114 



EEPOET OF THE 



No. 3 



(4) Permits. 



Forest protection in a considerable portion of the northern Clay Belt is 

 largely effected through control of land clearing fires by the permit system. This 

 system is costly, since a large force of rangers is required owing to the scattered 

 nature of the work. Permits were issued in 136 townships. This is not such 

 a large area if the work were consolidated, but scattered townships require the 

 same number of men to issue permits whether the number used in a season be 

 large or small. For instance, there were 80 townships in which not over 25 

 permits per township were issued in the whole season ; and there were only 25 

 townships in which more than 100 permits each were called for. As time goes 

 on, however, and a township becomes more cleared and mostly patented, there 

 seems no reason why the municipality should not be called upon to provide for 

 the protection of its own property. 



The number of permits issued the past season was relatively small since the 

 weather and fire conditions led to the general suspension of permits from June 21 

 until into August. During that period permits were issued only in a few localities 

 where conditions made it safe. In all, 6,635 permits to burn over 26,790 acres 

 were issued, as compared with 9,590 permits in 1918, and 3,486 in 1917. 



Statement of Permits, 1919. 



Monthly Summary of Permits, 1919. 



For infractions of the Permit Regulations 23 persons were prosecuted, and 

 convictions secured in 20 cases. As already pointed out, it is desirable that the 

 Act be amended to allow a jail sentence in flagrant cases. 



