1921-22 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 95 



cult to speak from observation in the summer, though this area is said to be a 

 good martin country. The lakes and smaller streams contained considerable 

 numbers of pike and pickerel. The Mattagami and Abitibi Rivers apparently 

 are not particularly well supplied with fish. 



Canoe Routes. 



The Abitibi River is for the most part broad and deep through these town- 

 ships and is at present much travelled in connection with surveys and construc- 

 tion work for the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario extension. From our 

 observation, the Mattagami River is, generally speaking, swifter and shallower 

 than the Abitibi River. From the railway at Smooth Rock Falls to Cypress 

 Rapids there are three short portages. There are, however, numerous fiat 

 rapids. The Poplar Rapids River, from our crossing on the north boundary of 

 the Township of Alexandra to its mouth, is readily navigable by canoes, except 

 at extreme low water. Driftwood Creek, which we ascended from its mouth 

 to the north boundary of the Township of Colquhoun, is also easily travelled 

 in normal stages, with one or two short portages. 



All the east and west lines were run as chords of the parallels of latitude 

 passing through the corners of the respective townships. Frequent observa- 

 tions were taken on Polaris throughout the survey and the notes of a number 

 of these are embodied in the field notes. 



General Features. 



The townships outlined during the summer's work are part of the northern 

 clay belt and conform in general to the characteristics associated with that 

 area. The surface is for the most part flat, or gently undulating, except in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the rivers and larger creeks, where it is broken 

 by the ravines cut by these streams. These ravines and the river valleys are 

 seldom wide, the banks as a rule rising almost to the level of the interior coun- 

 try within a few chains of the water. The Abitibi and Mattagami Rivers 

 drain the area surveyed. Tributary to these rivers are the Driftwood and Red 

 Sucker Creeks and the Poplar Rapids River. The latter empties into the 

 Mattagami River at O. L. S. Niven's base line, where there is a small clearing 

 and some buildings have been erected by John Shabatese, an Indian Chief. 

 The Driftwood and Red Sucker Creeks flow into the Abitibi River, 



No large lakes were seen. The lakes crossed by our lines were shallow and 

 the shores were, in most cases, swampy. 



We have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servants, 



Speight & Van Nostrand, 



Ontario Land Surveyors. 



The Honourable the Minister of Lands and Forests, 

 Toronto, Ontario. 



