1927 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 65 



S.F. 16, a large cabin on S.F. 23 or S.F. 24, a good dwelling house and other 

 buildings on S.F. 21, and a few old logging camps. The only improvement 

 noted on the Middle Lake was a small shack on W.T. 22. 



"The Dawson Road which comes to the Lower Lake at Stewart's Spur has 

 been recently improved so as to be passable for light cars, but considerable work 

 will be necessary before the road will be in shape for general motor traffic. There 

 is a good trail north from the east boundary of W.T. 9 in the Middle Lake. 

 This runs to Kabaigon Siding and could be made a good road. 



"The best beach on either lake is on the west side of Castor Island. There 

 are numerous other small ones in both lakes, but it was not possible to get a 

 sandy beach for each location. From our experience in surveying resort 

 locations for individuals we find that the majority of applicants are not so anxious 

 to have a good beach as they are to have a good site with a commanding view. 



"The level of the lake is maintained at or near high water by a control dam 

 at the outlet of the lake. There is very little flooding done and most of that is 

 in very low marshy lands which would be wet anyway. 



"There have been no forest fires of any extent on either lake in the last 

 thirty years, and the shores are mostly well timbered with a good stand of mixed 

 timber — poplar, birch and jackpine being the predominant species. We under- 

 stand that most of the timber surrounding the lakes is in a limit, and would 

 advise that the license holder be restrained from cutting on the surveyed loca- 

 tions. There is very little timber of value on these, but it would lessen the value 

 of the lots if it were cut. 



"The shore lines are mostly rocky or strewn with boulders. It is reported 

 that there are considerable areas of good land in from the lake, but the general 

 appearance of the country would not lead one to exepct to find much land 

 suitable for agriculture. 



"The water in the Lower Lake is rather dark in colour near the east end but 

 is fairly clear around Castor Island. In middle Lake it is clear and is reported 

 to be very deep in places. The only fish caught were pike, though there are 

 lake trout and whitefish in the Middle Lake. Game is not plentiful. 



"These lakes should be very attractive to persons wishing to establish 

 summer camps. There is about a thirty mile stretch of water without a portage 

 from Stewart's Spur to the west end of Upper Shebandowan Lake. The few 

 rocks which would be dangerous for high speed gas boats could be marked in a 

 short time. 



Appendix No. 26 



Extract from report of R. S. Kirkup's survey of the Townships of Echo, Pickerel 

 and Vermilion, district of Kenora. 



"I have the honour to report that in accordance with your instructions 

 dated 5th October, 1925, to survey the townships of Echo, Pickerel and a portion 

 of the township of Vermilion, in the district of Kenora, I started in with my 

 party from Sioux Lookout on October 20th. We were fortunate in having a 

 water route all the way in to practically the southeast angle of the township 

 of Echo, where I commenced the survey. 



3 L.F. 



