64 EEPOET OF THE No. 3 



A fire area of so recent date that little growth has yet been made was passed 

 (through, apparently near its southerly edge, by the first base line. Commencing 

 just west of the second meridian bounding 4 A-4 B this tract continues for nearly 

 two miles along this base line and extends northerly to the Mississaga. It has 

 Occupied by a tangled slash of windfall timber very difficult to traverse and pre- 

 sents the usual desolate appearance characteristic of such a condition. There was 

 also a fire of considerable proportions raging north of the Mississaga in the early 

 part of the summer, dying out probably in August. This was confined mostly 

 to the brule country, and would appear, from such observations as we could make, 

 to have worked from the river northerly to a short distance beyond the second base 

 line. From several hill points on the latter line its northerly limit could be seen 

 in rounded patches of burn in the otherwise green country. The greatest continu- 

 ous distance passed through in this burn by the lines was on the second meridian, 

 4 A-4 B, from a short distance south of IV. M. to the second base, with slight 

 Interruptions. This fire was not in the nature of a clean sweep, but of the usual 

 patchy character, leaving green areas surrounded by burn. In some places it was 

 feevere enough to form a slash, but generally the trees were simply fire killed. 

 This burn also extends along the second base line at intervals in streaks and 

 patches from V. M., 4 A to the westerly side of the lake at V. M., 4 B. The 

 remarkable recuperative powers of the forest growth were well evidenced through 

 this fire area, as when our second base line was cut through it in September, less 

 than two months after the fire, there was found to be a lusty growth of young birch 

 and poplar more than eighteen inches high rising from the blackened ground. 



Soil. 



Speaking broadly, the district is devoid of agricultural possibilities, the thin 

 Boil covering the rocks being merely the pulverized sand -of the rocks themselves, 

 and the very few exceptions to the rule are contained within very narrow limits 

 of area. A flat of inconsiderable extent is crossed by the third meridian, 4 B-4 C, 

 and extends from about seventy chains south of the Mississaga to the river itself. 

 This flat contains clay alluvium and is covered with small poplar, tamarac and 

 willow. A level, sandy plain covered with small jack pine extends from the creek 

 at 59.59 chains on the 4th meridian, 3 C-3 D to about 2^/4 miles. The above are 

 the most notable exceptions met with and will serve to illustrate the general char- 

 acter of the country as regards its soil constituent. Its one great use is apparently 

 as a nursery for timber growth. 



■ EocKS, Minerals. 



From force of circumstances little time can be devoted to the study of rock 

 formations when conducting survey operations. The country, however, is gen- 

 ierally overlaid by grey or pinkish rock of granitoid texture, apparently granite of 

 massive structure. This rock weathers to a light grey, or nearly white, and the 

 rectangular cleavage characteristic of the granites was noticeable in many places, 

 the rough blocks lying about the surface, or easily detached from neighboring 

 rock faces, being found most convenient for cross piling about the station pickets 

 in exposed places. There appears to be little or no mica associated with the 

 quartz and feldspar of these rocks, but it contains a dark mineral constituent which 

 is probably hornblende. Numerous greyish or greenish black dykes of trap or 

 diabase are found cutting through the granite, and these were especially numerous 



