertility 

 was to be expected. On the north side the lands still con- 

 tinue good. Five or six miles from the swamp, after as- 

 cending a steep rise, upwards of one hundred feet, I found 

 a plain of excellent loam, and apparently very extensive. 



At length the stream opens into a deep round basin, about 



