The river not com

the major part of the country as far north as the Big Bend for agricultural purposes. All along the river as far as this point the riverbank itself, with a width of two miles, is now sufficiently dry to take the plow. North of this Bend the country is decidedly wetter at any distance from the river, and cannot be described as other than muskeg. bank is still dry and high, but is posed of as good soil, being far more sandy and covered with a less luxuriant vegetation. No considerable areas of arable soil exist on the lower river. The line itself for the last 100 miles traverses almost continuous muskeg. The climate permits the raising of roots, but it is a question if cereals will ripen. Barley has been raised at Moose Factory, but its maturing cannot be depended on. For stock raising I think certain parts of the country would prove excellent, as grass grows well and the crop of roots would furnish good winter fodder.

finds of gold and copper have been reported on the Riviére Blanche. It may be that prospecting in this region might be rewarded.

on the Abitibi and Frederick House Rivers.

Water Powers.

The volume of water in the Abitibi, while subjected to enormous variations, is always Locations sufficiently great to develop power at several places. On this river at the Iroquois falls is an ideal location, with a vertical drop of 24 feet. Another excellent place is the first falls on the Frederick House river, where we have a 46-foot descent in the distance of two chains. Where vertical falls are not the rule on these rivers, we have sufficient descent within a few chains at the Oil Can portage, the Lobstick portage, the Three Carrying Places, and possibly the Sextant.

Duck, Partridge, Moose and the Furbearing Animals.

Very few are seen on the lakes and rivers farther north, but the Indians report them to be numerous on the bay, although very shy and hard to obtain. In the southern parts of the district moose are coming in from the west; red deer are almost absent, while caribou are rare. The small swampy lakes which abound in the level clay areas have at one time swarmed with beaver, which, though still plentiful, have suffered considerably from the improvidence of the hunters. As a whole the region may be considered a fair producer of the ordinary furfox, otter, fisher, marten, mink and muskrat. Geological Features.

passing into gabbro to the north. Beyond this portage Laurentian gneiss extends to the Devonian contact above the Sextant rapids. The whole region surrounding James bay is occupied by Devonian strata of sandstone, shale and limestone, the latter rock predominating. In these limestones Dr. Bell has reported gypsum and clay ironstone; the former only of these substances was seen. Regarding the surface geology, the Superficial deposits. superficial deposits in the southern part is uniformly stratified clay. Farther north boulder clay is overlaid by sand and stratified clay. The mantle is of considerable thickness, reaching to 100 feet or more.

Missanabie River.

The return trip was made via the Missanabie river. In the following paragraphs will be found a short synopsis, dealing chiefly with the navigation of the river :

I

In the Devonian Belt. From Moose island to the mouth of the Abitibi has already been described. For 16 or 17 miles above that point the Navigation of the River. river is wide and shallow, with many swift places and three that might be called rapids, the last a fairly heavy one. Numerous islands occur here and the river is wide. Five miles up, after passing a mile of continuous shallow rapids, is an open stretch for a mile and a half through an extensive deposit of gypsum known as the White Rocks. Above these beds the river narrows and contains some large islands. followed the northern channel and passed two hard rapids. Six miles above the White Rocks is Gray Goose island, past which the water runs with a stiff current, but is not shallow or rough. To Poplar isle and the junction of the Mattagami is about six miles of fair water. Above the fork the river is continuously shallow and swift for eight miles, beyond which is ten miles of fair water, but showing a good stiff current. Four miles more is a strong rapid and a mile beyond another with constant bad water to a small creek three miles above the last rapid. Above this creek are three rapids and then better water past the mouths of three rivers on the north side known as the Waboose, Atagawan and Ash rivers. Beyond the last

of these is swift water and a rapid one-half mile up. A mile or two beyond the Poplar river enters on the south side. This is a stream of considerable size and serves well as a landmark. To two streams entering close together on the north side is ten miles. On this stretch bad water extends for a mile above Poplar river, followed by a piece of good water to three rapids separated by aard stretches of a mile each. Above these streams fairly smooth water extends for two or three miles, when we pass a small island. For four miles good and bad water alternate to a fairly hard rapid. From here to the Wabiska-gami river on the north are ten miles of good water. Coal river enters from the south 10 or 12 miles on. In this reach the water is good, broken only by two minor rapids about half way. The banks here are high and consist of clay, scarped in places, and showing deposits of lignite resembling those on the Abitibi. Eight miles beyond the Coal river the Missanabie turns abruptly to the south. Two miles beyond it passes out of the Devonian area and enters Huronian belt.

Landmarks of Rapids and Portages.

In the Huronian Belt.

a

In the course of six miles southward we have a rapid, then two miles of fair water to three bad rapids. Above these is still another strong one which is best passed on the west side and a crossing made above to the foot of the Long portage on the east side. This portage is one and a half miles long and is fairly level. Above it, it is necessary to pole one and a half miles to the Stone portage of one-half mile on the same side. Between the Stone portage and the Riverside portage on the opposite side (three miles) are several hard stretches requiring poling and tracking. The Riverside portage passes a very picturesque gorge in which the river narrows to less than a chain; it is a half-mile long and level. Twenty chains of easy poling bring us to the Conquering House portage, also on the west side; it is short and easy. A few miles of good water extend above this portage, when we enter a series of rapids, consisting of four main ones and some minor ripples. Good water extends to the mouth of a river of some size from the west known as the

is on the west side, and short. Above are almost continuous rapids, then a mile of fair water to the Black Feather rapids, which are rather heavy. The lower part was poled, but with the small canoe it was found necessary to portage the upper part. Five or six miles of good water, broken only by one or two ripples of no importance, bring us to the Rock Island portage of three chains. From this portage good water extends seven miles to Kakagee rapids. They are fairly heavy; a lift-out was found necessary at one point.

Between Kakagee and Sandy bay, a distance of six miles, are four rapids, the first two light, the third heavy and the last at the foot of the portage. Sandy Bay portage is short, on the east side and past a very pretty fall. Three miles of good water bring us to Sharp Rock portage. This is a chain in length and over an island. Good water extends above Sharp Rock portage for two or three miles, when a portage is necessary on the west side. Above, poling is required for 20 chains, when we make the Beaver portage of 15 chains, also on the west side. Beyond the water is swift, rendering poling necessary for a short distance. Good water succeeds to the Albany rapids, a distance of nine miles from Sharp Rock. In these rapids the river is broad and shallow and there is a considerable fall. The rough water extends for 20 or 30 chains and can all be poled. The Albany river enters from the west a short distance above these rapids.

From the Albany river to the Devil's rapids is eight miles, the first part of which is good water to a sharp turn known as Wilson's Bend. Then succeeds swift water to the Devil's rapids. At this point and above are nine hard rapids; I found it necessary to portage three times, the last by the Sugarloaf portage on the west side. Twenty chains above is the Achuter portage on the east side. Three miles of good water bring us to the Double portage on the east side.

This portage is 25 chains in all, but is broken in the middle by a bay of the river, whence its name. The Brunswick river enters on the west side four miles above this portage. Four miles above the Brunswick river a hard rapid is caused by a spit of gneiss from the east side. Four miles more brings us to a small ripple followed by nine miles of good water to a heavy rapids requiring a lift-out. A small chute, with a drop of four feet, occurs three miles up. Six miles from here, after passing a river of some size, we arrive at St. Paul's portage on the east. A little rough water follows, and then good paddling to St. Peter's portage on the west side. In the next three miles are two long rapids to pole and then a half mile portage known as the Greenhill. It is on the south side and occurs where the river makes a bend to the north. It turns south again beyond the portage, and a mile brings us to the Wavy Rapid portage on the east side. Just beyond the river turns north again and we make another portage over an island. A short distance up is another rapid and a portage on the east side; below it is a stretch of bad water and two small ripples above. Beyond the river resumes its southerly direction, and a mile brings us to a short portage on the east side known as the foot of Swampy Ground portage. This is followed by 14 miles of clear paddling through a level swampy district. A series of rapids follows. A portage on the east side of ten chains passes the first; the next two must be poled, and the last may be run or may require a portage according to the size of the canoe. A little beyond a long rapid breaks the river for over a mile. It may in part be poled, but short portages are necessary. Another means of avoiding this obstruction is to make a half mile portage on the west side into the Nottawa river, which enters the Missanabie above this rapid. This stream is now so choked with driftwood that after descending 20 chains another half mile portage is requir ed to regain the river. Three small rapids obstruct the navigation at intervals above the Nottawa. Clear water then continues for five miles, when two hard rapids occur. The first can be poled or tracked, while a well used portage of a few chains enables us to

is so crooked that I am not in a position to describe it.

Acknow

Before closing this report I wish to express to Mr. Niven, to Mr. E. Neelands and to Mr. W. S. Ritchie, members of his ledgements. party, my sincere thanks for assistance afforded me during the summer. My gratitude is also due to Mr. Broughton of Moose Factory and to Mr. Jobson of New Post for valuable information and kindly treatment, and to the Very Rev. J. A. I am also Newnham, Bishop of Moosonee. indebted to Professor Coleman of the University of Toronto and Geologist to the Bureau of Mines for valuable advice and assistance in the preparation of this report.

URSUANT to instructions received from

URSUANT to on the Bureau of Mines to

accompany the survey party of Mr. Speight, O.L.S., upon a Meridian Line to be run from the north end of the line between the townships of Hodgins and Whitman due north to the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railroad at or near Dalton, I left Toronto July 9, 1898, in company with Mr. Speight and his assistants, and arrived at Sault Ste. Marie the day following.

The starting point of the line between the townships of Hodgins and Whitman could be most easily reached by a walk of twenty miles inland from Garden river, but it was necessary that some of the party should come in with the canoes by way of the Goulais river. My instructions required me to accompany Mr. Kennedy, forest ranger, in side-trips from the line, and to undertake a geological exploration of the tract traversed. Subsequently I was detailed to accompany Mr. Kennedy into the country east of Batchawana bay, watered by the rivers Batchawana and Chippewa.

Agricultural lands on the

Goulais.

The Goulais River Valley.

Where the road first reaches the Goulais river the Sault Ste. Marie Pulp Company have established headquarters for their winter camps. Here is a considerable clearing, and potatoes cabbages, turnips, carrots and onions were growing. The clerk informed me that this agricultural stretch extended, brokenly, onehalf to one mile on each side far down the river. But above these camps the hills close in, leaving little level land between the river and the rough upland. The north bank of the river here is of sand and gravel, the south bank is a gray clay. A few miles from the headquarters of the Pulp Company's camps is a prospect owned by the Chicago Lumber Company. Samples of ore shown me were well mineralized with galena. copper and iron pyrites. I understand that a fifty-foot shaft was sunk in 1897, and that some drifting has been done.

Rock Formations of the Line. For six miles above the camps the bed of the river is mostly gravel and sand, w th stretches covered with large pebGneiss. bles; a half mile west of the line and one and a half miles from its starting

Laurentian