Radio Communications 



The Department's Radio Communications System totalling ll6 

 ground radio stations and associated equipment handled, during the year 195^f a 

 total of 57>972 messages totalling a word count of 1,^^2,766. This was a 

 decrease of ifo over 1953 totals. 



Province-wide operation of the system is provided over six 

 regionally assigned frequencies, 3309, ^MO^ ^520, ^535, ^580 and hQQO kilocyclts, 

 For long distance communications to the Western, Midwestern, and Northern 

 regions 5^10 and 9l60 Kilocycles are used also with still another frequency 

 ^■775 kilocycles being reserved for, and used entirely by, the forty- three Depart- 

 mental aircraft. 



To provide improved and more efficient internal district 

 communications, the System will gradually be chsmged over to ^^ Megacycle V.H.F. 

 equipment and a start was made this year when Parry Sound and Sudbury districts 

 were converted. 



The following radio equipment was used during 195^J 



Tower Radio Sets 31^- 



Mobile Radio Stations 27 



Marine Radio Stations 10 



Portable Ground Sets (i watt) 150 



Portable Ground Sets (2i watts) 111 



30 Watt Ground Radio Stations 106 



75 Watt Ground Radio Stations 2 



100 Watt Ground Radio Stations 2 



150 Watt Ground Radio Stations 7 



300 Watt Ground Radio Stations 2 



500 Watt Ground Radio Stations 8 



Aircraft Radio Installations ^3 



Aircraft Ground Hailer Units 19 



Forest Insect and Disease Protection 



Close observation of forest insect and disease conditions 

 throughout the Province formed an important part of this Division's activities. 



The work of several Divisions is directly affected by insect 

 and disease activity, particularly that of Timber Management and Reforestation. 

 Consequently, most control programmes are co-operative in nature and require 

 the active participation of field staffs of all Divisions. Programmes directed 

 toward control of white pine blister rust in the Lindsay and Tweed districts 

 and the European pine sawfly in the Lake Erie and Lake Huron districts were of 

 this type. 



White pine blister rust control is effected by the removal of 

 ribes species, the alternate host plant of the rust. The work is carried on by 

 groups of men systematically covering the area, uprooting the ribes plants by 

 hand or using a type of grub hoe. Current interest in reclaiming white pine 

 lands along with an expanding white pine planting programme has greatly enhanced 

 the importance of the Tweed and Lindsay projects as no previous guide to costs 

 to be expected under Ontario conditions existed. 



The effort to control the European pine sawfly, a serious pest 

 of Scotch and Red pine in the Lake Erie and Lake Huron districts, using a virus 

 disease which is introduced to the insect population by both ground and aerial 

 spraying was continued. It is hoped and expected that further spread of this 

 insect will thus be prevented. 



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