Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

172
Registrar George Loimt W.Gwilirmbnrry
Inspector of Licenses John Moberly Barrie.
Crown Lands Agent John Alexander ... Do.
Superintendent of Schools Rev. S. B. Ardagh. Do.
District Clerk John McWatt Do.
Clerk of District Court J.Lane Do.
Deputy Clerk of Crown H. H. Gowan Do.
Collector of Customs W. Simpson Penetanguishine.
Warden
None
Coroner
None
Nuviber of Common Schools in operation in the District.—West Gwillimbury,
seventeen ; Medonte, seven ;
Tecumseth, seventeen ; Mono, ten ; Adjala,
eight ; Innisfil, eight; Essa, six; Vespra, two; Mulmur, two ; Oro, ten ; Tiny,
one; Sunnidale one ; Flos, 3; Orillia, one ; Nottawasaga, three. Total, 96.
SIMCOE LAKE.
A Lake situated partly in the Home and partly in the Simcoe Districts. It
commences about thirty-five miles north from Toronto, and is in length nearly
thirty-miles, and in its widest part about eighteen. It is said to be al)out 170
feet above Lake Huron, into which it discharges itself, through Lake Gougichin,
the Severn River, and the Georgian Bay. The scenery of Lake Simcoe is very
picturesque, its shores being very much indented with baj-s, some of which are
of considerable extent. A beautiful bay, called " Kempenfeldt Bay," runs
into the land on the west side of the lake; it is about ten miles long, and
from two to three miles wide. Barrie, the district town of the Simcoe District,
is situated on its north-western extremity. Cook's Bay, the southern extremity
of the lake, is about eight miles long, and from two and a half to four miles
broad; it receives the Holland River. There are many islands in Lake Simcoe,
and some of them are of large size, containing many acres; only one of them
(Snake Island) is inhabited, and that by Indians.
The banks of the lake are generally clothed with wood down to the water's
edge, consequently there is no beach. Some portions of the shores of the lake
are marshy; a large marsh, bordered by tamarac swamp, borders Cook's Bay,
and extends for some miles along the course of the Holland River. The land
on the banks of the lake is mostly light, and the timber principally pine ; in
some parts, however, the land is of excellent quality, and timbered with hard
wood to the edge of the lake. The banks of the lake and the bays are generally
rather low. few parts being more than from twenty to thirty feet high. Oa
those portions of the banks in the township of North Gwillimbury, and also in
a portion of the south of Georgina, there are some very prettily situated farms,
which are well cultivated; the banks in Thorah are not so much settled, and
those of Mara and Rama still less so; in the latter township is an Indian settlement
on tlie banks of the lake. The banks in Oro and Vespra are partially
settled, but not much; on the Innisfil side, they are clothed with wood to the
water's edge.
At the " Narrows," which is a narrow channel connecting Lake Simcoe with
Lake Gougichin, a handsome bridge has been constructed. The scenery at the
Narrows would be very attractive, were it not unfortunately a little disfigured
by a small (piantity of marsh. A steamboat has plied on this lake for about
eleven or twelve years; the present one, the "Beaver," (which was launched in
1844), which is the third, is also the largest and best tliat has been built; she
is a fine boat and has excellent acconmiodations. The Beaver makes regular
trips round the lake, starting every second day from a landing ])lace on the east
branch of tlie Holland River, and running to Orillia, taking the east and west
sides of the lake alternately, and returning by the opposite course. It lies over
every niglit at Orillia, except Satiii-day, when it returus to the Holland River,
and ilea tliere till Monday moniiug.