96 EEPOET OF THE ^o. 3 



to September 15th, we were engaged triangulating and traversing Oba Lake. 

 Most of the islands were also located as those aforesaid. From September 15th 

 to October 8th we were engaged in the traverse of the Oba Eiver as far as 

 Pine Portage, and also down the east branch of the Oba Eiver eight miles, 

 tying on one of O.L.S. T. B. Speight's meridian lines run this season. 



Levels were taken at all falls or rapids capable of development and the 

 discharge of the streams determined approximately. Small and long rapids, the 

 fall of water was merely estimated. 



October the 10th, 11th and 12th, were spent on the journey out from 

 Pine Portage to Missanabie Station. 



The Government equipment, canoes, tents, blankets, cookery, etc., were stored 

 with the Hudson Bay Company at Missanabie, and the receipts collected for 

 the same. 



During the months of August and September there was considerable wet 

 weather, and this, together with the many gales on the lakes, hindered, to some 

 extent, the progress of the survey. 



The survey was left unfinished owing to the summer season closing. In our 

 opinion, there is sufficient work left for a single party another season. 



"Wooden posts were planted at prominent points on the lakes and at every 

 mile or thereabout on the river. Where possible, cedar, or the most durable 

 trees available, were cut off from 2 to 3 feet above the ground, squared and 

 bevelled at the top and scored with a marking iron on the side facing the water, 

 with the designated number of the post. Where impossible to square a tree," 

 a post was made, at least 5 inches square and from three to four feet in length, 

 of the most durable wood available, marked in the same manner as aforesaid and 

 planted firmly in the ground and with material convenient. Stone mT)unds were 

 also built around the post. Bearing trees were also taken at monuments exposed 

 to destruction. 



The lakes were first triangulated from chained bases. A five-chain tape 

 was employed in the chaining of the bases. The shore line was filed in with 

 stadia and azimjith readings with transit. On the river magnetic bearings were 

 also taken as a check on azimuth reading^s. Wlien rapids and waterfalls were 

 encountered, necessary lines were cut and blazed around the river and posts 

 planted. Astronomical observations for time and azimuth were taken as often 

 as opportunity permitted, and the direction of lines are in accordance therewith. 

 Observations with their calculations are recorded in the appendix of this report. 

 The field notes of the survey of the lakes have been plotted to a scale of ten 

 chains to the inch; the Oba Eiver to a scale of twenty chains to the inch, and a 

 general plan to a scale of two miles to the inch. Tracings of the same accompany 

 this report. 



General Features. 



Judging from the shores of the three lakes. Dog, Wabatongashene and Oba, 

 the land is for the most part useless for agriculture. At the mouth of the 

 Oba Eiver we struck the southerly limit of the clay belt, and from this point 

 down stream to Kepinagogami Lake, good agricultural land was in evidence, 

 From Post A 100 down to Pine Portage A 19, the country is very flat; in no 

 place except at rapids between B 5 and B 6 did the banks of the river exceed 

 three feet above high water mark. A good example of the flatness of the country 

 is iound at the big bend of the Oba Eiver B 8, where the water at that point 

 divides, part flowing south-westerly into Kepinagogami Lake, and the other 



