FOREST FIRES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



Mr. J. R. Anderson, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for 

 British Columbia, has again furnished the Association with a 

 detailed report on the fires that occurred in British Columbia last 

 season, with a partial estimate of the value of the forests destroy- 

 ed. Though the season was very dry in some parts of the prov- 

 ince, the destruction of forests by fire was, on the whole, not 

 great when the great extent of the province is taken into consider- 

 ation. Railway locomotives are a constant menace to the 

 forests through which they pass and as there is apparently some 

 difficulty in punishing the offenders under the Act now in force, 

 it is hoped that it will be so amended that railway companies 

 may be compelled to take better precautions and be made liable 

 for the full amount of the loss caused by the negligence of their 

 servants. 



The comparativel}^ small number of fires last season was due 

 in part to a better observance of the Bush Fire notices posted 

 everywhere. These notices have made everyone familiar with 

 the laws relative to forest fires and prospectors and miners, as well 

 as ranchers and settlers, are acquiring the habit of putting out 

 their camp fires, instead of leaving them to smoulder. More care 

 is also taken by those clearing up land to prevent fire from spread- 

 ing to the adjoining forest. The preventive measures taken by 

 fire wardens and their promptness in dealing with fires have done 

 much to restrict the loss from this cause. 



There are few seasons in which there is not a considerable 

 destruction of valuable forest by fire on Vancouver Island, but 

 1905 was a notable exception. In Cumberland District there 

 were no fires, the greater care taken by settlers and the heavy 

 rains of July and September being the cause. In Cowichan the 

 only fire reported was a small one up the Koksilah River, on the 

 lands of the Victoria Lumber Manufacturing Co. The fires in this 

 district are as a rule attributed to prospectors. The agent at 

 Alberni, where there were no fires, thinks that the best preventive 

 measure is to warn the public just before and during the dry 

 season. In Alberni District East, which includes all that portion 

 of the district lying cast of the head of Cameron Lake, as well as 

 Lasqueti and Texada islands, there were no fires. The agent 

 says: "This portion of the district has been entirely free from 

 bush fires this season and as the Bush Fire notices were posted up 

 all over the district before the dry weather set in. I think it has 

 had the effect of making campers and others more careful in 



