Modern Protective Law. 255 



to be designated by forest officials. Another law 

 (1894) prevailed in Gotland, adding a reforesta- 

 tion clause, the governor being authorized to pro- 

 hibit shipping of timber under 8 inch diameter and that 

 not until new growth was established ; or at least no new 

 fellings may be made until this condition is fulfilled. 

 The same law applies to sand dune plantations in other 

 southern districts. Altogether one-quarter of the pri- 

 vate forest property was in this manner subjected to re- 

 strictions, until the new law came into existence. 



The law of 1903 came into existence as a result of a 

 most painstaking, extended canvass by a legislative com- 

 mittee, appointed in 1896, which reported in 1899, and 

 of a further canvass by the Director of Domains, who 

 reported in 1901. A large amount of testimony from 

 private forest owners, sawmill men, provincial and local 

 government officials, etc., was accumulated, and it may 

 be reasonably expected that this new legislation will be 

 more effective than most of the preceding seems to have 

 been. 



This law (1903) requires in general terms the appli- 

 cation of f orestrj' principles in the management of wood- 

 lands. For this purpose the felling plans are to be sub- 

 mitted for approval to a Forest Protection Commit- 

 tee, one for each province, which has surveillance over 

 all private forests, an institution similar to that in 

 Eussia; the dimension law and other provisions in the 

 laws previously mentioned are revived; clearings are for- 

 bidden and reforestation of old ones required, unless the 

 groimd is used for other purposes. 



Where needful, pasturing is limited to certain lines. 



The Committee, or Forest Conservation Board, con- 



