DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1931 83 



The lines were measured by means of a two-chain steel band, and the 

 distance was checked by means of a steel tape two hundred feet in length. As 

 the country was extremely flat, it was necessary to use clinometers at the river 

 crossings, and at one or two other points only. 



Posts were made from the most durable wood obtainable. On account of 

 the stunted nature of the timber, we found it impossible, however, in certain 

 sections of the line, to obtain posts of the standard size. The field notes show 

 the actual size of the posts planted. No rock posts were set during the survey, 

 and no rock was available with which to build cairns. As a consequence pits 

 were dug at all posts. Most of the country through which the lines passed, 

 was covered with a very considerable depth of peaty material, and it was not 

 possible to follow the instructions literally, and to give each pit a clear depth of 

 eighteen inches in earth. Two bearing trees were marked for each post, except 

 where the post came at a point where there were no suitable trees within a 

 reasonable distance. Care was taken to insure that the line was well blazed. 

 Muskeg areas were crossed on which there were no trees of sufficient size for 

 blazing, but in general the line is thoroughly marked in this way. 



Triangulations were necessary at the crossings of the Missanaibi and 

 Mattagami rivers only. At each crossing two separate triangles were used, 

 and the base was check-chained to guard against error. 



General Features 



The townships outlined are situated along the Mattagami and Missanaibi 

 rivers, immediately above their junction, to form the Moose River, and lie in 

 the great coastal plain adjoining James Bay. The land is extremely flat. The 

 two rivers have cut for themselves valleys about sixty feet in depth and the 

 larger tributaries have, in a similar way, cut channels for themselves, correspond- 

 ing in a general way to the volume of water carried, but elsewhere it is generally 

 impossible to distinguish by the eye any rise or fall in the ground. The Missanaibi 

 and Mattagami rivers are wide, but relatively shallow streams, flowing over 

 beds formed from boulders and gravel originally embedded in the glacial clay. 



There is a stream of considerable size, which follows a course about parallel 

 to, and south of, the Missanaibi River. Although we kept a look out for the 

 mouth of this stream when we were returning to the railway, we are not able to 

 say whether it empties into the Missanaibi River, or flows east to empty into 

 the Mattagami River. 



Owing to the depth of peat and muskeg over the original surface, it was 

 often only possible to determine the nature of the soil near the streams. An 

 examination of the banks of the rivers shows that the ground is, for the most 

 part, clay, though occasional beds of gravel and sand were seen. A large gravel 

 deposit on the south side of the Moose River, just below the junction of the 

 Mattagami and Missanaibi rivers, is now being used to supply ballast for the 

 T. & N. O. Railway extension. 



Timber 



The timber in these townships is largely confined to the banks of the rivers 

 and creeks. Judging by what was observed on the survey lines, the drainage is 

 slightly better and there is better pulpwood north of the Missanaibi River than 

 between the Missanaibi and Mattagami rivers. On the west boundary of the 

 Township of McCuaig, in particular, the line crossed a succession of small 

 creeks, along the banks of each of which there was a substantial growth of 

 medium sized pulpwood. It is, of course, difficult to speak with assurance of a 



