48 THROUGH CANADA 



with greater permanence than has hitherto charac- 

 terized Ontario gold camps." 



The other opinion came from Mr. R. W. Brock, 

 Director of the Geological Survey, Ottawa. 



" The district furnishes remarkably tempting 

 specimens. About 9000 claims have been staked, the 

 great majority of which have, of course, no real present 

 or prospective value as mines, but they are in Porcu- 

 pine, and can be bought or sold. But there are some 

 really good-looking prospects. Quartz is remarkably 

 widespread over the district, and visible gold is 

 abundant in some showings, and has been found at 

 numerous widely separated points. Most of the gold 

 occurrences so far located are in Tisdale township, 

 but some of the properties are in Whitney, others in 

 Shaw, and in the Forest Reserve. Porcupine is yet 

 in the prospect stage, but it has some of the essential 

 qualities of a gold camp, sufficient to have induced 

 experienced men to take up options at high figures, 

 and to undertake large expenditures to determine if 

 it possesses all the essential factors." 



The Government attitude on the subject was 

 frankly expressed by Mr. Cochrane, Provincial 

 Minister of Mines, who visited Porcupine personally 

 to investigate the prospects. On his return he 

 warned the Press that the Government were deter- 

 mined to suppress "wild catting," and make it 

 unpleasant for speculators. All dangerous or 

 illegal statements in prospectuses would come under 



