CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 17 



is true, the really serious question is that the cutting of pulp wood will soon 

 deplete our forests. In this connection I may say it is contended by some of 

 the large pulp wood operators in the Province that it can be easily proved 

 that by judicious cutting the forests will not only be preserved in the qual- 

 ity and quantity of the lumber, but will actually be increased. 



On taking charge of my Department in March last I found that per- 

 mits were granted many applicants to cut under-sized timber. The result 

 was that large quantities of under-sized spruce were cut, which in a decade 

 or so would have become good sized saw logs. With this question we have 

 grappled as fully as the time has permitted, and the policy of the Depart- 

 ment to-day is that where spruce is found on examination, by competent per- 

 sons, to come to maturity, or to be fit for good saw logs in 75 years, or under 

 an average of 14 inches diameter breast high, no permit to cut the same is 

 given. In stunted growth and on barren lands (where it has been ascer- 

 tained by counting the rings that it has taken from 150 to 200 years for spruce 

 to reach 9 inches in diameter) permits have been given to cut such lumber,, 

 and also to thin out thickets so as to let in sun and air and stimulate the 

 growth. In cases of this kind, experienced men have been sent out by my 

 Department with instructions to show the operator how the thinning should 

 be done, and what lumber may be cut so as to operate entirely for the bene- 

 ft of the remaining stand. Some under-sized cutting will be done without 

 authority, but under the provisions of our Domain Act it is my intention 

 during the coming summer to have examinations made for the purpose of 

 placing stringent regulations in the hands of every operator in the Province, 

 In this matter I have endeavored to secure men well versed in woodcraft for 

 the purpose of conducting these operations and have not hesitated to incur 

 the nncessary expenses connected with such service. From these men I have 

 also been able to obtain accurate knowledge of certain sections of the Pro- 

 vince which have been applied for under the Labor Act. This will enable 

 my Department to determine whether such applications are bona fide or not. 

 I am keeping these cruisers constantly in the woods to supervise the cutting 

 operations, and thus have a certain amount of assurance that the cutting 

 of lumber now and in the future will be conducted in accordance with our 

 regulations, except where it is deemed advisable to depart from them. 



For many years our "standard" log has been 18 feet long and 10 inches 

 in diameter at the small end, but by regulation recently made the "standard" 

 is reduced to a length of 16 feet and a diameter of 9 inches. This was done 

 because it was found that the lumbermen in many cases were not observing 

 the old regulation. I believed it to be in the interest of the industry to 

 place a standard size below which no one will be allowed to cut. Having 

 adopted the present size we are trying to teach the lumbermen the necessity 

 of living up to the regulation, and in perhaps a more forcible way we will 

 teach them the value of observing the law. 



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