1914] The Ottawa Naturalist. 117 



Commission of Conservation; Fifth Annual Report. 

 This very useful report was recently issued. 



In his annual address, the Chairman of the Commission, 

 Hon. Clifford Sifton, discusses the Commission's activities with 

 respect to waters and water-powers, minerals, public health, 

 agriculture, fisheries and fur-bearing animals and forests, in- 

 dicating clearly and succinctly a number of the problems that 

 had been grappled with and the advances that had been made 

 in their solution. 



Several articles appear in the report which are of special 

 interest to natviralists. Mr. J. Walter Jones treats in detail of 

 the progress in fur-farming in Canada during the past year. 

 The work of the Committee on Fisheries was confined, during 

 1913, chiefly to the development of the oyster industry. Hon. 

 A. E. x\rsenault describes the new method of leasing oyster beds 

 in Prince Edward Island. This method was advocated by the 

 Commission two years ago, and will do much to regenerate the 

 oyster industry in the Maritime Provinces. An exceedingly 

 interesting paper on the "Protection of Migratory Birds" is 

 given by a leading American authority, Mr. W. S. Haskell, who 

 urges Canada to join with the United States in providing sanc- 

 tuaries for these birds. 



Considerable advance has been made in .the conservation of 

 forests during the year. The Commission has co-operated with 

 the Board of Railway Commissioners and the several provincial 

 and Federal forest services concerning the prevention of forest 

 fires, with the result that much has been done to prevent forest 

 fires along railway lines, especially in Western Canada. In 

 addition to the report of the chief forester, Mr. Ch^de Leavitt, 

 there are addresses on forestry by Dr. B. E. Fernow and Mr. R. 

 H. Campbell. 



The report contains a number of splendid illustrations and 

 gives in concise form much information that is of value to all 

 ♦Canadians interested in the conservation of our natural 

 resources. 



MEETING OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



The Botanical Branch held the first of its bi-monthly winter 

 meetings at the residence of Mr. R. B. Whyte, on Saturday 

 evening, November 14. The meeting was in charge of Mr. 

 W. T. Macoun, Dr. M. O. Malte, and Mr. G. H. Clark. There 

 were also present the following members: Messrs. Attwood, 



