DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1928 73 



in width) are low and mostly in muskeg; shaky, rendering it necessary to drive 

 f>osts on which to set the transit. The river flows through a very flat country, 

 mostly moss and boulders. No rock in place was found excepting at one rapids 

 where the face was almost perpendicular. In fact, no rock in place was found 

 above water level on this or Badesdewaga lake and part of Spruce river. The 

 timber is all spruce, small and growing like a grain field, being so thick and close 

 that it has no chance to develop. There are several flat rapids in the river and 

 two small falls. 



The immediate shore of Badesdewaga lake is low and stony and the land 

 rising, however, to considerable height to the southeast. The Indians do not 

 give this body of water the name of a lake, but call it a river. Route followed 

 traversed only about one-half the length of the lake, Otoskwin river entering the 

 same on the north shore. The timber around the lake is the usual small spruce 

 with a second growth of poplar and birch on the old burns. 



That part of the lower stretch of Otoskwin river that was traversed flowed 

 through low banks lined with a heavy thick growth of willows, the banks being 

 very low and shakv, necessitating the driving of posts on which to set the transit. 

 Grassy banks with the land rising a little to the north on which poplar and birch 

 were noticed, but adjoining the river nothing but spruce. The river itself would 

 average about seven chains in width. 



Spruce river flows into the Otoskwin from the north. The river will 

 average one chain and ten links to one chain and twenty links in width. It is not 

 shown on any plans that I have seen. As a rule the banks are about three feet 

 above the water and firm. It was seldom that stakes had to be driven for the 

 transit set-ups. The river is well named "Spruce," for, with the exception of a 

 few small areas, the timber is all spruce and as usual densely grown. There is 

 only one fall in the river of any size not far from the mouth, but numerous flat 

 rapids with falls of from six inches to one foot. These rapids have only winter 

 dog portages and new portages had to be cut around them, which took time; the 

 canoes were generally "poled" up the rapids. The country through which the 

 river flows is flat and apparently only boulders covered with moss adjoining the 

 river. Cedar is conspicuous by its absence. In fact, cedar fit for posts was not 

 found on Badesdewaga lake. Spruce river or Spruce lakes. Balsam also was 

 scarce. The above description covers the whole of this river. 



The three Spruce lakes were found to be clear water but very shallow on the 

 north shores. The shores have some fine sandy beaches and pebbly bays; land 

 rising from six to ten feet and then flat for a considerable distance — mostly 

 burned. The rivers connecting these lakes flow through marsh lands, grass and 

 willows. 



The photographs supplied of that kind of country are difficult to recognize 

 as the marsh photographs the same as water. 



Appendix 26 



Extract from Reports of Survey of Control Traverse, District Muskoka and Parry 

 Sound— J. T. Coltham. O.L.S., 1927. 



The districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound, over which our work extended, 

 is mostly rough and rocky with hills of varying heights. While most of the 

 timber has been removed by lumbermen and the fertile stretches cleared for 



