1914-15 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. xi 



., Railways. 



Regular staffs of rangers have been on duty on the Transcontinental and T. & 

 N. 0. Railways. The Canadian Northern Railway, under the direction of the 

 Dominion Railway Board, became responsible for the fire ranging on their line, 

 inspectors being appointed by the Department to see that the regulations of the 

 Board were observed. On the Transcontinental there were 61 rangers on duty 

 under three superintendents; on the T. & N. 0. Railway 68 rangers with three 

 chief rangers. 



The cost of patrol of railways was $56,326.00. 



The year 1915 was unusually favorable except for the first two months of the 

 fire-ranging season, when the growth of vegetation was retarded by low temper- 

 atures so that fires once started spread rapidly and were difficult to control. During 

 the balance of the season the precipitation was generous and frequent, there being 

 no prolonged dry spell. 



The number of fires reported on Crown Lands, railways and forest reserves was 

 430, of which 372 did no damage to merchantable timber. Of the total number of 

 fires 317 were reported by rangers patrolling the railways, 52 by reserve rangers 

 and 61 by those on other Crown Lands. 



Of the causes of fires 57 per cent, were attributed to railway engines and rail- 

 ways; 11 per cent, to settlers; 12 per cent, to causes not ascertained and the re- 

 maining 20 per cent, to Indians, prospectors, berry pickers, campers, etc. 



In the Port Arthur District there were several fires caused by settlers clear- 

 ing land. About 200 acres of small timber was damaged, 13 settlers losing their 

 effects as a result of these fires. 



The only other fires on Crown Lands that did damage were in the Sturgeon 

 River District, Avhere considerable quantity of pine was injured by fire. 



The cost of fire-ranging on Crown l^ands was $54,924.79. 



On licensed lands 56 fires were reported, 37 doing no damage. Settlers were 

 held responsible for 14 per cent.; railways 16 per cent.; 25 per cent, were ascribed 

 to fishermen and campers; 33 per cent, to causes unknown; the remainder fp^ 

 squatters, river drivers, lightning and careless smokers. 



Fires doing (•())iside]'a])1e damage occurred in the Townships of McKcnzie, 

 Grassett, Ermatinger, Notman and McWillia-ms and Blyth. The licensees have 

 undertaken to have damaged timber taken out. 



The cost of fire-ranging on licensed lands was approximately $70,000.00. 



CuLLEKs' Examinations. 



Only one Cullers' examination was held during the past year, viz., at North 

 Bay. Only four candidates succeeded in passing the examination and these were 

 duly granted certificates authorizing them to act as cullers. 



(For a list'of cullers who passed at this examination see Appendix 23, page G1.) 

 (For a complete list of licensed cullers see Minister's reports for 1911, 1912, 

 1913 and 1914.) 



Crown Surveys. 



The following Crown Surveys have been concluded this year: 

 Subdivision of part of the Township of Fraleigh, District of Thunder Bay. 

 Township of Jacques, District of Thunder Bay. 

 Township of Redvers, District of Kenora. 



