1927 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 157 



eastern limit of the Nipigon Forest Reserve. From these two centres flying 

 for forest protection was organized to cover all of the Fire District in the Province 

 north of the French River — Lake Nipissing line and south of the Albany-Lac 

 Seul English River line, exclusive of the small settled areas centering around 

 Haileybury, but inclusive of the Red Lake mining field lying north of Lac Seul. 



To carry on this programme, eight machines were allotted to the Western 

 patrol at the commencement of the season, located as follows: Sioux Lookout, 

 two; Pine Ridge (Red Lake District machine), one; Kenora, one; Fort Frances, 

 one; Orient Bay, three. 



With the exception of the allotment of three machines to Orient Bay, the 

 above distribution probably requires no further comment. In the case of 

 Orient Bay, two of the three machines were allotted to the Port Arthur district, 

 and were stationed at Orient Bay because of the temporary lack of a better 

 operating point closer to Port Arthur. It is proposed to improve this arrange- 

 ment for the coming season by opening a new operating base. The third machine 

 was for local duty in the Nipigon area. 



It might also be noted in connection with the general organization of this 

 Western Patrol that early in the season an unfortunate flying accident in the 

 Red Lake District reduced the number of available machines to seven. Con- 

 sequently, during hazardous fire periods occurring later in the season, it was 

 necessary at times to move machines from both Fort Frances and Orient Bay 

 in order to meet serious conditions in the Sioux Lookout and Red Lake areas. 



Nine machines were allotted to the Eastern Patrol and were stationed as 

 follows: Longlac, one; Oba Lake, one; Remi Lake, one; Como Lake, one; 

 Biscotasing, one; Sault Ste. Marie, one; Timagami, one; Sudbury, two. 



With the exception of the Remi Lake machine, all of the above were of 

 the H.S. 2 L. type in use at other stations in the Province. The machine allotted 

 to this base was a Loening Air Yacht. This machine, while not recommended 

 as a replacement type for the H.S. 2 L., served, at least, to partially demonstrate 

 the advantages which a machine better suited to the requirements of the Branch's 

 work would procure. Quoting from the report of the observer in charge of the 

 Eastern Patrol in this connection: "With the H.S. 2 L. the Remi Lake Patrol 

 . . . required six and one-half hours (6.30) ; with the Loening it was completed 

 in five hours and twenty minutes (5.20)." The above indicates (1) a saving in 

 flying time of approximately 18 per cent, for the same work performed, (2) a 

 gain in time required to report fires. 



Personnel: 



During the past season the observing staff engaged in Forest Protection 

 consisted of twenty, made up of two chief observers in charge of Eastern and 

 Western Patrols, nine senior observers, five junior with previous experience, 

 and four new men (Junior Grade B). All observing personnel, with the excep- 

 tion of the four new men, had had previous experience. The value of e.xperience 

 in this line of work is very great. Quoting again from the report of a field 

 officer: "An observer sent out on operations with insufficient experience would 

 probably cost more" (in waste flying, poor fire spotting, etc.) "than the expense 

 of a season's training." It is anticipated that it will be necessary to train four 

 new men next season to replace those leaving the Service. 



In addition to spotting fires, observers have also undertaken the con- 

 struction of permanent improvements for use in connection with the operation 

 of machines such as buildings, telephone lines, etc. Perhaps the most out- 

 standing piece of work of this sort in the past season was the survey and general 



7 L.F. 



