REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FORESTS 145 



of Conservation to undertake directly ; it would require years of effort, 

 the building up of a large organization and the appropriation of a very 

 large sum of money. Nor shoiild it be necessary to handle the situa- 

 tion in this way. The Province of Nova Scotia has completed such a 

 survey, the work having been done during the summers of 1909 and 

 1 910 imder the direction of Dr. B.' E. Femow. The Forest Branch 

 of the Department of Lands of British Columbia has already begim a 

 forest survey of that Province. It is most logical that this class of 

 work should be handled through action by the local organizations, 

 and it is recommended that this Commission urge action along this Hne. 

 In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba the work should be handled 

 through the Forestry Branch, Department of the Interior. In Ontario 

 and Quebec, the work of the existing forestry organizations might be 

 extended, while in New Brunswick the work could be handled tmder the 

 direction of the Surveyor General. 



It is recommended further that this Commission 

 Statistics ^^S^ upon the various Governments concerned the 



systematic collection of complete statistics of forest 

 fire losses. In many cases the data collected in the past have been so 

 incomplete as to be almost valueless. There is a very noticeable lack 

 of information as to acreage covered by fires, and the amoimt and value 

 of timber and other property destroyed. Such statistics are essential 

 in order to determine the efificiency of fire-protective measures in effect, 

 and to serve as a basis for improvement. 



Reserve Extension in Northern Ontario 



jjgjj. A brief preliminary reconnaissance of a portion of 



Agricultural Northern Ontario was made last stunmer for the Commis- 

 ^*°*^ sion by Mr. J. H. White of the Faculty of Forestry of 



Toronto University.* This examination shows that a large percentage 

 of Ontario west of Sudbury and south of the Height-of-Land is non- 

 agricultural and is valuable only for the production of timber. Fires 

 have done enormous damage, especially during the period of railway 

 construction. However, a great deal of valuable young growth has come 

 in which requires protection that it may reach maturity. Some mer- 

 chantable timber which has not yet been included in forest reserves 

 or in timber limits, yet remains in regions back from the railways. 



Ultimately, the whole territory south of the Clay 



Re^erye*'* Belt, and lying between the Timagami and Nipigon 



reserves should be included in pennanent forest reserves 



and protected and administered under forestry principles. This 



*Foi' report in full, sec appendix, p. 156 et seq. 



