A Forester's Work in a Northern Forest. 5 



ing material and stream protection, and by making prompt arrests 

 in cases of violation of the law, to greatly reduce this source of 

 fires. 



This coming season trails suitable for horses will be cut and it 

 is hoped to install a few telephone lines by which help can be sum- 

 moned in case of necessity. The cost of ranging, which includes 

 extinguishing such fires as were started amounted to eighty-five 

 hundredths of one per cent, of the value of the timber lands. 



In addition to fighting fire the rangers cut out trails, watched 

 caches, and made reports on the location and character of the 

 timber. 



It was realized that before any definite working plans could 

 be advised, an immense amount of preliminary work was neces- 

 sary and, therefore, until such time as this information could be 

 obtained, the most important work would be to minimize the 

 waste in cutting and to protect the young growth, and as far as 

 possible do nothing to hinder the natural reproduction, which 

 in this country is excellent. In order to accomplish this, a set of 

 cutting regulations was drawn up, the main provisions being 

 inserted in the contracts with the contractors, and a corps of in- 

 spectors organized to see that the regulations were carried out. 

 The men who had fire-ranging in the summer were used for this 

 work. Each inspector was given an assistant who spoke French 

 and English, sleeping bags and cooking outfit, a twenty-five foot 

 tape, magnifying glass, scaling rule and stamping hammer. A 

 cabin with bunks and stove was built for him in a central location 

 where he could easily reach all the jobbers cutting in that terri- 

 tory. The limits were divided into twelve districts, making 

 twenty-four men engaged in inspection work, and a head inspector 

 put in charge of them. So far, this season, the scheme has 

 worked admirably, the jobbers have almost without exception 

 shown themselves willing and anxious to follow the regulations, 

 and the amount of wood saved to the Company by low stumps, 

 taking out all sound trees of merchantable size, seeing that no 

 logs are left in the woods, no trees left lodged, and that all profit- 

 able material in the tree tops is taken, will certainly pay for the 

 cost of the inspection service. A weekly report in duplicate is 

 sent into the head office, giving each jobber's rating on a separate 

 sheet, showing in detail the rules which have been infringed, and 



