60 EEPOET OF THE No. 3 



Soil. 



No clay soil was found on the south boundaries of Melrose and Frey, but 

 on the boundary between Melrose and Frey considerable stretches were crossed. 

 This boundary lies between the Ground Hog and Nat Elvers, and the ground 

 was, generally speaking, flat and wet, with clay and sand sub-soil alternating. 

 The section north of O.L.S. Niven's base line showed about 30 per cent, clay 

 soil, most of it light and intersected by sandy ridges. Much of the land was 

 swampy, but there was comparatively little muskeg, the only large muskeg crossed 

 being at the south-east corner of Poulett. 



Timber. 



Much of this area has been burnt over within the last twenty-fiye or thirty 

 years, but some good stands of timber were noted. The best timber seen was 

 along the south boundary of Melrose on both sides of the Nat Eiver, where there 

 is a considerable area of exceptionally fine Banksian pine. In this area there 

 are also some heavy stands of spruce of pulpwood size. Along the boundary 

 between Melrose and Frey, the timber, mostly spruce, is generally light, with 

 much balsam and undergrowth. Along the south boundary of Strachan; spruce, 

 poplar, and birch, with occasional groves of Banksian pine, were found, and 

 similar country was encountered as far as mile six of the south boundary of 

 Fortune. Between miles six and seven there are some gravel ridges, which are 

 heavily timbered with Banksian pine, birch, poplar, and scattered Norway pine. 

 Bere was the only place we found Norway pine, and at no place did the lines 

 pass through stands of white pine. From mile seven eastward the timber has been 

 burnt off leaving sand hills almost bare except for small groves of spruce and 

 cedar. 



Between Fortune and Parke there is a fair stand of spruce and Banksian 

 pine, poplar, and birch, and the timber along the north boundary of Fortune is 

 of the same general character. 



Wateb. 



The Ground Hog Eiver supplies a good canoe route from the railway as far 

 north as the north limit of the Indian Eeserve. Several rapids and a fall of 

 about fifteen feet are capable of supplying considerable power. From near the 

 north limit of the. Indian Eeserve to well below the crossing of the north bouiulavy 

 of Strachan lie what are known as the Six Mile Eapids, practically continuous 

 swift water. 



The Nat Eiver between the south boundary of Melrose and the Indian 

 Reserve, is a sluggish stream with, generally speaking, low marshy banks. Bromley 

 Lake and a large marsh to the south form considerable storage basins. From 

 the Indian Eeserve north, there are several rapids and small falls, but the river 

 forms an excellent canoe route to the south boundary of the township of Aitken. 

 The Nat may be reached from the Ground Hog Eiver by several portages, of 

 which the best is about five miles south of the south limit of Melrose. 



Minerals. 



The rocks seen were mostly granite, and the area does not look promising 

 from a mining standpoint. 



