158 DAMAGES FROM FOREST FIRES. 



of their strpngth, and need snrely very much restraint; but -we are now considering 

 additional legislation to guard against losses by tire occasioned by them in the practice 

 of their lawful business, and I confess that 1 cannot suggest any other than those 

 hinted at above, .lud must admit that the propriety of them may be questionable, and 

 may not be eflective to that end. 



The Commissiouer of Crown-Lands in the province of Quebec, in bis 

 report of 1871, speaking of tbe precautions necessary for the preserva- 

 tion of timber-lands, says : 



The most formidable agent in the destruction of our forests is, certainly, j^re. All 

 the most active operations in lumbering which have taken place since the settlement 

 of the country, and all those vrhich are likely to take place for the next twenty years, 

 have not caused and will not cause to our forests so much devastation as this one de- 

 stroying element has eliected up to the present time. 



In a report on forestry and forests of Canada, by H. G. Jolly, mem- 

 ber of the Dominion Council of Agriculture,^ it is estimated that more 

 pinc-timher has been destroyed by fire than has heenc^it doicnand talen out 

 by the hmibermen, the injury extending as well to the young trees, upon 

 which future supplies must depend, as to the timber already mature. 

 After enumerating the means employed in Europe for extinguishing 

 forest-fires, such as calling out a large population by alarm-bells, and 

 directing their labors, under the guidance of acknowledged leaders, the 

 nuuntenance of safety-strips^ or clear spaces through the forests, and 

 other means of defense against spreading fires, he justly remarks that 

 none of these can be applied extensively in this country, and that our 

 main dependence must be upon prevention. 



CANADIAN LEGISLATION IN RELATION TO FOREST-FIRES. 



The following is a synopsis of an act of the legislature of Quebec, as- 

 sented to December 24, 1870, respecting the clearing of lauds and the 

 protection of forests against fires : 



1. No standing tree, shrub, or other plant in any forest, or within a mile of a forest, 

 is 10 be set fire to at any time. 



2. No pile of wood, branches, or brushwood, or fallen trees, turf, peat, stumps, or 

 fallen timber is to be set on iire in a forest, or within a mile, except for clearing land, 

 and then only between September 1 and July 1. 



Notwithstanding the above provisions, fires may be made in or near a forast to ob- 

 tain warmth, or to cook, or for industrial purposes, as the making of tar, turpentine, 

 charcoal, ashes, &c., but if between May 15 and October 15, with the following con- 

 ditions. The person making the fire must — 



1. Select a place where there is the least quantity of vegetable matter, dead wood, 

 branches, brush, dry leaves, or resinous trees. 



2. Clean the place of all vegetable matter within a radius of 25 feet, if for the in- 

 dustries, or within 4 feet as regards fires for warmth or cooking. 



3. Totally extinguishing the fire before leaving the jdace. 



No person is allowed to drop or throw down a burning match, ashes of a pipe, cigars, 

 ■wadding of fire-arms, or other burning substairces, without extinguishing the lire at 

 once. The penalty prescribed is a fine of $50 and costs, or imprisonment not overthrew 

 months. Prosecution to be begun within three months, and one-half of the fine to go 

 to the prosecutor. Any juntice of the peace, himself viewing tho act, may impose the 

 penalty without further proof, and all employes of the department of crown-kmds, 

 land-sftrveyors, and wood-rangers in tho employment of the crown-lands, were declared 

 ex-o^cjo justices of the peace for the purjiosea of this act. 



PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INJURY FROM FIRE ALONG RAILROADS, AND 

 OTHERWISE. 



The frequent occurrence of forest-fires along railroad-lines, and great 

 losses that occur from the burning of property from this cause, leads us 



' Eeport of the Minister of AgricuUure for 1S77. Appendix i, p. 1 to 20. 



