142 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



tractor a territory in which the latter is satisfied he can make the number of 

 logs required. The head contractor divides up and marks out the territory 

 for the sub-jobber, who taking his wife, children, horses, men and relations 

 into the woods, builds a camp and stable, clears out his logging roads and 

 commences work. He cuts the number of logs required, skids them out to 

 bis roads. When winter comes and the cutting is finished he then hauls them 

 on one horse sleighs to the lakes and rivers, where they are piled in roll- 

 Avays on the banks, or placed on the ice. Here they are scaled, and, on the 

 culler's returns, the limit holder pays the contractor and also his own dues 

 to the Government. This system is an admirable one for the Companies, in 

 that it enables them to get their timber cut without putting out any money 

 until the logs are partly or altogether made, and they do not require any 

 large number of men on their woods pay-roll until the time comes for the 

 drive. 



Its disadvantages are, that the jobbers can only be placed where the wood 

 is fairly abundant and easy to get out; with the result that each year the 

 hauls become longer, or it is necessary to open up new territory. Thus the 

 banks of the lakes and drivable streams, and the valleys leading to them, are 

 cut clean, and, eventually, the timber left will be difficult to get at and costly 

 to make. The jobbers are allowed to build their camps and to make their 

 roads where they like. Naturally thev locate roads where the trees are 

 thickest, and leave the sections in between uncut and very difficult and expens- 

 ive to go back to. The camps are seldom used more than one year and are 

 then allowed to rot. Besides this, dry and down timber which is sound, is 

 often left in the woods and branched trees and trees cut in making roads are 

 also left. Burnt over territory is seldom cut, and this also results in great 

 waste. 



PROPOSED REMEDIES. 



The present condition of affairs offers little encouragement to the limit 

 holders to log according to the best principles of economic forestry, and is 

 a constant source of irritation to most of them. Several of the larger com- 

 panies already employ trained foresters and competent corps of intelligent 

 men, and are both willing and ready to co-operate with the Government in 

 every possible way to improve the present state of affairs. To this end I 

 would suggest the following measures : 



A. Ground rents and stumpage dues should be fixed for a term of years 

 (say ten), and at least two years' notice should be given of any proposed change 

 in the same. Forestry will not be practised if the limit holders fear a sud- 

 den change in the regulations or an exorbitant rise in the amount of the dues 

 to be paid. 



B. A definite colonization policy should be at once decided on, and 

 adhered to. Lands should be chosen for settlement which are fertile, well 

 watered, convenient to rail or roads, and the soil of which is known to be fit 

 for agriculture. 



