Dominion Forest Reserves 89 



that the locomotives are provided with spark 

 arresters as the law enjoins. Canada has a rail- 

 way law requiring railroad companies to keep a 

 patrol on the parts of their lines which run through 

 forest, and the inspector must see that these 

 patrolmen are appointed and that they attend to 

 their duty. 



During the special danger period toward 

 the end of summer, the rangers lay aside other 

 duties and watch day and night for smoke or 

 glare. 



Prevention is thought of also. In early spring 

 cleared land becomes bare and its grass dry, before 

 the snow is all melted in the woods. At this time 

 the rangers burn the meadows all along the forest 

 boundaries, keeping careful watch that the fire 

 does not get away into the woods. When fires 

 coming from the prairie reach this burned belt 

 they die for lack of fuel. Some of the reserves 

 are completely surrounded by a broad strip of 

 plowed land called a fire guard. 



Canadian rangers have posted up thousands of 

 notices giving warning against the danger of fire 

 and laying down the laws concerning it. These 

 have a good stiff penalty attached, and are in 

 places where human beings, red or white, are 

 likely to see them — at steamer landings, port- 

 ages, fur posts, and traders' stores. They are 

 printed, to impress the minds of all manner of 

 folk, in French, German, Icelandic, Galician, 



