180 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



NiPiGON Aerial Forest Survey 



Area. — The territory covered in the following report includes the eastern 

 half of the Nipigon Forest Reserve in the District of Thunder Bay, together 

 with adjacent territory, mainly draining into Lake Nipigon, though beyond the 

 reserve boundaries, in all some 4,800 square miles. In detail, the boundaries 

 are as follows: Windigo Bay (Lake Nipigon), north along Rapid creek to the 

 north line, Canadian National Railway; east to the Pikitigushi river to White- 

 clay lake; east down the Ogoki river to Otter river; south up the Otter river; 

 down the Makoki river; up the Kapikotongwa river to the reserve boundary; 

 east to the northeast corner of Nipigon Forest Reserve; south by the eastern 

 boundary of the reserve to the height of land (Great Lakes-James Bay watershed)' 

 along the height of land to Fecteau lake; west to the reserve boundary; along 

 the reserve boundary to Hydro falls on the Nipigon river; north along the 

 Nipigon river and the east shore of Lake Nipigon to Windigo bay. 



Procedure. — Orient bay, on the Canadian National Railway, at the south 

 end of Pijitawabik bay on Lake Nipigon, was used as a main base of operation. 

 Subsequently, a sub-base was established on a small island in Ombabika bay 

 near the mouth of Ombabika river, in order to facilitate working over the 

 northern area, and to minimize ineffective flying time. 



The work commenced on June the 9th and was completed on July 13th. 

 It was carried out by two foresters, who sketched the areas flown over from the 

 front cockpit of flying boats. One forester had had previous experience at this 

 particular kind of work, while the other received training during the course of 

 the operation. 



The sketching was done on mounted maps, scale one mile to the inch, which 

 showed, when finished, all lakes, large streams and rivers, as well as the forest 

 types. These mounted maps were cut to a size of approximately 12x18 inches, 

 covering an area of six six-mile townships each. This was found to be the most 

 desirable size of map for sketching work in this type of country. 



As soon as a field sheet was finished to the forester's satisfaction, it was 

 transferred to a field base map, scale two miles the inch. In this way the base 

 map was kept up to date, and any errors in tying in field sheets discovered before 

 leaving the operation, and corrections made. 



In cases where types were not readily recognized from the air, landings 

 were made in suitable lakes in order to permit an examination of the types on 

 the ground. 



Topography. — Topographically, that part of the above territory draining 

 into Lake Nipigon is similar to the north shore drainage basin of Lake Superior. 

 The surface is rough, and broken by deep ravines, with numerous lakes of 

 irregular outline and occurrence, scattered very generally throughout the whole 

 region. Streams are usually short and rapid. Soils are typically shallow and 

 coarse. 



Where the territory under consideration extends beyond the Nipigon drainage 

 into Hudson Bay waters, a more or less gradual modification towards the flat, 

 poorly-drained country, typical of the greater part of this whole basin, is dis- 

 tinctly noticeable, particularly in the north and northeasterly direction. 



Forest Distribution. — Consideration of the territory from this standpoint 

 divides it immediately, on a basis of fire history, into two sharply contrasted 

 areas of very unequal size, which may be conveniently referred to as the Northern 

 and Southern Areas, respectively, having as a rough common boundary the 

 north line of the Canadian National Railway. 



