1917-18 DEPAKT.MEXT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MlXP:s. 143 



vided for direct field supervision on the basis of one to every 15 rangers. The 

 Inspectors, working under the Superintendent, form the connecting link between 

 the field and head office. 



The spring opened early and being continuously dry the fire season oper.ed 

 much earlier than in 1917. April pay lists totalled 21'^ names and May, .1,0)2 

 names, as compared with 84 and 828 respectively in 1917. Moreover, tho May 

 pay list was for the full month in most cases. In addition it was found necessary 

 to raise the general scale of rangers' wages throughout by 25 cents per day, thus 

 increasing the season's pay roll expenditure by 10 per cent. This was partly offset 

 by the wet weather in Septeml)er allowing of a curtailment. The number of 

 names appearing on the monthly pay lists was: April, 212; May, 1,002; June, 

 1,094; July, 1,117; August, 1,047; September, 929; October, 27. Of this number, 

 538 rangers were on the force of 1917. The pay roll for the whole field force 

 for the season amounted to around $416,500. The other main items <if expendi- 

 ture were, in round figures: equipment, $28,350; expendable properly. $10,700; 

 travelling expenses on inspection work, $13,440; improvement work, $t.280; extra 

 assistance for fire fighting, $1,445; express, freight, cartage, telephone and tele- 

 graph tolls, etc., $5,365. 



In connection with the protection of forest land under license, the Depart- 

 ment receives from the licensees recommendations for fire rangers. On this basis, 

 some 218 rangers were appointed for 1918 on the recommendation of 90 licensees 

 for 10,050 square miles, an average of 46 square miles (29,440 acres) per ranger. 

 The licensed area protected totalled approximately 16,900 square miles, representing 

 some 255 licensees. 



(3) Records. 



This season Chief Kangers wem required to submit a report weekly covering 

 all phases of the work in their district. Rangers keep a daily diary, using a 

 prescribed blank form, and these diaries are forwarded to Head Ofiice monthly. 

 Operators of railway motor cars, automobiles and boats, send in a weekly report 

 showing movements and mileages each day with consumption of gasoline and 

 oil. A system of property accounting has been instituted in connection with the 

 recommendation of accounts for payment in Head Office. A card system has 

 been inaugurated for recording cost of protection in each chief ranger district, 

 together with a classification of the expenditures. 



(4) Fires. 



The weather during the fire season of 1918 was abnormal in several respects. 

 March was a comparatively mild month, as also was April with a mean temperature 

 2.5 degrees above normal. In addition April was unusually dry throughout. May 

 provided some exceptionally hot weather, so that on the whole the mean monthly 

 temperature was 5 degrees above normal. On top of this the rainfall was below 

 the average. As a result the patrol force had to be sent out about two weeks 

 earlier than usual, and practically brought up to the maximum number the first 

 week in May. Thus there were 212 and 1,002 rangers in April and May respec- 

 tively on duty as compared with 84 and 828 in 1917. The summer months were 

 conducive to a low fire risk with the exception of two very hot dry weeks in 

 August. With the exception of the western end of Ontario, September rains 

 were frequent and heavy, and it was possible to call off the patrol l>y the 15th 

 in many districts and around the 20th in the southern ones. The season as a 

 whole was distinctly favourable for fire control. 



