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THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



so far they have escaped from fire. This is 

 not the case with rivers further down the | 

 coast, where large tracts of the interior have 

 been burnt thus destroying the cover on the 

 margin of streams where salmon deposit their 

 ova. We remember some years ago, when the 

 whole of the interior lands behind Natash- 

 quaun were set on fire, lasting three months, 

 in fact, until it burnt itself out, and we know 

 that for years following, salmon decreased in 

 the rivers inhabited by them on this portion of 

 the coast. — C. 



THE FOEESTRY CONGRESS. 



It is the duty of Canadian and American 

 Sportsmen and Naturalists to take an interest 

 in the protection of the forests of their respect- 

 ive countries. Sportsmen on both sides of the 

 line must keep a sharp lookout in order to 

 preserve the wild animals inhabiting our 

 forests. Game animals are disappearing 

 simply because their selected homes are in- 

 vaded by human rangers who go out in quest 

 of timber for the benefit of the present genera- 

 tion. Forest material must be obtained of 

 necessity, but from what we have seen sur- 

 rounding lumber shanties, there appears to be 

 enormous waste not only of woods of com- 

 mercial value, but by fire and gun, animals 

 are destroyed in a merciless manner. Lumber- 

 men have been known to cut down more than 

 they are able to carry away. — Majestic trees 

 which stood at some distance from an aquatic 

 outlet, have been chopped and left where they 

 fell, — all lost for want of proper judgment. 

 This occurred to our knowledge on the high 

 woodlands of the upper Assomption River ; it 

 is therefore no wonder that the Company failed 

 to prosecute a profitable lumber trade in this 

 region. The subject of forest protection and 

 replenishment is of the highest importance, 

 and the welfare of this Dominion depends in 

 some degree on the future supply of good i 

 commercial woods. "We have, in the lands ' 

 already denuded and at present a waste, space ! 



and earth-food for a duplicate crop of such 

 trees! Who will undertake to cultivate this 

 fresh growth? The Local Governments of 

 the Dominion should certainly do something 

 to have their burnt and waste Crown Lands 

 replanted. Dr. A. D. K. King of Compton 

 says : — " If it is prudent, not to say a duty, of 

 Governments and other lessors of large tracts 

 of wooded lands, to preserve the timber from 

 waste, it were equally so the duty of individu- 

 als. A large and important part of this Prov- 

 ince is divided into lots, some of which con- 

 tained too much timber for general purposes 

 for agriculture, the farmer possessing a new 

 lot, looking upon every tree as an enemy, and 

 seeking to destroy it in order to give him 

 space for tilling the soil. Other lots, which 

 had little woodland, the owner did his best to 

 economize. He would suggest that before 

 felliug, a careful examination should be made 

 so that the dead or dying trees might be 

 selected. Propagation might be done by seed 

 sowing or planting." 



Many years ago, Mr. Todd, the Librarian 

 of Parliament, suggested to the writer, the 

 necessity of agitating this subject through the 

 Cauadian press. He saw at that early day, a 

 time drawing near when a vigorous cry would 

 arise regarding the enormous drain on our 

 forests ; that in consequence of the continual 

 demand for timber of various kinds, our 

 woodlands would ere long be exhausted, 

 unless means were taken to replant the 

 lands annually weeded of the best trees. His 

 words are now verified ; men are awakened 

 to enquire into the matter. We are pleased 

 to give this short record of the efforts of 

 intelligent men who have lately met in 

 Montreal to consult on Forestry and trust that 

 in a short time their labours will be rewarded ; 

 that Parliament will notice a strong pressure 

 of facts from without. The next good move 

 should be a Congress of American and Cana- 

 dian Sportsmen to provide correct means for 

 the protection of Fish and Game of both 

 countries. There are several interesting sub- 

 jects which may be discussed at meetings of 

 true Sportsmen — such as the effect of forest 

 fires causing the decrease of animals ; fish anc 



