180 



from. On the other hand, the assistance the Dominion Officers of Inland Rev- 

 enue and Customs, and their collectors of canal dues, are authorized to render at 

 the request of the Crown timber agent, in preventing the departure of vessels, or 

 the passage of barges loaded with lumber through canals is often of the greatest 

 importance in securing the payment of timber dues. On the River Ottawa no 

 boats or barges loaded with lumber are allowed to pass through the canals with- 

 out permits from the Crown timber agent. Such permits are occasionally 

 withheld for the enforcement of the payment of timber dues, and the detention 

 of the boats (till released by direction of the Crown timber agent) is always 

 promptly effected by the officers of the Dominion. 



THE PUBLIC TIMBER LANDS OF CANADA. CROWN LANDS.* 



These lands belong to the Provincial governments within which they lie 

 with the exception of those in the North- West Territories and the Province of 

 Manitoba, which belong to, the Dominion government. In Quebec and Ontario 

 these lands are in charge of a Commissioner of Crown Lands ; in New Brunswick, 

 of the Surveyor-General ; in Nova Scotia, of the Attorney- General ; and in British 

 Colunbia, of the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. 



It will be seen that hitherto almost no attention has been given in Canada 

 to the reproduction of timber upon lands from which it has once been cut off; 

 but all the laws and regulations that have been established have reference only 

 to the native forests of the country and to the securing of a revenue from the 

 existing supply. The reservation of young timber, too small for profitable use, 

 by the limitation of a size below which it should not be cut, has received atten- 

 tion only in the Province of Quebec, and only in respect to pine timber. Questions 

 of conservation and restoration are, however, beginning to attract notice, as will 

 be seen in the following pages, and it is earnestly to be hoped that a knowledge 

 of the true interests of the country will lead to effectual measures for this end, 

 before vested rights have been established to embarrass, and before the need of 

 these measures has become urgent. 



FORMER TIMBER REGULATIONS IN CANADA. 



The system of granting licenses to cut timber on the public lands in Canada 

 was introduced in 1825, and since that time the right of renewal, upon compliance 

 with regulations has been practically acknowledged. In 1845 an Order-in- Council 

 was passed, making the licenses annual, but with the above understanding, and 

 in the order of 1849 the lessee was permitted to transfer his limit by simple 

 assignment. In 1851 a ground-rent system was introduced. 



The branch of woods and forests in the department of Crown lands was 

 organized under the former government of Canada in 1852. A system of local 

 agencies was established, and reforms much needed had begun to be introduced 

 at the time when the Dominion government was inaugurated. Among the abuses 

 of earlier times was the monopolizing of immense tracts without using the privi- 

 leges or paying an equivalent for them. A ground-rent system was at last adopted, 

 which made reserved but unoccupied privileges unprofitable to hold, more 

 especially as the rate increased in geometrical proportion as the penalty for not 

 using. 



As lessons of experience in questions of timber management always have 

 value, it may be interesting to learn how this expedient, apparently so easy to 

 enforce, and so effectual to control the mischief, was found to operate when put to 

 the test of trial. 



*Hough ; Report upon Forestry, (U.S.) 1878-79. 



