30 Reviews — Bominion of Canada, Ottawa. 



already worked before the War for moss-litter ; this industry has 

 now ceased, 



R. H. 11. 



III. — Dominion op Canada, Ottawa. 

 Annual Report on the Mineral Production of Canada during 

 THE Calendar Year 1915. By John McLeish. pp.364. Ottawa: 

 Government Printing Bureau, 1917. 



NO doubt the delay in the publication of this report is due to war 

 conditions. It is not, however, so belated as might at first 

 sight appear, since the more important parts saw separate publication 

 at a much earlier date, and a preliminary report was issued as early 

 asFebruary, 1916; moreover, the preface is dated September 21, 1916. 



The mineral resources of Canada are very considerable, and are as 

 yet far from being fully developed. The greater portion of the 

 present production is exported for consumption or refining outside 

 the Dominion, while on the other hand considerable quantities of the 

 products of the mines, after refining or partial treatment, or in the 

 shape of manufactured goods ready for consumption, are imported. 

 Nearly half the total output, considered from the point of view of 

 value, comes from the Province of Ontario, thanks largely to the 

 richness of the nickel-cobalt-silver minerals of Cobalt, British 

 Columbia, which ranks second, coming a long way behind. The 

 whole of the copper, nickel, and silver, and much of the gold is 

 exported for treatment. It is interesting to note that of the total 

 amount of mine products exported 72 per cent went to the United 

 States and 25 per cent to the United Kingdom. Much of the Avorld's 

 supply of asbestos is contributed by Canada, and for the dozen years 

 to 1915 the exports of asbestos have averaged over 85 per cent of the 

 total shipments ; it may be noted that the mineral in question is 

 chrysotile (fibrous serpentine) and not the asbestos of mineralogists 

 (fibrous amphibole). The report covers the first complete year of 

 war, and shows clearly that already the War was having a marked 

 effect on mining; the iron and steel industry in particular was very 

 active during the year. 



The report is well and neatly arranged, so that reference to it is 

 easy, and the salient features are readily grasped. 



IV. — Summary Report of the Geological Survey, Department of 



Mines, for the year 1916. pp. ix + 419. Ottawa, 1917. 

 rilHIS large and closely printed volume gives striking evidence of 

 J[ the activity of the Canadian Geological Survej^. Owing to the 

 War the conditions ai'e necessarily exceptional, and the indoor work 

 of the department has been considerably hampered by the taking 

 over of its permanent quarters to afford a temporary home for the 

 Canadian Parliament after the great fire in February, 1916. The 

 outdoor work has naturally been largely concerned with the 

 examination of districts likely to yield products of special value at 

 the present time. One of the most important of these is tungsten, 

 which has been found in considerable quantities in the Yukon 



