146 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



(8) Improvements 



The usual amount of work was carried out on trail and portage cutting, 

 and a number of wooden lookout towers erected and cabins built. The con- 

 struction of telephone lines was left until the end of the fire season, the principal 

 lines not being completed until the end of November. 



(9) Air Patrol 



Aircraft were again used to supplement the organization for detection and 

 in some districts suppression, the latter particularly in the Red Lake mining 

 area where the country lends itself admirably to the use of seaplanes. 



(10) Fire Hazard Disposal 



During the season considerable progress was made in the disposal of brush 

 and debris which constituted hazards to settlements in various parts of the 

 Province. In the Clay Belt region particularly most satisfactory results were 

 obtained in disposing of the greater portion of the enormous amount of settlers' 

 slash which had been accumulating during the three previous years when con- 

 ditions were such that burning was impossible. This work was all carried out 

 through the co-operation of the ranging staff with the settlers. 



In addition hazards around some of the northern towns were disposed of, 

 chief among which were those at Pine Ridge, Gogama, Swastika, Kirkland 

 Lake, Porquis Junction, Ansonville, Elk Lake, Cobalt, Latchford, at the Quebec 

 boundary in Sargeant township and along the North Bay-Cobalt Road through 

 the townships of Gladman, Lyman, Notman, Blyth and Merrick. 



(11) Weather Investigations 



The study of the relationship between relative humidity and fires was 

 continued, the results of this study up to the present being most encouraging. 



II. — Air Service 

 Introduction: 



A great essential to the success of commercial flying, requiring time, patience, 

 and careful organization, is the public confidence in and familiarity with aviation. 

 During the three operating seasons of 1924, 1925, and 1926, the Flying Service 

 of the Ontario Government has endeavoured in 8,875 flying hours to demon- 

 strate the usefulness and value of aircraft as an improved method of observation 

 for the better protection and conservation of Ontario's forest wealth, and the 

 preparation of forest inventories. This endeavour has not been made in oppo- 

 sition to existing ground organizations or services, but as an adjunct to them, 

 providing facilities under conditions with which they cannot cope. It may be 

 said that primary reconnaissance and forest inventory work by air is now recog- 

 nized as the fastest and most economical method of securing information over 

 the large timbered and remote areas of our province. 



Forest fire protection is a question of insurance and must be worked out on 

 this basis. Therefore a vital factor, which has to be strictly adhered to, is 

 economy in the first cost of aircraft and equipment and in the operation of such 

 equipment. Thus far the Service has standardized flying boats of war time type. 

 The first cost was very reasonable and the performance of such equipment 

 certainly justified its use. The Service is to-day faced with the problem of 



