1919-20 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 71 



enough men available to run double party. 



The weather throughout was exceptionally fine, and was possibly responsible 

 for the comparative absence of fly pests. On the other hand, in a rocky, hilly 

 country, continued dry weather made the water problem serious, and it became 

 necessary to procure closed vessels to carry water along the line for use during 

 the day and at meal time. 



Before commencing the work the chainmen were well posted in their work, 

 but frequent change of the front chainman after the original man gave out 

 through exhaustion made constant watchfulness and checking necessary. 



The lines will be found to be well opened, well blazed, and with large well 

 marked posts planted throughout, and bearing-trees well chosen and marked 

 where such were at all available. 



All points required by the instructions were marked by iron posts, except 

 at Mountain Lake. A raft broke up on the Arrow River, and this post with other 

 things was lost. At this point, however, I personally constructed a stone cairn 

 almost as high as the post, and in a well protected position. 



The traverse of the part of the south shore of Whitefish Lake was left by 

 arrangement to be done on the ice. An attempt was made to carry out this work 

 during the week before Christmas, but owing to the peculiar winter weather, 

 including heavy rain, this had to be abandoned, and this work was only recently 

 completed. 



Watch was kept for signs of old survey lines throughout the progress of the 

 work, but at only one point were lines and post found. Connection was made, 

 however, at the termination of all lines where such existed with international 

 or township boundaries. 



Observations for azimuth were taken at least once on each line. Observations 

 on tlie sun for time were frequently taken. 



Soil. 



All lands of an agricultural nature are shown on the plan of survey coloured 

 brown. These areas are carefully plotted not only from the field notes of survey, 

 but from the observations made by the cruiser. The greater part of the lands 

 passed through or cruised are totally unfit for agriculture, being mostly rock, 

 sometimes bare, but usually with a shallow covering of leafy loam. 



The agricultural land referred to consists mostly of clay, white to light 

 brown in colour, and clay loam. Except in some wet areas there is not heavy 

 moss. As the hills are approached stones and boulders are met in increasing 

 quantities. Frequently in the larger clay area patches were seen several acres in 

 extent where fires had removed most of the timber, and very little clearing was 

 necessary before ploughing could be done. 



In some of these patches and along the old tote roads clover and timothy 

 grew spendidly. 



Minerals. 



The rpck throughout the greater part of this country is granite, hornblendic 

 rocks being found in the south, while east of South Fowl Lake there is consider- 

 able showing of low grade iron. The variation of the compass going round the 

 sharp point on the south shore of Whitefish Lake near its east end, differences 

 of 25 deg. being noted in going half a mile round the point, would indicate 

 bodies of iron ore. 



