SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
recommending that an air patrol be-inaugurated to cover all lands— 
Government, State, and private—in Western Wyoming, Montana, 
‘Ydaho, Washington, Oregon, and California. ‘This would require five 
complete observation squadrons of eighteen planes each, or ninety planes, 
with pilots, observers, and complete squadron equipment, each plane to 
be equipped with radio sets for sending location of fires discovered, and 
two planes in each squadron, to be equipped with wireless telephone 
sets and cameras. Operators for wireless stations at bases and sub- 
buses, and the establishment of pigeon lofts at bases and sub-bases 
would also be required. <A resolution of the Western Forestry and Con- 
servation Assoviation points out that the use of airplanes to protect the 
nation’s forests gives opportunity for the training of pilots and observers, 
while serving a purpose, which, in itself, fully justifies the expense 
involved. The experiments along this line in Canada have been com- 
paratively limited, being confined, during the past summer, to two sea- 
planes loaned by the Dominion Government to the St. Maurice Forest 
Protective Association. The Quebee Government has also co-operated 
by aiding the work with a cash grant. In Canada, the whole question 
of the Dominion Government’s programme of air services is under 
consideration by the Air Board. As the possibilities and limitations of 
peace-time uses of aircraft have been by no means fully demonstrated, 
it is logical that the Dominion Government should take the lead, in:co- 
operation with the provinces, as to services of an essentially public 
character. Experimentation and demonstration are essential if this 
wonderful new development, resulting largely from the war, is to play 
its full part in the peace-time development of Canada. 
264 
