1916-17 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 



93 



The work of cleaning up along the railway has been continued, although we 

 found it difficult to get sufficient men. However, it has been completed with the 

 exception of two or three unimportant patches where fire had already run and 

 destroyed the timber years ago. The piles also have been successfully burned and 

 no damage done. This means a very great protection from fire from locomotives^ 

 and adds a great deal to the appearance of the Park when travelling through by 

 train. One half of the expense of this work has been borne by the GTrand Trunk 

 Railway. 



I am glad to report a splendid year so far as forest fires are concerned. We 

 had none of any importance and any that did start were early placed under control. 

 The Grand Trunk fire tank has been stationed here all season, and it is a splendid 

 thing where a fire along the track is taken in time. Game of all kinds is very 

 abundant andi is increasing rapidly. 



A view in the hardwood forests in the Algonquin Park. 



We took out the regular quantity of furs, which were sold in Toronto, bringing 

 $4,574.10. I hope next year to have a much larger number. The sale of live 

 animals has fallen off since the war, but will, riit)pe, revive again when it is over. 

 We shipped three live beaver to Lanark as directed for re-stocking the waste lands 

 there, and I have a report to the effect that they have done well and have established 

 themselves in their new quarters. Deer are very abundant, and I have recom- 

 mended that a large number be taken out and placed on the market to help out the 

 food supply. This, I hope, you will decide to do, as hundreds could be taken along 

 the railways at small cost and still leave an abundant -supply. I am confident, also, 

 that from some of our large lakes a great quantity -of fish could be taken if necessary. 



I would respectfully draw your attention to the wood supply that could be 

 taken from the Park, especially from the burnt area, and would recommend some 

 steps being taken, not only to turn this into fuel for the relief of the poor in our 

 cities, but also that something be done to derive a revenue from the vast quantity 



