92 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



impossible for a single ranger to notice every fire when it first 

 starts, for he may be in a distant part of the Reserve, but there are 

 along the edge of the bush farmers who could be appointed fire 

 guardians, and whose duty it would be to report fires to the 

 ranger as soon as noticed, and to take such steps as are necessary 

 to put them out. Three or four of such men would greatly assist 

 the ranger in protecting the forests. The fire guardians and 

 the ranger should be supplied with telephone communication 

 with Boissevain, the nearest town, so that fires can be promptly 

 reported and assistance procured if necessary. By comparing 

 the direction of the smoke from the various stations a fire could be 

 readily located. 



Placing the value of the wood at the low figure of $1.00 per 

 cord, the annual revenue of the Reserve would be $55,000.00, 

 which justifies considerable expenditure for protecting and im- 

 provement. There is no reason now when the pioneer days of the 

 country are past that the farmers should not pay for their wood, 

 at least enough to make the Reserve self-sustaining. In this way 

 the expense of administration would be borne by those who are 

 benefited by it and they would be more directly interested in 

 having the forests protected. 



There are within the Reserve a number of squatters who 

 settled there in direct defiance of government orders, and have 

 therefore no rights beyond those of any law breaker. These men 

 are a constant menace to the forest, directly by the fires which 

 they frequently set and by grazing large numbers of cattle in the 

 young forests, and indirectly by encouraging trespass. There 

 should be as little delay as possible in removing these objection- 

 able and dangerous settlers. 



As a summer resort, the Turtle Mountains are becoming very 

 attractive, and as the timber grows the beauty of the country will 

 greatly increase. Picturesque lakes abound, and in some of them 

 there is good pickerel fishing. On the United States side bass 

 have been introduced with good success, and the example is 

 worthy of imitation. Large game is not plentiful, but there are 

 some jumping deer which, if protected, would soon increase in 

 numbers. 



This Reserve, though not large, is of immense value to the 

 surrounding country, and as the land is not at all suitable for 

 agriculture it should on no account be opened for settlement, or 

 the timber allowed to be destroyed. 



