DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1932 15 



The revenue under water power leases was $231,655.67, being an increase 

 of S 15,596.97 over the former year. 



Plans of several new concrete dams constructed throughout the Province 

 have been filed and approved under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act. 



Four plans of townsite subdivisions were filed and approved under The 

 Tow nsites Act. These were all in the Township of Teck in the District of 

 Timiskaming. 



Maps of the Province and Districts were revised and published as required 

 together with a new map (32-A) of the southern part of Algoma and Sudbury 

 Districts, and (32-C) covering the Lake Timagami Area. 



FOREST FIRE PROTECTION 



During the year a reduction to the extent of one Forest Assistant, two Fire 

 Inspectors, one Chief Ranger, twelve Deputy Chief Rangers and one hundred 

 and sixty-four rangers was made to meet the need of a reduced pay roll. 



The fire hazard peak was experienced during the months of May and June 

 and during this period over sixty-eight per cent, of the fires, totalling in all 

 2,073, the largest number on record occurred. 



The light snowfall during the winter of 1931-32 was followed by periods 

 of high temperature, and low humidity accompanied in May and June by high 

 winds after which fire hazard conditions were normal. 



The total area burned was 679,021 acres, of which three-fifths was in the 

 Hudson Inspectorate, the north-west part of the Province, and the greater 

 portion of this was spread over six fires. 



Settlers caused 15.6 per cent, of the fires, accounting, however, for only 

 3.9 per cent, of the area burned; campers' carelessness was responsible for 28.4 

 per cent, of the fires and 30 per cent, of the area burned; lightning produced 

 10.5 per cent, for 55.6 per cent, of the area burned, and smokers contributed, 

 through their absolute indifference and neglect, 13.5 per cent, for about 1 per 

 cent, of the area burned, while incendiarism is blamed for 16.4 per cent, for 

 1.6 per cent, of the area burned. The railways, logging operations, mining road 

 construction, etc., are charged with approximately 8 per cent., the balance of 

 the fires 8 per cent., being of unknown origin. 



Complete details of the numbers and classification of Forest Fires, of Permits 

 issued and other necessary information bearing upon Fire Protection which 

 includes the Air Service may be found in Part III of this Report. 



REFORESTATION 



Effective work was continued under somewhat reduced expenditures at 

 the St. Williams, Orono and Midhurst Nurseries, the employment of labour 

 having been so provided as to maintain a steady though somewhat curtailed 

 income for the workers with the least interference with the general efficiency 

 of the operations. 



