Forr Frasrr Drviston. 21

Francois Lake Post-office is shown.) ‘The settlement gathered about here is known.
as the “ Harris Settlement.” The arable land is contained in an area seven miles
long, stretching from one mile and a half east of Harris's to five miles and a half
west, and averaging two miles in width. The shore-line is low and the tillable land
approaches quite close to it. Practically all this land is pre-empted, and is improved
in many places to a greater extent than anywhere else on Francois Lake.

There are two other areas on the lake where settlements of pre-emptors are
located. The first district begins at approximately nine miles from the head (west
end) of the lake, or near the mouth of Gladstone Creek, and, running along the
shore for nearly ten miles, is terminated by a high rocky bluff, or a spur from
Colley’s Mountain. The post-office is at Colleymount. This tract stretches up
Gladstone Creek for a few miles, there being some open spots with low meadow
land and a number of poplar patches alternated with spruce. The best land, however,
seems to be east of the creek. The shore is low and the land slopes gently back
toward Colley’s Mountain (a high hill lying a few miles north of the lake), the best
of it varying from one and a half to two miles in width. There are many open
patches on this slope thickly covered with native vegetation, but the greater part is
covered with light poplar and spruce. This land has a splendid south-west slope
and appears to be one of the best areas on the lake.

From the head of the lake to the area of land just described the shore is very
rough, and the land lying back of it rocky and unfit for cultivation, although there
are a few patches of grazing land. Close to the head of the Jake is Indian Sam's
Reserve. As yet the head of this lake and the Nadina River, which feeds it, have
to be crossed by swimming the horses and carrying other effects on a raft. It isa
comparatively easy crossing, and the Indians close by can be hired for a nominal
sum to take one across.

Napina RIVER.

The area surveyed north of this river, which flows into the extreme west end of
Francois Lake, covers a rolling, undulating country where pine, spruce, and poplar
intersperse with open grassy stretches and willow bottoms. The soil varies from.
deep black loam in the bottoms to light sandy loam, mixed with rocks, on the benches
and slopes. The Nadina River is winding and for several miles up practically no
eurrent can be noticed. The ayerage width is about 100 feet and depth from 1 to
4 feet.

Owen LAKE.

At the headwaters of the Nadina is the Owen Lake area, in which are low
rolling hills and large flat stretches often entirely free from timber. Wild grass
grows freely. Where the land is timbered the trees are mostly poplar from 3 to
6 inches in diameter.

Nortu Sipe or Ootsa LAKE.

On the north side of Ootsa Lake the arable land is distributed in much the
same manner as that en the north side of Francois Lake. (See Pre-emptors’ Map
No. 38, Nechako Sheet.) Between eight and fifteen miles from the head of the lake,
and stretching from the lake some four miles to the ridge forming the watershed
between Francois and Ootsa, is an area that has been almost entirely swept by fire.
Very narrow ravines are common. These are evidently old creek-bottoms, the creeks
having dried up, with the exception of two small ones. The top loam has been
burned off and the subsoil is a white silt. There is considerable sand in this, but it
is rich enough to produce good crops. Peavine and wild grass grow abundantly in
many parts, and strawberries are seen in places.

This area appears very dry. Irrigation no doubt would improve it much, but,
except in a few places, water is not available. If frost is not too frequent, cultiva-
tion should result in good crops.

a