1813-14 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 91 



terms with our Canadian Indians. It is a difficult matter to distinguish between 

 Canadian Indians and those from the American side. Some of them claim to 

 belong to both sides and to draw treaty money from both Governments, and unless 

 personally known to the rangers they pass themselves as Canadian Indians. There 

 are no Indians at Reserve No. 24-'C near the eastern boundary, but quite a few on ■ 

 Reserve 25-D at the mouth of the Namakan river. They do not seem to cultivate 

 any portion of the Reserve, but subsist by hunting and fishing. I endeavored last 

 summer to engage two of them as fire rangers but could not do so; they do not 

 seem inclined to work. 



I am pleased to inforni you that the season has passed without any serious 

 fire in the Park. One small fire occurred on a small island in Elprior lake and 

 one along the southern boundary, both of which were extinguished before any 

 damage was done. Another fire occurred at Johnston's Point on Basswood lake. 

 This fire was started by some unknown person or persons during the month of 

 August in the place where rangers Johnston and Darby did their cooking while 

 erecting a shelter hut on the point. It is supposed these parties went off leaving 

 the fire burning. The rangers were absent at the time up Basswood river. Returning 

 they noticed the fire but could not get it under control until the newly erected 

 walls and roof of the hut were destroyed. They were fortunate enough to save 

 their blankets, provisions, tools, etc., by taking them to the water. About ten 

 pine trees only were burned. They had to rebuild the walls of the hut. 



My men during the summer months take every precaution to prevent fire by 

 constantly patrolling their beats and looking after tourists, of whom quite a few 

 passed through the Park last season. So far we have not experienced any trouble 

 from tourists. They are in all cases provided with copies of the Park regulations, 

 and we give special warning in regard to fire. In addition to our regular staff 

 we had eight fire rangers on duty during most of the season. 



In regard to the timber in the Park, it is chiefly red, white and jack pinq, of 

 excellent quality, and in immense quantities, especially white pine. The balance 

 of the timber is spruce, balsam, cedar and birch. Most of the hills in the eastern 

 portion over which fire ran some years ago, are covered with scrub spruce and 

 jack pine, making an excellent shelter for game of all kinds. 



The red and white pine in the vicinity of Jean, Quetico and Beaverhouse lakes 

 and in several other portions of this Park is wonderful ; as an old bushman I 

 must say that I have never seen any timber to equal it. The Province has an 

 asset worth protecting. The natural waterways of the Park as well as the splendid 

 lakes of clear water will, in time, make it an ideal summer resort for tourists. 



Many tourists passed through the Park last summer, mostly Americans, but 

 some from Brandon and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Some parties have requested the 

 privilege of building cottages or leasing portions of land for summer resorts. This 

 1 would not approve of except in localities near headquarters, or in places where 

 there is no valuable timber. I would advise keeping, the Park in a state of nature 

 as much as possible. 



I would advise an extension of the Park boundary to the North by taking in 

 that section of country commencing at a point where the boundary line between 

 the districts of Thunder Bay and Rainy River crosses the Canadian Northern 

 Railway, thence following the line of railway westerly to a point east of the village of 

 Atikokan, opposite the northeast corner of Timber Limit G-43, thence southerly 

 along the east line of said limit to where it touches the north shore of Batche- 

 waung lake, thence following the present boundary west from there. In this terri- 



