THE GASPESIAX FOREST RESERVE. 



The following repc^rt recommiending the setting apart of a 

 Timber Reserve, has been submitted by Mr. W. C. J. Hall, of the 

 Crown Lands Department, Quebec, to the Commissioner of 

 Lands : — 



I would beg respectfully to represent to the Hon. Minister that 

 in the Gaspe Peninsula there' exists an opportunity of creating a 

 forest reservation which would possess unrivalled advantageous 

 features for the perpetuating of the forests therein comprised, and 



the maintenance for all time of the water supply of that region. 



I question very much if on the continent of America a better 

 site could be found for exploiting the system of Forest Reserves 

 than in this locality, a system which the United States has adopt- 

 ed unreservedly, and which the Dominion of Canada isi fast awak- 

 ening to, e.g., to-day in the Province of Ontario the Government 

 has set aside territory unsuitable fcr profitable agriculture to 

 the extent of no less than 5^4 millions of acres, and I have no 

 douljt the intention is to keep on increasing the reserves. 



In Germany thic State' forests comprise an area of thirty- 

 five millions of acres, but they have been practising forestry for 

 one hundred and fifty years. 



By the term " Forest Reserve " I would point out that it is 

 not the intention to prohi])it the cutting of mature and ripe growtli. 

 This can be allowed in the ordinary way under* "Timber License/' 

 as exists to-day. But by creating such reserves in suitable local- 

 ities the Government is in a position to enact remedial legislation 

 if it be for.nd that removal of tlie mature growth is not succeeded 

 by a crop of like species. 



It is claimed by some that after cutting the mature conifer- 

 ous growth the deciduous trees preponderate and snuff out the 

 existence of the smaller coniferous growth existing under tlie 

 canopy of the broad-leaved varieties. 



