164 REPORT OF THE No. ^ 



While the H.vS. 2 L. has proved very satisfactory in the past as a detection 

 machine, when the problem of replacement comes up, it is recommended that a 

 lighter and faster type of aircraft be considered. In September, the writer had the 

 privilege of flying from Como Lake to Orient Bay, in a new R.C.A.F. Vedette 

 equipped with a Lynx motor. This machine should prove more satisfactory for 

 all Forestry Branch work than the types now in use. 



The advantages of wireless communication are well known, and it is 

 recommended that this be given a thorough trial during the early part of next 

 season and, if successful, the necessary equipment be installed in all detection 

 machines. Each machine should be provided with a compass and altimeter 

 in the front cockpit. For sketching and photography work especially, it is 

 almost impossible for the observer to carry on his work successfully without 

 these instruments in his cockpit. 



(3) Equipment. — Buildings for accommodation of personnel should be 

 erected at Temagami, Bisco and Oba Lake, if these stations are to be permanent. 

 Tents are not very satisfactory, and the cost of lumber that is purchased each 

 year for floors and walls of tent camps, would in two years build a suitable cabin. 

 Boxes should be provided for observer's equipment, the saving of equip- 

 ment that would be affected would more than pay for their construction. 

 Each observer should also be issued with a canvas bag about 14 by 10 inches. 

 This would greatly decrease the number of maps destroyed each year, which 

 are costly when mounted, and would also enable the observer to have his 

 map-board, etc., in order at all times. 



If Oba Lake is to be used as a main base in future, it would be very advan- 

 tageous to have a Forestry Branch telephone line connecting the air base and 

 district headquarters at Oba. Permission might be had to build this along the 

 Algoma Central Railway, using their telegraph poles. As mentioned before, 

 the present 'phone system at Oba Lake has been very unsatisfactory. Often 

 there is an hour's delay before it is possible to communicate with Oba from the 

 air base. 



(4) Personnel. — Observers should report to the patrol headquarters for 

 instruction and equipment before the flying season begins, in order to avoid the 

 confusion that usually accompanies the commencement of flying operations. 

 Observers should, whenever possible, be sent to the bases where they were 

 stationed in previous years. 



Two or more observers should be in training during the course of the summer 

 in order to assure a trained staff for the following year. An observer sent out 

 on operations with insufficient experience might easily cost more than the 

 expense of his season's training. If work for observers is to be provided for 

 their spare time, it is recommended that it be in connection with air patrol, viz., 

 photographic mapping, compiling maps to show hazards, or any other work of 

 this nature. 



All requisitions for transportation flights, etc., should be made to the 

 observer, and he should be instructed to check and record weights of all equip- 

 ment carried on transportation flights. 



Photography: 



Considerable oblique photography was done this year, in all approximately 

 3,500 square miles for a total of eighty-seven hours and forty minutes (87.40), 

 This total time includes flying in connection with vertical pictures of the town- 

 sites of Gogama and Elk Lakes, also two flights made for the purpose of securing 

 publicity pictures. 



