124 



Canadian Forestry Journal, July, 1915 



ships, a situation where limit-holders 

 and settlers adjoin one another in 

 many cases. "We have had several 

 fires, all arising from culpal)ility of 

 settlers, but all except one extinguish- 

 ed or under control. Thus it is abun- 

 dantly evident that the Government 

 is looking after the national asset, the 

 Crown forest, and notwithstanding 

 the trying conditions, the damage is 

 very slight, and the situation is con- 

 trolled unless the drought is further 

 prolonged. 



Let it not be supposed for one mo- 

 ment that the patrol is confined to 

 the Crown lands. On the contrary, 

 we well know that the "danger spot'' 

 is the border line between licensed 

 Crown lands and the settlers and 

 the inspectors and rangers are con- 

 tinually going round warning the 

 settlers against setting fire, posting 

 up placards, appealing to the clergy 

 in every parish to exercise its in- 

 fluence, and generally safeguarding 

 as far as is possible the public in- 

 terest. Furthermore, in order to 

 obviate danger from settlers" fires, a 

 system of luirning permits has been 

 inaugurated which gives promise of 

 very satisfactory results and by 

 which, by observing certain provi- 

 sions, a settler is permitted to burn 

 his slash in prohibited season, under 

 superintendence of an inspector or a 

 duly qualified fire ranger. 



It is claimed that the Government 

 does not punish delinquents for in- 

 fraction of the law; in rejoinder al- 

 low me to state that last year about 

 one hundred actions were taken, and 

 judgments obtained in nearly every 

 instance. As to the ((uestion of what 

 fine is allotted, that is a matter that 

 rests with the judges on the Bench 

 and beyond the control of the Gov- 

 ernment. 



Settlers' Fires. 



Complaint is made, not in the edi- 

 torial referred to. that in the district 

 north and northeast of ^Montreal, set- 

 tlers fire their brush and the fire ex- 

 tends beyond their properties and 



damages their neigbbors. Such locali- 

 ties as Sixteen Island lake and en- 

 virons are made mention of; now 

 these places are miles and miles from 

 the nearest outlying lot belonging to 

 the Crown and (piite remote from the 

 timber limits — would it be reasonable 

 to expect the Government (these 

 lands having passed out of its hands 

 many years ago) to take the men 

 from Crown lands and station them 

 in such localities to protect private 

 interests? It would be impracticable 

 to do so, but let me say that in many 

 cases similar to the above, when dam- 

 age has been done, the Government 

 has on obtaining the needed proof, 

 instituted actions and punishment 

 has been meted out to the offenders. 

 Let it be well understood that any in- 

 dividual suffering damage from fire 

 by reason of his neighbor infringing 

 the law has a good case against that 

 neighbor, and it is not obligatory for 

 the Government to act. but as above 

 stated, it often does act, and this in 

 the public interest. 



All the railways in the Province, 

 save the I.C.R. and N.T.R.. are under 

 my control as regards patrolment. I 

 act as Provincial Fire Inspector for 

 both the Federal and Local Govern- 

 ments, under the orders of the Chief 

 Fire Inspector for the Dominion. 

 Thus there are some twenty odd rail- 

 ways to be attended to. and special 

 patrols are in.stalled on any hazardous 

 sections and maintained throughout 

 the season. Since the inauguration 

 of this railway patrol three years ago 

 I beg to state officially that a most 

 mark?d change has taken place. To- 

 day none can say that the railways 

 are a menace such as they undoubted- 

 ly were in the past, vide the terri- 

 tory between Quebec and Lake St. 

 John as an example. The warm and 

 hearty co-operation which has been 

 forthcoming from every railway com- 

 pany, with one or two exceptions, has 

 been a revelation not only to myself 

 but to manv others. Notable exam- 

 ples are the C.P.R. and the Q.C.R. 



