152 KEPORT OF ONTAEIO GAME No. 53 



tained that would bring him |7.00 per cord delivered at the mill. This 

 is an average of two cords pej' man, making a very profitable opera- 

 tion." 



Finally, in favor of this meannre it is further held that as the tim- 

 ber cut has to be lopped, greater care is taken not to fell trees which 

 cannot be used, thus effecting a saving of small trees, and also that the 

 brush spread out on the ground tends to retain the moisture during the 

 process of decay and thus facilitate the germination of seeds which may 

 fall upon it. It is to be noted, also, that in particularly dry or danger- 

 ous localities it would be feasible under such a regulation to require the 

 lumbermen to pile and burn the brush without imposing on them any 

 undue hardship, for in any case where heavy cutting is done it is neces- 

 sary to clear the roadways of debris to draw the logs to the skidway, 

 and where the lopping has been properly done, the material will be in 

 good shape for handling and can be as easily piled as spread. The 

 density of the undergrowth, however, and in fact the general nature of 

 the forests, must materially affect the practicability of introducing such 

 a measure, and while, therefore, the principle is undoubtedly well 

 Avorthy of most earnest consideration, it muKt remain with the forestry 

 experts to decide whether it is feasible to enact such a regulation to 

 affect, at least, all future timber licenses in Ontario. There can be little 

 doubt that if such a measure could be enforced, it would prove no small 

 factor in checking the ravage's of forest fires in the Province. 



So rapid can be the development and so disastrous the effect of a 

 forest fire on the public timber resources of the Province that some 

 system should plainly be devised whereby not only should every male 

 citizen, resident or visitor of mature years in the forest area, no matter 

 what his occupation so be he is physically capable, be available at a 

 moment's notice to proceed to the scene of a fire to assist in fighting it, 

 but also responsible officials should be stationed at convenient and 

 strategic points, able and full}^ empowered to call out such assistance 

 as they may deem necessary. Where a settlement, village or even town 

 is threatened, all its male inhabitants will naturally be perfectly willing 

 to use their best endeavors to save it, but where the danger affects a com- 

 munity or locality at some little distance, their services are not so easily 

 secured. To call for volunteers is almost invariably to court delay, and 

 almost equally invariably to insure shortage of help, and the results of 

 both these evils cannot but be a considerable augmentation of the dam- 

 age effected. Where it was understood that each nmle citizen or resi- 

 dent was liable to this service, there could be no question of equivoca- 

 tion, and there can be little doubt but that the placing of the power to 

 call on them to fulfil this obligation with responsibility and trustworthy 

 citizens or officials throughout the forest regions would tend to the 

 rapid extinguishment of many a fire that would otherwise be left to run 

 its own course, provided only that it did not endanger a town or village. 

 A small sum in the nature of a retaining fee might, perhaps, be paid to 



