1913-14 DEPAETMENT OF LANDS, FOKESTS AND MINES. 51 



General Characteristics. 



The territory embraced within the limits of this survey as a whole, is rough 

 and hilly. It is considerably broken with rock ridges, and with hills of gravel and 

 boulders of glacial origin. As a whole, however, the country is not as rough as that 

 a few miles further south, the rock ridges not being so high nor so numerous. The 

 amount of land suitable for agriculture is very small. There are a few small areas 

 of sandy loam, but these are isolated, and so scattered that nowhere within the 

 limits of the area surveyed would it be possible to develop an agricultural industry. 



' Timber. 



These townships as a whole are well timbered with a mixed growth of the 

 timber characteristic of this country. There is very little red or white pine, and 

 what there is occurs in scattered trees throughout the other timber. The best white 

 pine encountered is in townships 7 Z and 8 Z. There are a few scattered trees near 

 the west boundary of townships 7 C and 8 C, but in comparison with the large area 

 embraced within the area surveyed, the amount of red and white pine is very small. 

 The most valuable timber is jack pine and spruce. The amount of jack pine is very 

 large, and the timber is of splendid quality. The trees in many places grow very 

 thickly, and are large and straight. Some of the best tie timber I have ever seen 

 is to be found within the limits of these townships. There is also a largq quantity of 

 very good spruce. There are very few large spruce swamps, the best spruce being 

 found on the higher ground, growing amongst other timber. The remaining timber 

 on the unburnt areas, is a mixed growth of balsam, white birch, poplar, etc. Fire 

 has done a great deal of damage in this section of the country, and every township 

 has suffered to a greater or less extent. It is noticeable that the fires for the most 

 part seem to have occurred along the canoe routes, and some of them have run for 

 long distances. Some of these fires have occurred many years ago, and the second 

 growth is now grown up to a considerable size, although it is very noticeable that 

 the second growth timber is nowhere of as good quality as that which grows on the 

 portions which have escaped the fire. Other fires have been of more recent origin. 

 One large fire has over-run a considerable area in townships 8 A and 8 Z not very 

 long ago, as the timber is not yet all fallen, and the second growth is still very 

 small. 



Water. 



The territory lying within the limits of this survey is well watered with 

 numerous small lakes and streams. It is practically all drained by the various 

 trbutaries of the Mississauga river, only a small area at the extreme east end of 

 this territory being tributary to the Spanish river. The Wenebegon river, which 

 has an average width of about one chain, runs through townships 7 C and 8 C. 

 The Kebsquasheshing river, which forms part of the canoe route to the Wenebegon 

 river from the main line of the Canadian Pacific Eailway empties into the 

 Wenebegon river in township 8 C. The Embrass river joins the Wenebegon river 

 in township 7 C, and drains a number of lakes, some of which are fairly large. 

 In townships 8 A, 8 Z and 7 Z, there are a number of lakes of considerable size, 

 the waters of which flow to the Mississauga river, probably by way of Wliite Owl 

 lake. There is a canoe route via these lakes from the fire ranger's headquarters at 

 Green lake to the Wenebegon river. This route is much used by the fire rangers, 

 and the portages are all well cut out. The portages are very numerous, however, 



5 L.M, 



