1927 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 163 



connected with the Bell System, which gave good service in this, the fourth year, 

 of its use. At Oba Lake, as in past seasons, the Algoma Central Railway per- 

 manent 'phone line was used between the air base and the O.F.B. headquarters 

 at Oba, a distance of thirty miles, which arrangement was not entirely satis- 

 factory due to the great number of telephones already connected on this line. 

 At Temagami the Forestry Branch permanent line was used between the air 

 base at Bear Island, and the Chief Ranger's headquarters at Temagami. This 

 line did not always prove satisfactory, due perhaps to faulty construction. 



(b) Distribution of Machines: 



A redistribution of machines in the eastern patrol brought patrols under 

 the direct supervision of the suppression staff at Sault Ste. Marie, Bisco and 

 Longlac. By this redistribution the length of the average fire patrol was shorter 

 than that of last season. This also expedited the reporting of fires. 



At Remi Lake an H.S. 2 L. was used in the early part of the season but 

 was later replaced by a Loening monoplane. Since the patrols from this base 

 are very long and mostly over a very poorly watered area, the advantages of 

 using a machine with a good performance will be readily seen. The advantages 

 of a faster machine were partly demonstrated by the saving of time effected by 

 the Loening. With the H.S. 2 L., the Remi Lake patrol via Sesikinika Lake 

 required six and one-half hours flying; with the Loening, it was done in five 

 hours and twenty minutes. 



Personnel: 



The personnel, with one exception, had one or more years previous experi- 

 ence, and in most cases their work was satisfactory. The value of a season's 

 training in a junior capacity before taking over the work at a sub-base has 

 become quite apparent. There were nine observers attached to the Eastern 

 Patrol, one at each base and two at Ramsay Lake headquarters. 



Recommendations: 



During the past seasons the following improvements have recommended 

 themselves: 



(1) Patrols. — Since there was only one patrol from Ramsay Lake even 

 during fire hazard weather, there was always one machine in reserve. This 

 arrangement was very good in so far as the Sudbury Inspectorate was con- 

 cerned, but there were times when this spare machine could have been used to 

 advantage elsewhere for the betterment of fire detection in the Eastern Patrol 

 area. At this point, may we stress the need for mobility of machines in our 

 present system, unless the number of machines is greatly increased. 



It is expected that the hazard during the early part of next season in the 

 Timmins Chief Ranger district, will be greater than last, due to the copper-gold 

 rush in Robb and Jamieson Townships. Our records show that this area con- 

 tains much slash, which will probably become dangerous, before regular patrols 

 could be commenced from Remi Lake. To cope with this situation, patrols 

 should be arranged to cover this area as soon as Temagami and Sesikinika 

 Lakes are open. 



(2) Machines. — In the past season much flying would have been done at 

 Como Lake, had there been a machine stationed at that point during the whole 

 summer. This base was without a machine from June 13th to July 14th, and 

 again from July 31st to August 29th, nearly two months during the greatest 

 hazard in this patrol area. It should not be necessary to emphasize the neces- 

 sity of having a sufficient number of machines available to supply the require- 

 ments of all bases, included in the pre-season plans. 



