100 



REPORT OF THE 



No. 3 



We had seven fire-rangers in tlie parlc during the fire ranging season, May 1st 

 to Sept. 30th. Three fires occurred in the park last summer. One on a point on 

 Knife lake on the International boundary, which burned about 500 feet in from 

 the water, but did not destroy any timber. It was noticed in time by the park 

 rangers in the vicinity, and extinguished before the timber was damaged. It is 

 supposed that this fire started from a camp fire left unquenched by a party of 

 surveyors on the International boundary survey. 



Another fire, started by lightning on Shortiss island on August 2nd, burned 

 the underbrush :onoing the pine trees for about 80 acres, hut did not do any great 

 damage to the pine timber. A third fire occurred in July on timber berths 12 and 

 13 in the vicinity of Long lake, Ann lake and the west end of Quetico lake, which 

 scorched quite a quantity of timber. This fire came in from the north from the 

 direction of the Canadian ISTorthern Railway, where a bad fire occurred during that 



Ranger's cabin, Pickerel Lake, Quetico Provincial Park. 



time. The Shevlin-Clarke Lumber Co., of Fort Frances, Ont., who hold the 

 berths, are now preparing to cut the timber this winter. 



Owing to the war and consequent scarcity of men in this vicinity during last 

 summer it was almost impossible to secure sufficient suitable men to patrol the 

 park properly. Men who would suit on land patrols along railroads and cut-over 

 limits would not do here, as all of our travelling has to be done by canoes, and a 

 man who is not a canoeman is useless in Quetico. 



On account of scarcity of labour last season I had to abandon work on the 

 wagon road from Eva lake to Kawene station, over which we have to haul our 

 feed, provisions and other supplies. I hope next season to be able to put this road 

 in good condition as during summer it is almost impassable. 



On April 21st last we had a very heavy fall of snow, nine inches, which broke 

 down many balsam and jack pine trees and blocked up our roads and portages all 

 of which had to be cut out again. Snowshoeing last winter was the worst yet 



