SIR,—I beg to submit the following preliminary report upon work done in the Gowganda Mining Division during the field season of 1908. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, W. H. COLLINS. CHICAGO, March 8, 1909. [Illustration: Fig. 1. View at foot of Duncan Lake.] PRELIMINARY REPORT ON GOWGANDA MINING DIVISION DISTRICT OF NIPISSING, ONTARIO BY W. H. COLLINS. -------------- INTRODUCTION. LOCATION AND AREA. The portion of the Montreal River region with which the present report deals lies in the extreme western part of the District of Nipissing, in the neighbourhood of N. Lat. 47·45, and about 85 miles north of the town of Sudbury. It includes an area of 350 square miles, most of which lies between the two large branches of the Montreal river, which empties into Lake Timiskaming on the west side. STATEMENT OF WORK. The Algoma-Nipissing boundary line was run in 1897 by Alexander Niven, O.L.S. These surveys, with representations of some of the larger lakes, had been compiled by the Geological Survey of Canada on a scale of 16 miles to one inch;[1] and on a scale of eight miles by the Crown Lands Department of Ontario. With these as a guide and summary of the existing geographical knowledge it was decided to make a micrometer and prismatic compass survey of both branches. During the past season a prismatic compass and micrometer survey was made of both branches of the Montreal river and all navigable waters adjoining them. This work was done by Messrs. T. Firth, J. R. Marshall and A. B. Moffatt. Most of the small ponds lying some distance from a canoe route were located by rapid chain and compass methods, and in a few instances west of Duncan lake by a compass triangulation from hilltops; the larger ones have been measured by pacing or chaining, the smaller ones sketched. Some of the more prominent hills were located by triangulation, and their heights ascertained by aneroid determinations. The water levels were obtained in the same way, but cannot as yet be referred to sea-level. The geological work was performed by the writer, assisted by Mr. Firth. Besides a thorough examination of all the surveyed routes, a systematic examination of the intervening country was carried out as closely as the time and varied requirements of the area would permit. As this was the first season spent in the district and a continuation of the work is anticipated, the present results are offered as incomplete and subject to revision. HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT.