1915-16 DEPAKTMENT OF LANDS, FOKESTS AND MINES. 101 



experienced i.i tli'< country. The rivers did not freeze over until well on in 

 January. The lakes, owing to the heavy weight of snow were full of air-holes and 

 covered with slush until March. The ice was very unsafe for travelling. I had my 

 team in through the ice on three different occasions. 



The high water in the spring washed out many of our portages and bridges, 

 also many of our small landing docks. 



We improved some of our shelter huts last summer, ))uilt one on an island in 

 Agnes lake, and one at Prairie portage on the boundary.. Many of the old portages 

 were cleaned out and some new ones cut. 



I consider it advisable to build several look-out towers next summer, say from 

 thirty to forty feet in height, which could be done at small cost. This is a flat 

 country and observations cannot be had for any distance from tlie hills. 



1 would suggest that a telephone line be erected from headquarters here to 

 Kawene station on the Canadian Northern Eailway. This would save much 

 \'aluable time, as, for instance, a telegram sent me by one of my rangers stationed 

 at Basswood lake, from Winton, Minnesota, in reference to a fire along the boundary 



Moose in Sturgeon Lake, Quetico Provincial Park. 



lay at Kawene for two days before I received it. No one from here happened to be 

 out, and there is no way of getting from Kawene in here with a message. The 

 line could be l)uilt around Eva lake a distance of twelve miles. Two hundred 

 metal boundary signs were sent me by your Department in June last. Many of 

 these were placed at portages and along canoe routes along the different boundaries. 

 The balance of the signs will be placed next season. 



The Canadian and United States Boundary Survey parties placed iron 

 monuments at many points along the International boundary during the summer, 

 which will be of great assistance to us in determining the boundary which, previous 

 to this, was a very difficult matter. It is expected that the survey work along the 

 park waters will be completed next year. 



Game, especially moose and red deer are still numerous; very many were 

 seen during the summer. Beaver are increasing very rapidly; in some places we 

 will have to cut new portages owing to the flooding of the ones now used along 

 streams and lakes where the beaver have built dams. Fisher are very plentiful, 

 also foxes, but mink are verv scarce. Quite a few otter were noticed this season. 



