DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1935 55 



Soil 



The total length of land area along the line amounted to 3895 chains. Of 

 this 450 chains has been classified as rock and 1350 chains as swamp. This 

 leaves a total of 2095 chains of land. This latter amount has been classified 

 as follows: — 



1. Soil and boulders, some of which might have some 

 agricultural value 900 chains 



2. Land of good commercial value 1195 chains 



The soil can be classified as approximately 50% sandy loam and 50% 

 clay loam. This is a much higher percentage of good land than is usually 

 encountered on the survey of base and meridian lines in the north-western 

 part of Ontario. Mostly all of the swamps have either clay or sand sub-soil 

 and it is possible some of this might be drained to good advantage, though 

 the covering of black loam and moss over the soil in some places is very deep. 

 The best areas of soil are to be found in the portion of the line outside the 

 boundaries of the Nipigon Forest Reserve. 



Fur Bearing Animals 



There were very few indications of fur-bearing animals. Deer and moose 

 also appear to be quite scarce. 



Accompanying this report, we are returning to you herewith the plans 

 and other returns as required by your instructions. 



Appendix No. 20 



Extract from the Report and Field Notes of the survey of Township Outlines, 

 west of Long Lac, District of Thunder Bay, by Ontario Land Surveyor, 

 H. W. Sutcliffe, under instructions dated March 22nd, 1934. 



There was still great claim staking activity, which had been going on for 

 several months, following recognition of the importance of valuable gold dis- 

 coveries in the vicinity of Little Long Lac. Many mining organizations were 

 aggressively carrying out mining development plans, a new town was springing 

 up at Hardrock, and the Longlac-Jellicoe portion of the Canadian National 

 Railway System, which had formerly been practically idle had become very 

 active. 



It is, of course, a well known fact that there are many inaccuracies in the 

 staking of Mining Claims. It is not to be expected that even an experienced 

 bushman can stake a mining claim exactly as theoretically defined in the 

 Mining Act. There are prospectors who are not good bushmen, and some 

 who are not careful in their staking, with the result that the claims are of 

 varying sizes and as the Mining Recorder has no other alternative but to lay 

 the recorded claim down on his map with its standard dimensions, it is obvious 

 that inaccurate maps must result until such time as there are survey lines to 

 correct the position of the claims on the map. Inaccurate maps sometimes 

 lead to much confusion and also expense to the claim owners. In this instance, 

 I found much interest in the location of my lines, not only by the prospectors, 

 but also geologists in the employ of the Governments. 



