254 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



the survey work. Fighting was carried out in two instances, to explore the 

 possibilities in this line. 



(b) This survey was carried on in co-operation with the Canadian Air 

 Board, who supplied three H.S.2L. flying boats with the necessary personnel 

 and equipment; with R. N. Johnston of this Branch, and forestry student 

 assistant F. T. Jenkins, as observers. 



(c) The total flying time for the season was 333 hours; the cost, $140.00 

 per flying hour, and two-thirds cents per acre. 



10. Conclusions. — It is believed that a proper attitude towards the follow- 

 ing conclusions from the season's work is one which regards it as essentially 

 experimental. 



The H.S.2L. type of craft was serviceable because of the physiography 

 of the region. A territory less liberally studded with lakes would require a 

 machine of proportionately greater speed and climb. Some fitting-up is nec- 

 essary for the working convenience and comfort of the observer. 



The observer is called upon for rapid recognition and classification of 

 types, according to recognized ground standards, and rapid mapping of bound- 

 aries. This requires special aptitude as training by flying is expensive. 



Required ground studies should be done by separate crews. 



Aerial photography is specialized work and should be attempted on a 

 large scale only by units organized for that purpose. It requires, for best 

 operation, flying equipment capable of high speed and climb, in order to take 

 full advantage of good photographic light and to be able to operate at a height 

 where aerial disturbances producing errors in exposure, are at a minimum. 

 Cameras should be chosen with regard to the class of work required and the 

 machine in which they are to be used. In survey work, the exposures should 

 be finished and at least roughly plotted in the field, to prevent possible serious 

 lack of data through some failure in field operations. 



Fire detection can be carried on with either high or low performance mach- 

 ines, both reliably and efficiently. The matter of suppression is dependent 

 for success on the opportunities for landing. These uses of the air craft being 

 secondary, no estimate of cost can be given. 



Operation cost of flying, being slight as compared to overhead, the sea- 

 son's program of work should make provision for the utilization of all possible 

 flying time and not merely perfect flying weather. 



In conclusion, it is desired to make reference to the splendid work of the 

 personnel of the Air Board, and more particularly to the mechanics. No in- 

 ference that their work was more worthy of mention than that of any other 

 section of Air Board personnel is intended here, for this would be entirely un- 

 true, but it is a fact that the work of the mechanic is usually overlooked. Nearly 

 everyone is fully aware that a machine must have a pilot to fly, but how many 

 have more than a dim realization of the absolute dependence of flight on the 

 faithful, hard, and often unpleasant, work of the mechanic? 



Of the hearty co-operation of the whole unit, however, enough cannot be 

 said. Indeed, this was true to such an extent that work was carried on as 

 if not two but one, and that a forest organization, was involved. This is the 

 more remarkable when it is remembered that the foresters, through lack of data 

 and experience, could not act with certainty from day to day, but had of neces- 



