In 1772 John Collins and Thomas Vallentine and a team of 20 (19 of whom were french-canadians) were surveying and cutting the line in the vicinity of Lake Memphremagog. Their team consisted of: “8 [men] to carry Provisions, 4 to cut down such trees as happen to stand in the Line, 2 Blazing the trees that is to say one on each side of the Line, 2 Chainmen, 1 Man to carry Pickets, & 3 Men to carry Our Instruments and Baggage”.
They were to blaze the trees on either side of the line and only cut down trees directly interfering with their sight along the line. Horizontal distances were measured using a Gunters Chain, a metal chain with 100 links that was exactly 66 feet in length. Measurements were thus recorded as so many chains and so many links. An easterly bearing was maintained by using a circumferentor (magnetic compass with sighting vanes) set up on a tripod. What sort of targets (poles, stadia) were used is not known. Every 3 miles the team was to erect a monument of boulders (‘large heap of stones’) and cut a few notches in trees on either side. The team was not to stop at any water course (but see subsequent poster)..
As the list of supplies might suggest, the survey team was well lubricated for its arduous task!
