1911-12 DEPAETMENT OF LANDS, FOEESTS AND MINES. xiii 



rangers under him, who looked after the protection of the timber from trespass or 

 fire. 



The Eastern Reserve is situated in the County of Addington and has an area 

 of 100 square miJes. This Eeserve was originally covered by timber licenses and 

 the townships composing it were opened for settlement. When the Eeserve was set 

 apart a surrender of the timber licenses was taken, but where settlement existed the 

 patentees or locatees remained in occupation; consequently there are a number 

 of settlers scattered through the Eeserve. The object of setting apart this Eeserve 

 was to see how a cutover limit adequately protected would reforest. The experi- 

 ment has been interesting as well as satisfactory. Growth has been luxuriant, 

 and has evidenced that in course of time this Eeserve will produce quantities of 

 valuable merchantable pine, hardwood, hemlock, and other timbers. The Eeserve 

 is protected by one chief and six firerangers. 



The Sibley Eeserve contains an area of only 70 miles. It covers the great 

 promontory at the entrance of Thunder Bay called Thunder Cape. This territory 

 had been partly burnt over and it was set apart as a forest reserve so that it might 

 he protected and grow up again. The result has been very satisfactory, as the 

 point is becoming clothed again with timber. No fires have occurred in this 

 Eeserve. 



There are two parks in the Province under Government control, the Algon- 

 quin and the Eondeau. 



The Algonquin National Park has an area of 2,060 miles and covers the head 

 waters of the Muskoka, Petewawa, Madawaska, Amable du Fond, South Elver, and 

 some other minor streams. One of the important objects in setting aside this 

 park was to keep the head waters of these large rivers clothed with timber instead 

 of allowing them to be denuded. Another was to protect the game and animal and 

 bird life generally. Another object was to afford a large forest area where people 

 might get in touch with Nature and enjoy the benefits resulting therefrom, such as 

 pleasant surroundings, good fishing, delightful canoeing through what may be 

 described as a lacustrine paradise, and renewed health and strength; the quieting 

 of the timber titles and bringing the territory back into the hands of the Crown 

 so that the timber might be permitted to grow and be conserved for the use of 

 posterity. The park is admired by everyone who visits it for its beauty. It is 

 rapidly becoming a winter resort, where skating, snow-shoeing, and other Canadian 

 recreations can be enjoyed to the full. The protection afforded the game has caused 

 it to increase so rapidly that thousands of dollars have been obtained by taking a 

 certain number of beaver, otter, mink, etc., and disposing of them by public sale. 



Eondeau Park. — This park has an area of 8 square miles. It is beautifully situ- 

 ated, lying as it does between Eondeau Harbour and Lake Erie. Here is to be 

 found the finest piece of original forest in the Province. Magnificent specimens 

 of trees that are almost extinct are growing here, such as black walnut, butternut, 

 s3'camore, etc. This park was set apart to protect and conserve this particular 

 forest and to create a harbour for game. It was also intended to afford a place 

 where people from the surrounding country might have a recreation ground during 

 the summer months. Many summer cottages have been erected. The park is a 

 favorite resort for picknickers from towns in the vicinity. Driveways are built 

 through it and there is a constant stream of automobiles. Ten years ago a few 

 deer were placed in the park and they have been carefully protected. Tliey have 

 multiplied until they became a menace to the crops of the surrounding people and 



