130 



Canadian Forestry Journal, March, 1919 



GUARDING 21 MILLION ACRES BY CO-OPERATION 



B}) Arthur Graham, Manager, Ottawa River 

 Forest Protective Association. 



The fire season of 1918 in the territory of fighting units, equipped with 1,200 feet of dis- 



the Ottawa River Forest Protective Association tributing hose was purchased for fighting fires, 



may be classed with that of 1917, as being a These were not delivered in time for use last 



favorable one for forest protection. No de- ^^^^^^ Settlers' Fires. 



velopment of organization will make it pos- 3^^^,^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ j^ 72 townships where our 



sible to leave weather conditions out of con- j^^mbers own timber licenses, and it is interest- 



ditions out of consideration. Ihe season, ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ percentage of fires caused 



however, was not void of extremely dry periods ^^ ^^j^j^^^ burning slash has decreased from 



and spells of high winds. The rainfall during 5, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ 21 per cent. This remarkable 



the months of July and September, and par- ^^^^^^ -^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ enforcement of the 



ticularly during the latter, was quite over the ^^^^-^^ permit Law. 1,466 burning permits 



average, but May, June and August were dan- ^^^^ j^^^^j ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^j^l^^^ j^^j^^ 



gerous at times. tj^g p^g|. season. No fires escaped control. 



One hundred and forty-seven fires started m j^^ number of prosecutions for infraction 



our territory during the season and of this ^j ^^^^^^ ^^^ j^^^^ ^^^ j^jj^j^ ^^ considerably, 



number 111 were extinguished by the rangers ^^ ,914 ^j^^^.^ ^^^^ 49 prosecutions, in 1915 



without extra help. The damage to merch- 39. ]g](^ ^. 1917 6,; 1918, 6. 

 antable timber is reported by our inspectors ' ' ' iV[en^ijer's Satisfied. 



to be not more than 275,000 feet board meas- Seven new members have enliited their hold- 



ure, scorched, and other property valued at -^^^ j^^ patrolment during the last season, 



$5,140. The area of merchantable timber ^^^-^^ 119,368 acres to our area. The total 



burned over is found to be 98 acres membership now is 67, with an area of 1 7,033,- 



A careful study of the causes of hres has 449 ^^^g, (26,61 4^ square miles) of Licen- 



taught us that more fires are caused by light- ^^j q^^^^ Lands, including 4,060,800 acres 



ning than many are willing to admit Records ^j Licensed Crown Lands which are taken care 



for the past two seasons of 1917 and 1918, in ^f ^^ ^^^ association, the total area patrolled is 



our western section, show that 29 per cent of ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ 21,094,240 acres (32,959% square 



the total fires were caused by lightning. Ihe ^u^g) j^^ j^^^^^g j^ ^^^_ Ij^^j^^j^ ^jj^^er 



pine districts are found to be the most suscept- 

 ible to lightning fires, and especially in old- 

 burn areas where dry pine trees are still stand- 

 ing. These are the hardest to detect, and will 

 often escape early detection unless the 

 rangers are equipped with a system of lookout 

 towers and telephone lines. 



Large Equipment. 



lands known as Indian Reserves, Seignories, 

 and lots deeded to settlers, etc., joining the as- 

 sociation territory, large areas which have to 

 be patrolled by our rangers in order to pro- 

 tect the limits owned by members. It is inter- 

 esting to note when summing up the area of 

 this vast territory that only two per cent of the 

 Licensed Crown Lands remain outside of the 



The number of permanently employed men association. These are classed as non-mem- 

 for the season was 198, and the inspection was bers. Not a single member has withdrawn from 

 taken care of by 11 inspectors. Our organiza- this association since its inauguration, unless 

 tion like many other branches of woods opera- by reason of sale, 

 tion suffered somewhat from men enlisting in Co-operation. 

 the Canadian army, the result being that the Xhe success of the association is due to the 

 personnel of our inspectors and rangers in cer- Quebec Government by the co-operation of the 

 tain districts did not measure up to the usual Hon. Jules Allard, and the officers of the De- 

 standard maintained by this association. Now partment of Lands and Forests, to the Cana- 

 that the war is over we can hope to improve Jjan Forestry Association for special publicity 

 this situation. campaigns and distribution of literature, to the 



The following is some of the traveling equip- Fire Inspection Department of the Board of 



ment used: 20 horses, 90 canoes, 7 motor- Railway Commissioners, and the various bush 



boats, 3 outboard motors, 1 steamer and 3 superintendents, foremen, and others in charge 



track' velocipedes. During the season two fire- of lumbering operations. 



