NOTES 189 



The advantages to the men should logically reflect in their work and 

 in general increased effectiveness of the Forest Service administration. 



T. K. 



Airplanes and hydro or sea planes have been on trial during the last 

 season for forestry work, fire control, and mapping. The Canadian 

 Forestry Journal, ni various contributions, records some of these ex- 

 periments, and a more detailed account of the work in Quebec will be 

 found in the January number of the Journal. It appears that in the 

 northern woods with its numerous lakes the seaplane has unquestion- 

 ably proved its value, while in the waterless areas on the Pacific slope, 

 where landing places must be prepared, a successful patrol service of 

 airplanes is recorded. Here the Air Service of the War Department 

 in co-operation with the Forest Service for three months maintained 

 uninterrupted service, 745 flights, covering 92,605 miles, having been 

 made in California over five National Forest areas. At first six patrol 

 routes were followed twice each day by six Curtis airplanes, covering 

 about 9 million acres of heavily timbered country on an average round 

 trip of 320 miles. With the fire season becoming critical more rapid 

 DeHaviland planes of greater climbing power were substituted, two 

 new bases were established, and new routes laid out" extending over 

 fifteen National Forests ; 8 airplanes covering twice each day over 20 

 million acres. Eight additional airplanes were used on alternate days 

 to allow for necessary repairs and relief of pilots, of whom there were 

 sixteen besides twenty-two mechanics. Only six forced landings with 

 one fatality and no injury to pilots or observers had to be made during 

 the season. At an altitude of 5,000 feet fires at least 30 miles distant 

 could be detected, and in one case a 200-acre fire 35 miles away was 

 located within half a mile. The reporting of fires was not as satisfac- 

 tory as the discovery and location, parachutes with messages and carrier 

 pigeons being tried. Without wireless telephone or some other method 

 of hastening the reports, it is stated, the airplanes can never function 

 as efficiently as the present lookout system. Reports of the progress 

 of fires, however, could be secured more completely and satisfactorily 

 by airplane. Nothing is said about the cost. Further experiments arc 

 promised. 



The National Lumber Manufacturers' Association contributes to the 

 discussion of a national forest policy bv printing an address of its 



