HELICOPTERS 



The Department contracted for the services of two helicopters but 

 before the summer was over it became necessary to supplement them 

 considerably, I believe one or two were procured from the Hydro Electric 

 Power Commission, several from the Royal Canadian Air Force and others 

 from any source from which they could be procured. This type of vehicle 

 provides a very useful service under certain conditions but it is still 

 my opinion; and I believe it is shared by the field staff; that this type 

 of vehicle cannot operate without the support of a fleet of conventional 

 aircraft such as our Beavers. I have yet to find a senior field official 

 that is prepared to trade his Beaver for one helicopter as standard 

 equipment for a base. 



MAINTENANCE, NEW CONSTRUCTION 

 AND EXPANSION 



No construction was undertaken during the fiscal period under review 

 but normal maintenance was performed where and when required. Painting and 

 running repairs were carried out to the end that the condition of our 

 buildings and equipment was maintained to our usual standards. 



It is hoped that 1956 will see the addition of sanitary equipment 

 at two or three of our outlying bases. Such improvements were completed at 

 Pays Plat and Nakina and a substantial start was made on similar improvements 

 at Temagami . 



WINTER OPERATIONS 



Winter operations were conducted from Toronto, Algonquin Park, Sudbury, 

 Gogama, Chapleau, Geraldton, Port Arthur, Eva Lake, Kenora and Sioux Lookout 

 and in addition, one spare machine was assigned to supplement the activities 

 of the Chapleau machine in conducting a moose census under the supervision of 

 the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Research. 

 ACCIDENTS 



I am very pleased to report there were no serious accidents of any kind 

 during the period under review. 



The following tables are submitted as supplementary to this report 



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