1928 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 15 



substantial progress in establishing an up-to-date self-contained pulp and 

 paper plant at Fort William on the Kaministiquia River. The pulp mill has 

 been in active operation some time and the paper plant is expected to be operat- 

 ing within a few months* time, this enterprise involving an investment in plant, 

 equipment, etc., of eleven and one-half million dollars. The Nagagami limit 

 holders who alone have not actively and technically met the obligations regard- 

 ing operating a plant, have nevertheless continued to pay their annual fire 

 protection charges and negotiate with the Government apropos of development. 



The lack of a water power, capable of ample development, upon the limit 

 has seriously affected the efforts of those interested. It may be found necessary 

 to erect a plant at a strategic point outside the limit where power is available 

 and to which the raw material may all have to be hauled. 



Negotiations, nevertheless, are still in progress and while the paper situa- 

 tion is in its present position, where production is at least equivalent to if not 

 greater than the demand, no interests of the Crown will be jeopardized. 



Forest Fire Protection 



Considering the province as a whole the season, like the three preceding, 

 was particularly favorable for forest fire control. In the early spring con- 

 ditions in some districts indicated a season of high hazard but the latter part 

 of May saw a moderation of these conditions. No really prolonged periods of 

 high hazard were experienced except in the territory along the north shore of 

 Georgian Bay and Lake Huron and here during August and the early part of 

 September conditions were exceptionally serious. That no real damage was 

 suffered is greatly to the credit of the local fire ranging organization. 



In the more remote areas of the province aircraft were used entirely for 

 fire detection, and to a limited extent for transportation of supplies and equip- 

 ment. In the more settled areas both aircraft and lookout towers were used 

 for detection and in the Ottawa-Huron area, the Temagami area, and the Clay 

 Belt towers alone were used. 



The total area burned over was 35,742 acres with 924 fires. Of this total, 

 950 acres were timber land, 5,176 acres land which had been logged over, 6,335 

 acres second growth and 23,281 acres of barren or grass lands. 



Large quantities of slash were disposed of throughout the province, thus 

 lessening the hazard considerably. 



The stock of fire-fighting equipment was increased, several lookout towers 

 built and a considerable mileage of telephone lines. 



The travel permit was introduced for the first time in Mississagi and 

 Temagami Forest Reserves and was a decided success. 



Reforestation 



The programme of reforestation this year was the largest in the history of 

 the work. More than seven and one-half million trees were distributed through- 

 out the province from the main Government nurseries and the two transplant 

 nurseries. One new county forest was established and plans were put under 

 way for commencing three more. Several new demonstration forests were 

 planted for townships which brings the total number of these to well over fifty. 

 The collecting of tree seed was continued on an enlarged scale and large quan- 

 tities of red and white pine were gathered for immediate use. (For a detailed 

 report of this work see Appendix No. 36.) 



Forest Surveys and Investigation 

 The forest survey programme was continued during the past season cover- 

 ing over 4,000 square miles of the eastern portion of the Rainy Lake watershed. 

 (See Appendix No. 36.) 



