1920-21 DEPAliTMENT OF LANDS AXI) FOKESTS. 73 



The base line as far as could be seen, lies entirely in a Lanrentian area, the 

 prevailing rocks being granite and gneiss typical of this region. 



A peculiar feature of these Keewatin belts is the fact that the intensity 

 of the magnetic disturbances is much greater on some of the lakes than on the 

 shore. This may possibly indicate the existence of more or less extensive bodies 

 of iron or other magnetic ore, under the waters of the lakes. If I might venture 

 a suggestion, it would be that where there are indications of iron ore, particularly 

 east of Island Lake, and on Lake St. Joseph, a more detailed examination be made 

 with a view of determining definitely the possibilities of developing ore bodies 

 on a commercial scale. 



The climate is similar to that of other sections of Central Canada in the 

 same latitude. The early part of the summer of 1919 was intensely hot and 

 dry, and the growth of vegetation was exceedingly rapid. An instance of this 

 is the fact that ripe blueberries were picked on the 30th day of June, and by the 

 end of the first week in July they were in great abundance. Potatoes and roots 

 generally do well where any attempt is made to cultivate them, although the 

 amount of arable land is very small. A few of the Indians have small potato 

 patches. One of these was seen on a point on Lake St. Joseph about the 16th 

 of July, and showed a good healthy growth. This patch had recently been hoed, 

 and showed every evidence of care and industry. A patch of potatoes at the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's post at Osnaburgh were in blossom on the 19th of 

 July, and looked very well. A slight frost occurred on the night of the 7th of 

 August. On the 24th of September the Hudson's Bay Company's post at Cat Lake 

 was visited on our way home, and a small patch of potatoes showed hardly any 

 evidence of frost. The small lakes usually commence to freeze over about the 

 15th of October, and the larger ones are usually frozen over by the end of that 

 month. 



Moose and red deer are quite common south of Lake St. Joseph, but not so 

 much farther north. Caribou are frequently seen in this region, becoming more 

 plentiful as one goes farther north. The ordinary fur-bearing animals are quite 

 plentiful, although great destruction of animal and bird life has been caused by 

 res which have overrun the country. Partridge were scarce and hardly a rabbit 

 was seen all summer. Wild ducks are not as plentiful as one would expect. 

 Fish are numerous in all the larger lakes and streams, the principal varieties 



I being pike, pickerel, and suckers. Some excellent white fish were secured from 

 Ru Indian on Lake St. Joseph who had a net set in the lake. The Indians appear 

 jto make use of fish weirs to a considerable extent, and on some of the streams 

 Ireirs were seen which showed much ingenuity in construction. 

 The returns to be filed in your Department consist of this report, copies 

 of the field notes properly certified, a general plan on mounted drawing paper on 

 Ij^t a scale of two miles to an inch, a timber plan on tracing linen on the same 

 l^ygcale. and my accounts in triplicate and I trust that these will be found satisfactory. 

 Much of the information on the plans was obtained from sketches made ny 

 Professor Parsons and Mr. Bell, and I wish to express my appreciation of the 

 hearty manner in which these gentlemen co-operated with me in seeing that the 

 various phases of the work were carried on to a successful conclusion. I also 

 wi.sh to heartily thank Mr. Jabez Williams, transport officer for the Hudson's 

 Bay Company at Lac Seul, and Mr. K. Hooker, of Osnaburgh, for courtesy and 

 assistance rendered the party during the season. 



6 L.F. 



