FLOATING AND RAFTING 387 
damage the banks, or deposit logs or debris on the property.^ 
Navigable streams must be kept open and the rights of all other 
lawful users of the stream respected. 
REQUIREMENTS FOR A DRIVEABLE STREAM 
(1) The size of the stream. The stream channel should be 
wide enough and deep enough to float the largest and longest 
logs without the formation of jams. High banks are desirable 
since they confine the water and prevent it from losing its force. 
When not so confined sufficient water may not be available to 
float logs for more than a short distance, in which case numerous 
splash dams have to be built. 
The most economical use can be made of a small stream when 
it is only a little wider than the longest logs and of a sufficient 
depth to float them clear of all obstructions. If there are such 
the channel must be capable of improvement at a moderate 
cost. On large streams logs may be guided around obstructions 
by the use of booms and other improvements, but in narrow chan- 
nels this usually is impossible and the stream bed must be im- 
proved either by the removal of obstructions, changing the course 
of the stream or putting in sluices for transporting logs around 
places where floating by ordinary means is not possible. 
(2) The channel must be reasonably straight so that logs will 
not become jammed at the bends of the stream. This is most 
important on small streams because of the narrow channel. 
Oxbows or curves in small streams may be eliminated by making 
a cut-off or channel connecting the two nearest points,' but this 
is too costly when bends are numerous. 
(3) There must be a sufficiently large drainage basin above 
the part of the stream which is used to ensure an adequate supply 
of flood water. Coupled with this there must be storage reservoirs 
for holding water in reserve for flooding the stream. In the 
North the snow on the watershed may melt and a large part of 
it run down the streams before the drive begins. Storage basins 
are necessary to conserve this water. 
Lakes form an admirable reservoir and when available are 
used for this purpose. Surplus water is caught and held in 
them by placing dams across their mouths and when several 
^ See Howe vs. Ashland Lumber Co. Decision of the Supreme Judicial 
Court of Maine, 85 Atlantic Reporter, 160. 
