1907 i)I<:i'ARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 59 



Soil, 



The soil is chiefly clay and clay loam with rare instances of sandy 

 ridges. With the exception of rapids in the rivers and the shores of the 

 larger lakes, few outcroppings of rock were seen. 



Gravel was noted in one place and that in only small quantity. There 

 is very little genuine muskeg, although the prevalence of moss would give 

 one the impression that muskeg areas are numerous and large. As has been 

 so frequently reported of the clay belt, the moss, resting as it does on solid 

 clay, will readily be removed by fire when the land is required for settle- 

 ment. Another feature noticed is the shallow hold, which the spruce and 

 • tamarao forest trees have upon the heavy clay soil, so that the removal of 

 slumps and roots when the land has been cleared, will be easily effected. An 

 example of this was seen near the north boundary of the township of Sankey, 

 east of the Missanab e River, where a tract two or three miles in extent had 

 been burned for the second time, probably two years ago, and the moss and 

 stumps almost completely cleared away, showing an area of good clay soil 

 apparently ready for the plough. 



Drainage facilities will be found good as the numerous small streams 

 tributory to the larger rivers have almost invariably a good rapid flow and 

 fairly straight courses. 



Timber. 



Much of the country in this rej^ion was swept by fire about forty years 

 ago, as we were informed by an Indian employed by us on the survey, and 

 this statement was borne out by the rings of annual growth on the present 

 timber. This timber is, of course, of comparatively small size, the growth 

 being unusually dense. Spruce, tamarac, white poplar, white birch, 

 bnlsam, and balm of gilead form the chief varieties and are in the 

 above order as to predominance. Where the original forest remains, the 

 timber is of larger size, particularly for a distance of one or two miles back 

 from the rivers, where it again becomes somewhat inferior in size and qual- 

 ity. The largest trees seen near the rivers measured three feet in diameter 

 at the stumps, but as a rule the diameter is from twelve to twenty inches. A 

 few cedars of inferior size and quality are found along the rivers and creeks. 



Water. 



Several fair sized lakes were seen. The Pewabiska (White Water) 

 stretches from near the northwest corner of the township of Casgrain, across 

 the breadth of the township of Hanlan and about half of the township of 

 Stoddart, in four large bodies of water connected by "Narrows." This 

 lake which has not hitherto been shown on official maps, is dotted with 

 islands and contains abundance of pike, pickerel and whitefish. Apart from 

 this, few lakes of importance were found, numerous lakes not being a 

 characteristic of the clay belt. 



The three rivers mentioned are fairly well known as canoe routes and 

 some d»y the numerous rapids and falls will be harnessed to furnish power 

 and light. Taken in order of position from the east side of the tract sur- 

 veyed, the main rivers are as follows : — The Missanabie, the Mattawishquia, 

 the Pewabiska, the Kabinagagami, the Nagagami and Nagagamichi. 



The Missanabie, flowdng northerly across the townships of Sankey and 

 Sisk, in a fine stream of good water, about five hundred feet in width and four 



