NOTES AND COMMENTS 935 



sents, around one-quarter is timbered ; the heavier timber is found 

 along- the Exploits, Gander, and Humber rivers. The white pine is 

 practically cut out. so that spruce is the leading timber. As far as we 

 are informed, the timbering is very unevenly developed over the vari- 

 ous regions of the country. 



The Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company controls over 

 3,400 square miles, one-third of the reputed timber area, Grand Falls, 

 on the Exploits River, being the center of operations. The mills were 

 finished in 1909, and are turning out nearly 200 tons of newsprint, be- 

 sides nearly the same amount of sulphite. The investment was over 

 eight million dollars. Some 80 camps and 1,500 hands are engaged in 

 the logging operations, and the pay-roll on the whole enterprise runs 

 up to nearly one million dollars. The reporter of these statements, 

 before the Royal Society of Arts, adds the nursery story that in a rota- 

 tion of 30 to 50 years the forest re-establishes itself, due to the moist 

 climate. 



In this connection the statement of J. D. Gilmour, General Logging 

 Superintendent of the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, 

 is of interest : 



The greater portion of the island bears no timber, partly on account 

 of natural bogs which are found on flat lands and high barrens at eleva- 

 tions of 1,000 feet and over, partly on account of fires which for 400 

 years have been allowed to make havoc in the natural forest ; the popu- 

 lation having relied upon the sea for support, indifiference to the forest 

 resource was greater than in Canada and in the United States. 



At present protection is brought about through associations of limit 

 holders, which, with government assistance, have for the last five years 

 succeeded in keeping at least the railroad fires down by patrol. 



The company has also installed lookouts and telephones, and there 

 have been no fires since logging operations were started ten years ago. 



Clean cutting of spruce and fir to 5 inches d. b. h. is practiced, and 

 regeneration is said to be "very fine." The timber is black spruce, with 

 some white and red, and fir. 



Material progress has been made by the Ontario Forestry Branch in 

 the organization of fire protection work on crown timber lands in that 

 province. There are 15,712 square miles under license to cut timber, 

 from which the province derives a direct revenue of upward of $1,500,- 

 000 per annum in normal times. In addition, a fire tax of $6.40 per 

 square mile per year is imposed on license holders. This amount is 



