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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames ss required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est fiim6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 S 6 I R|]^ORT Ol" E. B. BOT^RON, ESQ., ■a 1 ,_ ^„ STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE, ON PART OP THE BASIN OF HUDSON'S BAy^ BELONGING TO THK PROVINCE OF ONTARIO PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. TORONTO. PRINTED BY WARWICK & SONS, H8 AND 70 FRONT STREET WEST. 188«. ->'Ak.,«A?^ -. I PI (/o/) ^Hl' ^1 1 1 Provinci.\ H ' ' B (81) ^I^^K s^vv^^^v^^^^^. B I^^^Bw^gWKaBMg»gtnC:'.t " - ■ '( wB/B^^^^^^Bt ' ; ~ ~ 'flH i^^^^HHift' - " ', '^^^^B .'. ''^^1 I^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^K ' -^iSBa^l^^lE- gfl ^■■h|||H » ^^H^hH ^H »*■ REPORT jOf E, B. Borxon, Esquire, Stipendiary Magistrate, on the Territory belonging to the Province of Ontario, in the vicinity of Lake Abittibi. jPresented to the Legislative Assembly. By Command, |Pbovincial Secretary's Office, Toronto, 4th February, 1889. J. M. GIBSON, Secretary. m \\ \ I BeMona why Difficulty in Exploration lakes I Exploration ] ( t Exploration < thence { ! Exploration < £ 1 1 Drainage of . Adminietratii CONTENTS. TteMODB why the Abittibi District wm Mieotad for this aeaaon's exploration Difficulty in procuring suitable men, and journey from GoUingwood to Lake Abittibi Exploration of country lying between Upper Lake Abittibi and the Height of Land ; alao of lakes on the head waters of River Blanche Soil of this Section Timber " Minerals " Exploration of the count.-y lying between Lower Abittibi Lake and River and the Height of Land Black River— General Description of T " —West Branch General Character of Soil and Land Timber and Minerals of this Section Exploration of the Head Waters of Frederick River — Route from Round Lake to Bank Lake and thence to Nighthawk Lake Soil of this Section ^ . . . . Timber " Minerals '* Exploration of country between Nighthawk Lake and the Height of Land Soil of this Section Timber " Minerals " Drainage of Lakes and Reclamation of Land " practicable." Administration of Justice 7 8 8-10 10 10 11 11 13 18 18 14 14-16 16-17 18 18 19 19 90 21 22-24 26 rj'..".'"tr.irwc COLLIKQWOOD, Slst March, 1888. HONOURABLB O. MoWAT, Attomey-Oeneral, etc., etc., Toronto. Sib, — I have the honour to transmit herewith a Report on the territory belonging to the Province, in the vicinity of Lake Abittibi, partially explored by me last season. As heretofore, I received not only needful assistance but every kindness and hospi' tality that it was in their power to bestow, from the Officers of all the Honourable Hudson Bay Company s Posts visited. I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obedient servant, E. B. BORRON, Stipendiary Magistrate, REPOKT OF • B. BORRON, ESQ., STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE, ON THAT PART OP THE BASIN OF HUDSON'S BAY BELONGING TO THE PROVINCE OP ONTARIO. About eighty miles north of Lake Teiuiscamingue, on the Upper Ottawa, and some thirty-five miles north ot the Height of Land, the easteri n'^nndary line of the Province will, when extended, bo found to intersect a large lake, calleu ...bittibi. Long an important point in connection with the fur trade, and situated as it ia on the main canoe route from Montreal to James' Bay, this lake is not only one of the largest but most widely known of any in this northern territory. The only map, however. I have yet seen which aSords anything like a correct idea of its position, size and shape, is that issued by the Geological Survey of Canada, shewing (approxi- mately) the geology of the basin of Moose River and ac^acent country, and specially intended to illustrate Dr. Bell's Reports. Incidentally I may be permitted to remark, that our knowledge, not only of the geology but of the geography of this and most other parts of the Dominion, has been greatly enlarged by the excellent surveys and reports of Dr. Bell otnd other officers of the Geological Survey. On reference to this map, it will be seen that the extreme length of this body of water is nearly fifty miles, and its greatest breadth about twenty miles. It is, however, very irregular in shape, and so contracted at one place that the channel is only a few chains in width. The part above or to the eastward of this channel is known as " Upper," and that to the westward as " Lower " Lake Abittibi. "The upper lake or division is about thirty-two miles in length, from east to west, and varies in breadth from two miles at the narrowest to eighteen miles at the widest part. The lower division or lake is about eighteen miles in length, with an extreme width of twenty miles. The total area of both, roughly estimated, is not less, I think, than four hundred square miles. Where the Provincial boundary line will intersect the lake is not exactly known, as it has only as yet been extended a short distance north of the Height of Land. At the Hudson Bay Company's Post, situated near the south-east corner of the upper lake, a larger number of Indians are gathered during the summer, than at any other post visited by me in this territory, with the exception of Albany Factory and Moose Factory, on tfie coast of James' Bay. Several parties, in opposition to the Hudson's Bay Company, having established themselves on Lake Abittibi, there was reason to apprehend that, in the keen competition for furs, intoxicating liquor^ might be employed in the trade ; and, as the territory lying between Lake Abittibi and the Height of Land was still for the most part unexplored, it appeared desirable that I should visit Lake Abittibi this season, and after satisfying myself as to the condition of the natives and others in that part of the territory, employ the remaining time and means at my disposal in a partial examination of the region referred to. The season was somewhat too far advanced before I received authority from the Oovernment, but having done so I lost as little time as possible making such arrange- ments as were necessary. Hitherto, I have always been able to engage voyageurs at Sault Ste. Marie. Owing, however, to the great demand for men, occasioned by the construction of the -«l' Algoma Branch of the C. P. R., and the International Bridge, I foand it almost impos- sible to obtain good men from that quarter. After some little trouble and delay, however, two voyageurs were procured at Sturgeon Falls, Lake Nipissing, whither I had gone for that purpose. One of these had been out with ine before, and both were mote or less intimately acquainted with a very wide extent of country lying to the north of Lake Nipissing. Taking these men along with me, I proceeded from Sturgeon Falls to Mattawa by rail, and thence up the Ottawa River by steamers to the Hudson Bay Company's Post on Lake Temiscamingue. From thence, having obtained a guide and canoe, the usual route was followed to Lake Abittibi, which we reached on the second day of August. Although, as I was led to expect, there had been keen rivalry and competion be- tween the cn and the occasional occurrence of elm trees, convince me that, whether in regard of PSn\ ot climate, this section of the country will, under a proper system of cultivation, produce wheat and all the more valuable grain and root crops. From what I have seen I should aay that we have here in this Black river basin at least two hundred square miles of land, the greater part of which is either arable or capable of affording good pasture. TlHBKR. The timber consists of aspen, spruce, tamarao, balsam and birch, the quantity being nearly in the order stated. Oedar, poplar, ash and elm sometimes occur, but more rarely. Very few white or red pine are met with, but they will be found more plentiful, I expect, higher up the river than we were able to ascend, unless, as is too often the case, they have been destroyed by bush fires. In some few localities where the land is poor, rocky or sandy, the timber consists of Banksian pine chiefly. While the spruce will be of the greatest importance for building purposes, I consider that the aspen will, in an economic point of view, prove ultimately the most valuable, as it is the most plentiful timber in this territory, and will afford, when the country i» opened up, an almost inexhaustible supply of wood pulp for paperuiaking and other purposes. MiNERAIiS. As regards ores, or minerals of value, the rock is for the most part Huronian, and,, therefore, not unfavourable to the occurrence of copper, iron and lead, or possibly the precious metals, but the area of bare rock in that part of the Black river basin explored this season is very limited, and I was not fortunate enough to find any veins in the rocka where thus exposed to view. Such, however, may possibly be discovered in the lakes at the source of Black river and its larger tributaries. Small strings of quartz were seen in a few places, but contained no metal excepting a little iron in the state of oxide or of iron pyrites. This last is very common in most of the rocks of this section, but not in large quantities, only in the condition of specks or crystals imbedded in the rock and forming, as it were, part of it. At Round Lake we were fortunate in meeting with two Indians, whom I engaged to go with us as far as Bank Lake, on Frederick River, one of the largest tributaries of the Abittibi. The junction is seventy or seventy-five miles below that of the Black River and Abittibi River. Round Lakt) as we found it was only about two miles in diameter, but as it is sur- rounded by a wide belt of low, marshy and swampy ground, it must be very much larger earlier in the season. Starting from the Indian camping gro'ind at its outlet, we crossed the lake in a south-westerly direction to the mouth of a creek o; stream of very clear water. Had it not been that the Indians took a part of our bai^gage and supplies in their canoe, we should have experienced the greatest difficulty in crossing this lake, as well as in ascend- ing the small stream up which our route lay, owing to the lowness of the water. Four or five miles of very tedious navigation brought us to a small lake, apparently the source of this brook and to the first portage, which commences on the north side of this lake. The general course or bearing of this stretch is between N.W. and N.N.W. From this point to Bank Lake is roughly estimated at about seven miles, in the course of which five portages were necessary. The first was one and three-quarters miles in length, the second was one and one-half miles, the third one and one-half miles, and the fourth and lif th portages about quarter of a mile each. The first four terminated at small clear water 16 lakes, from a quarter of a mile to three-quarters of a mile across. The fifth or last port- age brought us to Bank Lake. In this stretch we had upwards of five miles of portaging and only about two miles of navigation or canoeing. The general course or bearing was about the same as that of the preceding sti'etch, say between north-west and north north- west. With the exception of about three-quarters of a mile of the first portage — which is through a tamarac swamp — the far greater part of the other portages are open, airy and dry, traversing as tley do undulating sandy tracts which are from &hy to a hundred feet abo\e tlie level of the little lakes just alluded to as occurring on the route. Arrived a'u Bank Lake, our Indian guides left us and returned to their families at Round Lake. The arm, or southern extermity of this lake, vhereat the last portage terminated, is from quarter of a mile to half a mile in width, and about two miles in Lngth, on a course nearly north. Whore it joins the main lake the channel, in the summer, is not more than a chain wide, and very shallow. There is generally a current at this point, and the water was flowing out of the arm wheu we passed, but very likely it runs the other way during the prevalence of northerly winds. It is therefore called " Little Current " by the Indians. On passing through this channel, which is only a few chains in length, we enter the main lake, which viewed from this point is seemingly eight or ten miles in length and from two to four miles in width. The bearing of the longer axis is northerly. On the east side tolerably high banks of white sand are con- spicuous, and hence it derives in all probability it« name. The shores elsewhere appear to be low and flat. Although very shallow at the south end — and I believe all over — very few, if any islands are visible, in which respect in difllers from Nighthawk Lake, which contains a number of islands. The water of F ^derick Kiver is derived chiefly from this lake and from Nighthawk Lake, lying to \.^e south-west. The river enters Bank I^ake about a mile and a half west of the " Little Current." The outlet is at the extreme north end, and not more, I believe than half a day's journey (in the spring) from its junction with the Abittibi River. Understanding that the Hudson's Bay Company had a small post on the Upper or Nighthawk Lake, and in view of the fact that we had only been able to bring with us a very limited quantity of provisions from Lake Abittibi, I thought it better to proceed at once to this post — which wm not very far off — and return to complete my exploration of Bank Lake and the river from thence to Abittibi river, if I could see my way to accomplish it. Arrived at the entrance of the river at the south-west corner of Bank lake, we found it four or five chains in width, and although shallow at the mouth it became deeper as we ascended, and in some places where the channel was contracted to three chains in width only, the depth was nearly twenty feet. The distance from the Lower, or Bank Lake, to the Upper, or Nighthawk Lake, is about six and a half miles, and the general course or bearing is south-westerly. The banks on both sides are low and the current is very gentle, although in the spring of the year it may be otherwise. Soon after entering the lake we observed aa Indian camp on the west side, and on going ashore ascertained from an elderly Indian woman and young girl, its sole oceupants, that the Hudson Bay Company's post was deserted, the officer in charge, who had gone to Metachewan for supplies, not having as yet returned. They further informed us that Dr. Bell had visited this lake about two weeks before us, and had returned to Metachewan, from whence he had come. On arriving at the Hudson Bay Company's post, which is situated on the west side of the lake, three miles or so from its outlet, we found the place locked up and no one there, as the woman had led us to expect. This, like many other outposts, as they are called in the Territory, is \naintained partly for the convenience of the Indians in winter, who would otherwise be compelled to travel lon^ distances on snow shoes to the principal posts to trade their furs for such articles as they stood in need. They would thus lose time which might be more profitably employed in trapping. They might possibly also fall into the hands of opposition traders, and the Hudson Bay Com- pany, who are almost always under heavy advances to the Indian hunters, might thus lose the furs altogether. The servants or postmasters at these outposts, having collected I; ii i ii 16 all the furs they can during the winter and spring, often luck up their houses and stores, and in the month of June go oP.' in their oauoes to headquarters, where they remain until August or September, when they return wit'a a frosh stock of goods and provisions for the next winter's trade. No stronger proof could be afforded of the honesty of the Indians in this Territory. From the outlet of Nightliawk Lakb to the poat, as has alrendy been observed, is about three miles, and the boaving is about south south-west (S.S.W.). From the post to tht mouth of the principal feeder or tributary, called Big Mouth River, the course is between S.E. and S.8.E, and the distnnce roughly estimated nearly six miles. About midway of I .e stretch long armii are given off, one of which extends towards the N.N.E. and the other S.W. The length of the lake in this direction is variously estimated from twenty to twenty-tive miles. The width of these arms does cot ai>pear to exceed three miles, however, at any point, so far as I could judge, but I did not traverse the lake in that direction and was unable, owing to the lowness of the «hore and the number of islands, to get a good birds-eye view of it. This i \ke, like that below, is very shallow. Its depth does not exceed nine feet in some of the widest parts As on Lake Abittibi a moderately strong wind raises a very nasty sea, and the weather was unfortunately boisterous during the short stay I was able to make. We ascended the Big Mouth River about fourteen miles in a S. S. W. direction, without meeting with any obstruction other than drift wood, and that only in the last few miles. The depth is from twelve to twenty feet, and width from one to two chains. There is scarcely any perceptible current in the lower ten miles, and very little anywhere as far as we ascended. The canoe route from Nighthawk Lake to Metachewan is up the river for some nine Often miles. At this point it strikes E. to N.E. by a long portage to a clear water tributary which joins Big Mouth River, (the water of which is very dark), some three miles lower down. Only one of my two voyageurs had passed over this route before, and that but once, many years ago. We experienced therefore some difficulty and delay in finding it. Having succeeded however at last, I concluded^ in view of all the circumstances, but more especially Dr. Bell's recent exploration, my somewhat scanty stock of provisions, the absence of the Hudson Bay Company's officer, and the possibility of my voyageurs experiencing further difficulties and delays in finding the route to Metachewan, that it would not be expedient to remain longer to explore either Nighthawk or Bank Lakes. Before entering upon the next stretch, however, I will describe the country passed through, on our route from Round Lake to this point under the usual heads. Soil. Between Round Lake and Bank Lake, I saw but a very small proportion of good arable land. It consists for the most part, either of low-lying and wet marshy ground or ridges, from fifJy to sixty feet in height, of " drift " — chiefly sand. These ridges might be more properly described as " plateaus," for they extend apparently in some cases a number of miles in all directions, the surface undnlatin^', level or gently sloping. Owing to the lightness and dryness of the soil, it would seem that these areas are periodically swept over by fire, or whenever sufficient vegetable matter has accumulated to burn. What timber there is, consists of Banksian pine, almost exclusively. Such of these as have escaped destruction, are, thinly scattered and not large. With a few shrubs and bushes of other kinds, they serve to give the land a pretty park-like appearance. The ground, usually unencumbered with dead wood or fallen trees, is smooth and even, ■with little or no underbrush or covering, unless it be a carpet of beautiful white crisp moss, or a thin growth of dwarf blueberry bushes. Here and there a boulder may be seen of the harder Laurentian or Huronian rocks lying to the north, resting upon the surface, or half buried in the sand, and imparting a weird or wild appearance to the scene as viewed in the dim twilight. To the geologist, who imagines at least, that in both the boulders and the sand he sees the ruins of an ancient world, these solitudes are more particularly striking and impressive. To the voyageur or explorer who has been iM 17 toiling through a muskeg or tamarac swamp, the change is a verji agreeable one, when iht) portage he has been following omerges on to these open dry ridges. If sown with ^rass seed suited to the soil (a very light sandy loam), this land may p-»SMi^' y RfFord pasture of more or less value for sheep and cattle, but otherwise it appears almost worthless. Tbe sand at or near the surface is generally destitute, or nearly so of luae, but at greater depth it is not unfrequently calcareous, and in many insti^nces rests upon <:alcareous clay or marl. Hence, wherever we find ravines and lake basins, the soil contains a larger proportion of lime and alumina, and is not nearly so arid or dry. The greater .'ertility of the soil and more abundant moisture in such nituations, cause a very great and sometimes sudden change in the size and character of the timber ; aspen, spruce and birch of good size, t«iking the place of the Banksian and pitch pine. On the «ast side of Bank Lake, the land is I believe principally of the light sandy nature above -described, and extends as far north, probably, as the lake itself. I took a sample from the bank on that side near " Little Ourrent," and found that it etfervesced freely with muriatic acid, thus indicating the presence of a notable proportion of lime. The land on the west side of Bank Lake, is seemingly low near the shore, as is also the land on both sides of Frederick River, between Ba>ik Lake and Nighthawk Lake. The soil is a -clay loam, and the clay if not calcareous immediately at the surface, is generally so at two feet or so in (^ )pth. The timber consists chiefly of spruce, aspen and tamirac, but tiot generally of large size. The soil is fairly good and there are few if any rocks or atones, but the land is for the most part too low and wet to be arable. On Nighthawk Lake, the soil is also a clay loam, and on the south and west sides there is, I believe, a very considerable extent of arable land which will some day be settled and cultivat«d; Potatoes the only thing we found planted at the Hudson Bay Com- pany's little post, grow well. We dug up a few, and found them large and of good quality. And the officer in charge (whom I afterwarda saw at Metachewan) informed me that they always came to maturity, and that he believed all or nearly all, the most common root and grain crops would do so. There are extensive marshes capable of yielding a large quantity of grass and hay, which cannot fail to be valuable to the first settlers. On the Bigmouth River, I noticed elm trees not very large but healthy, and black ash in many places. The spruce and aspen aie especially large on the river bottoms. Some of the latter being nearly seven feet in circumference. I am fully convinced that wheat may be grown here with quite as good, if not better, prospect of arriving at maturity than most parts of the North-West. Owing to the greater depth of the snow and to the circumstance that it remains cimatantly on the ground from the commence- ment until the end of the winter, I am very strongly of the opinion that there is a wide belt of land in this territory extending from our eastern to our western boundary, in which fall wheat can be cultivated more successfully than on the north-western prairies where it is liable to be winter killed. I thihk it very probable that the land on Frederick River, between the point where it issues from Bank River and its junction with the Abittibi River, will be found equal if not superior to the greater part, if not to the best of that on either Bank Lake itself or Nighthawk Lake. Although my men spoke of it as being not much more than half a day's journey by canoe in the spring of the year, I am persuaded this stretch cannot be less than forty miles. Neither of them had ever descended the river, and at any rate very long distances can be covered on many of these northern rivers, when descending them in a light canoe at that season of the year. On the occasion of my first journey to Moose Factory, we camped upon art island at the Junction referred to, and I recollect noticing with surprise the very great size of many of the trees which had .pparently been brought down Frederick River during the spring freshets and lodged ou the upper «nd of the island. ^ Should I be spared to go north again I will endeavor to explore the land on this stretch of the river which has produced such trees as those I then saw. I have a great desire to ascertain also what difficulties, if any, there may be in regard of the drainage of Bank Lake and Nighthawk Lake, both of which are exceedingly shallow. 2(8i) 18 • Timber. There is no timber in this section of any economic value from a lumberman's point of view. Some red and white pine were seen on the south-east arm of Bank Lake and on Nightbawk Lake, principally red pine, but they were widely scattered and few in number. They appeared to be somewhat more plentiful on the south-west arm of the last mentioned lake. The spruce on the river bottoms is frequently well grown and of good size. About twelve miles up Bigmouth River, I measured seven trees which were from forty-eight to sixty-five inches in circumference at the butt and growing on a space not exceeding 100 square yards. The largest tree was 100 feet in height, and measured about forty inches in circumference at half its length, or nay fifty feet from the ground. The river bottoms however on which trees of this size generally grow, are not very wide. Tamarao is common on the low wet swampy ground, but is not often large, rarely ex- ceeding four feet in circumference at the outt. Aspen poplar is plentiful wherever the soil is moderately dry and good. Banksian pine is the most common tree on the light sandy ridges, as also on sand plaf'is or flats if sufficiently elevated to be dry. Oedar, balsam, birch, ash and elm are all met with in greater or less numbers, but are not so- common as the other woods above mentioned. Minerals. m^ . Between Round lake and Bank lake I nowhere met with rock " in situ," and only in one or two places on the Frederick river — between Bank lake and Nighthawk lake. On the west side of the latter lake the exposures are more frequent, but limited to pointa and islands, and never rising more than a few feet above the water nor extending far inland. In fact the rock is almost entirely overlaid to a greater or less depth by the gravels, sands and clays, of glacial origin, as I believe. While it is obvious to even the most superficial observer — thac the boulders, which are embedded in these, have been transported or brought from the north, a careful examination of the gravel, sand and clay, will, I am persuaded, satisfy any one whose mind is unbiased by preconceived notions or theories, that the material, at all events, of these gravels, etc., has also come from the north. While some, not only of the finer materials, but boulders many tons in weight, have apparently been brought Severn) hundred miles, others have evidently been torn from rock " in place" not more than a few miles away. The rock, where visible, is most frequently Huronian, consistin;^ of micaceous cbloritic and silicious schists ; some of the latter resembling in appearance what is com- monly known as clay slata I noticed on Frederick river one small exposure that seemed to me quartzite, and on one of the tributaries of Bigmouth river I observed diorite. In some places the underlying Lau.-entian rock has been denuded and laid bare. It consisted, where seen, either of massive hornblendic gneiss or syenite. A very large trap dyke appears on the west side of Nighthawk lake — a short distance from the Hudson Bay Ooropany's post, the course of which seems to be nearly north and south. It is not less than fifty or sixty feet in width and dips slightly toward the east. It is a. dark coloured trap, spotted rather peculiarly with a light greenish yellow mineral, which I have met with before, but do not exactly know the name or nature of. A large dyke of the same kind of trap is to be seen, if I am not mistaken, at Sturgeon falls on the Muttagami river. I only found one vein and that was in what appeared to be micaceoua schist on Frederick river, midway between Bank lake and Nighthawk lake. Iron pyritea was the only mineral it contained, so far as I could judge by the eye. I do not think, on the whole, that either Bank lake or Nighthawk lake offers a very inviting field t» explorers, but, as already stated, I was only able to examine a small part of either of these lakes and that very hurriedly before I was obliged to turo my steps southward for Metachewan. Alter ray voyageurs had succeed»)d in finding the first portage from Bigmouth river to the Clearwater branch on the east side before mentioned, they managed to pick out jtud follow the route much better than I had supposed was likely. 19 which The distanoe from the south end of Nighthawk lake to the Height of Land, follow- ing the benda and binuosities of the route, is not more than about thirty-four miles, roughly estimated ; but, as there hupiiens to be no fewer than seventeen portages, varying in length from a few chains to three miles (or about eleven miles in all), over which everything had to be carried, it is, at best, a very hard bit of country to get through. The Clearwater stream, at which the tirst portage terminated was only navigable, and that with difficulty, for two and a half miles. Thereafter, commencing with the third portage, the routH is a succession of portages, from one small lake to another, until the Heif^ht of Land is reached. Most of these lakes are less than half a mile in length, some of them mere ponds. Only one of the whole chain exceeds a mile ; that is about Ave miles long and half a milo in breadth, and is called Big-trout lake. The water in all thesn lakes, some fifteen in number, is remarkably clear, and speckled trout were seen in several of them. 1 think it is probable that all are drained directly or indirectly by the Clearwater branch of Bigmouth river. Knowing that Dr. Bell would mur feet from the ground. They were well-grown trees, carrying up their thickness without- boughs or branches to a good height. As;ain, on the seventh, eight and ninth portages, or say from the 20th to the 24th mile, I saw single trees and numerous loga lying rotting on the ground of both red and white pine of good size. There was more or less pine too on the lake immediately south of the ninth portage and upon Big trout Lake, only three chains separate therefrom. Bu' in the stretch from Big-trout Lake to the Height of Land (about live miles) I noticed very few either red or white pine, the timber (where any) consisting principally of P>anksian pine, spruce and aspen, the latter chiefly on the sixteenth portage and the lake at the south extremity thereof, where the soil is of better quality than usual. On both sides of the Height of Lard fires have, within the last forty years, passed over and doKtroyed the timber of an enormous extent of country. Much of this timber consisted of pine, and the loss to the Province in that timber alone must be many millions. Of the remaining pine bearing territoi y it is morally certain that in spite of every precaution a considerable portion will in like manner be destioyed before the timber can be cut down and removed. This loss, serious as it undoubtedly is, would be at least somewhat migitated if red or white pine would again spring up and grow on this burnt land. In due time it would replace that which the fire had destroyed. But the succeeding growth is seldom if ever the same, more especially on the" light sandy or. gravelly tracts which I have just been describing. This may be owing to one of three ^ausps. Either (1) the soil is for a time rendered incapable of growing red or white pine, or (2) it favors the growth of some other tree or plant, which displaces pine, or (3) the seed of the pine has been destroyed by the fire. That immediately after a fire the soil may be temporarily less favourable to the growth of pine is probable. That in the struggle. for existence this less favorable con- dition of the soil may turn the scale in favour of some other kind of tree is also \ oiBible. But, while attaching some importance to these causes, I am indited to think that the principal reason why other trees replace the red and white pine is tj be found frequently in the fact that the seed has been almost entirely destroyed. While the seed of the aspen, poplar, willow, and other trees in this territory is so admirably adapted to that end, that by the simple action of the wind they are sown broadcast almost immediately h W over the burnt country. The cones of the pine are too heavy and cumbersome it seems ta me to be thus carried more than a short distance from the trees which have produced thorn. Hence the distribution of this seed over vast tracts of burnt land fcom t^e outside, or from the few distant and widely separated pine trees wiiich may have escaped the fire, would, in the absence of other agencies, require a great length of time. Water plays an important part in the distribution of the seeds of many plants and trees but is inoperative in this case. There is no question, however, that animals and birds, if not insects, ar'> active agents in the distribution of the seeds of many trees and plants. Among birds I have noticed that the cross-bill, common in our northern territory, feeds partly at least on the tfones of the Banksian pine, and may thus be an active agent in the distribution of ita 81 ■rywhere, iH cRrtain all Bomn noHt totdl I be very [le belt of pine and vhich had lighthuwk rth end of eo or fiiur sa witliKut- ind ninth eroiiR loga was more I Big- trout ut Lake to B pine, the , the latter whore the lars, passed this timb»-r it be many in spite of before the ;ated if red ae it would loin if ever e just been I for a time some other )yed by the ible to the orablo con- so 1 ossible. »k that the frequently seed of the ited to that lediately nil it seems to- luoed them, b^e outside, escaped the ne. Water id trees but ar" active >ird8 I have least on the mtion of it* Hoed, which, in many instances that have c-orao under my observation, is tho tiist to spring up on tho dry and sandy ridges. Among the liniiiiaJH of this country I am of opinion that the squiri'el is one of the most industrious and useful agents, oipecially in the distribution of nut bearing trees and of the pine, the cones of which I have ott*'n noticed them gathering, carrying away and burying or hidin:< quite a long distance from the trees from which they were taken. Afthouj;;h vast numbers of them must perish in the fires I am inclined to think that those which escape, and others oii uiiburnt but (Oii- tinguous1)ush, may render more or less valuable aid and assistance in replanting these burnt lands with pine. It might be worth while to enquire what part the squirrel really plays in thit> important mutter, and if he should be found to be one uf nature's must intelligent, active and industrious agents, whether as a forester-in-chief or in a much more humble capacity helping as far as in liim lies to replant with our most valuable timber these burnt lands, this poor little creature, which is being ctuelly, thoughtlessly and often need- lessly destroyed, niiyht, in unorganized and unsettled regions at all events, reCeixe some small measure uf protection at the hands of the law, such as ip accorded to insec- tivorous birds, to fur-bearing aniniHls and game. Whatever else this northern part of the Province may be valuable for, no one who has ever visited it or read the reports of others who have, can entertain any reason- able doubt as tu its fitness at all events to grow trees. These trees may not be exactly everything that we could wish either in respect of kind or quality, but in view of the rapidly increasing population and consumption tf timber on this continent, of the equally rapid destruction of its forests, and of the inadequacy of the efforts made to replace them, nothing can be more certain than that in the near future any kind of timber whatever that this vast territory may be capable, spontaneously or otherwise, of producing will be required and become of more or less economic importance. In order to obtain the best results, however, tho judicious and timely intervention of man is indispensably necessary. A judicious expenditure in the drainage of lakes marshes and swamps, if not also of muskegs, in promoting the growth of tho more important trees and plants and at the same time in repressing the growth of those of least value, in the prevention of bush- fires, where certain to be hurtful, and in the cautious use or employmont of fire where likely to be beneficial, as it sometimes undoubtedly is — such an expenditure (however large) would, I verily believe, in due time be returned to the Province many fold, in the vastly increased extent of our forests and tbr Letter quality of th.' timber obtained. Unfortunately, though it is easy to pen>aade peoples and logislatures to launch out in expenditures the benefits anticipated from which are immediale, it is almost hopeless to expect them to do so if the returns, however large, are distant or tend to the advantage chiefly, if not wholly, of posterity. It might not be amiss, however, to remember that while drawing so largely on the patrimony that has descended to us in the matter of timber it may not be either unfair or unwise to make some such pro- vision as I have suggested for the future, even if the benefits anticipated should fall chiefly to the share of the children or grandchildren of the present generation. I know few instances in which the borrowing of the money necessary and its prudent and economical expenditure would be, I shall not say as justifiable, but commendable or which would be fraught with greater benefits and advantages to them, even if the/ should have, ultimately, to pay both the principal and the interest. Minerals. As regards minerals I have merely to say that the only place where any rock " in situ " worth mentioning was met with in this section is on the lake called Big trout Lake. The rock at the north end of this lake is either syenite or massive horn-blendic gneiss and is there associated with a dull brick-red rock, which I remember seeing on Lake Kneogamissee on the Mattagami river and have noticed elsewhere, generally, as I 22 imagined, at or near the junction of the Laursntian and Huronian rocks. About the uiiildle of the lake the rook is, I think, Huronian on the west, if not on both sides. And here there art favorable indications of copper ; indeed I found a vein which contained the green carbonate, as well as the yellow ore, known an coppnr pyrites, but not in paying quantity, even if the vein had been advantageously situated for working. THE PRACTiOABILlTY OF DRAINING MANY LAKES AND THEREBY RECLAIMING LARGE AND VALUABLE TRACTS OF LAND. There is one feature common to almost all the lakes in this territory which I regard as of the greatest importance in estimating its capabilities and value in an agri- cultural point of view. And that is — the remarkable shallowness of the water, and the apparent ease with which many of these lakes can be drained and vast areas of fertile land reclaimed. For instance, in this south-eastern portion of the territory we have Lake Abittibi with an area of not less than four hundred square miles — and incredible as it may appear — a mean depth of water, in the summer, not exceeding in my opinion ten /eel. The soundings taken by us on the south side of the lake never exceeded nine feet, even in the widest stretches and when furthest from the shore. I have been told, how- ever, that it is somewhat dee[)er on the north side of the lake — though shallow even there. Then we have Bank Lake — fhe area of which is seemingly thirty or forty square miles — and the average depth of which, jtidging from what I saw of it, does not exceed six feet. And thirdly — there is Nighthawk Lake with its marshes, covering an area of at least one hundred square miles, and yet nowhere, that we tried, is it more than ten feet in depth. Thus without taking into account the smaller lakes, such as Round Lake, and numerous marshes, I find in the comparatively limited section explored this season, no less than five hundred square miles or three hundred and twenty thousand acres — the far greater part, if not all, of which can in my opinion be draineid at a very trifling cost as compared with the value of the land reclaimed. Lake Abittibi is very advantageously situated in this respect — there being at its outlet a fall "called Couchiching" — which is estimated to be about fifty feet. If the apparently narrow reef of rock ov^r which the water descends were only partially removed, it would, so far as 1 '.m al to dee and judge, in all probability completely drain the greater portion of the lake t ^ve. In Europe very costly operations v this description have been undertaken, with the view of reclaiming areas of land, a tithe only of what might be expected in the -case of Lake Abittibi. One notable instance is that of Haarlem Lake in Holland, where forty thousand acrea of fine land were thus reclaimed. In that case, however, the water had actually to be pumped out. This, ditHcult ac it may appear, was successfully accom- plished by an English Company, who employed several large and ^powerful steam- «ngines made if I am not misoaken in Oornwall, famous in those days if not still, for the excellence of its pumping engines and machinery. It took a number of years, how- ever, to drain the lake, and even when completed, some of the engines had to be retained in order to keep it drained, for the bed of the lake being below the level of ^)he sea, the water could not be otherwise got rid of. Lake Abittibi, on the other hand, is at least seven hundred feet above the level of the sea, and at its outlet there is a sudden drop or fall of fifty feet, or to a level forty feet below the bottom of the lake. The reef of rock which occurs at this place has at onetime been much wider, if not higher than it is at present. But 'the action of the water and ice, operating slowly but surely during unnumberrd agos, has broken down and removed by far the greater part of this barrier ; and now, so far as I am a'ble to see, there remains comparatively little to be done in order to complete the drainage of this immense lake. If a passage were cut through the remaining jjortion of this reef of rock sufficiently wide iind deep to discharge or let off the water at this point, very little further expense would, 28 8. About the bh sides. And liich contained •3, but not in )rking. THEREBY AND. itory which I lue in an agri- ivater, and the ireas of fertile Lake Abittibi >Ie as it may inion ten feet. led nine feet, len told, huw- shallow even [• forty square les not exceed ing an area of lore than ten Round Lake, id this season, isand acres — very trifling being at its feet. If the ly partially completely taken, with 3cted in the iud, where , the water ully accom- rful steam- lot still, for years, how- had to be the level of the level of level forty lace has at tion of the oken down im a\)le to Irainage of iently wide nse would, I think, be necessary. The main river and tributary streams would soon excavate chan- nels for themselves in the clay of which, in my opinion, the bed or bottom of the lake is chiefly, if not entirely comptsed. The uniformity ol the depth, the colour of the water and the character of the soil in the marshes and swamps, as well as on the islands, all tend to confirm nie in the belief that the greater part of the bed of the lake is clay or clay-marl. There may be areas where more or less sand has been deposited upon and covers the clay, and there may be places where peaks of the underlying rock may rise above both the clay bottom and the wrtter itself forming islarf^" id the lake ; but these, in my opinion, constitute but a small part of the whole. That this deposit of clay is of considerable thickness I infer, from the fact — that wherever there is a current, whether it be near the mouths of the tributary streams for a greater or less distance before they enter the lake, in channels of the lake itself, or at and below its outlet, I have invariably found in both this and other lakes similarly situated, that the depth of the water in such places greatly exceeds that of the lakes themselves, being rarely less than fifteen and sometimes as n uoh as thirty feet. In order to this, the bed must be composed of material easily excavated and removed by a moderate current of water, and on examination this is almost always found to be clay. As regards the fertility and value of the land thus reclaimed, I have no sufficient data to guide me. T am well aware that there may be, ani probably is, a great difference in th^ amount as well as in the kind of organic matter in the sediments deposited in our lakes and in those of Central Europe. I am even inclined to believe that this difference is likely to make in favour of the greater fertility of land reclaimed from lakes in old and densely peopled countries, or in warmer climates where land and water alike teem with animal-life. Still I do not see why the soil should qot be as fertile, if not more so than much of the land in the older parts of Ontario or even in the North' West. This is a questiou of the first importance, but one notwithstanding, which can only be decided by actual experiment. I have already observed that it is by no means improbable that the climate of a wide belt of this northern territory is better adapted for the growth of fall wheat than that of Manitoba, and it is at least possible that the calcareous clay or marl which forms the bed of this, and many other lakes north of the Height of Land, may prove when properly drained and worked a good wheat soil. If this sj^ould happily turn out to be the case, or even if the soil and climate he less suited to the growth of wheat, but capable of yielding abundant crops of barley, roots and grass, this land must, beyond doubt or question, become sooner or later of great economic importance and value to the people of this Province. Lake Abittibi is situated aboutr five degrees or say three uundred and fifty miles due north of Toronto, and is nearly equidistant from Toronto and Montreal. It lies to the south of any part of Manitoba or of our North- West territories, and even of some parts of the north shore of Laker Superior. Roughly speaking, this part of the dis- puted territory is no further from Toronto than Sault St. Marie. When this Abittibi section of the country is opened by means of railways, it will be really much more advantageously situated, in respect of markets for its produce, than Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, or any other part, in short, of the North- West. If the projected railway from North Bay, Lake Nipissing to Lake Temiscaraingue should be constructed and afterwards extended to Lake Abittibi, this part of the terri' tory will be about 376 miles only from Toronto and 540 miles from Montreal by rail. Comparing these distances with those of the places above mentioned from the same cities, we find that Abittibi is some 880 miles nearer than Winnipeg, 1,240 miles nearer than Regina, and 1,720 miles nearer than Calgary to Toronto, Montreal, Boston or New York. Thus, whether the climate and soil of this Abittibi country be best fitted for the growth of grain, the raising of cattle or for dairy husbandry, the produce can be sent to the markets of Europe by way of Montreal, or to those of the United States by way of Toronto or Hamilton at very much less cost for carriage or transportation than like articles produced in the more distant North- West. Should the navigation of Hudson's bay and straits prove practicable, Abittibi is not more than two hundred miles from either Moose Factory or Rupert's House on James' 24 Bay. Bub failing that as a safe and reliable route, it is quit« within the bounds of possi- bility, nay even probable, that when this territory is fully developed and settled, those products intended for European markets will be sent by rail to the Saguenay river or Hamilton inlec and shipped thence to their destination. Another transcontinental railway has vet, in my opinion, to be made — a railway which will pass north of Lake Winnipeg and have its Atlantic terminus probably on Hamilton's inlet, and its Pacific terminus on or about Portland inlet, if not further north. This railway must pass through the territory claimed by Ontario north of the Height of Land, probably through this fertile belt and at no great distance north of Abittibi. When completed, this section of the country will be brought as near (if not nearer) to the markets of the Old World as Toronto itself. Another important factor in estimating the value of the land that may be thus reclaimed is suggested by the consideration that it will be " cleared land." Wild lands in the older provinces are encumbered with trees and under-brush which must be cut down and burnt up before they can be cultivated at all. This clearing of bush-land is itself a laborious and expensive operation ; but if the stumps and the roots of the trees have also to be removed as they must be in order to admit of proper cultivation, and the use of labor-saving machinery, the cost is greatly enhanced. But the soil of these lake basins when drained will, I apprehend, bo not only unen- cumbered with trees and roots, but absolutely fiee from noxious weeds if not also in such a state of tilth as to alliw of the seed, grass or grain as most suitable, being at once sown or put into the ground. Thus, as compared with the prairie land of the far off North- West, reclaimed land Buch as I have described, at or near Lake Abittibi, is, other things equal, much more valuable as being from eight hundred to eighteen hundred miles nearer to the common mar- kets for the produce of both. And as compared with the wild lands of the older provinces, it is (other things being equal) much more valuable, inasmuch as the soil will be ready for the reception of the seed, and therefore should be worth as much as cleared land in Western Ontario if not elsewhere. I shall not enter into any calculation of the expenditure that may be necessary to drain these lakes. That will vary almost indefinitely according to circumstances ; and in order to make any even approximately correct or reliable estimates, very careful examinations by competent men would be requisite in each case. I will simply repeat my firm belief, " that the cost will be trifling as compared with the value of the land reclaimed." I may bo too sanguine in regard of the results to be expected from the drainage of the lakes in this territory. But the possibility of being able to drain them and of thus reclaiming, at a moderate cost, such vast areas of land as we find either altogether under water or in the condition of marshes, swamps and muskegs in this northern territory, is a subject, in my opinion, second in importance to no other as bearing on the fitness of the country for settlement and its value not only to the Province of Ontario but to the Dominion at large. It is a subject in which I have felt the deepest interest, and which I have kept more or less in view during all my explorations. It is one, moreover, which has not attracted as yet that attention from engineers and capitalists which I think its importance deserves. For not only in this disputed territory but in many other parts of Ontario and of the olde." provinces may be found numerous lakes so favourably situated as to admit of their being more or less completely and easily drained, and the drainage of which would be most profitable even in a financial point of view if reasonable arrange- ments could only be made with the governments and the proprietors of the land fronting upon or adjacent to such lakes. Holding these views in regard to the reclamation of *.he soil and the agricultural resources of our northern territory, and as to the possibility at least of its proving of immense importance and value to the province, I regret exceedingly that our northern boundary should still remain unsettled. But for this delay, steps would ere this have been taken to set all doubtful questions relative thereto at rest. I may be wrong, but am nevertheless fully persuaded, that both the commercial and manufacturing interests of the Province of Ontario will be more surely and etfeotually IS 25 promoted by the opening up and development of the modest resources of our own terri- tory in the immediate north than those of the far off western prairies, of the Rocky Mountains, or of the still more remote and distant regions of the Mackenzie river. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. As stated in the first part cf this report, I had some reason to apprehend that com- petition Laving at length sprung up at Abittibi between the Hudson Bay Company and opposition traders, intoxicating liquors might be introduced and employed in the fur trade, and thus the Indians, comparatively few of whom are able to use such liquors in moderation or to abstain therefrom altogether, would be cheated and demoralized if not killed, as many doubtless are in those sections of the country where untaught and untrained to habits of self-control, this terrible temptation comes suddenly upon them. Aside from the injuries they may inflict upon each other, their mode of life exposes them to many dangers when intoxicated. They upset their canoes and are drowned in the summer, or lie out and are frozen in the winter, and are always liable to maim or disable themselves or others with guns and axes which are rarely out of their hands. I was glad, however, to learn from the Rev. Father Nedlec that, much to the credit of all engaged in the trade, intoxicating liquors have not as yet been employed. Father Nedlec has been the zealous and indefiitigable Catholic missionary among the Indians not only at Abittibi but in nearly the whole of the disputed territory ever since my appoint- ment as Stipendiary Magistrate. He visits his people as far north as Albany Factory every year, and we have repeatedly met on the Abittibi river and on the coast of James' Bay. At Abittibi the native population is almost entirely Catholic, and here, therefore, more particularly, the worthy Father has great influence — an influence which, he assured me, he has exerted and would continue to exert to prevent a traffic so demoralizing and ruinous to the Indians as he was well aware that in intoxicating liquors would be. This waa more especially satisfatory to me, inasmuch as the Hudson Bay Com- pany's post is in a sort of no man's land. It may be in Quebec, in Ontario, or in unor- ganized territory, and this uncertainty must continue until the boundary question is settled. While many (possibly a majority) of the Indians who trade at this post and are camped there during the summer have their hunting ^^Tounds in the territory claimed by Ontario, the post itself lies, in all probability, to the east of the provincial boundary, and if so it cannot possibly be situated within my jurisdiction. Nor is it so far as I am aware within the jurisdiction of any other magistrate whether of the Dominion or Province of Quebec, This state of things has a direct tendency to encourage lawlessness by the supposed impunity with which minor offences such as those arising out of the sale of liquor to Indians can be committed. As opposition traders (sometimes unprincipled) penetrate further into the territory which, owing to increased facilities of transport by railways and steamers, .they are gradually doing, this danger will increase. And it is to be hoped, in the interest of the Indians and of the law-abiding fur traders — be they officers of the Hudson Bay Company or others — that this state of doubt and uncertainty will not be j)ermitted to continue. I have now only to add that, on leaving the Hudson Bay Company's post ^.c Metachewan, I took the route which led to their post on Lake Tamngaming, and thence down the Tamagaming and Sturgeon rivers to Lake Nipissing. The region thus traversed presents some features of interest both in respect of minerals, timber and soil. But as it is not included within the limits of the territory which is the subject of this report, I think it will be better, if required, to submit a separate report in reference thereto. Respectfully submitted, E. B. borron; Stipendiary Magistrate. 3(31) KHiv^VTOTW*