1909 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 81 



vegetation were given numbers, and those which at ordinary high water level are 

 water-washed, are shewn as "rock" or "reef" and were not given numbers. 



Detailed descriptions and areas of all numbered islands are given in the 

 field notes. The depth of snow prevented our gaining any considerable amount of 

 information regarding the soil and geological features. 



About 250 islands were found and classed as such in the Lower Lake, and these 

 varied in size from a few square yards up to 943 acres in extent, the largest being 

 that at the outlet of the "Narrows," the survey of which involved about 13 miles of 

 traverse line. Of these islands only 229 were given new numbers, the remainder 

 being included by recorded mining claims. 



In the Upper Lake 488 islands were noted and numbered, besides which a 

 considerable number of rocks and reefs were noted, but not numbered. Thiis 

 number is, of course, exclusive of the islands lying to the east of the interprovincial 

 boundary. 



General Features. 



The country in the vicinity of the Lower Lake is mainly the clay soil of 

 that region with, in places, outcroppings of rock and occasional tracts of sandy soil, 

 noticeably at Long Point. 



On the Upper Lake the conditions are similar, except along the south shore 

 which is rugged and rocky, due to a range of mountains inshore running in a general 

 east and west direction. A considerable amount of rock was noticed on the islands, 

 which present an appearance similar to those of the Muskoka Lakes, but are less 

 rugged. 



Timber. 



The timber is, as a rule, not large, and embraces spruce, poplar, white birch. 

 Balm of Gilead, red pine, tamarac, Banksian pine, cedar and ash, in about the 

 above order as regards predominance. On Long Point there is a considerable quan- 

 tit}' of merchantable red pine, and on the south shore of the Lower Lake and near 

 its outlet there is a fair quantity of spruce, poplar and red pine. A well-equipped 

 saw-mill was in operation near the mouth of the Abitibi River, and its output was 

 in demand for the construction of steamboats and barges for local navigation, as 

 well as the requirements of railway contractors, settlers and residents in the 

 vicinity. 



Water. 



From our previous knowledge of these lakes we are able to report that their 

 general shallowness will always render navigation somewhat precarious, and thus 

 tend to reduce their desirability as a summer resort. In summer the general clay 

 character of the surrounding country imparts a very muddy appearance, but this is 

 not so noticeable in winter. The small lake on the "Long Point" portage, being 

 in a sandy tract, has deliciously clear cold water at all times. 



Low Bush River, with its tributary Circle River, Dokis River, Forks River and 

 Aylen River, are the only streams of note emptying into the Lower Lake. Flowing 

 into the Upper Lake are Ghost, Lightning and Mattawasagi Rivers from the south, 

 and Swampy, Rabbit, Gooseberry, Okikodasik and Saugeen from the north. 



Minerals. 



A considerable amount of prospecting for gold has been done on the mainland 

 and islands of the Lower Lake and development work has been done at, at least, two 

 points Moshier's Island and South Bay, each having a well-equipped mining camp. 



