K 



DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1929 121 



Operation Administration and Inspection. 



Further important use of the aircraft as an important supplement to the 

 regular ground organization and apart from the use of the aircraft as a means 

 of detection or transportation in connection with suppression, is the evidence 

 that District Foresters and their officers are using aircraft of the Service as a 

 means of transportation for inspection of their entire districts. During the 

 season under review the Service flew 1,584.40 hours on flights requisitioned and 

 classified as operation, administration and inspection. 



Conclusion. 



The Provincial Air Service is distinctly proud of its unique record. Since 

 its inauguration it has relied entirely on its own resources, has operated under 

 difficulties, trained some of Canada's best pilots, increased its flying hours year 

 by year and made for itself a name on a parity with the leading commercial 

 flying operating companies of the world. 



It is my happy privilege to commend the entire personnel of the Provincial 

 Air Service, whether ground or flying staff, for their untiring, splendid efforts, 

 their devotion to duty, day and night, in carrying out the requirements whether 

 active flying operations, maintenance or reconditioning. The Service was put 

 to a very severe test and without their unceasing, untiring efforts it would have 

 been impossible to have met the situation with the results achieved. 



Operating Statistics. 



The attached statistical summary further indicates the increasing activity 

 in every phase of the Service's flying programme. 



Dusting. 



The Service was again called upon to act in conjunction with the Entomo- 

 logical Department of the Dominion Government with a view to exterminating 

 the looper worm despoiling the hemlock trees in the residential and surrounding 

 district of the Muskoka Lakes and Parry Sound. 



The D.H. 61 was modified to permit of a larger and modern dusting apparatus 

 being installed, and after a series of test flights made for the purpose of gauging 

 the most suitable delivery speed of the apparatus, the machine was sent to 

 Muskoka on June 11th. 



Dusting operations were completed at Muskoka on July 11th, when machine 

 proceeded to Parry Sound to dust a small area in the region of Amik Lake. 



During the 21.25 hours devoted to dusting 38,700 pounds of calcium arsenic 

 were used, which included 35,400 pounds used at Muskoka and 3,300 pounds at 

 Amik Lake over a combined area of approximately 1,700 acres. 



Due to the inconsistent weather many valuable hours were lost each day 

 and consequently the programme took longer to complete than was anticipated. 

 The intricate flying connected with tree dusting can only be accomplished 

 satisfactorily and safely under ideal weather conditions. Also the effectiveness 

 of the dust depends largely on the humidity of the air, calm wind and quantity 

 of dew on the tree foliage, such as usually occurs in the early morning or late 

 evening. 



I Tree dusting is still in the experimental stage, particularly as regards the 

 development of suitable aircraft, and the quality and weight of the dust. The 

 risk run by the flying personnel in flying inland 20 feet above the tree-tops with 

 a single-engined plane is not usually appreciated. Flying at this height is 

 essential at this stage, because if the dust is discharged at a greater height, 



