way there is a good deal of hay land. The shore of the lake on the west side of Red Deer Point is very crooked; there are numerous bays, some of which are several miles deep. The distance from the north end of Coleman's Island to the main land is only some twelve chains, and it is separated from Red Deer Point by a large marsh. At first sight I took the island itself to be the main land, and I consequently proceeded to survey the west side of it. When I was about half way south, seeing no larger island as indicated on the map, it struck me that I was on the island itself, but I decided to continue its survey, having a great doubt as to the possibility of finding my way on the east side of the island. This gave me an opportunity of ascertaining the degree of accuracy of a survey depending on a micrometer only for the measurement of distances, and the result was very satisfactory. All along the west side of Red Deer Point and on the numerous islands adjacent the wood is very dense and of good size, varying from 5 to 20 inches. The timber is poplar with a good proportion of spruce. The actual growth of the forest is surprising if we take into account that there is not more than 5 to 6 inches of soil overlying the limestone, as I could often ascertain in wind falls. We reached the south-west of Red Deer Point on the 18th of July. Thence to a few miles south of Pine Creek, the timber is about half fire killed and generally of smaller size. For the first half of the distance the lake is shallow near the shore, and much hay land is met with. The beach has the same formation as before, varying from marly soil to sand, limestone and boulders. Here, at Pine Creek, the soil is of good quality and all ordinary vegetables are easily raised. About thirty families of Indians form the whole settlement of Pine Creek and Duck Bay. The timber is small (3 to 13 inches) and poplar predominates, though spruce and birch are found in good quantity. At about seven miles north of Duck Bay we again find the forest has been destroyed, presenting a scene of desolation as far as Devil's Point. The trees standing, poplar and spruce, are nearly everywhere fire killed. The timber on Birch Island has been apparently more than one-half destroyed by fire. The shore of the lake being only a few links from the border of the woods, presents the same general aspect as before. Limestone and sand, almost everywhere, form the beach and the lake bottom along the shore. We reached Devil's Point on the 2nd of August. From here to Pelican Bay there is very good timber, chiefly poplar, spruce and tamarac, The shore is very irregular and presents a fresh scene of fairy-like beauty at every turn. Good sized timber, poplar and spruce, is found all around Pelican Bay. The contour line of this bay is very broken; in fact there are really three bays united by narrows. The most southerly of these bays is very shallow and marshy, causing great difficulty in its survey. Long weeds along the shore and the difficulty of landing, due to the shallowness of the water, and to the marly soil, were constant causes of delay. Several islands, well timbered, are found in the bay. Proceeding northward on the west side of the bay we come to what was formerly "Channel Island" but now is a peninsula thickly timbered with good sized spruce. I was told by reliable persons that this change has occurred within the last ten or fifteen years. The former island is now united to the main land by a meadow a quarter of a mile wide and a mile in length, being several feet higher than the actual level of the lake. From this point to Dawson Bay and along the east shore of that bay the timber is plentiful, consisting of poplar and spruce of good size. There is no hay land, and the water is generally deep along the shore, which is composed of limestone covered with boulders. Here for the first time during the summer we could enjoy the sight of a mountain, the horizon to the south-west being formed by the outline of the Porcupine Mountains. We arrived at Shoal River on the 23rd of August. This river is the only outlet of Swan Lake into Lake Winnipegoosis, and is well named, being very shallow and full of rapids. It is a little over nine miles long and from 3 to 5 chains wide, averaging generally 4 chains. It is much influenced by the winds prevailing on the lakes; if the wind be north, the current is much less rapid, and the water deeper the nearer we come to Dawson Bay; if the wind be south the contrary is the case. The woods on each side are thick and consist chiefly of poplar. On the afternoon of the 25th of August I began the survey of Swan Lake in order to tie the survey of Swan River to my preceding work. This lake is nearly 80 miles in circumference and contains several well wooded islands. The eastern side of the lake is very picturesque; it is formed of continuous bays which generally run far into the land. The water is deep and clear, and the limestone strata of the shore are covered usually with boulders of moderate size. The south-west shore of the lake is mostly of marly soil and generally marshy weeds grow in the water some distance from the shore, sometimes as far as sixty chains, and their floating leaves render landing or coasting difficult. Near the lake the timber (poplar and spruce) is not as good as on the eastern side. The water was found to be very low in Swan River-so low that we could ascend it only for twelve miles. For that distance, the wood on each side of the river is not fit for building timber, being generally small and crooked. On the morning of the 8th of September we continued the survey of Lake Winnipegoosis from the mouth of Shoal River. The country along the south of Dawson Bay and northward as far as Deep Rock River, is well timbered with poplar and spruce, and the shore is generally rocky although marshy in places. The mouth of Deep Rock River is about 4 chains wide; this river and Red Deer River are famous for the abundance of game in the country through which they flow; the game consisting principally of moose, deer, skunk, fox, black bear and lynx. From Deep Rock River to Red Deer River the forest is nearly all fire killed. The general aspect of the shore is about the same as before, although the water is not so deep and the beach consequently wider. We established eight stations on Red Deer River; on this river we had five rapids to pass, with very strong current and shallow water. Seeing that we could not safely delay many days more before returning, and that the survey of this river could be made more advantageously another season, I now decided to discontinue the work. After having properly esta blished the last stations of the survey of the lake and of that on the Red Deer River, we left on the 23rd of September. Coming back we coasted the north and east shore of Lake Winnipegoosis. Good timber is found from Red Deer River to Long Point, i.e., all along the north shore of the lake, but from Long Point to Birch Island the forest is all fire killed. From Birch Island to Water Hen River good timber is again found. The north and east shore lines of the lake are very straight compared with the other sides; the water is deep along the shore nearly everywhere. We arrived at Westbourne on the 11th of October, and started from Winnipeg on the 14th. In concluding this report I think it will be of general interest to make the following remarks as to the method I employed in preparing my table for converting micrometer readings into chains and links. At the beginning of the season I took observations on a base carefully measured on level ground. The observations were taken at every second chain up to 20 chains, and at every five chains from 20 to 90 chains. They were taken on two different days; 1st in a bright sunshine, and 2nd on a cloudy day. Identical observations were taken at the end of the survey, and the means of all these results were used to prepare the table accompanying my returns. I think this method was calculated to ensure the greatest accuracy; the difference in the readings, due to the wear of the screw of the instrument, is supposed to have been gradual and constant. The following are some of the results of my observations taken in order to prepare the table in question : No. 13. REPORT OF J. LESTOCK REID, D. L. S. SURVEY OF ROADS IN THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. PORT HOPE, 5th January, 1888. work. In compliance with your instructions I have surveyed the following trails in the North-West Territories. 1. That portion of the Wood Mountain and Qu'Appelle trail which lies between the town site of Qu'Appelle Station and the point of intersection of the said trail with the road allowance between Ranges 16 and 17, in Township 16, west of the 2nd initial meridian. 2. The unsurveyed portion of the Qu'Appelle and Prince Albert trail from near Humboldt to McLeod's Crossing of the South Saskatchewan River. 3. That part of the trail from Carlton to Prince Albert lying west of the south boundary of Section 34, Township 45, Range 1, west of the 3rd initial meridian as far as Carlton. 4. That part of the trail from Carlton to Duck Lake lying north-west of the east limit of Beardy's Indian Reserve as far as Carlton. 5. That part of the trail from Halcrow Settlement to the Forks (of the Saskatchewan) lying north-east of the north limit of Muskoday's Indian Reserve in Township. 47, Range 27, west of the 2nd initial meridian as far as the Forks. 6 That portion of the trail along the right of the North Saskatchewan from the west limit of River Lot No. 31 of Prince Albert Settlement to the 3rd initial meridian. 7. That portion of the trail along the right bank of the North Saskatchewan from the Forks as far as the east boundary of Section 17, Township 49, Range 23, west of the 2nd initial meridian. An alteration was made in the location of the Wood Mountain and Qu'Appelle trail. At the request of His Honor the Lieut. Governor of the North-West Territories, a deviation was also made in the location of the Prince Albert and Qu'Appelle trail by instruction of the Honorable the Minister of the Interior. These slight deviations from the original trails were made in accordance with the requests contained in petitions received from settlers. Owing to a request from a number of settlers, I did not complete the survey of the trail along the right bank of the North Sascatchewan, they having forwarded a petition to the Honorable the Minister of the Interior, asking that a change be made in the last few miles of said trail, a copy of which petition and report was forwarded to you. I have stored my outfit at Prince Albert and left the horses to be wintered there. I take this opportunity of most respectfully drawing your attention to the very fine farming lands through which the trail from Qu'Appelle to Prince Albert passes, more particularly in the neighborhood of Hoodoo and the Manichenos or High Hill, where there is an abundance of good wood, hay and water. I would also beg to report on the abundant harv est reaped in the Prince Albert settlement this season, the yield being very large, and in some instances almost beyond belief. I have much pleasure in reporting to you the satisfaction expressed by the settlers for the prompt manner in which their petitions were dealt with, and their wishes met by the Department. I have the honor to be, Sir, E. DEVILLE, Esq., Surveyor-General, Your obedient servant, J. LESTOCK REID, D.L.S. |