1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 249 



"From and after the passing of this Act no owner nor tenant of any 

 saw mill nor any workman therein, nor other person or persons, whoso- 

 ever, shall throw or cause to be thrown, or suffer or permit to be thrown, 

 any sawdust, edgings, slabs, bark or rubbish of any description whatsover, 

 into any navigable stream or river, either above or below the point at which 

 such stream or river ceases to be navigable." A fine of not less than twenty 

 dollars was imposed for the first offence, the penalty for subsequent infrac- 

 tions of the law being not less than fifty dollars. It was made the duty of 

 the fishery officers to examine and report on the condition of navigable 

 streams and rivers from time to time and to prosecute offenders. The Gov- 

 ernor-in-Council was given power to exempt any stream or river or any part 

 thereof from the operation of the Act, on its being shown to his satisfaction 

 that the public interest would not be injuriously affected thereby. 



Export Duty on Saw Logs. 



The question of the maintenance of an export duty on saw logs came 

 up in the Dominion Parliament again during the Session of 1874. On the 

 9th of April a Select Committee composed of Messrs. Charlton, Currier, 

 McDougall (Eenfrew), McCallum, Scriver, Colby, and Stuart were ap- 

 pointed to enquire into and report on the working of the Act Cap. 44 of 

 31 Yic, so far as it relates to imposing an Export duty upon saw logs, 

 shingle bolts, and stave bolts. The report of the Committee, presented on 

 the 30th of April, was as follows: — 



**That the Export Duty on saw logs, shingle bolts and stave bolts, 

 imposed under Schedule F. of the Tariff Act of 1868, Cap. 44 of 31 Yic, 

 is a tax upon settlers and owners of timber, who are prevented by its opera- 

 tion from obtaining the full advantage afforded by the best markets. 



"That the Export Duty while reducing the market value of logs and 

 bolts for the benefit of mill owners does not promote the manufacture of 

 lumber, shingles, and staves at the principal Lake Erie Ports, and at many 

 other points in Canada. 



''That a large proportion of the export of pine and oak logs is long 

 timber, entering into the same class of consumption as does the square oak 

 export of Canada. 



"That exporters of round pine and oak from Lake Erie ports compete 

 in American markets with Michigan timber dealers, to whom the Canadian 

 export duty afford a considerable protection. 



"That since the imposition of the Export Duty, a large amount of 

 capital embarked in the round timber trade has been withdrawn from 

 Canada and invested in Michigan. 



Hard on Settlers. 



"That the saw mill interest of Canada has in the opinion of your Com- 

 mittee, been slightly benefited by the Export Duty; and that whatever 

 benefit the Export Duty has conferred upon the saw mill interest, has been 

 given at the direct expense of the settlers and owners of timber. 



"That the Export Duty reduced to an ad valorem rate, would be on the 

 average 40 per cent, on stave bolts; 30 per cent, on oak logs;''20 per cent, 

 en pine logs; 25 per cent, on spruce logs, and 25 per cent, on shingle bolts. 



"That the Export Duty is an extreme protective measure and partially 

 at least inoperative as such, and that the burdens imposed by it are unequally 

 distributed, falling as they do entirely upon settlers and other owners of 

 timber." 



