1920-21 DEPAKTMENT OF LANDS AND FOEESTS. 71 



The second growth which comprises much of the timber is of all ages up to 75 

 years. These fires appear to have started from along the main canoe routes used 

 by the Indians, and are probably largely due to the carelessness of travellers in 

 the use of fire. The timber growth in this section is coming along very nicely, 

 and although the annual growth is slow, a new forest will undoubtedly grow up 

 that will be of great value provided the fires can be prevented. 



The country south of Lake St. Joseph is intersected by an exceedingly 

 intricate system of lakes and streams, which afford means of communication by 

 canoe in any direction. Many of the lakes are of fairly large size, almost invariably 

 with deeply indented shores, and are dotted with numerous islands. The natural 

 beauty of many of these lakes, the shores of which have not been rendered desolate 

 by fires, can hardly be surpassed. 



The divide between the waters flowing to the Winnipeg River and to the 

 Albany River, occurs near the 24th mile on the meridian line, although the exact 

 location could not be determined with any degree of certainty. South of this 

 divide the country is drained by the Sturgeon River and its northern tributary, 

 the Dog River, of which Island Lake is an expansion. North of this divide an 

 exceedingly intricate system of lakes with short river stretches between flows 

 towards the Albany River by way of Lake St. Joseph, which it enters about three 

 miles east of mile 65 on the meridian line. 



The greater part of the territory adjacent to the line north of Lake St. 

 Joseph is drained by tributaries of the Attawapiskat River which finally enters 

 James Bay about sixty miles north of the Albany River. The divide between 

 AUiany and Attawapiskat waters occurs quite close to Lake St. Joseph, although 

 here again it is impossible to designate the exact location with any degree of 

 certainty. The largest streams crossed north of Lake St. Joseph are the Gitchie 

 Seebe at mile 111, and the Otoskwin River at mile 113. These streams meet about 

 three or four miles east of the line, forming the Otoskwin branch of the Attawa- 

 piskat River. These are both fairly large streams, with sluggish current broken 

 with occasional rapids, at most of which the fall is low, and which are mostly 

 caused by boulder bars obstructing the streams, and which make caiioe navigation 

 rather difficult in places. The eastern portion of the base line is drained by a 

 tributary of the Otoskwin River, while the western portion is drained towards 

 the Albany River by way of streams entering Cat Lake. 



There are no water powers of any great importance, chiefly owing to the 

 fact that very few of the rapids or falls are of any great height. A number of 

 small water powers could be developed, however, as the facilities for water storage 

 are excellent on account of the many lakes. There are some falls on the Albany 

 River a few miles east of the outlet of Lake St. Joseph which may be of great 

 importance in the future, on account of the large drainage area tributary to 

 Lake St. Joseph, and the splendid opportunity this lake would afford for reservoir 

 purposes. These powers are from forty to sixty miles east of the line, but it is 

 thought well to give them passing mention as they will undoubtedly play a most 

 important part in any economic development that may occur in this part of the 

 country. Similarly on the Cat River, which enters Lake St. Joseph at the west 

 end, a number of falls occur. None of these falls are of great height, but water 

 powers of considerable importance could be developed, as the drainage area is fairly 

 large and the facilities for water storage cannot be excelled. These water powers 

 on the Cat River are, of course, much smaller than the ones on the Albany River 

 east of Lake St. Joseph. 



