DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1931 77 



The Townships of Rudd and Noyon much of the timber large enough for 

 commercial purposes is past maturity and in many places a great part of the 

 timber has been blown down. These are a few areas of good jack pine and 

 spruce remaining. 



No forest fires of any consequence were notice in the area covered by the 

 survey during the period we were in the field. 



Soil 



The agricultural possibilities in the southern group of townships are 

 practically negligible. Some good soil was reported in the north part of Gidley 

 Township but this was not investigated. It might be possible to get a few lots 

 along the Kenora-Winnipeg Highway as there is some sandy soil in various 

 portions. 



Along the lines run in the Townships of Rudd and Noyon over fifty per cent, 

 was land suitable for agriculture and we would recommend a further investigation 

 of these townships with a view to subdividing the same. The soil is a clay loam 

 of a similar nature to that found in the Dryden area. 



An interesting item on this survey was the discovery of a type of native 

 cactus. This was found on the shores of Rush Bay of Lake of the Woods. 

 The species does not appear to attain a greater height than three or four inches 

 and is very prickly. No blooms were showing at the times of discovery. On 

 checking up with the botanical division of the Department of Agriculture at 

 Ottawa we found that there was a very old report of cactus in this vicinity but 

 no recent specimens had been taken. 



There were few indications of fur-bearing animals. Deer are very numerous 

 while moose appear to be quite scarce. Rabbits and partridge are becoming 

 more plentiful after several seasons in which there have been few to be found. 



Appendix No. 23 





Extracts from the report of the survey of Township Outlines in the District of 

 Thunder Bay, by Phillips & Benner, O.L.S., in 1931. 



In the topography of the country no very prominent elevations appear, 

 the area adjacent to Sturgeon Lake is rough, rocky and broken, but in general 

 to the east and south the land varies from rolling to hilly with small swamps 

 and muskegs in places between the hills and ridges. 



Along the first meridian to the south the timber is about thirty-five years 

 old and varies in size from three to ten inches in diameter, with this is mixed 

 some small stands of older and larger timber. Along the first meridian run to 

 the north, on the north side of Sturgeon Lake, the timber has been burned within 

 the last seven or eight years and the only timber of any value at present is some 

 stands of green spruce in the swamps. Along the north base line the greater 

 part of the country has been burned and is now covered with a young growth of 

 poplar, birch, jack pine and spruce mixed with isolated stands of larger mixed 

 timber which has not been burnt, there are also considerable areas of spruce 

 fit for pulpwood in the swamps. South of Fog Lake on the second meridian 

 run, there is mixed timber about thirty-five years old, spruce predominating, 

 and varying in size from four to twelve inches in diameter. Along this line the 

 land is well timbered to a point on the third mile south of Ross' Sixth Base Line, 

 from this point the timber has been burnt to the north side of Seseganaga Lake; 



