372 Newfoundland. 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Newfoundland, probably the first discovery of 

 America by the Norsemen, remained a mere fishing 

 station until modern times, and, except for the open 

 coast, unknown as regards the wooded interior, which 

 was supposed to be largely barren. It became a 

 possession of Great Britain in 1713. Development 

 did not begin until 1880 when the first railroad was 

 built, and has progressed more rapidly since the New- 

 foundland Railway traversing the entire island was 

 opened in 1898. It was found that while the shores 

 and a considerable part of the West and South coast 

 are barren or poorly timbered, and on the interior 

 plateau large moss barrens exist, there are extensive 

 timber areas of mixed growth, White and Red Pine, 

 Balsam and Spruce, with White Birch. A lumber in- 

 dustry, which by 1904 had grown up to probably not 

 less than 100 million feet, is rapidly extending over 

 the whole island, and an extensive paper pulp industry 

 is preparing to establish itself, on timber limits under a 

 license system similar to that applied in other parts of 

 Canada. Some 5000 square miles are now under 

 license. Forest fires have repeatedly devastated large 

 areas, especially in 1904. The experience of that year 

 led to the enactment of a forest fire law, but without 

 any agency to make it effective. 



No forest policy exists, except the commercial 

 restriction of the license system. A forestry associa- 

 tion has lately been formed. 



