1921-22 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 97 



Soil. 



The country around the Severn waters in this locality is mostly high and 

 rocky, thus making farming out of the question. However, a few settlers have 

 braved the hardships of pioneer life, following the pursuit of farming, both in 

 the Townships of Morrison in the district of Muskoka, and Matchedash, in the 

 County of Simcoe. When land exists, the soil is a clay loam, sandy in places. 

 Not much farm land was met with until we reached Gloucester Pool. Several 

 settlers in the Township of Baxter, on the west shore of Gloucester Pool, appeared 

 to be making a good living. Some had settled along Go-Home Bay, White's 

 Bay and up near Six-Mile Lake. Excepting the land occupied by these sparsely- 

 settled agriculturists, a considerable portion of the remainder lying along the 

 water front is in the hands of the tourists. 



Minerals. 



As the rock here is granite of the Huronic era, no minerals at all were seen. 

 There were a few small outcrops of feldspar, but not of any commercial value. 



Fish and Game. 



No deer or bear were seen at all. A few otter, beaver and mink were seen, 

 and scattered broods of partridge were met with. While no doubt the grassy, 

 weedy bottom of Sparrow Lake has been for years the mecca for maskinonge, 

 they appear to be getting scarcer. Several fine specimens of the pike and small- 

 mouth black bass were caught, but generally speaking the fishing was only fair. 



In reference to the water powers, it will be unnecessary for me to dwell 

 upon them in detail, as they have been all developed to a great extent, and any 

 information can be obtained much more accurately. 



While the townships through which our work extended have been sur- 

 veyed many years ago, most of the different monuments were found. Many 

 of the different concession lines in Matchedash and Baxter have been resur- 

 veyed under instructions from the Crown, and in the Townships of Morrison 

 and Wood the old monuments have been perpetuated through the local surveys. 



In reference to the tourist sites, the same does not hold. True it is, in a 

 few cases, posts were planted on the ground, but in the majority of cases no 

 posts were planted. I have shown on the plans all posts, or nearly so, that 

 were found planted. 



Owing to the presence of the dams on this river, it covers a wider area 

 than formerly. Our plan of traverse will show this, and the different matters 

 that I have mentioned in detail. 



I am enclosing with the report, observations, descriptions of islands met 

 with and area of same, along with the bearing of the courses, and distances 

 from station to station. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 

 Your obedient servant, 



Jas. T. Coltham, 



Ontario Land Surveyor. 



The Honourable the Minister of Lands and Forests, 

 Toronto, Ontario. 



7 L.F. 



