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i8 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

the several log-jams were located, and measured, and the positions of the
shallows were fixed. The log jams in the river are over thirty in number,
some of large dimensions.

The first jams were found about two miles from the mouth of the stream
and, in the next stretch of two miles, ten jams were located, including sever-
al logs with diameters of from 12 to 30 inches. The next three miles were
comparatively free from logs, but the stream was very shallow, with banks
of clay and sand. Jams are frequent in the next three miles, ten being
seen, several of which were marked as ‘‘bad,’’ with drift logs up to 60
inches in diameter. In the next six miles, up stream, these jams are com-
paratively rare; occasional ledges of sandstone outcrop, cutting in places
directly across the river. In the next stretch of three miles there are ten
log jams, several of which are very bad, to within about four miles of the
foot of the lake where it was found necessary to leave the canoe, the last
distance to the lake being almost clear, with the exception of one large jam.
For a couple of miles there is dead water below the outlet. At about six
miles below the lake, the stream flows through a channel cut in the sand-
stone for a distance of about half a mile, the passage being from 12 to 20
feet in width.

Many of these jams are very old and solid, the lower trees being partially
buried in the sand. At a high stage of water some of them would be cov-
ered sufficiently to pass boats of two to three feet draft, but the greater
part would have to be removed to obtain a passage for small boats from
salt water to the lake, They could, however, quite readily be removed by
proper appliances, when the water in the river is high, by means of a small
steam engine, a tug or steam scow and dynamite for the large logs. Be-
sides the log jams, the number of shallows in the stream would seriously
interfere with navigation except in high water stages.

Owing to the generally low condition of the banks and the almost im-
penetrable tangle of roots, small bush and rank vegetation, it is almost im-
possible to traverse this part of the country during the summer months,
the water in time of flood being dammed back and spreading through the
surrounding flat country in small and swampy channels, which in time also

become choked with drift wood and form an impassable jungle.

The importance of this stream as a means of inland communication is,
however, very considerable. In any attempt to work the coal seams, es-
pecially at the Wilson camp, the facilities of transport by this route—
if it could be rendered navigable—would be much greater than by
trails cut from Skidegate, a distance of seventeen miles. With the