1927 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 1^ ." 



2. Forest Survey: 



(a) Sketching. — Under this heading is included all aerial operations having 

 for their object the classification of forest growths into the various types used 

 in the preparation of Ontario Forestry Branch timber estimates; together with 

 some mention of specially related technical forest studies carried out under the 

 direction of sketching personnel when flying was impossible. 



The areas mapped by this method are to be found in three distinct sections 

 of the Province: (1) in the aerial neighbourhood of Sioux Lookout, (2) north of 

 Longlac, (3) east of Oba Lake. The total covered in these three blocks amounts 

 to about 3,300 square miles with a total flying time of 146.05, giving a rate of 

 over 20 square miles per sketching hour. 



No new methods of work were adopted during the season, the preparation 

 of maps, as in previous years, being a question of personal skill and practice 

 based on a general knowledge of the principles of plane table surveying, and an 

 intimate and special knowledge of the aerial appearance of the forest conditions 

 which it was required to recognize. 



It is felt, however, that while no innovation or revision of methods has 

 taken place in the past year, there has nevertheless been some advance in the 

 quality of our forest sketch mapping in the past season. Undoubtedly much 

 of this has resulted directly from added aerial experience. Nevertheless it is 

 believed that special forest studies mentioned above have been of material 

 assistance. 



The importance of a continuous ground study of forest conditions in 

 developing and maintaining the ability to classify forest growth from the air, 

 cannot be over-estimated, and it would seem advisable to provide all observers 

 engaged on this work with facilities for detailed and systematic ground study of 

 forest conditions whenever feasible. 



Acknowledgment of the assistance of Prof. T. W. Dwight, of the Faculty 

 of Forestry, University of Toronto, for expert advice and assistance with certain 

 phases of this work is perhaps permissible at this point. The report on the 

 growth of spruce, submitted over his signature and representing a final com- 

 pilation of the field and office work of the technical observing staffs of the Branchy 

 can be placed to the credit of this work. 



{b) Photographic Survey. — Approximately 1,800 exposures were made andl 

 an area of 3,500 square miles covered by aerial photography during the past 

 season. The total operation required eighty-seven hours forty minutes flying 

 time. 



The above total of 3,500 square miles is made up of three separate blockb 

 of territory situated in the North Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie Districts; 

 in all three cases the work was performed upon direct request of the District 

 concerned. Of these, the block lying in the North Bay Inspectorate, repre- 

 senting an area of approximately 570 square miles, lies along the west bank of 

 the Ottawa River. The surface is rough and was at one time well opened up 

 for logging operations based on the Ottawa. Upon the completion of cutting, 

 information on this country, largely in private hands ^nd unrecorded, has gradu- 

 ally lapsed so that a re-survey was required for fire protection purposes. 



The territory required for the Sudbury Inspectorate is to be used in con- 

 nection with the spotting of fires from an Ontario Forestry Branch steel tower 

 located north of Wanapitei Lake in Parkin Township. As a good map is essential 

 to the effective operation of a tower lookout system, and as the country in 

 question is mainly rough and unlikely of further subdivision or more complete 



