What is this???

[southplainsag02]

I hope the following picture will help identify what I am going to try and describe. I think it is an emmissions control something or other but am not sure. It is a cannister that sits next to the battery and has 3 lines that run to the top. One line connects to a tee near the carb that continues on to the right side valve cover. One line looks like it connects to a vaccuum line. the 3rd line I don't know where it goes. If this is an emmisions control system, can I remove it and not see any difference in the performance of the truck? I would like to clean up the trucks engine bay and get rid of uneccesary hoses. Thanks for the help and God Bless.