FINANCIAL LOSSES BY FIRES 



63 



of pine reproduction on the old bums was actually determined by 

 counts on over 500 acres of sample area scattered through the various 

 townships. This was done by running long strips, usually a chain 

 wide, so as to approach as nearly as possible the average conditions, 

 and by counting the trees on such areas. Besides these actual measure- 

 ments, mental calculations in regard to reproduction were constantly 

 made when passing through the old bums. As a result of these studies 

 the bumed areas may be classified with reference to the number of 

 times bumed and the amount of pine reproduction. These are shown 

 in the table below, together with an estimate of what the repeated fires 

 mean in terms of loss in potential dues by retarding or destroying the 

 replacement of pine. The areas of the former pinery bumed only 

 once, now average 30 young pines per acre, and this, rather than the 

 number of trees in the original stand, is taken as the basis of the cal- 

 culations given below. It is assumed that each tree now standing will 

 mature and, at maturity, will yield 100 board feet, or, in other words, 

 since the once bumed areas average 30 young pine per acre, 3,000 board 

 feet per acre is regarded as the expected yield ; a moderate estimate, 

 when compared with the original yield of these pineries, which cannot 

 have been less than three to four times as large. The stumpage 

 value is regarded as $7 per M and the dues are reckoned on the 

 present basis of $2 per M. 



Pine Reproduction on Burned Areas with Estimates of its Value and the 

 Loss in its Value by Repeated Fires 



Acres 



Potential value of dues if 



burned but once 



Potential value of dues with 



present stock 



Loss of dues by repeated 



fires 



Potential stumpage value if 



burned but once 



Potential stumpage value of 



the present stock 



Loss of stumpage values by 



repeated fires 



Total loss in potential dues. 

 Total loss in potential stum- 

 page value 



Grand total , 



Bumed once 

 Average 30 

 yoimg pine 



trees per acre 



75,000 



$450,000 



450,000 



1,575,000 

 1,575,000 



Burned two 



to three times 



Average 6 



yoimg pine 

 trees per acre 



389,000 

 ,334,000 

 466,800 

 ,867,200 

 ,169,000 

 624,000 

 545,000 



Burned four 

 to eight 



times. No 



reproduction 



of pine 



156,000 

 $936,000 



Nil 



936,000 

 3,276,000 



Nil 

 3,276,000 



$2,803,200 



9,821,000 



$12,624,200 



