DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1928 133 



3. Make an estimate of the available pulpwood and timber resources. 



4. Make general studies in immature stands to obtain some idea of their 

 development and potential value. 



For this purpose a personnel of fifteen men organized into two parties were 

 placed in the field with a Forester in charge. The work of the field parties 

 was done in co-operation with that of aerial sketching and as maps were prepared 

 by direct sketching from the air showing improved waterways and isolating 

 different forest types, they were turned over to the field parties. With the aid 

 of these improved maps .the ground work was more efificiently planned 



The method of running eleven-foot strips at right angles to the topography 

 and at half mile intervals was used over the greater part of the area. In stands 

 where white and red pine occurred and in others where the forest conditions 

 warranted it, the intensity of the survey was increased by reducing the interval 

 between strips and increasing the width of strip. 



The field work began on the first of June and continued until the twenty- 

 second of September. A party of three remained in the field until the fifteenth 

 of October to complete the work on scattered areas left by the field parties. 



Physiography and Drainage 



The Western Block. — This whole area drains directly to Rainy lake at four 

 main points. Northwest bay, Manitou sound, Northeast bay and Redgut bay. 

 The country is dotted with numerous large lakes joined by short rivers which 

 are usually shallow and fast flowing. The many lakes not only suggest that the 

 country is well drained but also emphasizes the rugged irregular topography of 

 frequent high rocky ridges and deep valleys that characterize this area. 



The Eastern Block.— The. Canadian National Railway might be used as a 

 line dividing the areas drained by the Seine and Namakan rivers, these being in 

 general the two drainage systems of the Eastern Block. The area has a com- 

 paratively even topography. This fact and other conditions such as long 

 stretches of winding river, frequent occurrences of low swamp land, that are 

 noted throughout the area, would indicate a country poorly drained. 



As detailed results of this year's survey are not as yet available, it is intended 

 here to treat the forest conditions in a general way. In viewing the western 

 and eastern extremes of a large drainage basin, abrupt changes in physiography 

 and drainage conditions reflect similar changes in the forest. 



In the Western Block there is still evidence that at one time the rugged 

 ridges and deep valleys common in this part supported large stands of white 

 and red pine. In the past these species have been harvested in quantity and 

 are still being removed but repeated fires in recent times have reduced the avail- 

 able supply and have laid waste a considerable section of this block which now 

 comes under the headings of second growth, young growth and burn un- 

 classified. In the immature stands ranging up to sixty years of age, jack pine 

 is the dominating species. Spruce, balsam, poplar and white birch are always 

 present in varying quantities. Cedar of rather poor quality occurs in scattered 

 localities. 



Although the forest conditions in the Eastern Block show clearly the effect 

 of fires, the great difference in comparison to conditions in the Western Block 

 is the result of poorer drainage. Further evidence of this is seen in the increased 

 area occupied by swamp land and pure spruce stands, and in general of mature 

 stands in which spruce is the dominating species. The remainder of the forest 

 cover is classified as second and young growth ^nd burn unclassified, 



