18 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



We have also enacted that henceforth practically the whole tree must 

 be taken out of the woods; at all events, that logs exceeding 5 inches in 

 diameter at the small end must be taken out. This enormously lessens the 

 waste and provides larger quantities of wood for pulp, which was hitherto 

 allowed to rot in the woods. It also increases the Province revenue. We 

 also require the lopping of branches so that the tops may be allowed to rest 

 on the ground. This insures an earlier decay of the top, less danger of 

 fire, assists reproduction and favors the hunters of big game. The lopping 

 can be done at a small expense and is a step leading up to future regulations, 

 which may require the burning of brush by lessees. We have also required 

 that the saw shall be used instead of the axe for felling the trees, and this 

 process is now entirely approved by the lumbermen themselves and is a source 

 of great saving to the Province. I am also informed that it enables the lum- 

 ber operator to get many more logs per day than the old system. 



We have also made an important departure in the matter of getting a 

 correct scale of the lumber cut. At present some 26 sealers are employed in 

 the different districts of the Province. These men are now under the special 

 direction of a Supervisor of Sealers, a man of large experience in the lumber 

 business. There are also two Superintendents, whose duty it is to visit all 

 operations, oversee the work and give instructions regarding the duties per- 

 taining to the office of sealer. The sealers are required to make a fortnightly 

 report to their superiors of the amount of lumber scaled at the different land- 

 ings, and are compensated for their work by a remuneration of so much per 

 thousand feet. These sealers are required to pass an examination before a 

 Board of Examiners before they are appointed. Under the law they have 

 the power of Fire Wardens and can seize lumber illegally cut ; upon which 

 we charge double stumpage. 



It is confidently expected that the care now exercised by the sealers and 

 those in authority over them will result in much larger returns to the Provin- 

 cial Exchequer than heretofore. In this connection I might refer to the 

 greatly increased value of our Crown Lands over the prices obtainable a few 

 years ago. In 1893, when a general sale of Crown Timber Land took place, 

 the sale price averaged $11.20 per square mile, and there were only about 

 four thousand miles sold. Thereafter applications for timber land were 

 received from time to time until 1898 (there being still some five thousand 

 square miles unapplied for) when the Government of the day offered the 

 remaining land for sale. Although they were strongly opposed by those 

 interested in the lumber business the sale took place and over one thousand 

 square miles were disposed of at an average of $21.00 per mile. Since that 

 time our lands have steadily increased in value, and to-day lumber lands 

 which were formerly considered of no value and of little importance have 

 become of immense value to the Province. Some of the lands which, at the 

 sales mentioned, would only bring about $8.00 per mile, are to-day worth 

 from $200.00 to $500.00 per mile and are readily purchased, particularly by 



2a F. 



