14 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Control surveys have also been carried out in co-operation with the Dominion 

 Government's aerial photographic work in different sections of the Province. 

 Co-operation tends to make better and more up-to-date maps of the several 

 sections covered by this work. The total expenditure under survey work for 

 the past year shows a decrease of $12,970.76 from the former year 



During the year the development of water power at Smoky Falls on the 

 Mattagami River, at Calm Lake on the Seine River, and at the falls on the 

 Eagle River, has been completed. Additional units have been added to the 

 Island Falls power plant on the Abitibi River. 



As provided in the agreement with the Dominion Government in the Lac 

 Seul Conservation Act of 1928, a contract was entered into with Messrs. Morrow 

 & Beatty, of Peterborough, for the construction of this conservation dam. It is 

 expected that the work will be completed by the 1st of May, 1929. 



Surveys have also been made to determine the shorie lands which may be 

 damaged by the new water elevation to be established. Special study was 

 made of the water powers on the English River below the outlet of Lac Seul, 

 with a view to determining the several power developments and the most advan- 

 tageous method and location of such developments. 



The revenue from the water power rentals shows an increase of $25,524.29 

 during the past year. 



TIMBER ADMINISTRATION 

 Reserves 



As pointed out in last year's report, the Department is undertaking to 

 carefully guard old areas that may, under a mutual arrangement with timber 

 licensees, be abandoned by them and resumed by the Crown. 



The greatest protection to such areas for assuring future growth of timber 

 is the elimination of those factors that menace the timber. Chief of these is 

 fire, and if through an efficient fire-fighting force this dread menace can be 

 appreciably reduced, much of our concern with respect to a sustained yield 

 condition will disappear. No less menacing is the struggling so-called settler 

 who under the guise of farming worms his w ay into taking up land for the purpose 

 of exploiting the timber. Our problem in dealing with the forest areas of Old 

 Ontario is accentuated by reason of the indiscriminate allocation of land in the 

 distant past for agricultural purposes without any defined system of segregation. 

 Blights, insects and disease are other enemies of the forest that are being grad- 

 ually and successfully combatted with our technically trained staff of foresters. 



The expansive areas heretofore set aside and held as forest reserves, such 

 as Temagami and Mississauga, along with the two great parks, Algonquin and 

 Quetico, afford a complete answer to the question, "What is being done for the 

 natural reforestation of the timber wealth?" While artificial reforestation is 

 eminently satisfactory and proves decidedly interesting and efficient in Ontario 

 under our trained foresters, whose reputation has become world wide, it is 

 admitted that such method has its limitations. Having regard to the magnitude 

 of our Province, the extensive and widely separated areas and various timber 

 types, it is freely conceded that natural reforestation is our salvation. When 

 it is understood that not a single foot of land is alienated in any of our reserves 

 and no farming blocks are permitted, one can appreciate how the above-men- 

 tioned menacing factors are being eliminated and nature is being aided in re- 

 producing crops. 



