62 REPOET OF THE No. 3 



the head of Hanging Stone Chute late in September, and the shallow water on 

 •the rapids sometimes necessitated ligtht loading the canoes. The second base line 

 terossed the Abinette Eiver about two chains above the head of a falls of about five 

 Ifeet, and this also was crossed by walking on the stones. This latter river is about 

 one chain and seventy-five links wide at this point and flows through a level flat 

 of about half a mile in width where crossed by the base line. This flat is sharply 

 bounded where crossed by this base line on its easterly side by a vertical wall of 

 rock about thirty feet in height and forming a remarkably straight line to the 

 north. The Wenebegon River is crossed by the first base line at V. M. where it is 

 one and a quarter chains in width with a moderately swift current, has clay banks 

 extending about four feet above low water, and is turbid. The channel is here very 

 :crooked and flows through a marshy flat of nearly half a mile in width which is 

 apparently all overflowed at the high water stage of the river. Back of the river 

 ^im the ground rises a few_ feet above the marsh for a distance of two or three 

 chains, forming a fringe of small elm, black ash and alder. This stream is impor- 

 tant as traversing the main pine area in the district covered by the survey. As we 

 (Jid not, however, have a canoe on this river we are unable to describe its character 

 between the first and second base lines, the latter of which it crosses between IV. 

 M. and V. M. north of 4 D. Numerous smaller streams traverse this area, drain- 

 ing into the Mississaga or, in the southerly part, into the branches of the White 

 Eiver, some of which will doubtless form valuable adjuncts in carrying out future 

 lumbering operations. 



The chief lake area is the Minnesinaqua, already mentioned, a fine body of 

 iwater with numerous sand beaches and well timbered shores on the south, and con- 

 'taining a number of well-wooded islands. One of the latter is crossed by the 

 meridian line 4 C-4 D in the narrow part of the lake, and the base line crosses near 

 lits southerly extremity, the southerly bay of the lake, between mileage V. M. and 

 !VI. M.. 4 C. The whole country surface is dotted by smaller lakes of greater or 

 ^ess extent, many of which are crossed by the lines. A somewhat large lake cros- 

 jsed by the second base line between I. M. and III. M. on the north boundary of 4 D 

 jcontains an island crossed by the line which presents a peculiar appearance, having 

 been cleft so deeply from the north as to be almost cut in two. A considerable chain of 

 lakes also extends southerly from the Mississaga, following closely along the third 

 meridian and form a fairly well travelled canoe route to the south. This canoe route 

 commences by a portage of about a mile leaving the Mississaga a short distance 

 {west of the meridian 4 B-4 C and crossing the first base line about one and a half 

 miles west of the first meridian. Another canoe route apparently of less impor- 

 tance, leaves the Mississaga up the small marshy creek entering just south of 

 (first base line and a short distance east of the first meridian, 3 A-W. Canoe trips 

 are also made north from the Minnesinaqua through Round Lake, but as we did 

 toot have any very definite information regarding the location of the latter lake, 

 land the creek entering the former lake was found to *be too shallow for loaded 

 canoes, we found it preferable to pack over the lines. Numerous portage trails 

 intersect the country, but are apparently only travelled by the Indians on their 

 hunting expeditions, are poorly marked and not nearly so well travelled as the 

 trails made by the moose. 



Timber. 



Almost the whole of this area shows the effect of destructive fires at dates 

 more or less remote. That part lying north of the Mississaga River and east of 

 •the second meridian appears to have suffered worst in this respect from recent 



