64 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



are sure to arise between private interests and what is deemed best for the 

 public welfare. In this connection, I believe that the provinces should 

 be encouraged to look to the Forestry Branch of the Dominion Govern- 

 ment for help and instruction. 



IN CONCLUSION. 



I have reviewed the situation in our Province as briefly as possible. 

 Probably much the same state of affairs obtains in other provinces. In each 

 of the provinces the forestry problem must be solved by a careful study of 

 all the interests involved. Much may be accomplished by appealing to the 

 intelligence of our people, as we did in working out our fire laws, and a 

 proper representation of facts. Where possible } practical demonstrations 

 should be given so that all may be convinced. 



I sincerely trust that" the magnificent Convention held in Ottawa in 

 1906, as well as this meeting to-day, held under the distinguished patronage 

 of His Excellency, Earl Grey, will be recorded by future historians as 

 epochs in the general movement for the conservatism of Canada's forest 

 resources. 



Mr. WHITMAN, in concluding, said : We have any quantity of bog lands 

 and swamp lands in Nova Scotia, some of which belong to the Government. 

 I would like to say that I have here a few copies of the Forestry Law and 

 the Crown Lands Reports, if any of the gentlemen wish to look them over. 



THE PRESIDENT ; Mr. Whitman's paper is now open for discussion. 



Mr. R. H. CAMPBELL : I know a little of the work that has been done in 

 the fire-ranging service in Nova Scotia, and I think Mr. Whitman has not 

 gone at all too far in saying that it is a very efficient and effective service. 

 But they have found in Nova Scotia, what I think we are finding largely 

 all over Canada, that our information in regard to the actual forests that we 

 have is not nearly definite enough. We have a good many estimates made 

 by different people as to just what the forest areas are in the different Prov- 

 inces. Some of these are official estimates and some are unofficial. There 

 seems to be considerable uncertainty, in a good many cases at least, as to 

 just what the actual position is. In this connection the Dominion Forestry 

 Branch is looked to for general information regarding the Dominion lands; 

 and as comparison is sometimes made with what is done by the Forest Ser- 

 vice of the United States I would just like to point out one or two differences 

 between the situation in Canada and the situation as it exists in 

 the United States. In the first place, the Forest Service of the United 

 States has been in existence since 1876. A forester was first appointed at 

 that time, and the service has been growing continuously since that date. 

 Our friend, Doctor Fernow, was for some years in charge of that work at 

 Washington, and it is now in charge of Mr. Pinchot, but I might point 

 out that for a considerable time the United States Bureau was one for 

 information rather than for administration. In fact it is only within 



