96 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Appendix No. 33. 

 Resurvey of Severn River and Lake Expansions. 



Parry Sound, Ont., October 21st, 1922. 



I have the honour to report that in compliance with instructions dated 

 April 27th, 1922, I proceeded to make a resurvey of the Severn River and its 

 lake expansions, from the south boundary of the Township of Matchedash, near 

 the head of Sparrow Lake, down stream to the Government dam at Port Severn. 



I left Parry Sound on May 31st with three men and assistant, by way of 

 the Canadian National Railways, arriving at Sparrow Lake the same evening, 

 where we were joined by another rodman. Loading our canoes, we proceeded, 

 down Sparrow Lake about four miles to the scene of our operations, where we 

 pitched camp. The following day, after making the usual tests of our instru- 

 ments, I commenced the traverse of Sparrow Lake at the south boundary of 

 Matchedash Township. 



Severn River and its lake expansions form the boundary between the Dis- 

 trict of Muskoka and the County of Simcoe as it wends its way to Port Severn 

 on the Georgian Bay, and has been greatly improved as a water route by the 

 construction of the Trent Canal. Sparrow Lake, owing to its location on the 

 Canadian National Railway, lies in easy access of approach by those who love 

 the great outdoors. The shores are mostly rocky, but not exceedingly high, 

 thus permitting of better building sites. Numerous large hotels have been 

 erected along the shores of this lake, and appear to be doing a lucrative business. 



Wending our way down the river, we came to the dam, about two miles 

 below the Canadian National Railway crossing. A large power plant has been 

 erected below this dam, supplying the town of Orillia with light and power. 

 Before we reach Gloucester Pool on our way to the Georgian Bay, we come to 

 the Big Chute, where another large dam has been erected. A power plant has 

 also been erected here, supplying a great deal of light and power to different 

 towns. Besides the dam at Port Severn, at the Severn River entrance to the 

 Georgian Bay, there are several concrete and earth dams blocking the different 

 by-passes from the river. The shores all along the river are generally rocky, 

 with occasionally a level stretch of land. At several places near Ragged Rapids, 

 the banks are high and precipitous. Owing to the dam construction and the 

 height the water has been raised, several of the older islands have been partially 

 submerged, and a great deal of the mainland flooded, causing many new islands. 

 These islands range in size from a mere rock to thirty or forty acres. Appar- 

 ently, in some places the timber was felled before the land was flooded, as all 

 trace of the original shore is obliterated, while in many of the bays the dead 

 timber still stands, thus making it very difficult for traversing the shores. 



Timber. 



As these townships have been timbered over many years ago, very little of 

 the original forest remains. Fire has also done its deadly work, leaving in its 

 wake the charred remains. 



Clinging by their roots to the shallow soil among the rocks, scrub oak four 

 inches to twelve inches, pine six inches to thirteen inches, and scattered, small 

 poplar, birch, maple and hemlock have sprung up, while in the low land there 

 is scattered, ash, elm and cedar. No timber in quantities large enough for 

 commercial purposes to any extent was met with, although if the timber was 

 protected for a few years, the pine would grow. 



