1910-11 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FOEESTS AND MINES. 53 



In addition to the rivers above named the Mattawitchewan, or Albany Branch, 

 crosses the main Base Line about twenty miles west of the main Meridian Line, 

 and flowing north-easterly, enters the Missanable River about one mile west of the 

 64th mile post on that Meridian. 



The lakes include Missanable, Brunswick, Opazatika, Oba and Kabinakagami, 

 with a fair number of smaller lakes of minor importance. 



In the valley of the Missanable River, the soil is generally clay and clay 

 loam with occasional sandy and rocky ridges, Along the main Base Line the 

 soil is of less value for agricultural purposes. The valleys of the other rivers 

 have a smaller percentage of clay than that of the Missanable. Laurentian 

 and Huronian alternately compose the formation met with. 



The ravages of fire of recent date are not much in evidence, but from 

 indications we believe that nearly the whole of this region was fire swept some 

 fifty or sixty years ago with the result that the present timber is largely second 

 growth. 



Soil. 



Along the main Meridian Line we found clay and clay loam predominating, 

 the northern thirty miles in particular being of excellent quality. Allowing for 

 sandy ridges and occasional outcroppings of rock, sixty-five to seventy-five per 

 cent, can be classed as good agricultural land. On the Base Line which passes 

 through the 60th mile post nearly the whole is first class soil. Along the main 

 Base Line west from the main Meridian, the clay appears in smaller areas, 

 interspersed with rocky and sandy ridges, and only about thirty per cent, may 

 be termed good farming land. 



Timber. 



Spruce, poplar, Banksian pine, white birch, balm of Gilead, tamarac, balsam 

 and cedar, in about the above order of predominance, compose the timber met 

 with, the largest specimens being in the valleys of the Missanable and other 

 rivers. As is characteristic of the clay belt, the timber remote from the river 

 is less rapid in growth. Although no great quantity is at present of marketable 

 size, there is sufficient for the ordinary uses of the settler. These conditions are 

 general and vary but slightly. The best specimens of poplar were seen on the 

 east and west shores of Brunswick Lake, and of spruce and Banksian pine, in 

 the valley of the Missanable. 



Minerals. 



As before intimated, the Laurentian and Huronian formations were met with 

 alternately, and in the latter, some promising outcroppings of diorite and diabase 

 in the 52nd and 53rd miles on the main Meridian Line were noticed, but we 

 saw no actual indications of the precious minerals. Indications of iron ore were 

 seen on the south-east bay of Brunswick Lake. 



Water Powers. 



Taking the rivers concerned, in order from the east, the Opazatika has 

 numerous falls and rapids from ten to fifteen feet which are capable of develop- 

 ment for local purposes. 



5 L.M. 



