1920-21 DEPAETMEXT OF LAJ^DS AND FOEESTS. 103 



and Flood, but not to any considerable extent. They have merely touched the 

 fringe of it. They have camps at present on the meridian line between the 

 Townships of Bryant and Flood. Last winter through a sub-contractor this 

 company cut 87,000 ties but were unable to get their drive out. They are at 

 present erecting a new dam in an endeavour to get their ties out this summer, 

 Ko attempt has been made to burn or dispose of the slash and there is grave 

 fire menace through the several townships on this account, especially as there 

 are Indians, trappers and tourists continually passing through, and camping in, 

 this area. Two rather serious fires were burning in this area during the progress 

 of the survey, fires which I personally investigated and found not to have been 

 started near, or caused by my survey camps. 



Xo adequate and complete report is possible on the extent of the banksian 

 pine in these townships without a careful cruise- being made. The townships 

 are all exceptionally well timbered with banksian pine running from six to 

 eighteen inches in diameter. I was particularly impressed with the possibilities 

 for a sawmill to be located near the north-east angle of the Township of Bryant. 

 Excellent roads could be made, several are actually in existence, out to the C. P. E. 

 siding at Bremner. In view of. the scarcity of, and high prices for, lumber in 

 this district, I beg to suggest that, if these townships are put up for tender, a 

 clause be included compelling the erection and operation of such a mill. 



Aside from the spruce and banksian pine, there is very little other timber 

 in the townships. There is some large poplar and a little cedar but not in 

 amounts to be of commercial value. Very little balsam was found and the birch, 

 although frequently mentioned in my field notes, was in areas small in extent 

 and of little value. 



Soil. 



The soil throughout the six townships was sandy with occasional rocky areas 

 and frequent small areas of muskeg. The areas near the Shabotik Eiver and in 

 some other places near lakes or rivers was exceptionally good but these townships 

 cannot be considered as good for agriculture, certainly not for settlement pur- 

 poses. The value is to be found in the timber and in the timber alone. 



Game. 



The country is overrun with moose, and in the southerly two townships, red 

 deer. Partridges were exceptionally plentiful. Pike are found in all of the large 

 lakes. Fishing operations, under permit, are now being carried on in White 

 Lake — the main catch being whitefish. 



EOADS. 



The only roads through the townships are tote roads leading from the C. P. E. 

 to the several tie camps and connecting the said camps. These roads are shown 

 on the field notes. The entire country is very level, with the exception of the 

 southerly part of the Township of Flood. Eoads can easily and cheaply be built 

 for logging operations in almost any part of the areas covered by this survey. 



Minerals. 



There were no minerals at all to be found on this survey. The rock, where 

 it was encountered, was (jranite. 



