1915-16 DEPAETMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 97 



and North Bay. This 1 hope before the tourist season comes on again will be 

 changed; as many of our summer visitors want long distance connection. Last sum- 

 mer we talked with Detroit with perfect satisfaction. The ticking of a watch can 

 be heard from one end of our line to the other, and I consider we have one of the 

 best local lines in the country. We have phones at eleven different points along 

 the sixty-one miles. 



Substantial improvements have been made at headquarters. Cement walks 

 have been built four feet wide to replace the old plank walks; bath rooms and all 

 up-to-date sanitary arrangements have been put in at both houses, and a large 

 septic tank upon the most approved plans has been installed; a cement basement 

 has been put under the kitchen at the superintendent's house, the foundation 

 having rotted, making this necessary. All this work, beside cutting wood, putting 

 in ice, etc., has been done by our own men during times they were not required to 

 patrol their beats, and at a cost of only the actual material used. During the 

 trapping season our men constantly patrol their sections, each two men having a 

 section which they are expected to patrol and keep in good shape with portages, 

 etc.. When we build, two sections go together and help one another, thus giving 

 them four men, or six, if required. In this way our men help each other and we 

 hire no other assistance. 



Several cottages. have been built at Cache lake during the past year, and 

 several leases applied for and granted, the parties paying a $10.00 survey fee and 

 $7.50 per year rent on each acre, the maximum being two acres. They get a twenty- 

 one year lease. We have five school camps in the park; these pay an annual rental 

 "of $75.00, and are allowed five acres. * They are situated, one at Lake of Two 

 Rivers, two on Cache lake, one on Source lake and one at Joe lake. These camps 

 are a fine thing for the young people who are able to avail themselves of them, 

 building them up in mind and body and filling them with a love of nature that 

 cannot but make nobler men and Avomen of them. The schools are well patronised ; 

 the girls in camp on Cache lake under Migs Case numbered sixty odd. We have two 

 hotels and a boarding house; the Highland Inn at Cache lake. Hotel Algonquin 

 at Joe lake, and Mowat Lodge at Canoe lake, besides the two cottage camps in 

 connection with the Highland Inn ; one at Big Island lake and one at Smoke lake. 

 These have all been filled to overflowing, and many applicants had to be refused 

 from lack of room. 



Our sales of fishing permits were not quite up to last year, although we had 

 a great many more people here. Our young men are away serving the Empire, and 

 our visitors were principally parents and younger members of families who did not 

 fish. Still we sold here fishing licenses to the amount of $1,037; also guide's 

 licenses $35, and maps $]Q.^ We collected $495 in rents. These amounts do not 

 include; rents from the Grand Trunk Railway and hotels, which are paid direct to 

 the Department. The fishing has been good, and some fine specimens taken. A 

 quantity of fry and finger! ings has been put into the lakes near the railway by the 

 Fish and Game Department. 



Fur-bearing animals of all kinds are increasing rapidly. We had hoped to 

 sell a number of live animals, ])ut the war has destroyed this industry temporarily. 

 We did, however, ship out seven live beaver to points in the United States at $50 

 a pair. We are now in shape to handle live animals properly. Ranger J, Bartlett 

 has invented a trap whereby we can take them alive without injury, and we have 

 a splendid animal house, well supplied with water and all necessary equipment to 

 hajidle them, and I have no doubt after the war a big business will be done in 



