DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1929 69 



inches in diameter are over 100 years old. From mile 10 east of Niven's Mer- 

 idian to mile 32, it is alternate swamps of spruce 3-12 inches and muskegs of 

 spruce and tamarac to 6 inches. The 33rd mile is spruce and cedar swamps to 

 12 inches diameter. The 34th and 35th mile are in a tamarac swamp with green 

 tamarac to 10 inches. This is the best stretch of green tamarac we have seen 

 for years. Scattered young spruce to 3 inches growing up through the tamarac. 

 Mile 35 to the Big Ash River is swamp with spruce and cedar to 12 inches and 

 along the west side of the river, white spruce, poplar and Birch to 16 inches. 

 Between the Big Ash and Kenogami Rivers, along the line and to the north there 

 is a piece of poplar, spruce and balm of gilead, 6 to 16 inches that escaped the 

 fire. East of the English River mile 39 is all brule; the fire having run through 

 about ten years ago. Mile 40 is spruce swamp with cedar to 10 inches; miles 41, 

 42 and 43 are burnt muskeg, with the swamps of spruce to the north and south. 

 From the 43rd mile to the Pitushkabi River, the line across a muskeg with spruce 

 and tamarac to 3 inches and large open patches through it. The same fire that 

 has burnt along the Kenogami River ran east from the Pitushkabi River, along 

 the rest of the line. There is some good spruce to the north of the line along the 

 50th mile and also on both sides of the line along the 53rd and 54th miles. Mile 

 55 to mile 59 is again burnt muskeg. Miles 60 and 61 are in muskeg with 

 scattered spruce to 3 inches. Miles 62 and 63 are again burnt muskeg. There 

 is a fringe of good timber along the Ridge River, mostly white spruce 6 to 20 

 inches with poplar and birch 6 to 16 inches. 



There were no fires in the immediate district this season. There were fires 

 to the north on the Drowning River and we were bothered with smoke from fires 

 to the southwest. 



Minerals 

 There were no indications of minerals in this district. 



Streams and Lakes 



As mentioned before we only crossed Round Lake this season. It is about 

 two miles in diameter and was about 3}/2 feet deep with muskeg bottom and 

 weeds. The shores of the lake are moss, heaved up by the action of the ice. From 

 the levels obtained, evidently this lake is on a hill. The lake drains south. The 

 muskeg to the west, north and northeast are lower than the level of the lake. 

 The Wababimiga, Drowning, Legarde, Big Ash, English and Pitushkabi Rivers, 

 were crossed. These are all small rivers and are very shallow, especially in the 

 summer, with the exception of the English River, which has been traversed by 

 O.L.S. Code and a full report made on it. 



Canoe Routes 



As mentioned before we went in by the Wababimiga River. The next 

 route crossed was on the Drowning River, leading to Twin Lakes, about 5 miles 

 east of Nakina Station on the Canadian National Railways. The next route 

 crossed was the Kenogami River, which is the main transport route to James Bay, 

 leaving the Canadian National Railways at Pagwa River Station, following the 

 Pagwa River to the Kenogami and down this to the Albany. There are no 

 portages all along this route, but in the latter part of July and August, the water 

 in the Pagwa River is very low. 



We took in supplies with us on the start to take us across to Round Lake. 

 We had to double up across the lakes and along the rivers with one of our freight 



