CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 19 



our neighbors from the United States. Because of the great increase in value 

 of our public domain there can readily be seen the necessity of devising affec- 

 tive measures for its protection and preservation, as it would be a public 

 calamity if this great asset should be either wasted or destroyed. 



Realizing the urgent necessity of proper fire protection, I soon developed 

 a scheme which I believe to be as efficient as the limited means at the dis- 

 posal of my Department will permit. The summer of 1908 offered every 

 encouragement for the spread of forest fires. From early spring until late 

 rail little or no rain fell to give the usual protection. Under the system of 

 protection adopted we had four Chief Fire and Game Rangers with a com- 

 petent staff of about 130 permanent rangers, who are on duty both summer 

 and winter. The Province was divided into four sections with a Chief Fire 

 Ranger for each. Each of these was given a number of carefully chosen men 

 likely to be earnest in the discharge of their duties and ambitious to secure 

 the best results, and I am happy to be able to report that under this system 

 excellent protection was secured for our Crown Lands. During the year 

 practically no damage resulted from forest fires, although the neighboring 

 Provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the State of Maine were ravaged by 

 fire and lost a large amount of valuable timber. 



By using the telephone and telegraph our fire fighting force was avail- 

 able at short notice, and was always ready for duty. In many cases it worked 

 day and night to suppress fires and rendered most efficient service. Thus we 

 have removed the question of fighting fire from the authority of Road 

 Superintendents, Justices of the Peace and other officials who had little 

 or no authority in the matter and did not have sufficient interest in the wel- 

 fare of the Province to promptly take the duty of suppressing forest fires. 

 With just pride we point to the results obtained during the dry summer of 

 1908. 



Our Forest Fire Act provides rigorous penalties for the setting of fires 

 by settlers without giving notice, by campers and fishermen and by locomo- 

 tives and other means. Through the course we have adopted, the influence 

 of the press and the notices which we have caused to be posted in every part 

 of the Province, there is gradually being built up a strong public sentiment. 

 In this Province our forest wealth is rapidly becoming a most valuable asset 

 and every possible means should be used to educate the public to the necessity 

 of preventing its destruction by fire. Both the public schools and the schools 

 cf forestry can render great assistance by pointing out the effect of fire not 

 only upon the present stand of timber, but also the untold damage that may 

 result to the soil and the reproducing power of the forests. In fact the two 

 things to be guarded against in this, or in any other Province or State, are 

 protection from fire and the prevention of illegal cutting. In the near 

 future it will be necessary to carry this matter further and it is suggested 

 that we should adopt the system of signal and watch towers which has been 



