1925 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 9 



The aJDove has no reference to the special privilege accorded returned 

 Canadian Oversea Soldiers of the Great War, who are entitled to acquire free of 

 charge, a half-lot in Northern Ontario, subject, however, to all settlement 

 regulations, which require actual residence, systematic clearing and real farming. 

 One hundred and thirty-one returned men took advantage of this opportunity 

 during the year as against 113 last year, but because of failure to comply with the 

 regulations, eighty-two lost their locations as against eighty-three for 1923. 



Tourist Sites and Parks 



That interest is growing in our water resorts for tourist and hunting purposes 

 is manifest from the many inquiries and the number of parcels sold and leased. 

 Algonquin Park, the Mecca of seekers of health and enjoyment, continues to 

 afford opportunities for numerous resident and non-resident summer and winter 

 tourists, while beautiful Rondeau Park, in Kent County, is still a favourite point 

 for thousands of lovers of the woods and water. A new subdivision of lots 

 there was rapidly acquired by intending summer-home builders, who secured 

 leases under reasonable terms. Quetico Park, in Rainy River District, had its 

 usual quota of summer visitors, many of whom were from the adjoining state of 

 Minnesota. Timagami, Nipigon and Mississaga Reserves, with their peerless 

 beauty and their fish and game, attracted lovers of nature, anglers and hunters 

 from far and wide. 



With a view to providing tourists with the ready me^ns of acquiring sites 

 for summer homes within reasonable reach of railways, the Department has 

 undertaken to rese^rve and subdivide for such purposes suitable areas and 

 such sites will be given due publicity by the railways, which will closely co- 

 operate with intending travellers in acquiring parcels from the Crown under 

 fair terms and equitable building restrictions. 



Ranching 



Individual settlers desiring to add to their present holdings for grazing 

 purposes have availed themselves in ce;-tain sections of very reasonable terms. 

 Numerous and insistent inquiries have been made with respect to marsh or low- 

 lying lands for the breeding of muskrats and other fur-bearing animals, the 

 generally expressed opinion being that an industry of immense proportions may 

 be gradually developed without seriously affecting the general areas open as 

 common trapping grounds to bona fide trappers. A few licenses of occupastion 

 were issued for this purpose and a number of applications are being investigated, 

 the desire being to encourage through artificial means and careful protection 

 intensive propagation in limited areas now depleted. 



Crown Surveys 



Surveys of Crown lands were carried out only where they were actually 

 necessary for the development of settlement and the completion of work under- 

 taken the previous year. 



Under the Surveys Act, the municipalities of the County of Lincoln and the 

 townships of Sidney and Toronto Gore petitioned for surveys. Municipal 

 surveys were performed and confirmed as petitioned for by the municipalities 

 of t^e townships of Crowland, North Dumfries and Sidney, and the cities of 

 Brantford and Toronto. 



For detailed reports of surveys see appendices 20 to 36 inclusive. 



