370 Canada. 
NEWFOUNDLAND. 
Newfoundland, probably the first discovery of 
America by the Norsemen, remained a mere fishing 
station until modern times, and, except for the open 
coast, unknown as regards the wooded interior, which 
was supposed to be largely barren. It became a 
possession of Great Britain in 1713. Development 
did not begin until 1880 when the first railroad was 
built, and has progressed more rapidly since the New- 
foundland Railway traversing the entire island was 
opened in 1898. It was found that while the shores 
and a considerable part of the West and South coast 
are barren or poorly timbered, and on the interior 
plateau large moss barrens exist, there are extensive 
timber areas of mixed growth, White and Red Pine, 
Balsam and Spruce, with White Birch. A lumber in- 
dustry which by 1904 had grown up to probably not 
less than 100 million feet, is rapidly extending over 
the whole island, and an extensive paper pulp industry 
is preparing to establish itself, on timber limits under a 
license system similar to that applied in other parts of 
Canada. Some 5000 square miles are now under 
license. Forest fires have repeatedly devastated large 
areas, especially in 1904. The experience of that year 
led to the enactment of a forest fire law, but without 
any agency to make it effective. 
No forest policy exists, except the commercial 
restriction of the license system. 
