CA2 ALLF A56 1959/1960 c.2 a i Aim ALBERTA LEGISLATURE LIBRARY 3 3398 0041 1 2099 \ VtTT fc ■ ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Department of Lands and Forests OF THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA EDMONTON: PRINTED BY L. S. WALL, QUEEN’S PRINTER ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Department of Lands and Forests OF THE PROVINCE OF ALRERTA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31st 1960 EDMONTON: PRINTED BY L. S. WALL, QUEEN’S PRINTER Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Legislative Assembly of Alberta - Alberta Legislature Library https://archive.org/details/annualreportofde1959albe TO THE HONOURABLE J. PERCY PAGE, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Alberta. SIR: I have the honour to submit the Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for the fiscal year ended March 31st, I960. I have the honour, to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, NORMAN WILLMORE, Minister of Lands and Forests. Edmonton, January 25th, 1961. TABLE OF CONTENTS I - LANDS ADMINISTRATION 10 Report of the Public and School Lands Division II - FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION 26 Report of the Director of Forestry III - FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION 77 Report of the Director of Fish and Wildlife IV - COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 115 Report of the Supt. of Commercial Fisheries V - TECHNICAL DIVISION 125 Report of the Director of the Technical Division VI - ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATION 138 Report of the Accountant VII - REGISTRATION DIVISION 149 Report of the Registrar VIII - PROVINCIAL PARKS 15 1 Report of the Provincial Parks Commissioner IX - PERSONNEL 162 X - STATIONERY AND SUPPLIES 165 CHIEF OFFICERS DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Hon. Norman Willmore Minister of Lands & Forests H. G. Jensen Deputy Minister Lands &c Forests W. D. Abercrombie Departmental Solicitor V. A. Wood Director of Lands E. P. Shaver Asst. Director of Lands E. S. Huestis Director of Forestry R. D. Loomis Supt. of Forest Management T. R. Hammer Supt. of Forest Protection R. G. Steele Supt. of Forest Surveys A. Earnshaw Radio Superintendent E. P. Shaver Provincial Parks Commissioner C. H. Harvie Supt. Provincial Parks Curt P . Smith Director of Fish and Wildlife D. E. Forsland Superintendent of Game H. B. Watkins Supt. of Commercial Fisheries H. Soley Director, Technical Division T. A. Dr ink water Asst. Director, Technical Division A. McCallum Administrative Accountant H. E. Bennett Asst. Administrative Accountant C . B . Kenway Registrar W. H. MacDonald Publicity Officer Mrs. R. Svendsen Personnel Officer Miss M. Garrick Stationery and Supplies EASTERN ROCKIES FOREST CONSERVATION BOARD J. R. H. Hall Chairman A. T. Baker Member S. R. Hughes Administrative Officer REPORT OF THE Department of Lands and Forests 1959 - 1960 HONOURABLE NORMAN WILLMORE, Minister of Lands and Forests, Edmonton, Alberta. SIR: I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Department of Lands and Forests for the fiscal year ending March 3 1st, I960. Respectfully submitted, H. G. JENSEN, Deputy Minister. Edmonton, January Z 5th, 1961. 10 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LANDS ADMINISTRATION Report of the Director of Lands V. A. WOOD In the fiscal year, under review, there were 128,370 items of outgoing mail from this division as compared to 130, 87-9 items for the previous fiscal year, or a decrease of 1.91%. Since completion of the general investigation of land use classification and valuation of units in the Alberta Clearing and Breaking Project in 1958, the units returnedto the Government by settlers leaving the project have been seeded down to grass by the Department of Agriculture and action is being taken to fence a considerable areafor use as a community pasture. It is expected thatfencing will be completed in I960, and the pasture will be in operation in 1961. Since revaluation of the units in the Clearing and Breaking Project was completed, approximately twenty settlers have received title to their units. Lessees and purchasers of these units have expressed general satisfaction with the revaluation of their lands. Duringthe year under review, repayment of Homestead Lease Loan in¬ stalments was greater than in previous years. The Inspection Staff was used during the winter months in an effort to collect accounts in serious arrears. Approximately one-third of those accounts have been paid in full and partial payments on account received on the remainder. The Director and Supervisor of Grazing Appraisal, attended the Western Land Director s ' Conference heldin Saskatchewan June 22nd to June 26th, 1959. The conference consisted of presentation of papers on various phases of land administration in the four western provinces and a field trip through the central part of Saskatchewan. Inspection was made of several of the land settlement projects and community pasture developments in the central part of the province. At the conclusion of the conference several recommendations were made regard¬ ing land administration in the western provinces . These recommendations were presented to the Deputy Minister of the department. The interest inland settlement has increasedover what it was last year but is still considerably below what it was four or five years ago. The demand for summer cottage sites, commercial sites, rights of entry, for grazing land and for community pastures is still holding up and in some cases has increased considerably. During the year, a program was adopted, in co-operation with the De¬ partment of Agriculture, whereby the Land Utilization Board would develop and assist community pasture associations in the development of community pa¬ stures. After a careful review and study, the grazing rental rates were increased considerably in I960 in the southern part of the province and to a lesser extent in the central portion of the province. The accompanying diagram shows the number of Homestead Leases in force for each year since 1941. ORDERS-IN- COUNCIL: A largenumber of Order s- in- Council were passed during the fiscal year but only the following affected the policy and procedure of the Lands Division. O.C. 1412/59 - September 15th, 1959. This Order-in-Council established a Grazing Lands Advisory Council to act in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Lands and Forests, in connection with the administration and development of grazing land. PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION O.C. 225/60 - February 17th, I960. Amended the Grazing Lease Assignment Regulations whereby the as¬ signment fee required in some cases has been reduced. O.C. 261/60 - February 24th, I960. This Order- in- Council lowered the fees required for an assignment of a Grazing Permit and established a fee covering assignment of Public Land Pipe Line Agreements. HOMESTEAD LEASES AND HOMESTEAD SALES: There were 439 civilian and 23 veteran Homestead Leases issued during the fiscal year as compared to 233 civilian and 20 veteran leases in the previous' fiscal year. The number of cancellations increased by 168. The number of leases patented decreased by 51. Duringthe year under review, there were 135 Homestead Lease Loans granted as compared to 142 in the previous fiscal year. For the purpose of crop share collection in 1959, yields were considered a failure where the yield was less than five bushels per acre for oats, barley and rye, four bushels per acre for wheat and three bushels per acre for flax and other crops where the value of the yield was less than $4. 00 per acre. In 1957, legislation was enacted authorizing the disposition of Crown lands by way of Homestead Sales. This form of disposition of public land is slowly gaining popularity as evidenced by the fact that as at March 31st, 1958, 60 sales had been issued, a further 181 sales were issued by March 31st, 1959, and an additional 213 sales issued by March 3 1st, I960. Approximately 50% of the Homestead Sales issued represent conver¬ sions of existing Homestead Leases to Homestead Sales, where the purchaser wished to avoid the performance of residence duties. SALES AND CULTIVATION LEASES: Duringthe fiscal year ending March 31st, I960, a total of 182 parcels of landwere offered for sale ofwhich 149were sold. The highestprice recei¬ ved was $180. 00 per acre for a parcel of land in the Taber district. This is an increase of $60.00 per acre over the high of the 1958-59 year. Duringthe year a total of 168 quarters of tax recovery landwere trans¬ ferred to the Department of Municipal Affairs by Order-in-Council. Listed hereunder are breakdowns in connection with Sales, Cultivation Leases and Accrued Area Leases for the years 1958-59 and 1959-60. Sales : YEAR NEW CANCELLED PATENTED IN FORCE 1958-59 304 60 477 2,543 1959-60 267 42 584 2, 184 It will be noted that there is again a decrease in the number of sales cancelled but an increase in the number of lands patented. Cultivation Leases: YEAR NEW CANCELLED IN FORCE 1958- 59 162 267 1,635 1959- 60 58 177 1,516 The decrease in number of new leases granted may be attributed to twofactors: 1. Quite a number of the expired and cancelled Cultivation Leases covered tax recovery lands, which lands were returned to the administration 12 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 13 of the Department of Municipal Affairs. 2. While a large number of leases are being renewed effective January 1st, I960, nevertheless due to a delay necessitated by waiting for the passing of new legislation, such new leases are not recorded in the 1959-60 statistics. Accrued Area Leases: YEAR NEW CANCELLED IN FORCE 1958-59 56 82 650 1959-60 100 109 641 During this period the matter of the authority to grant Accrued Area Leases over certain parcels of land was widely discussed and the problem of riparian rights was gone into thoroughly. The number of Accrued Area Leases to be issued in the future will probably be much less than in the past although the former work entailed in issuing such leases will now betaken up in checking and determining whether riparian rights apply. Duringthe year endingMarch 31st, I960, a total of 123 Cultivation Per¬ mits were issued. The majority of these permits are on a cash rental basis and cover both cultivation and grazing privileges. The following tables indicate the monies collected during the year from public and school land sales: School Land Sales: Amount collected on new sales Total revenue collected on account Total revenue collected on account of interest Public Land Sales: Amount collected on new sales Total revenue collected on account of principal Total revenue collected on account of interest Tax Recovery Sales: Amount collected on new sales Total revenue colle-cted on account of principal Total revenue collected on account of interest $ 65,068.03 334, 181. 02 48,790.74 48,226.01 154, 996.70 6, 125.09 3,243. 85 26, 653.29 5,051. 92 The totalrevenue collected for the year 1959-60 was considerably lower thanfor 1958-59. It is felt that this decrease is due to the poor harvesting con¬ ditions in the fall of 1959, with snow and rain causing a delay in harvesting to the spring of I960, by which time many crops were no longer worth harvesting. Under authority of Section 5 of the Crown Cultivation Leases Act the department paid out a total of $ 129, 372 . 00 in lieu of taxes on cultivation leases. This is a decrease of $10,510.30 over the previous year. This is considered due in part of the fact that many parcels of land which were previously leased andon which taxes were paid, have been turned over to the Departmentof Muni¬ cipal Affairs. Exclusive of clearing project areas the total as sessed value ofland under Cultivation Leases is $2,287,560.00. SPECIAL LAND USE: Duringthe year under review, a greatvolume ofbusiness was conducted by the Special Land Use Group. The subdivision program, which includes lots andparcels for residential and commercial development, is continuingto expand and as a result this group dealt with numerous applications for leases and conducted many interviews with interested persons. The policy of issuing leases containing clauses requiring the lessee to build within a specified time is accomplishing the purpose of the departmentof reducingto a minimum the acquisition of public lands for specul¬ ative purposes. In our program we are also endeavouring to co-operate, to the 14 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS fullest extent, with local municipalities and planning agencies in the development of these subdivisions. Many preliminary reports have been received on public lands adjoining lakes for the purpose of assessing the recreational potential and/or the suitability for sub¬ division purposes . This inventory when completed will enable the department to imple¬ ment a comprehensive program for the utilization of such lands. Many applications are being received for surface rights, for wellsites, battery sites, roadways, pipelines, power lines, air strips, campsites, commercial sites and sand and gravel, particularly in the unsettled forest areas of the province. As many of these applications involved utilization of landin the forested zone with the inevitable destruction of timber, itwas necessary for the group to continue to develop administra¬ tive procedures which would enable the Lands Branch to grant surface rights in co¬ operation with the forest service. Imperial Oil photo of well site and aircraft landing strip in the Brazeau forest The Pipeline Regulations established in 1958, permitting the department to enter into agreements for rights of way with pipeline companies, are receiving wide acceptance by the oil industry. The Mineral Surface Lease regulations, also established in 1958, to permit mineral producers to acquire surface leases from the department, have proved to be a simple , practical means for mineral producer s to acquire surface rights on public land, particularly unoccupied public land. During the period 1st of April, 1959, to 31st of March, I960, the following permits were issued and reservations made: Miscellaneous Permits 1,015 Trappers Cabin Permits 154 Sand and Gravel Permits 128 Sand and Gravel Reservations (Provincial) 404 Sand and Gravel Reservations (Dominion) 9 There was a continued demand for commercial sites adjacent to main and secondary highways and the program of providing parcels of land for such use is con¬ tinuing pursuant to established policies. Due to the increased demand for gravel, 128 Gravel Permits issued covering 99,470 cubic yards, as compared to 95 permits covering 57,545 cubic yards during the previous fiscal year. GRAZING: In 1959 the demand for grazing land in southern and central Alberta remained at peak level. Also a considerable volume of assignments were received and processed through departmental records. During 1959 the minimum assignment fee on grazing leases remainedat twice the current year's rental or an amount equal to one-half the net consideration paid for the lease, whichever was the larger amount. As a result there were some large assignment fees collected by the department. The minimum assignment fee for Grazing Leases was cut in half when the new rental schedule was brought into effect in I960. The Grazing Permit assignment fee was also cut in half in the early part of I960. PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 15 The Milk River Co-operative Grazing Association of Milk River organized during the spring of 1959 acquired by partial assignment 12, 650 acres of lease land. Also six sections of formerly leased lands were added to the Twin River Grazing Re¬ serve for I960. A large block of land of approximately 26,000 acres in townships 1, 2 and 3, ranges 6, 7 and 8, West 4th meridian, was withdrawn from the application for renewal of a Grazing Lease in order that such landmight be established as the Pinhorn Grazing Reserve. The withdrawal was made under authority of the present regulations which allows the Minister the right to reduce the area of land held by a grazing lessee to that amount required to graze 600 head of cattle. It is expectedthat the Pinhorn Graz¬ ing Reserve will be operating in 1961. During the 1959 season the Rannock Grazing Reserve, an area of submarginal land in the Two Hills District, comprising approximately 12, 232 acres, developed by the Department of Agriculture, was turnedover to this department for administration. Several other submar ginal areas in the Wetaskiwin, Minburn, Thorhild, West- lock and Wanham areas are to be developed as Grazing Reserves by the Department of Agriculture and will be administered by this department commencing in the years 1960, 1961 and 1962. Several community pasture associations were established in northern and ce¬ ntral Alberta during the 1959 season. Some of these associations have already ob¬ tained leases while others are in the process of having the land area applied for, in¬ spected. The demand for grazingland in the forestry area or green area of the province is increasing and in the fall of 1959 a policy was agreed upon with the Forestry Division thatwhere a grazing association was interested in acquiringland for summer grazing purposes in the forestry area such applications would be subject to a joint appraisal by officers of the forestry and land divisions and that where possible such applications would be given favourable consideration. Grazing Lease applications from individuals will also be dealt with in a similar manner. Another aid to the establishment of community grazing associations onleases was inaugurated during 1959 by this department and the Land Utilization Committee in the Department of Agriculture. Under this policy grazing as sociations canbe given assistance for fencing, regrassing, clearing by controlled burning and developing stock watering facilities on their leases. The expenditure is set up as a charge againstthe association andean be repaidon an installment basis, without interest, over the term of the lease. Several of the new associations as well as associations already esta¬ blished are taking advantage of this assistance program. Typical range land southwest Alberta In 1959 there werefifteen applications received from grazinglessees for assi¬ stance under the Range Improvement Assistance Program for regrassing abandoned cultivation and developing stock watering facilities. 16 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS During 1959 four wild horse roundups were in effect. The total number of horses reportedas havingbeen roundedup and clearedfor sale was 102. These were all from the Hinton- Entrance area. The average price of beef sold on the Calgary market during the period July 1st to December 31st, 1959, was 20.02£ per lb. as compared to 21. 53^ per lb. for the same period in 1958. By Order -in- Council the province was divided into three districts, south, central and north and the percentage of the forage value to be used in calculating the rental and taxes in each area was establishedon a sliding scale that will change with the changes in the average price of beef. The following table shows the percentage of the forage value for each district to be used for calculating rental and taxes at the varying prices: Percentage of forage value Average price of beef payable as rental and taxes south central north district district district 10.99^ per lb. & under 12 1/2 % 10% 8% 11. 00^ - 15. 99£ per lb. 16 2/3^ 12 1/2% 10% 16. 00^ - 20. 99? per lb. 20% 16 2/3% 12 1/2 % 21. 00^ - 25. 99^ per lb. 25% 20% 16 2/3% 26.00£ per lb. & over 30% 25% 20% Rental per acre - I960 Carrying South Central North Capacity District District District Zone 20% 16 2/3 % 12 1/2% 24 4 1 . 75£ 34.75 £ 26.00£ 32 31.25^ 26. 00£ 19.50£ 40 25. 00£ 20. 75£ 15.75£ 50 20. 00£ 16.75^ 12. 50? _ 60 16. 75£ 14. 00£ 10. 50£ The new rental rate applies also to lands whichwere formerly in the special areas and which have been transferred to the jurisdiction of this department. Grazing rentals on a head tax basis for I960 on provincial grazing reserves were set out as follows: Twin River Grazing Reserve Purple Springs Grazing Reserve Rannock Grazing Reserve Yauxhall Community Pasture 1 animal unit, $ 1 . 80 per head, per month. 1 animal unit, $2. 50 per head, permonth. 1 animal unit, $ 1. 60'per head, permonth. 1 animal unit, . 85 per head, permonth. Where no caretaker or other facilities are provided by the department, graz¬ ing rental on a head tax basis was set as follows for I960. Grazing District "A" (South) Grazing District "B" (Central) Grazing District "C" (North) 85^ per animal unit per month 70 £ per animal unit per month 40 £ per animal unit per month An animal unit has been established as follows: 1,000 lb. cow and calf equals one animal unit. Dry cow two year old steer or heifer, equals one animal unit. Yearling, heifer or steer equals 3/4 animal unit. Bull equals 1 1/2 animal units. Horses equal 1 1/2 animal units. 5 sheep equal 1 animal unit. There were 48 grazing associations and grazing co-operative leases andfour provincial grazing reserves in operation in 1959, as well as a number of applications for long term Grazing Leases by associations in the process of being formed. PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 1 The following is a summary of community pastures operated by associations and co-operatives and provincial grazing reserves. Name of Grazing Associations or Co-operative Area in acres Barnwell Grazing Association Barnwell 1, 142 acres Bear Canyon Grazing Association Cherry Point 1, 316 " Big 4 Lease Association Armada 3,035 Blackfoot Grazing Association Tofield 24, 595 Bluefield Grazing Association Thelma 11,727 B. T. Grazing Co-operative Hilda 26, 300 Boundary Creek Association Cardston 636 Bowell West Grazing Association Bowell 8, 008 Bow Island - Forty Mile Grazing Association Burdett 24, 365 Burkes Lake Stockman's Association Tulliby Lake 3, 120 Castle River Stock Association Beaver Mines 6, 159 Chauvin District Grazing Association Chauvin 1, 113 Clear River Grazing Association Bear Canyon 3,491 Comrey Grazing Association Cresthill Farmers Community Cattle Comrey 29, 953 Grazing Lease Association Chauvin 14, 271 Deimuth Lease Association Turin 1,743 Drowning Ford Grazing Association Medicine Hat 33,069 Dunn Lake Cattle Association Edgerton 3,595 Eastern Irrigation District Brooks 4, 979 Elk Island Grazing Association Whitelaw 1,446 Fincastle Grazing Association Taber 1, 281 Fir Grove Stock Association Bellevue 3,742 Four Mile Creek Stock Improvement Association Eaglesham 8,000 Frog Lake Cattle Association Heinsbur g 9,493 Green Prairie Grazing Group Milo 2, 875 Hays stock Grazing Association Hays 15,462 Jumping Pound Stock Association Keg River Community Livestock Improvement Calgary 12,765 Association Keg River 570 Little Bow Grazing Association Champion 4, 349 Little Smoky Grazing Association Culp 10,762 Lomond Grazing Association Lomond 82, 196 Long Valley Grazing Association Whitelaw 2, 938 Lucky Lake Grazing Association Smoky Lake 5, 595 Many Island Lake Grazing Association Pashley 17, 565 Milk River Co-op Grazing Association Milk River 12, 643 Nemiscam Community Pasture Organization #1 Nemiscam 4,780 Nemiscam Community Pasture Organization #2 Nemiscam 33, 991 North Group Cattle Association Marwayne 9, 931 Pipeline Grazing Association Redcliff 23,260 Pall Haven Community Pasture Mountain View 10, 462 Rocky Coulee Grazing Association Bowell 4, 432 Ross Lake Community Pasture Association Owendale 4,473 Spruce Ranching Co-operative Ltd. Parkland 19, 138 Sterling Pasture Company Ltd. Sterling 747 The Lakes Grazing Association Czar 1, 906 Tide Lake Grazing Association Jenner 15,787 Tulliby Lake Stockman's Association Marwayne 15,076 Writing on Stone Grazing Co-operative Milk River 14, 271 The Twin River Provincial Reserve The Twin River Provincial Grazing Reserve comprises an area of 21,388 acres with 23 3/4 miles of fencing. In 1959 forty-seven permits were issued for the grazing of 1,310 head of stock on a six months basis. The caretaker was a resident on the reserve during the season May 1st to November 1st. Purple Springs Irrigated Grazing Reserve The area of the Purple Springs Irrigated Grazing Reserve is 1,280 acres, 335 of which are under irrigation. 18 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS The caretaker was in permanent residence on the reserve during the 1959 season. In 1959, fifty-six permits were issued for the grazing of 496 headof stock on a six months basis. Rannock Provincial Grazing Reserve The Rannock Provincial GrazingReserve comprises an area of 12, 232 acres with thirty- five miles of four-wire fence located north and east of Two Hills. The reserve was developed by the Department of Agriculture and turned over to the De¬ partment of Lands and Forests for administration in the spring of 1959. The care¬ taker was not in residence on the reserve in 1959, however a house was purchased, repaired, decorated and made ready for I960 occupancy. For the I960 season the caretaker will reside on the reserve. During 1959, the first year this reserve operated, fourteen permits were issued for the grazing of 183 head of stock on a four months basis. Vauxhall Provincial Grazing Reserve The area of the Vauxhall GrazingReserve availablefor allotment in 1959 was approximately 100,000 acres with 39 3/4 miles of two, three, and four wire fence belonging to the department. In the spring of 1959 the area in question was divided between the Vauxhall Grazing Association and the Hays Grazing Association. It is the intention to issue longterm grazingleases on the areas in question to these associa¬ tions as soon as the irrigation development in the area is completed. On lands surrounding the area held by the Vauxhall Grazing Association and Hays Grazing Association within the reserve, allotments were made to individuals during 1959 on the same basis as that followed in previous years. The Buffalo Park Grazing Association and the South Park Grazing Associa¬ tion operating at Wainwright and Hardisty made use of grazing facilities on the mi¬ litary camp area atWainwright andCrown andmunicipal land adjoining suchmilitary camp during 1959. The associations involved obtained grazing privileges amounting to 12,335 cow months and six horse months during 1959. As well, 1, 289 tons of hay was permitted and removed from the military area in 1959. The arrangement for obtaining grazing in this area is in accordance with an agreement between the Department of National Defence, The Buffalo Park Grazing Association, The South Park Grazing Association and this department. Rental colle¬ cted for grazing privileges obtained and hay cut on the military area is applied to the National Defence rental account with this department. SUB-AGENCIES Public land sub-agencies were maintained at Peace River, Grande Prairie, Edson, Rocky Mountain House, Lac La Biche and Bonnyville. The Office of Informa¬ tion, Calgary, was also continued. Also as in the past temporary sub-agencies for one day a month were main- tainedatHigh Prairie, Hines Creek, Fort Vermilion, La Crete, Spirit River, Cherry Point, Bear Canyon and Snipe Lake during the months fromMay to November, inclu¬ sive. INSPECTIONS: The inspection work during the year under review was carried out by seven¬ teen permanent Inspectors. As usual during the winter months and early spring when unable to work in the field the inspectors assistedin office workandalso conducted auction sales of school and public lands. The following is a summary of field inspections. PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 19 GENERAL, GRAZING and SCHOOL LANDS No. Requests outstanding at April 1st, 1959 1,931 Requests called during fiscal year 4,302 Reports received during fiscal year 4,405 Requests outstanding at March 31st, I960 1, 828 SOIL SURVEY Requests outstanding at April 1st, 1959 221 Reports called during fiscal year 1, 180 Reports received during fiscal year 989 Requests outstanding at March 31st, I960 412 COLLECTIONS Reports received 432 In the fiscal year under review crop share collections in general were better than in the two previous years. SUPERVISOR of LAND CLASSIFICATION: Most of the field work done during the season was general inspection work. Very little field work of a’ special nature was done during the season, on account of extreme wet weather. Some attempt was made to do an inspection of an area covered by a special application but weather conditions prevented it being completed. The green and yellow map boundaries were revised so that a new map could be printed for distribution. The pamphlet "Public Lands Open for Settlement in the Fringe Area of Central Alberta" was revised and brought up to date in regard to available land and lands suitable for settlement. A new issue of the pamphlet was then printed. A considerable amount of aerial photography interpretation was done regard¬ ing localized requests for lands to be opened for settlement. SUPERVISOR, GRAZING APPRAISAL Besides the regular grazing inspection work there was a great deal of investi¬ gational work required in connection with applications for community pastures and applications for other grazinglands , especially in the northern half of the province. The Grazing Appraiser was engagedin special investigation work throughout the province and also did the regular inspection work in the area extending south of Olds to Fort MacLeod, westof the Edmonton-Fort MacLeodbranch.es of the Canadian Pacific Railway . A considerable amount of work was also done in checking the graz¬ ing capacity in townships 1 and 2, ranges 8 to 17, west 4th meridian and in township 28, ranges 17 and 18, west 4th meridian. The grazing capacity of most of the lands in these two areas was increased. Additional revision of grazing capacity was also carried out in the Hand Hills area of Alberta where certain lands were taken out of the special areas a few years ago. Extension work among ranches was again emphasized. Due to the fact that all the best types of grazing land within the province (exclusive of the special areas) is fully occupied, the need is urgent that all available grazing lands be made to produce the maximum amountof forage commensurate with the best in conservation practices . Suggestions were made to the individual leaseholders toward range improve¬ ment by methods of range management, development of additional stock watering places and the growing of introduces grasses for seasonal use as a means of pro¬ tecting the native range during the critical period of its growth. 20 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Introduced grasses for this purpose would be crested wheat grass for spring grazing and Russian wild rye and creeping red fescue for fall and winter grazing, where these grasses are adapted. Once again observations were made to note that the spread of noxious range weeds from adjacent provinces and states. So far none of the problem weeds have been found. Downy brome or cheat grass, an annual brome grass which invaded this pro¬ vince, possibly from Montana some years ago, continues to spreadalong roadside and waste places in southern Alberta. As an annual it does not prove a serious problem and does provide some forage in the spring and early summer. The increased interest in community pastures has added to the work of the inspection staff. Besides attendance at the annual meetings of the grazing associa¬ tions already in existence several meetings were held to explain the organization and operation of community pastures. PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION The following is a summary of business transacted: HOMESTEAD LEASES - CIVILIAN No. Area in Acres Leases in force at April 1, 1959 3,472 813, 674. 97 Leases issued during fiscal year 439 149,756. 85 Leases patented during fiscal year 206 44,404.91 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 578 149, 228. 83 Leases in force at March 31, I960 Leases not executed 3, 127 29 769,798.08 HOMESTEAD LEASES - VETERAN Leases in force at April 1, 1959 832 226, 853. 27 Leases issued during fiscal year 23 6, 404. 92 Leases patented during fiscal year 121 31,223.81 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 88 24, 632.46 Leases in force at March 31, I960 Leases not executed 646 4 177,401.92 HOMESTEAD SALES - CIVILIAN Sales in force at April 1, 1959 164 38, 246. 20 Sales granted during fiscal year 225 52, 307,72 Sales patented during fiscal year 2 318.00 Sales cancelled during fiscal year I 162.03 Sales in force at March 31, I960 386 90,073. 89 HOMESTEAD SALES - VETERAN Sales in force at April 1, 1959 10 2, 163. 60 Sales granted during fiscal year 16 4, 034. 81 Sales patented during fiscal year 0 0 Sales cancelled during fiscal year 0 0 Sales in force at March 31, I960 26 6, 198.41 HOMESTEAD LOANS Loan Contracts in force at April 1, 1959 Loan Contracts issued during fiscal year 1,037 135 Loan Contracts cancelled during fiscal year Loan Contracts in force at March 31, I960 76 1,096 - CLEARING PROJECT LEASES AND SALES At March 31, I960 Civilian Homesteads 7 2,238.01 Veteran Homesteads 40 12, 819.98 Total = 47 15,057. 99 Crop Share 4 1, 278. 00 Cultivation 5 1, 612.00 Purchase Agreements 142 45,459. 32 The above leases and sales are i ncluded in other reports . CROP SHARE LEASES - CLEARING PROJECT Leases in force at April 1, 1959 5 1,598.00 Leases issued during fiscal year 0 0 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 1 320. 00 Leases in force at March 31, I960 4 1, 278. 00 PURCHASE AGREEMENTS - CLEARING PROJECT Sales in force at April 1, 1959 153 48, 892. 41 Sales granted during fiscal year 102 32, 630.32 Sales patented during fiscal year 21 6, 646. 34 Sales cancelled during fiscal year 92 29,417.07 Sales in force at March 31, I960 142 45, 459. 32 22 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS AUCTION SALES LISTED SOLD Public Lands 87 72 School Lands 95 77 Highest price per acre $180.00 Average price per acre $ 15.81 PUBLIC LAND SALES No. Area in Acres Sales in force at April 1, 1959 847 115, 821.07 Sales granted during fiscal year 178 13,799. 91 Sales patented during fiscal year 241 25,375.40 Sales cancelled during fiscal year 29 4, 895.73 Sales in force at March 31, I960 755 99, 349. 85 SCHOOL LANDS SALES Sales in force at April 1, 1959 1, 696 263,791. 61 Sales granted during fiscal year 89 13, 591. 80 Sales patented during fiscal year 343 53, 648.44 Sales cancelled during fiscal year 13 2,387.61 Sales in force at March 31, I960 1,429 221,347.36 ACCRUED AREA LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 650 46, 515. 89 Leases issued during fiscal year 100 6,413.25 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 109 15, 148. 33 Leases in force at March 31, I960 641 37,780. 81 CULTIVATION LEASES - PUBLIC LANDS Leases in force at April 1, 1959 582 118,026.05 Leases issued during fiscal year 19 4,019. 17 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 100 19, 597. 96 Leases in force at March 31, I960 501 102,447.26 CULTIVATION LEASES - SCHOOL LANDS Leases in force at April 1, 1959 1, 053 196,719.45 Leases issued during fiscal year 39 8, 009. 63 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 77 16, 139.79 Leases in force at March 31, I960 1,015 188, 589.29 EASEMENTS Leases in force at April 1, 1959 709 Leases issued during fiscal year 210 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 19 Leases in force at March 31, I960 900 LICENCES OF OCCUPATION Licences in force at April 1, 1959 556 Licences issued during fiscal year 123 Licences cancelled during fiscal year 44 Licences in force at March 31, I960 635 Licences not executed 6 MINERAL SURFACE LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 104 18, 508.36 Leases issued during fiscal year 241 51, 858.74 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 38 166. 47 Leases in force at March 31, I960 307 70, 200. 63 PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 23 MISCELLANEOUS LEASES - PUBLIC LANDS No. Area in Acres Leases in force at April 1, 1959 552 24, 748. 96 Leases issued during fiscal year 427 4, 223.39 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 117 1, 813. 80 Leases in force at March 31, I960 *862 27, 158. 55 * Includes 521 lots, no area given MISCELLANEOUS LEASES - SCHOOL LANDS Leases in force at April 1, 1959 49 1,473. 83 Leases issued during fiscal year 0 0 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 6 348. 58 Leases in force at March 31, I960 43 1, 125. 25 PIPE LINE AGREEMENTS Agreements in force at April 1, I960 57 417.75 Agreements issued during fiscal year 224 1,435. 18 Agreements cancelled during fiscal year 1 . 86 Agreements in force at March 31, I960 280 1, 852. 07 PIPE LINE INSTALLATIONS Leases in force at April 1, 1959 0 0 Leases issued during fiscal year 5 63.44 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 0 0 Leases in force at March 31, I960 5 63.44 RIGHTS OF ENTRY Rights of Entry at April 1, 1959 4,360 Applications received during fiscal year 667 Rights of Entry cancelled during fiscal year 185 Rights of Entry granted during fiscal year 930 Applications pending at March 31, I960 79 Rights of Entry in force at March 31, I960 5, 105 SEED CROP LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 2 8, 856. 60 Leases issued during fiscal year 0 0 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 0 0 Leases in force at March 31, I960 2 8, 856. 60 SAND AND GRAVEL LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 328 Leases issued during fiscal year 61 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 70 Leases in force at March 31, I960 319 QUARRYING LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 6 Leases issued during fiscal year 0 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 0 Leases in force at March 31, I960 6 TOWNSITE LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 6 739.33 Leases issued during fiscal year 0 20.00 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 0 0 Leases in force at March 31, I960 6 759.33 GRAZING LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 3,171 3,496, 140. 60 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS GRAZING LEASES - continued Area in Acres Leases issued during fiscal year 182 203,764. 37 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 90 145, 662.20 Leases renewed during fiscal year 66 397, 587. 98 Leases in force at March 31, I960 3,263 3 ,554,242.77 Leases not executed 14 GRAZING PERMITS - PUBLIC LANDS Edmonton 555 95,449. 86 Cal gary 545 143, 937.94 Peace River 244 56, 662. 46 Grande Prairie 137 27, 331.45 Total = 1,481 323,381.71 GRAZING PERMITS - SCHOOL LANDS Edmonton 275 55, 633,75 Calgary 155 44, 380. 94 Peace River 59 11,477. 17 Grande Prairie 15 3,344. 20 Total = 504 114,836.06 HAY PERMITS - PUBLIC LANDS Number of Permits issued 618 Number of tons cut 8,775 HAY PERMITS - SCHOOL LANDS Number of Permits issued 74 Number of tons cut 753 ROAD ALLOWANCE LEASES Leases in force at April 1, 1959 1, 489 67, 331. 35 Leases issued during fiscal year 176 6,495.26 Leases cancelled during fiscal year 89 5, 531.01 Leases in force at March 31, I960 1, 576 68,295.60 NOTIFICATION FOR TITLE No. (Homesteads and Soldier Grant Entries) Unpatented Homestead and Soldier Grant Entr ies April 1, 1959 34 Applications for Patent received during fiscal year 0 Notifications for Title issued during fiscal year 2 Soldier Grant Entries cancelled during fiscal year 1 Homestead Enteries cancelled during fiscal year 0 Unpatented Homestead and Soldier Grant enteries March 31, I960 31 ASSIGNMENTS REGISTERED Leases, Permits and Sales 458 PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTRATION 25 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED - PUBLIC LANDS AND SCHOOL LANDS No. Homestead 650 Accrued Area 70 Cultivation - Public Lands 59 Cultivation - School Lands 181 Purchase 33 Miscellaneous 281 Licence of Occupation 174 Easement 205 Sand and Gravel 121 Homestead Loans 188 Grants, etc. 0 Homestead Sales 319 Mineral Surface 274 Crop Share 0 Seed Crop 0 Town site 0 Rights of Entry 667 Pipe Line Agreement 268 Pipe Line Installations 5 Grazing - New 350 Grazing - Renewal 77 Road Allowances 219 Total = 4,141 26 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY Report of the Director of Forestry E. S. HUESTIS The year under review was one of continued progress in all branches of the Alberta Forest Service. The disastrous fire year of 1956 pointed to the necessity of greater expenditures in firefighting equip¬ ment including the purchase and lease of aircraft. More lookout towers are being constructed, more roads pushed back into remote areas and morepeople employed for fire suppression . The statistics for this year indicate that larger .expenditures have reduced very considerably the areas of timber destroyed by fire. Continued publicity has made the public more fire conscious with the result that there is a drop in the per¬ centage of man-made fires. Unfortunately the percentage of lightning fires has increased. However , with the use of aircraft ,, these fires have been suppressed while still small in size . The general public co-operated well with the service by reporting 23.3 per cent of all fires. This as¬ sistance by the people of the province is a very material help in keeping down fire losses . The number of lookout towers has been increased this year by seven to a total of eighty-nine. As a result, the percentage of fires reported by the lookouts has increased. The greater use of aircraft in fire suppression has shown re¬ sults in keeping down the size of fires in areas inaccessible by travel on the ground. Speed is the most vital factor in forest fire suppression. In 1948, by an agreement between the Federal Government and the Alberta Provincial Government, the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board was established to set up programs and recommend policies to be carried out on the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve. The Board had assumed administrative control of the reserves during what was known as the capital spending term of about eight years . At the con¬ clusion of this period and with the province assuming all of the costs of handling the reserves, it was considered advisable to return the adminis¬ trative control to the Alberta Forest Service. This came about at the commencement of the year under review. There has been a’ continued effort to establish the best pos¬ sible methods in the control of timber cutting operations . The policy of the department is to manage forests on a sustained yield basis, cutting only the yearly increment and making sure that forest areas cut over shall be reforested for the future crop . Management plans control the production in all forest areas accessible for operations. In addition, operators are required to prepare, submit for approval and carry out yearly cutting plans for their license timber berths. The present policy is to cut overmature and decadent stands of timber just before cutting mature stands that are still increasing their yield by good growth. There is an increasing interest in better utilization of timber stands . Studies are being made toward the establishment of additional FORESTRY 27 pulp mills . A pressed board plant has started production using small sized poplar not previously used except for fuel wood. One saw mill now uses all of their logs except the' bark and sawdust. The slabs and edgings in chip form are sold to the pulp mill . This is the finest type of utilization . More companies are using the log scale as a method of set¬ ting the amount of dues payable to the department. This method leads to better utilization by the introduction of better mills and better milling practices . Sample timber berths have also been sold where the timber is s cal ed in tree form before the trees are cut . This is a more economical method of scaling. For some years now the oil industry has been pushing farther into our forested area. Exploration work has created many thousands of miles of road with the resultant loss of timber. Most of these roads are too distant from sawmills to salvage the timber. After an oil field is located, many more miles of roads, pipelines, well sites and battery sites are cleared with further loss of timber. Every effort is made to salvage as much of this timber as is economically possible. The Forest Surveys Branch has completed some very fine up-to-date maps of the forested area at scales of two miles and four miles to the inch. These maps are of great assistance to commercial interests using the forested area and will be a boon to the hunter, the angler and the camper . The last nine years of forestry administration have featured an in-service training school at Kananaskis for ranger staff. Buildings kindly loaned by the Federal Government have been used for accom¬ modation. A new school building has now been completed near Hinton which will allow increased training facilities and additional other types of classes. Fish and Wildlife officers are now given a four-week course and this course will be increased in length. The new school gives living and working space for twenty men and the necessary instructors and cookhouse staff. More details are supplied hereunder in separate reports from the various branches of the Alberta Forest Service. FOREST PROTECTION Light snowfall during the winter and -a warm, dry spring re¬ sulted in an early high hazard. Continued warm weather accompanied by lightning storms caused high hazard of varying degree until mid sum¬ mer. Unsettled weather with light and heavy rains prevailed throughout late summer and early fall. First snow was reported at the end of Sep¬ tember in some areas and continued intermittently with rain till early in November, during which period the hazard was low. A warming trend developed but was not sufficient to cause any rise in hazard except in the Crowsnest region. Little snow fell until the closing days of the year when a snowfall of 8 inches was recorded. Suppressive action was taken on 469 fires. Of these fires, 254 (54.2%) originated in the forest zone and 215 (45.8%) in the settle¬ ment zone. A total of 87,959 acres were burned over, consisting of 28 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 51,154 acres of forested land and 36,805 acres of non-forested land. In addition to the above mentioned fires , action was taken on four fires outside the Alberta protection area. Two of these fires were in British Columbia, one in Saskatchewan and one in the Wood Buffalo National Park. Principal causes were lightning, responsible for 23 . 0%; cam¬ pers 20.9%; incendiary 15.3%; settlers 13.2%; andsmokers 12.2%, for¬ ming 84.6% of all fires. Principal cause showing improvement is "set¬ tlers", declining from 17.0% to 13.2%. Causes showing increases are lightning, from a previous 17.5% to 23.0%; incendiary, from 10.3% to 15.3% and public works , from 1 . 5% to 2 . 6% . Expansion of the detection system was continued with the con¬ struction of 7 new towers , this together with the 65 from the previous year and the inclusion of 1 7 lookouts from East Slope now brings the total number of towers and lookouts to 89- Supplemental detection was pro¬ vided by 47,775 miles of aerial patrol. A total of 10 new tower sites were established by aerial and photographic survey. Steady progress was made in construction of lookout service airstrips. Helicopter services fire lookout under construction 30 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Listed below are the number of fires reported by the different agencies , indicating an increase in fires reported by towers and aircraft and continued good co-operation by the public: Forest Officers Towers Public ■ Railway Aircraft 115 176 109 8 61 Percentage : 24.5 37.5 23.3 1.7 13.0 A total of 119 prosecutions were cited and 110 convictions obtained by the Forest Service under Part III of The Forests Act. Equipment: The department purchased one new Helio Courier fixed wing during the later part of the year, an all steel 34' river boat was built for the Protection Branch for service on the Athabasca River and Slave River as far north as Fort Fitzgerald from McMurray. Research: Research on the air drive boat was reviewed. This boat had been constructed by field staff and had been temporarily shelved due to lack of funds and personnel to carry through. A telescope to supplement the Osborne Firefinder was developed and atpresent is on field trials before general distribution. Aircraft: A very successful year was encountered in the development of aircraft planning and uses. As well as one addition to the department fleet, the services of leased air craft proved very useful. Of the 469 fires which occurred a total of 119 or 25.4% were suppressed with the aid of aircraft. Aircraft hauled a total of 5, 876 men and 570,705 pounds of supplies and equipment during the fire season. 29 towers were opened or closed, and 41 tower service trips were made. On 2 fires in high value areas the value of aerial drops of bentonite on hot spots and spot fires was proved beyond any doubt. Belt drive assembly of air propeller driven fire patrol boat FORESTRY 31 Building Construction: A departmental carpenter shop was established for the purpose of pre-cutting and pre-fabricating material for new Ranger Stations and related buildings . Work was carried out under the supervision of a building supervisor, assisted by one electrician , one plumber, one carpenter foreman, two carpenters and two helpers. The experience gained during this season was very helpful in improving this organization . Projects: The following projects were undertaken and fairly well completed during the year: 8 Ranger Stations 24 x 40 8 Ranger Cottages 24 x 28 9 Garages 2 stall 22 x 24 7 Ranger Tool Caches 16 x 24 4 Engine Houses (power supply) 6 Standby Crew trailers (6 man) 10 x 20 6 Tower Cabins It is expected costs will more than justify the setting up of a carpenter shop . Road Construction: In addition to a normal road program, work was started on connecting and improving two for estry roads , which, when completed , will provide a road from Goodwin in the Grande Prairie area to Entrance west of Edson. This road is approximately 185 miles and will provide a short route from the Peace River Block to Edson and south. Very adverse weather conditions during the summer prevented the expenditure of all the funds and left this particular program behind its intended schedule. A 200' Bailey Bridge was constructed across the Simonette River on the road previously mentioned. It is hoped this will do much to eliminate bridge problems in this area. Brazeau river bridge on forestry trunk road 32 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FIRE SUPPRESSION During the fire season 1959, a. total of 469 fires were dealt with as shown below in classes: 170 Class "A" or small fires (less than 1/4 of an acre) 106 Class "B" fires (over 1/4 up to 10 acres) 100 Class "C" fires (over 10 acres up to 100 acres) 67 Class "D" fires (over 100 acres up to 500 acres) 26 Class "E" fires (over 500 acres) RAILWAY FIRE LOSSES, CALENDAR YEAR 1959 CAUSES AND NUMBER OF FIRES: Railway Causes: Locomotives 1 Employees 9 Burning or smoking material from train 2 Total 12 Known Causes Other Than Railway: Campers & Travellers 1 Other Known Causes 3 Total 4 Unkown Causes 3 Grand Total 19 NUMBER OF ACRES BURNED: Slashing or Old Burn 26.0 Timber Land 5.5 Young Growth 6.0 Non-Forested 14.75 Total 52.25 LOSS: Timber $ 48.00 Young Growth 8.75 Forest Products Nil Other Property Nil Total $ 56.75 FORESTRY 33 COMPARISON OF FIRE CAUSES BY PERCENTAGES FOR THE YEARS 1948 TO 1959 INCLUSIVE CAUSE 1948 1.949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Campers 29.9 21 .4 23.8 16.7 25.0 40.0 36.5 14.7 14.4 17.8 23.1 20.9 Smokers 12.5 9.6 10.1 23.8 9.4 10.0 11.8 9:9 12.0 9.5 13.8 12.2 Settlers 10.9 23.6 14.9 19.0 12.5 10.7 17.6 21.9 24.0 16.7 17. 0’ 13.2 Railways 15.2 8.9 10.9 10.7 17.7 -11.4 3.5 6.0 1.2 1.6 5.6 2.6 Lightning 3.8 6.8 8.9 8.3 3.1 5.0 5.9 15.1 17.8 18.3 17.5 23.0 Industrial 8.7 3.5 4.0 6.0 7.8 2.9 7.1 6.0 5.0 12.8 6.0 5.3 Incendiary 2.7 7.3 8.0 8.3 12.0 12.9 1.2 13.8 12.0 14.4 .10.3 15.3 Public Works 1.6 1.2 0.7 4.7 1.8 1.9 2.2 1.5 2.6 Unclassified 0.6 3.9 6.9 6.0 4.2 2.2 2.3 3.5 4.7 1 . 1 1 . 5 1 .5 Unknown 15.7 13.4 11.3 1.2 8.3 4.2 9.4 7.3 7.0 5.6 3.7 3.4 COMPARISON OF FIRE LOSSES AND CAUSES BY PERCENTAGES FOR THE YEAR 1959 Me r chantabl e Number oi Timber Losses Total Acreage Fires Acres Burned % % % Campers 20.9 8. 1 6.3 Smokers 12.2 8 . 6 5.1 Settlers 13.2 3.7 13.1 Railways 2.6 nil nil Lightning 23.0 46.7 44.4 Industrial 5.3 16.9 4.7 Incendiary 15.3 14.0 24.9 Public Works 2.6 nil 0.1 Unclassified 1.5 nil 0.3 Unknown 3.4 2.0 1 . 1 SUMMARY SHOWING TOTAL OVER AREAS FROM NUMBER OF FIRES AND BURNT 1948 TO 1959 INCLUSIVE YEAR TOTAL FIRES No. NON FORESTED Acres FORESTED Acres TOTAL AREA Acres SUPPRESSION COSTS $ 1948 184 195,491 107,726 303,217 90,904 1949 314 552,185 908,862 1,461,047 248,635 1950 248 233,509 472,178 705,687 336,304 1951 84 13,303 10,565 23,868 25,092 1952 192 184,905 299,424 484,329 70,443 1953 140 137,275 196,826 334,101 188,202 1954 85 71,008 57,869 128,877 77,453 1955 232 76,716 124,578 201,294 165,906 1956 258 116,679 577,801 694,480 657,092 4957 180 3,777 11,709 15,486 129,956 1958 464 75,753 155,240 230,993 1,475,347 1959 469 36,805 51,154 87,959 1,184,341 TOTALS 2,850 1,697,406 2,973,932 4,671,338 4,649,675 FISCAL YEAR 1959 - 1960 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS SdlHXSHIV servo's ssaoov SR3X33HS dlNVO S3NI3 3NOHd333X S339VXS QNV S3NHV9 SJN3XSAS ATddnS H3XVM SR37WOi QNV SinOMOOT S03HS QNV S3QVRVD S3QVXXOO QNV S3SQOH 3 £ -i £ | « s; ^ in ™ a! r 30,815 15,497 5,291 2,093,865 12,100 60,637 16,129 145 42,064 2,276,543 LOSSES ANNUAL SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRE FIRES WITHIN FOREST RESERVES LA nd’s affected LO s IS SUPPRESSION COSTS CAUSE NUMBER OF FIRES OWNERSHIP AREA CONDITION TIMBER (MERCHANTABLE AND CUT-OVER] Growth Other Property Total Loss Ranger Other Total CLASS Public Private Total Merchantable Timber Cut-over Timber Growth Not Forested UNSALVABLE if A B C ' D E Total Saw-Timber Other Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres M. Ft. B.M. Cords $ $ $ $ $ S Campers 13 ■; 13 f 8 12 14 8 26 Smokers 2 2 1 Settlers V- Railway Lightning 4 1 5 93 93 1 89 1 3 52 752 979 8 987 394 2 , 639 3,033 Industrial 3 3 15 Incendiary _ 15 Public Works 1 Unclassified Unknown 1 1 45 88 133 TOTALS 23 1 24 93 | 89 1 3 52 '■ 752 979 8 987 474 2,741 3,215 FIRES OUTSIDE : FOREST RESERVES Campers 42 15 18 8 2 85 4,612 927® 5,539 1.438 1,887 2,214 4,070 21,019 23,474 5,496 900 29,870 3,302 64,684 67,986 Smokers 15 18 13 6 3 55 3,222 1,313 4,535 1,544 1,576 1,415 1,317 19,822 28,238 4,415 8,700 41,353 2,961 133,228 136,189 Settlers 4 10 30 14 4 62 7,339 4,182 11,521 653 5,976 4,892 332 7,102 6,617 16,954 2,475 26,046 1,830 39,466 41/296 Railway 3 9 12 8 29 37 5 3 29 96 48 4 52 100 294' 394 Lightning 42 30 13 11 7 103 38,936 . 14. 38,950 f 8,262 14,477 16,211 9,649 109,720 178,783 121,427 300,210 11,847 525,278 537,125 Industrial 16 3 2 1 22 4,070 89 4,159 13 , 023 651 485 7,075 70,865 "1 139,514 4,707 1,000 145,221 • 2,014 242,699 244,713 Incendiary 8 13 20 22 9 72 13,302 8,586 21,888 |2 , 505 8,104 11 ,279 984 23,059 24,268 29,776 3,500 57,544 3,836 103,781 107,617 Public Works 9 2 ivl; 12 61 4 65 1 64 2 300 302 548 9,567 10,115 Unclassified 4 2 1 7 231 ; ■ 234 231 3 353 353 167 2,350 2,517 Unknown 4 4 4 3 15 875 ■ 4m\ 938 ; 358 370 210 1,795 795 2,590 1,007 32,167 33,174 TOTALS 147 106 99 67 26 445 72,656 15,210 87,866 \1 , 788 33,276 36,802 20,431 254,003 402,737 183,929 16,875 603,541 27,612 1,153,514 1,181,126 FIRES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FOREST RESER V ES Campers 55 15 18 8 2 98 4,612 927 5,539 1 1,438 1,887 2,214 1,070 21,019 23,474 5,496 900 29,870 3,310 64,684 67,994 Smokers 17 18 13 1 6 3 57 3,222 1,313 4,535 1,544 1,576 1 ,415 1,317 19,822 28,238 4,415 8,700 41,353 2,973 133,242 136,215 Settlers 4 10 30 14 4 62 7,339 4,182 11,521 653 5,976 4,892 332 7,102 6,617 16,954 2,475 26,046 1,830 39,466 41,296 Railway 3 9 12 8 29 37 5 3 29 96 48 4 52 100 294 394 Lightning 46 30 14 11 7 108 39 , 029 14 39,043 ■8,351 14,478 16,214 9,701 110,472 179,762 121,435 301 , 197 12,241 527,917 540,158 Industrial 19 3 2 1 25 4,070 89 4,159 3,023 651 485 7,075 70,865 139,514 4,707 1,000 145,221 2,029 242,699 244,728 Incendiary 8 13 20 22 9 72 13,302 8,586 21,888 ;2,505 8,104 11,279 984 23,059 24,268 29,776 3,500 57,544 3,836 103,781 107,617 Public Works 9 2 1 ] 12 61 4 65 1 64 2 300 302 548 9,567 10,115 Unclassified 4 2 1 7 231 3 234 231 3 353 353 167 2,350 2,517 Unknown 5 4 4 3 16 875 63 938 358 370 210 4 2,320, A 1,795 795 2,590 1,052 32,255 33,307 TOTALS 170 106 100 67 26 469 72,749 15,210 87,959 17 , 877 33,277 36,805 20,483 254,755 403,716 183,937 16,875 604,528 28,086 1,156,255 1,184,341 S l J MM ARY BY DIVISIONS Forest Pro¬ tection Area 137 106 99 67 26 435 72,656 15,210 87,866 1/7,788 33,276 36,802 20,431 254,003 402,737 183,929 16,875 603,541 27,595 1,153,511 1,181,106 Outside Reserves 10 10 17 3 20 Clearwater 4 1 5 93 93 52 752 979 8 987 349 2,639 2,9S8 ! Bow River 17 17 1 1 3 69 69 Crowsnest 2 2 56 102 158 1 TOTALS 170 106 100 67 26 469 72,749 15,210 87,959 M , 877 33,277 36,805 20,483 254,755 403,716 183,937 16,875 604,528 28,086 1,156,255 1,184,341 . ANNUAL STATEMENT OF FIRES BY CAUSES, MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION, ETC. FORESTRY 37 38 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY 39 40 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY 41 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 DIVISIONS 42 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY TRAINING SCHOOL The ninth annual consecutive school for forest officers was held during the fall of 1959- The school term was eleven weeks duration and ran from September 28 to December 12 inclusive. The curriculum was basically the same as those of recent years. Of the 468 hours of classes, 21% was spent on F,ire Control, 27% on all phases of Forest Management, 10*% on Surveying and 9% on Fish, Wildlife and Enforce¬ ment. Subjects making up the remainder of the course were grouped under fifteen major subject headings. The school remained in-service in nature and all students were drawn from the field staff of the Forest Service. Of the twenty men who attended, nineteen successfully completed the course. Six fish and game officers attended the nine day portion dealing with fish, wildlife, and enforcement. A four week course for senior fish and game officers was initiated this year . Ten officers attended the session held from July 6 to August 1, 1959- A total of 176 scheduled hours instruction was given with an additional six hours per week of evening programs. Wildlife, fish and enforcement were the main subjects covered. Other subjects included forestry, public speaking, publicity and fir st-aid . Both courses were held at the Kananaskis Forest Experiment Station. Buildings were obtained through the courtesy of the Federal Forestry Branch and the Forest Biology Laboratory. Training courses for towermen were held during the spring of I960 for the fifth consecutive year . Five schools of three days duration each were held at various centres . A total of 107 men was trained. Construction on a new school building was started during the year. The building, located at Hinton about 185 miles west of Edmonton, will replace the old building currently being used at Kananaskis . With a total floor area of over 12,000 square feet, the structure will contain offices, classroom, kitchen, dining room, student quarters and lounge. The mathematics correspondence course was given to all new field officers to help them to brush up before attending school. The course was also made available to other employees on request. A total of twenty-eight new courses was sent out. Assistance was given to the Protection Branch in setting up a system of weather stations to calculate forest fire index. The new tables received from the Forestry Branch were used . Other assignments carried out by the school staff included several publicity and public re¬ lations projects and the preparation of various reports . FOREST SURVEYS BRANCH During the past fiscal year, this Branch continued with the many projects in its regular program and commenced several new ones relative to providing photogrammetric , mapping and drafting services to other Branches, Divisions and public agencies. The main projects included the following: FORESTRY 43 Ranger at training school learns use of helicopter winch Forest Protection Planning With the co-operation of the Forest Protection Branch, the fire protection planning program continued and expanded. Lookout tower coverage maps were prepared for twenty pro¬ posed or established lookout sites and the Provincial visible area map was revised accordingly. An extensive program of photography of im¬ provements was carried out using Forestry aircraft and camera equip¬ ment. Forestry roads , ranger station sites , lookout towers and airstrips that had been constructed since previous photography were photographed in order that they could be accurately mapped and recorded. The air patrol map was revised by relocating some routes, extending other s andadding an additional route in the southern area. The Fuel Cache and Air Operations Maps were revised to account for changes from the previous year . The Air Operations Manuals were amended to date and wherever available the new 1 inch = 2 mile lithographed maps were used to replace the old forest cover maps . 44 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Forest Protection Planning - continued Anew project consisting of evaluation of fuel types and tl*eir resistance to control was commenced during the year. Upon completion the results will be a valuable guide to field staff in fighting fires . Forest Management Planning The forest management plan for a management unit in the Slave Lake Forest Division was completed, reviewed and revised. It will be used as a model for subsequent plans . All of the field che eking and office work have been completed for three management units in' the Grande Prairie Division totalling 3,700 square miles. The information has been tabulated in preparation for the development of forest management plans . Field work was car¬ ried out in two management units in the Slave Lake Division and office work on these units has commenced. Once again tracked vehicles were used to provide transportation over seismic lines and winter roads. This method of travel permits almost complete access into the areas where field sampling is required. Four-wheel drive trucks were used in con¬ junction with the tracked vehicles. Essentially the field sampling con¬ sisted of age and productivity classification with sufficient volume plots to substantiate and improve on existing stand tables . Accompanying maps show the stages of development of the various areas that are being brought under detailed management. Theforest inventory of the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve and adjacent area was continued during the year. A survey party was in the field during the summer months to gather information on forest con¬ ditions. This project should be almost completed within another year so that information will then become available for the development of forest management plans in co-op'e ration with the Eastern Rockies Forest Con¬ servation Board and the For est Management Branch . Inventory progress for this area is shown on an accompanying map. Preparation of a management plan for the Edson Corridor, west of Edmonton, was initiated during the year and should be completed early in the next fiscal year. The preparation of maps for timber sale applications in¬ creased this year over the previous year. A total of 256 applications re¬ quiring 915,600 acres of interpretation were processed. As maps for detailed inventory areas are completed, the amount of mapping for timber applications . should decrease. The annual trend in this type of work is illustrated by an accompanying -chart . The cull survey program continued during the year with the assistance and co-operation of the Division of Forest Biology of the Dominion Department of Agriculture. Field sampling of white spruce was commenced during the summer and when it has been completed dur¬ ing the coming year a study of lodgepole pine cull will be started. The cull studies are being restricted generally to the Boreal Forest Region for the present time. FORESTRY 45 Forest Management Planning - continued Becauseof theurgent need to clas sify site fromaerial photo¬ graphs, particularly in burnt and cut-over areas, a site classification applicable to forest lands in Alberta was started during the year. Speci¬ fications for this project were prepared in consultation with represen¬ tatives from the Alberta Research Council, the University of Alberta and the Federal Forestry Branch. We are indebted to these organi¬ zations for their valuable assistance and continued interest. During this fiscal year, many field plots were established in white spruce and aspen types and a preliminary report has been completed . Plots will be estab¬ lished in pine types during the coming year. Thereafter, the results will have to be substantiated and refined for practical application. A start has been made towards collecting tree measurements for the preparation of new volume tables or to provide information for the revision of existing volume tables. This project will continue. Forest Inventory Maintenance During the year, a total of 31 large fires covering approxi¬ mately 47,000 acres of burn were photographed under contract. A con¬ tinuation of this policy of photographing fires in the forested area that exceed 160 acres has provided accurate estimates of timber damage and has permitted revision of the forest cover maps and inventory statistics for major fire changes . The inventory datum may also be corrected annually for depletion by cutting. It is hoped that growth figures can be calculated during the coming year so they may be applied to the inventory on an annual or periodic basis . The only other aerial photography that was done during the year covered afew gap andreflight areas that remained from a previous contract. Because of poor weather and the delay in issuing a contract, an incomplete block of approximately 1,200 square miles, mostly in the north-west corner of the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve, could not be photographed. The two new types of lithographed maps previously com¬ menced were completed and printed by the end of the fiscal year. One series of maps at a scale of 1 inch = 2 miles shows forest cover and all planimetric detail and forestry improvements up to the date of their pre¬ paration. They include all of the forested area of the Province excepting National Parks and the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve, for which cover types were not available. The other series of maps at a scale of 1 inch = 4 miles shows all planimetric and improvement data and will be revised frequently. They will be reduced to 1 inch = 8 miles in the coming year. Coverage of the 8 mile maps will be extended to include the agricultural zone in the south-east corner of the Province. Maps outlining the coverage of the 2 mile and 4 mile maps are shown. Miscellaneous This Branch continued to examine exploration plans of oil companies and during the year 315 proposed plans and 158 final plans were approved. From the final plans, revisions are made to our own 46 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Miscellaneous - continued maps in order to keep them up-to-date . Many License of Occupation and Right of Entry applications were also checked to determine if damage to forest cover could be reduced by relocating the clearing that would be required for roads, airstrips, etc. Late in the fiscal year, a new project was undertaken which consisted of assessing timber damage from aerial photographs on Rights of Entry for access roads, well sites, battery sites, etc. Previously, this work was done by field staff but they were unable to complete the assessments in a reasonable time, particularly in districts of intense oil activity. The new method appears to be acceptable to the oil companies and the Right of Entry Arbitration Board with only a few exceptions and is a more convenient and economical way of doing it. More than 250 assessments were made from. photographs during the last three months of the year . The Branch supplied several organizations with statistical data onforest resources . There was a heavy demand for information by agencies that pres ented briefs to the Manning Commission which was in¬ vestigating the Great Slave Lake Railway problem. Many other drafting , mapping and photogrammetric services were supplied to other Branches and Divisions of the Department. FORESTRY 47 48 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY 49 50 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS SASKATCHEWAN FORESTRY 51 52 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS RADIO DIVISION Personnel For the period under review, the staff situation has been very satisfactory . When the technical work in any one Division becomes heavy , assistance is provided by dispatching a technician from Edmonton. Extra work is usually due to setting up new stations or major modifications of established stations . The hiring of a technician for the Calgary area in the spring brought the staff to full strength for the first time in some years. Equipment, Maintenance and Installation Some of the technical work carried out during the year is listed below. The four Divisions in the south of the Province operating on FM-VHF are serviced from Calgary and grouped for this report. Service trips to towers Mobile Portable serv. Mobile Inst. Service trips to R.S. , H.Q. Ranger Stns. Inst. Towers Inst. Trips by Helicopter (Crowsnest 86 31 56 19 127 1 8 Bow River Clearwater Rocky) G. Prairie 55 21 5 21 1 2 P. River 43 6 44 1 14 3 2 9 Edson 56 5 37 1 40 1 L.L. Biche 44 9 58 1 4 1 1 11 Whitecourt 38 3 35 5 4 S. Lake 58 7 60 1 1 4 2 Edmonton 95 1 1 TOTAL 380 61 406 29 213 5 8 37 A service trip to a tower by a technician entails checking and making necessary repairs to radio transmitters , receivers , power plants , windcharger s , antennae and mast systems, general wiring, remote con¬ trol lines and equipment, lightning protection and meteorological equip¬ ment . In addition to the above listed stations, an installation "was completed at Fishing Lake Metis Colony for the Dept, of Public Welfare . This makes a total of 5 fixed stations owned by the Department of Public Welfare which are maintained by this Branch as well as three fixed and seven mobiles owned by the Federal Government in connection with Prairie Farm Rehabilitation in the southern part of the Province. The moving of Doucette tower involved the disassembly and reinstallation of radio equipment. This is not included in the list of lookouts installed. Control equipment for FM-VHF which will be installed at all FORESTRY 53 Equipment, Maintenance and Installation - continued stations in the Grande Prairie area was designed, assembled and tested during the year. FM equipment was added to the Snuff Mountain instal¬ lation and several other stations in the area were partially fitted with FM before the winter set in. Miles travelled by employees of the Radio Branch in con¬ nection with the above are as follows: truck 83,375, air 5,510, track vehicle 102, railroad 3,655, boat 76, horse 78 totalling 93,696 miles. This figure is not too formidable however, when it is remembered that in one Division a technician has radio sets throug'hout an area of 51,734 square miles . Towards the southern part of the Province, two automatic relay stations are in operation the year round. The stations are located at high points in the foothills and serve to relay FM-VHF signals from station to station. It was desirable to have certain functions at the relay stations controllable, the installation of "Unitone Selective Calling" equip¬ ment made this possible. The operator in the Calgary office can, by the flip of a switch, control the relay station 104 miles to the south or the other station 72 miles to the northwest. The control signals are sent by radio . Remote operated receivers have been installed at McMurray to get away from the electrical interference at the Forestry Office. The Radio Branch is responsible for the maintenance of 114 power plants used at lookouts and ranger stations. The large plants are diesel, the medium size plants operate on propane or gasoline and the smaller plants, which are in the majority, operate on naphtha gasoline. As might be expected, over a period of twenty years the same make of plant has not always been pur chas ed . To ease maintenance , plants of the same make were grouped and allotted to a division, or divisions ac¬ cording to the number of plants . Operations and Administration The Radio Branch in the course of a year handled about 142,500 messages to and from the 599 radio stations. Much of the traf¬ fic originates duriqg the high fire hazard period and to cope with the in¬ creased traffic and extra hours of watch required at this time, the radio operating staff is doubled. -The extra staff are employed on a seasonal basis . The teletype circuit between Divisional Offices and the Head¬ quarters Administrative Office has handled much more traffic than was expected to originate and has assisted in the routing and operation of both the Government owned aircraft and leased or chartered aircraft. Most of the dispatch work in connection with aircraft is sent to the Divisional Offices by teletype. The traffic load is already taxing the teletype cir¬ cuits to the maximum. The Head Office staff in Edmonton can, upon request to the operators , be connected to the local transmitter for communication with the field staff or aircraft when signal conditions permit. 54 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Aircraft Communication Several more stations have been adapted to operate on the air to ground frequency of 2,760 kc/s. The extra equipment consists of a standby receiver on this frequency made from older portable sets that can no longer be used in portable service but are satisfactory as fixed station equipment. Radio coverage to aircraft during the winter falls short of that provided in the summer by the lookouts . To improve the coverage during the winter, 4 transmitters rated at 250. W. on 2,760 kc/s were installed at key stations . General Lightning has been the cause of loss of some equipment at mountain lookouts . To overcome this , a wiring plan using conventional lightning protection equipment was drafted and the necessary equipment is in theprocessof being installed. It might be pointed out that the wind- charger, cabin and antenna are not usually in a close group and there¬ fore, in such cases must be individually protected. Three four wheel drive vehicles equipped with winch were purchased for the field staff, bringing the total to 8 such vehicles. The total number of stations in the Forest Service at the time of writing are: Headquarter stations 10 Lookout stations 85 Ranger stations 34 Mobile stations 81 Portable stations 387 Aircraft stations 2 599 A summary of the years operations in respect to engines and traffic is shown in Appendix "A". Lookout stations that were formerly under the "East Slope Administration Board" have now been added to this list. FORESTRY Appendix "A" SUMMARY OF THE YEARS OPERATIONS 1959-1960 LOOKOUT STATIONS Engine T ime Gas Oil Hours Gals Qts Messages Words Adams Creek Portable 20 455 Alder Flats Commercial Power 255 4,247 Algar 359 75 8 275 4,996 Athabas ca 1,906 378 33 2,220 42,819 Bald Mountain 450 144 10 458 7,708 Baldy 650 109 12 12 285 Baseline 1,000 135 20 7 122 Battle River 575 100 11 365 6,256 Berland 1,038 195 29 368 7,157 Birch Mountain 390 105 12 17 642 Blue Hill Commercial Power 43 2,959 Brazeau 637 140 18 1,020 22,351 Buffalo 982 173 29 396 6,951 Carbondale 97 17 4 Not Recorded Carrot Creek 599 103 16 903 23,037 Chinchaga 717 121 12 505 7,334 Chisholm 829 214 20 598 15,232 Chungo 800 114 16 5 137 Clear Hills 867 188 15 358 6,443 Conklin 514 162 13 315 6,671 Copton Portable 49 1 , 140 Cowpar Lake 423 106 14 312 5,914 Doig 768 195 11 382 6,856 Doucette 822 199 23 1,207 33,430 Eagle Windcharger 543 10,218 Economy Creek 682 147 14 456 8,319 Forget-me-not 156 26 3 1 13 Goose Mountain 794 200 18 360 7,035 Hailstone Butte 85 18 5 Not Recorded Heart Lake 535 130 12 289 5,930 Huckleberry 720 120 8 295 5,016 Junction 280 25 3 2 40 Kakwa 32 3 78 8 440 7,710 Kananaskis 476 68 8 Not Recorded Livingstone 161 23 6 Not Recorded Lovett 1,077 190 16 3,105 81 , 371 May 507 108 13 295 8,918 Maybe me 641 175 17 341 5,285 Mocking Bird 318 53 5 8 151 Moose Mountain 208 35 5 5 170 Muskeg 338 71 10 279 5,394 Naylor Hills 772 128 12 368 7,396 Nose Mountain 115 43 5 392 6 , 846 Notikewin 821 195 19 396 7,381 Obed 655 128 23 282 4,854 O 'Chiese 961 120 18 167 2,726 Pass Creek 260 46 11 362 7,124 Pelican 671 142 12 298 5,311 Pimple Windcharger 766 18,443 Puskwaskau 690 137 14 561 11,356 Ram 1,139 129 20 8 2 04 Raspberry 235 39 5 3 75 56 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Engine Time Gas Oil Hours Gals Qts Messages Words Red Earth 1 , 140 280 38 308 4,877 Round Hill 297 77 9 303 6,240 Salt Prairie 629 157 12 358 6,738 Sand River 953 208 16 308 5,715 Simonette 469 140 11 321 5,719 Snuff Mountain 284 59 3 517 9 , 666 Stony Mountain 790 186 1 6 287 5,740 Sugar Loaf 70 15 5 Not Recorded Swan Dive Windcharger 354 7,448 Sweathouse 514 127 11 351 6,461 Thickwood Hills 611 105 12 326 6,907 Tony Creek 168 30 7 565 13,282 Watt Mountain 1,305 272 22 370 6,465 Whitecourt 518 118 13 1,739 47,956 Whitefish 547 127 10 316 5,186 White Mountain 457 103 17 586 11,906 Whitemud 793 191 25 2,921 83,909 Winefr ed 491 94 14 355 8 , 947 Wolf Lake 217 55 8 432 8,551 Y ellowhead 817 230 27 229 3,738 39,113 8,121 892 31,058 685,879 Headquarte r Stations Messages Words Blairmor e 2,895 76,363 Calgary 14,784 363,230 Edmonton 33,145 930,186 Eds on 6,781 150,977 Grande Prairie 8,730 197,256 Lac La Biche 11,321 268,302 Peace River 9,476 317,487 Rocky Mountain House 6,242 133,043 Slave Lake 7,044 167,820 Whitecourt 11,046 311,621 111,464 2 , 9 16., 285 Lookout Totals 31,058 685,879 GRAND TOTAL 142,522 3,602 , 164 FORESTRY 57 120° NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ||0° 58 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOREST MANAGEMENT BRANCH Introduction The year under review showed steady progress toward im¬ proved for est management on Crown forest of the Province and the Branch made many advances in its various fields of endeavour. It also showed some major changes in staff organization and staff personnel. There was also a change in timber administration where the direct control of such matters in the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve reverted from the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board to the Alberta Forest Service. Revenue from the sale of forest products showed an increase over the previous year due principally to better export markets . Considerable interest accrued in the establishment of new forest industries in the Province. The interest included investigation into the pulpwood and fibre board manufacture potentialities of various areas . The latter had re¬ ference particularly to the utilization of poplar. Staff and Staff Organization Presently there are four main aspects to the work of the Branch. These are: 1 . Woods operations 2. Silviculture 3. Management plans 4. Timber shies and accounting During the year , steps were taken to reorganize the Branch into sections each having to do with the above division of work. It is hoped an additional section may be added to take care of special forest land uses and act as adviser to owners of private forest land. Woods Operation Section The winter of 1959-1960 was one of the mildest on record. Woods operations did not get underway until late December and a drop in production was anticipated, however, ideal operating conditions pre¬ vailed during January through to March and outputwas at its maximum, resulting in an appreciable increase in the production of forest products over 1958-1959. (a) Annual Operating Plans Efforts were made to have timber operators in addition to North Western Pulp & Power Ltd. submit annual operating plans. An outline applicable to all timber operations was prepared to guide operators in preparing annual operating plans . Copies of the outline were made available to ninety-five holders of timber lands, plus North Western Pulp & Power Ltd. , where annual operating plans were required under their agreement with the Government. (b) Inspections Woods inspections by the various forest officers, directed FORESTRY 59 (b) Inspections - continued where necessary by the Divisional Superintendents and the forester in charge of woods operations, were stepped up during the operating season to see that requirements included in the conditions of sale were being carried out . This in creas ed field inspection resulted in uncovering several serious infractions necessitating imposing penalties in the nature of sus¬ pension of operations . In all , this increased attention to woods operations has made for much improvement in conditions and in many instances a much better attitude by the operators to forest resource management. (c) Tree Scaling Until late 1959, royalty on Crown forest products was based primarily on the sale of the finished product and to a much lesser ex¬ tent on log scale. During the year under review, the woods operation section has been developing a system whereby timber on a trial basis is offered for sale with royalty based on a tree scale. By the end of the year, fourteen specially selected sales ranging from 125,000 F. B. M. to 12 MM spruce and pine timber were established within five for est divisions . By this method of selling timber, it is hoped to obtain the following objectives : 1. Incentive provided for increased utilization. 2. Improved cutting practices and better manage¬ ment in the woods . 3. Standardized costs of scaling. 4. Implementing a practicable check scaling system. 5. Simplified method of collecting dues. Although there have been several problems to over come ,. it appears that the system is sound. (d) Timber Auditing The timber audit subsection of the woods operation section added two employees to become a staff of five, (see Timber Audit Zone Map) . The increase in staff and their assignment to zones will materially assist the timber auditors to keep pace with woods operations. Com¬ mercial for est operations in tl|e province incorporate 256 individuals and companies who hold over 600 active license timber berths. In addition, the records of approximately 600 retail dealers , planer mill operators , building contractors and other agencies which deal inforest products are also being checked for confirmation of the amount of products purchased from those who hold cutting rights on Crown timber. Silvicultural Section (a) Scarification To induce the establishment of regeneration, some 2,700 acres of cut-over land was scarified during the year including approxi¬ mately 2,000 acres undertaken by North Western Pulp & Power Ltd. (See plates for example of scarification method and results performed in one of the forest divisions where the original stands have been partially 60 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS LAC LA BICHE DIVISION #6 Before Scarification After Scarification After Scarification, Note poplar leaf litter FORESTRY 61 (a) Scarification - continued cut). Generally areas scarified were selected to take advantage of the fairly good white spruce seed crop which developed during the summer months. So far, the indications are that there is a good catch on the scarified areas. (b) Seed Collecting Also due mostly to the good spruce seed year, a total of 3,404 bushels of cones were collected from which the seed was extracted during the winter months and is now held in cold storage. This seed is regis¬ tered and is being used where the necessity of artificial seeding arises. North Western Pulp & Power Ltd. participated in this project. (c) Planting In the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve, some 22,000 seed¬ lings were planted during the spring and fall . These were mostly 2-0 stock . In addition hereto, approximately 115 acres were artificially seeded. (d) Research Co-operation with the federal forestry and science services in research was again given proper attention. FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS SECTION The balancing of depletion against growth is and will be al¬ ways a continuing problem. There must be timber to meet the require¬ ments of industry wherever possible and the policy of meeting this neces¬ sity by selling the older timber in need of cutting first was continued as in the recent past years. The preparation and implementation of plans for sustained yield management was continued and will be stepped up in the near future . TIMBER SALES AND ACCOUNTING SECTION The demand for forest products in general remained relatively high throughout the year. The value of production of all forest products is estimated to amount to 31 million dollars whereas the previous year, the total was 29 million dollars . The attached graphs showing the com¬ parative volumes over the past ten years indicate the trends for the various forest products being produced from Crown forests of the Province. It will be noted lumber production has remained fairly constant with the exception of a sharp drop in 1957. Lumber production over last year was up by 5.3%; poplar plywood logs 20.8%; coniferous plywood logs, an in¬ novation in recent years, 8.7.87c; fence posts, rails, telephone and power poles in aggregate 277o • The cutting of Christmas trees from Crown forests continues to develop and is up by 63.77o, the majority being from the Bow River Division. The production of railway ties, however, shows a downward trend and a decrease over last year by 16.77c- In regards topulpwood, it should be noted that previous to .1956 production was from fire -killed timber and was for the export market. Since then, however, the bulk has been produced for the pulp mill at Hinton. The new fibre board mill at Wabamun, which utilizes poplar, no doubt has added its contribution to the increased utilization of this species but since the 62 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Timber Sales and Accounting Section - continued source is purchased wood from farmers' wood lots the amounts are not shown here . Generally timber operators have a plentiful supply of standing timber under licence to them. Outside of alienations to the pulp company at Hinton, there is an estimated three and a quarter billion board feet of uncut white spruce and pine timber under licence to the various operators as of July 31st, 1959 which is sufficient, if proportionately distributed, to keep all operators cutting at present rates for almbst the next ten years. However, during the period under review, 291 applications for licence timber berths and special timber permits were processed of which 72 were sold, 6 were advertised and not sold and 1 was withdrawn from sale and 29 special timber permits were issued; 81 of the appli¬ cations are still pending , having been received toward the end of the year. The volume sold this year is 478,926,000 as compared with 665,420,000 F.B.M. last year. White Spruce lumber stacked at Alberts sawmill At the year's end there were 572 timber sale contracts in existence as compared with 654 at the same period in 1959- The reason for the reduction in numbers can be explained by the fact that the in¬ dividual berths recently sold contain much larger areas and therefore a greater volume of timber than formerly. A comparison of active opera¬ tions by years for the past ten years is shown by chart on Page 64 There was an increase of 12.7% in the number of miscel¬ laneous timber permits issued. This may be attributed again to the very favourable winter conditions and also to the cutting in the Edson area of green pulpwood for sale to the pulp mill at Hinton. The regulation rate of dues for the 1959-1960 licence year remained the same as the previous $5.75 for lumber, based on ten per cent of the average price of such material at the planer mill . There was no change in the latter price over the previous year. SUMMARY OF TIMBER OPERATION ON PUBLIC LANDS FORESTRY 64 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FORESTRY 65 66 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOREST PRODUCTS 1950 - I960 PULPWOOD ~ FUELWOOD CHRISTMAS TREES FORESTRY 67 68 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS ROCKY MOUNTAINS FOREST RESERVE GRAZING 1 . Range Condition (a) General Condition - Range condition was reported as being gener¬ ally good throughout the three forests at the close of the grazing season. Most overgrazing was confined to small areas which were neither extensive nor severe. Corrective action is proposed on areas where overgrazing is of a more extensive nature. (b) Areas Over-utilized - The term over-utilization should not be confused with the term overgrazed. Range may be grazed a little shorter than desired for one or two years without damaging the vegetative cover or the soil. Only when grazing is heavy for several years is permanent damage done and the condition spoken of as "over- grazed" is reached . Only part of the acreage listed below has actually been damaged. To offset the over-utilized range there are many times this acreage which is lightly used or not grazed at all. In almost every case the heavy grazing of local areas is not the result of overstocking , but of poor distribution and can be corrected. The acreages in the following table area are estimated: Acres Usable % Total % Over¬ Range in Over¬ Area in Over¬ F orest utilized Acres utilized Acres utilized Crowsnest 2,200 438,000 0.5% 828,736 0.26% Bow River 1,100 438 , 500 0.25% 1,849,664 0 . 06% Clearwater 50 70,000 0.07% 2,536,448 0.002% 3,350 946,500 0.35% 5,214,848 0 . 06% (c) Areas Under-utilized - Considerable range throughout the Re¬ serve was left in an under -utilized state. The cause for this in the Crowsnest and Bow Forests is mainly one of poor management on the part of the user or in some cases lack of water. Considerable range is left unused in the Clearwater Forest because of the small number of cattle actually grazing in the area. 2 . Grazing Business (a) Total Number of Cattle Grazed under Permit F orest Yearlings Mature T otal Crowsnest 7,890 6,414 14,304 Bow River 2,935 4,758 7,693 Clearwater 122 554 676 10,947 11,726 22,673 FORESTRY 69 2. Grazing Business - continued (b) Total Sheep Grazed under Permit Forest Total Crowsnest 1000 Bow River Clearwater Total 1000 (c) Total Horses Grazed under Permit Forest Total Crowsnest Bow River 390 Clearwater 95 Total 485 (d) Number of Grazing Permits Issued F orest Crowsnest Bow River Clearwater (e) Actual Use Forest Crowsnest Bow River Clearwater Total 188 82 21 Total 291 Animal Unit Months of Grazing 47,456 31 ,414 2,538 81,408 (f ) Trespass - No serious grazing trespass existed other than one case in the Ghost District of the Bow River Forest. In this case, the cattle were found removed upon investigation and no action was taken . (g) Revenue Forest Revenue $ 34,471.02 15,683.60 1,195.20 Crowsnest Bow River Clearwater Total $ 51,349.82 70 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 2. Grazing Business - continued The following table shows the number of permits, the num ber and class of livestock and the actual use of each individual allot ment in animal unit months : Allotment Number of Permits Number and Class of Livestock Actual Use In A.U.M. Allison- MacGillivray 3 122 cattle 394 Aura Cache 2 202 " 824 Beaver Creek 11 1011 " 2920 Blair mo re -Gold 1 173 " 462 Bobs Creek 1 552 " 3383 Bragg Creek - - - Burke Creek 16 650 " 2221 Buries 1 100 " 300 Burnt Timber - - - Byron Creek 4 170 " 518 Castle River 25 997 " 2863 Cataract Creek 3 160 " 368 Chaffin Creek 3 162 " 580 Chimney Rock 2 550 " 1697 Clearwater 10 460 " 1540 Daisy-Vicary 1 1000 sheep 531 Deep Creek 3 275 cattle 540 Devils Head 1 264 horses 1394 East Trout 13 683 cattle 2286 Elbow 2 135 " 456 Ewing 1 75 " 75 Fall Creek 1 70 " 227 Fish Creek 4 206 " 696 Gap 18 815 " 2259 Ghost River 1 396 " 1197 Glacier Creek - - - Gladstone Creek - - - Grease Creek 1 40 cattle 200 Hardwich Coulee 1 30 " 54 Harold Creek 1 100 " 500 Highwood 4 505 " 2022 Jackson Creek 1 50 " 200 Jim-Heath 6 186 " 662 Jumping Pound 7 875 " 3641 Langford -Riley 6 401 " 1190 Little Red Deer - - - Lookout Butte 1 250 " 809 Lower Fallentimber 1 97 " 405 Lower James 2 67 " 315 Lower Livingstone 1 750 " 2223 Lower Red Deer 1 125 " 560 Lower Spring 4 393 " 1281 MacLean Creek 1 186 " 571 McCue Creek - - - Mead Creek 1 50 " 225 Michael Coulee 1 75 " 225 FORESTRY Allotment Number of Permits Number and Class of Livestock Actual Use In A.U.M. 's Mill Creek _ . _ Muddypond 1 75 cattle 225 North Ram 1 30 " 104 North Sheep 18 919 " 3721 Olin Creek 1 30 " 120 Outer Gap 1 50 " 137 Owl and Hunter 1 160 " 456 Panther Corners 4 126 horses 756 Pekisko 1 1000 cattle 3393 Prairie Creek 3 84 " 120 Rock Connelly 7 234 " 885 Saunders 1 32 " 87 Section 6 1 30 " 120 Sentry- York - - - Sharpies Creek 2 342 " 1730 Sheppard-Stimson 2 530 " 2280 Southend 10 606 11 1872 South Ghost 1 40 " 200 South Sheep 18 1888 " 8533 Star Creek 2 60 " 212 Sullivan- Flat 3 555 " 1441 T imber-Falls 1 266 " 730 Todd Creek 6 195 " 543 Upper Fallentimber 1 132 ", 237 Upper James 1 600 " (part season) 800 Upper Livingstone 8 524 " 1746 Upper Red Deer 1 600 " (part season) 741 Upper Spring 1 180 " 689 Webber Creek 1 10 " 45 West Trout 6 799 " 2736 Williams Creek 1 600 " (part season) 990 Willow Creek 14 749 " 2179 Total Number of Livestock 24 , 158 head Total Number of Total Number of Average Number Allotments Permits of Permits per Allotment 78 286 3.6 Average Number of Livestock per Allotment 310 head Average Number of Livestock per Permit 84 . 5 head Average Revenue Average Revenue per Allotment per Permit $658.32 $179.54 3. Division of Range (a) Proposed Allotment Changes - No major allotment changes are proposed for the coming year . A few minor changes include the combining of the Lesieur Creek and South Ghost allotments, the ex¬ pansion of the Fall Creek allotment and the inclusion of the Lick Creek drainage with the Prairie Creek Allotment. (b) Proposed Changes in Class of Livestock The practice of 72 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 3. Division of Range - continued ranchers selling calves as feeders instead of carrying them over as yearlings is responsible for the trend of putting more mature cattle on the Reserve. Several associations are proposing to establish breeding fields within allotments for the coming year. (c) Proposed Allotment Closures - No additional closures of range allotments or potential allotments is recommended at this time. Con¬ sideration is being given to further reduce the carrying capacity of areas designated as critical game winter range. 4. Grazing Capacities (a) Proposed Increases - A ten per cent increase has been recom¬ mended for the Mead Creek Allotment. No other increases will be considered except in the case of a few allotments which remain un¬ derstocked . (b) Proposed Decreases - A ten per cent decrease has been recom¬ mended for the South Sheep and North Sheep allotments for the coming season. Other allotments which will receive cuts in preference quotas if corrective measures in managements are not put into practice in¬ clude the Lower Red Deer, Allison- MacGillivr ay , Gap, Olih Creek, Beaver Creek and Sharpies Creek Allotments . In most cases , the problem is one of poor management rather than overstocking. (c) General Remarks - Although the total number of livestock per¬ mitted to graze within the Forest Reserve has remained fairly con¬ stant over the past ten years, the actual use made of the range has decreased by nearly 20%. This includes the new allotments located in the northern regions of the Bow Forest and in the Clearwater Forest which have been in operation for only a short period. The following table illustrates the change which has taken place over the past ten years : Forest Annual Units Months of Grazing 1949 1959 Crowsnest Forest 79,773 47,456 Bow River 40,884 31,414 Clearwater 1,924 2,638 TOTAL 122,581 81,408 5. Stock Associations (a) Co-Operation - Co-operation between Stock associations and Forestry personnel has remained generally good throughout the 1959 grazing season. (b) Proposed Associations - No new livestock associations were formed during the past year. It is proposed to form an association consisting of permittees using the Prairie Creek Allotment in the Clearwater Forest. FORESTRY 73 5. Stock Associations - continued (c) List of Associations 1. Burke Creek Stock Association, Secretary - J.J. O'Neil, Claresholm, Alberta. 2. Cataract Creek Stock Association, Secretary - W.C. Turnbull, Nanton, Alberta. 3. Clearwater Stock Association, Secretary - R. Lawton, R.R.#1, Eckville, Alberta. 4. East Trout Stock Association, Secretary - V.S. Brown, Stavely, Alberta. 5. Elbow Stock Association, Secretary - G . E . Engeveld, R.R.#1, Midnapore, Alberta. 6. Fir Grove Stock Association, Secretary - F.W. Sickoff, Bellevue, Alberta. 7. Heath Creek Stock Association, Secretary - G. Dionne, Cowley, Alberta. 8. Highwood Cattle Association, Secretary - D. Diebel, Longview, Alberta. 9. Jumpingpound Stock Association, Secretary - C. Copithorne , Box 325, Cochrane, Alberta. 10. Langford Riley Stock Association, Secretary - W.E. Ransom, Nanton, Alberta. 11. Nanton Stock Association, Secretary - D. Graham, Stavely, Alberta. 12. North Fork Stock Association, Secretary - R.Y. Buries, Cowley, Alberta. 13. North Sheep Stock Association, Secretary - T . MacMillan, 214-26 Ave ., S . W. , Calgary, Alberta. 14. Pincher Creek Stock Association, Secretary - J.E. Taylor, Pincher Creek, Alberta. 15. Porcupine Hills Stock Association, Secretary - L.E. Plowman, Fort Macleod, Alberta. 16. Rock Creek Stock Association, Secretary - James Evans, Todd Creek, Alberta. 17. Spring Creek Stock Association, Secretary - 18. South Sheep Stock Association, Secretary - R. Chalmers, Millarville, Alberta. 74 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND. -FORESTS 5. Stock Associations - continued 19. Todd Creek Stock Association, Secretary - S. Kubasek, Todd Creek, Alberta. 20. Twin Butte Stock Association, Secretary - J.F. Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta. 21. West Trout Stock Association, Secretary - A. Streeter, Stavely, Alberta. 22. Willow Creek Stock Association, Secretary - J.D. Sears, Nanton, Alberta. 6. Game Protection (a) Range Closed for Game Purposes - No additional range was closed for game purposes during the past year. Areas presently closed from grazing include special areas 2 and 3, Limestone Creek area and the Kananaskis Valley. (b) Game Range Condition - Overgrazing by game on range not used by domestic livestock exists in the Gap area in the Livingstone dis¬ trict. No other . overgrazing of game range was reported. (c) Areas Where Competition Between Domestic Livestock andGame Exist - Allotments which were reported to have competition to some degree between domestic livestock and elk include the Clearwater, South Sheep, Bobs Creek, Upper Spring Creek, Lower Spring Creek, Outer Gap and Gap allotments. Of these allot¬ ments where competition was reported, only the Outer Gap, Gap and pos sibly the Spring Creek areas show overgrazing to any extent which can be attributed to this cause. The number of cattle grazing in the Clearwater allotment is considerably less than half the carrying capacity and no shortage of forage exists . The competition in the South Sheep will be reduced with the cut in preference the Association will be taking during the coming year . In the five allotments in the Gap area, the actual use by domestic livestock has decreased from 12,590 animal unit months of grazing taken yearly to 7,750 animal unit months in the past ten years. As a result, the range condition in much of the lower regions has improved. Range at the higher elevations which supply much of the elk's winter feed remains in an overgrazed condition in spite of little or no use by cattle. From this, it would seem that the solution to the problem in this area would be one of reducing the elk population rather than forcing the per¬ mittees using the area to accept another cut in preference.. 7. Losses in Livestock (a) Cattle Bear Kills Poison Weed Hit by Cars Shot by Hunters Unknown Missing 21 22 3 3 34 94 TOTAL 173 FORESTRY 75 7. Losses in Livestock - continued Clearwater Ranger Station (b) Sheep 36 Sheep dead or missing. (c) Horses No losses reported. The percentage loss over the entire Reserve was approxi¬ mately 0.75%. This represents a sharp increase over the preceding year. The losses were not spread evenly throughout all the allot¬ ments and certain associations and individuals experienced very heavy losses. Part of the increased losses have been attributed to the early hunting season in some areas . Cattle were frightened and badly scattered which resulted in the large number of cattle listed as missing. Ranger Districts where extremely heavy losses were reported include the Clearwater with 3 . 3% , Castle with 3.1%, Living¬ stone with 2 .4% and the Highwood with 1 .9%. 8 . Improvements (a) Driveways and Trails - No new driveways and trails were con¬ structed during the past grazing season. Proposed trails are re¬ commended for the Gap, Upper Spring, Lower Spring, Bobs Creek and Chaffin Creek Allotments . (b) Water Development - No spring development or dug'out con¬ struction was carried out during the past year. Evaluation of those constructed by the P.F.R.A. during the past two years is being car¬ ried out and recommendations regarding future development will be 76 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 8 > Improvements - continued prepared. Allotments in which further water development is pro¬ posed include the Burke Creek, Olin Creek, Sharpies Creek and West Trout Allotments . (c) Fences - Drift fences required in the Clearwater Allotment pro¬ gressed during the past season. No other new drift fences were re¬ ported. A number of short drift fences are proposed for the future. Also proposed is the establishment offences along theForest Reserve Boundary. In many cases the line fences either do not follow the boundary or do not exist at all resulting in unauthorized use of the Reserve. It is proposed to concentrate the program of properly fencing the boundary in areas where the resurvey of the boundary has been completed. (d) Texas Gates - A number of Texas gates were installed through¬ out the Reserve by both the Forest Service and oil companies . Ap¬ proximately twenty additional Texas gates are needed for the trunk road and access road requirements. 9 . Management Plans Many of the management plans and maps of the grazing allot¬ ments need revising as soon as possible. The program of remapping and resurveying each allotment every five years has fallen con¬ siderably behind s chedule . Ten allotments were resurveyed and re¬ mapped during the past summer. The revised management plans will be in the hands of the associations and permittees at the begin¬ ning of the I960 grazing season. The area resurveyed included the Castle district and the southern half of the Coleman district. During the I960 season, it is hoped that a resurvey of the remainder of the Coleman district, the Livingstone and a portion of the Porcupine district will be completed. In addition, the Forester in charge of range management car¬ ried out a number of range inspections with rangers and permittees as well as contending with various grazing administration problems . FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION Report of the Director of Fish and Wildlife CURT P. SMITH ANGLING Several new projects highlighted the sport fisheries' picture duringthe year. In an effortto obtain a measure of angling pressure and angling succes s on streams, two creel census stations (one on the Carbon- dale river and one on Jumping Pound Creek) were operated throughout the summer months. The Carbondale station also collected information on the returns to anglers of catchable- size hatchery trout released in that stream. A recovery of 33 percent of these hatchery trout was obtained during the year of release. It is important to note that 59 percent of the recoveries were made by 13 anglers or 3.5 percent of the fishermen visiting the stream. Angler success on wild fishin the Carbondale river was approximately 1 fish per hour. The addition of hatchery trout to the stream increased success .3 fish/hr bringing total success to 1.3 fish per hour. The Jumping Pound checking station indicated an angler suc¬ cess of . 5 fish per hour. Three-hundredtenfishper mile of stream were harvested during the summer. An attempt at stream rehabilitation was carried out on the lower portions of the North Branch of the Sheep river. The existing fish population consisting mainly of.coarse fish, was eradicated with a roten- one preparation. The stream was then stocked with yearling rainbow trout. Subsequent examinations of the reclaimed section are planned to determine the success or failure of the venture and its possible applica¬ tions to stream management in the province. The lake and reservoir trout stocking program experienced a gradual expansion during the year. Ten lakes and three reservoirs which didnot previously contain game fish, were stockedwith trout. One small lake was stocked with Arctic grayling to compare growth rate and sport fishery potential of this species with that of rainbow trout producers in the past but whichlost their fish populations through natural mortality or winter-kill, were restocked with rainbow trout. These lakes were again providing anglingby the fall of the year. In 1958 three lakes were treated with toxicant to remove competitor fish species so that good trout fish¬ eries could again be established. Two of these, Beauvais lake and Mit¬ chell lake, were restocked with trout in 1959. Growth rate and survival of stocked trout were better than that recorded for plantings made in the presence of competition. Angling in Beauvais lake was excellent by freeze up and continued to be above average after ice cover had formed. Beaver numbers continued to be high on the trout streams which provide suitable habitat for these animals. In most instances, beaver ponds have increased the trout carrying capacity of these waters and also trout growth rate. Contiguous dams however, have resulted in obliteration of natural spawning areas in certain streams, and in such instances it has been necessary to supplement natural reproduction by plantings of hatchery trout. The Fish and Wildlife Branchplaced increased 78 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS emphasis on stocking beaver ponds, during the year under review.. Appro¬ ximately 8 percent of the provincial hatchery output (282, 100 trout) was used for this purpose. Several introductions of more desirable species into watersheds where they did not exist previously, were made. Most notable of these was the fir st stocking of golden trout (Salmo aquabonita) in Alberta waters . A small number of these trout were obtained from the United States and placed in Burnaby lakes near Pincher Creek. These lakes have been closed to fishing with the intention of establishing a brood stock of this species. Continued interest in the construction of small reservoir s by fish and game clubs was apparent. These reservoirs arebuilt primarily to provide public trout fishing in areas some distance from natural trout waters. Unfortunately the majority of these impoundments are too shallow or too sheltered to sustain trout over winter and must therefore be operated as small annual trout fisheries. The Alberta Biological Station at Gorge Creek was in opera¬ tion for its tenth consecutive summer season. The fisheries work at the station during 1959 was concerned with the survival of hatchery rainbow trout reared on different diets . In addition, the effect of different rearing conditions (rectangular vs. circular ponds) was assessed. Experiments designed to show the effect of stress on survival of hatchery trout were carried out in co-operation with a student from the Zoology Department, University of Alberta. Facilities at the biological station were improvedby the addition ofadiesel 110 volt electric light unit, a pressure pump to provide water and a laboratory building. The government fish hatchery located in Calgary again opera¬ ted at capacity with an output of 3,498,300 trout. The addition of another pond at the Raven rearing station increased the production of yearling trout by approximately 10 percent. The sale of angling permits during the year was up approxi¬ mately 5 percent over the 1958 figure. While the number sold (135,243) represents a new high, the percentage increase was somewhat less than half that recorded in 1958. This maybe indicative of a 'levelling off 1 trend in license sales. PRELIMINARY BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS MADE DURING 1959 ATHABASCA DISTRICT - Wakomao lake (Sec. 33, Twp. 59, R. 24, W4th) Unnamed lake (Sec. 29, Twp. 59, R. 23, W4th) CALGARY WEST DISTRICT - North Fork Sheep River FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 79 CAMROSE DISTRICT - Deems Lake (Sec. 20, Twp. 38, R. 21, W4th) CLARESHOLM DISTRICT - North Fork Willow Creek South Fork Willow Creek Trout Creek EDMONTON DISTRICT - Cameron lake (Sec. 1 and 2, Twp. 54, R. 1, W5th) Sauer lake (Sec. 28, Twp. 53, R. 1, W5th) ENTWISTLE DISTRICT - Zeigler Creek (Sec. 10 and 15, Twp. 53, R. 8, W5th) EDSON DISTRICT - Tank lake (Sec. 16 and 17, Twp. 53, R. 15, W5th) Surprise lake (Sec. 9, Twp. 53, R. 15, W5th) GRANDE PRAIRIE DISTRICT - Pinto Creek (Wapiti Drainage) Burnt River Mirage (Moonshine) lake (Sec. 31and32, Twp. 79, R. 8, W6th) Spring lake (Sec. 23, Twp. 75, R. 11, W6th) PEACE RIVER DISTRICT - Hines Creek (Peace River Drainage) Sulphur lake (Sec. 7, Twp. 89, R. 2, W6th) and (Sec. 12, Twp. 89, R. 3, W6th) PINCHER CREEK DISTRICT - Cottonwood Creek (Waterton River Drainage) Rainy Ridge lake (Sec. 32, Twp. 3, R. 3, W5th) Grizzly lake (Twp. 3, R.3, W5th) Burnaby Ridge lakes (Sec. 29, 31 and 32, Twp. 4, R. 3, W5th) Scarpe Creek lakes (Twp. 3, R. 3, W5th) RED DEER DISTRICT - Sylvan lake (Twp. 39, R. 1 and 2, W5th) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE DISTRICT - Swan lake (Twp. 36, R. 9, W5th) North Prairie Creek (Clearwater Drainage) 80 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS STOCKINGS TO ANGLING WATERS - 1959 Species Number Arctic Grayling 14, 101 Cutthroat Trout 34, 150 Eastern Brook Trout 103,765 Golden Trout 3, 800 Loch Leven Trout 152, 320 Rainbow Trout 3,204, 259 Perch 93,336 Pickerel (Eggs) 5, 504, 000 Pike (Adult) 3,913 9, 113, 644 A complete list of stockings may be obtained from the office of the Director of Fish and Wildlife. FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION GAME MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH Personnel PERMANENT - No change in the number of permanent wildlife biologists oc¬ curred during the fiscal year. Four were employed to supervise the collection of game research information and to dir ect management programs throughout the province. Of these one was on educational leave part of the year. Unless otherwise specifiedthe data on the following pages were abstracted from the reports of the four permanent men. The region called "Edmonton North" represents the centre of activities for the two northernmostbioiogists. The "Peace River block" and "Northern Foothills region" are others under their jurisdiction. The parkland and central foothills region (zones 9-10) are in a different biological district. A third biological divisionis comprised of the "Eastern Irrigation District" (E.I.D.), "Western Irrigation District" (W.I. D.), southern prairies (zones 22) and southern foot¬ hills (zones 1-7). Summer Assistants - Two summer assistants supplemented the permanent bio¬ logical staff in 1959. One worked with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl banding crew in central Alberta. The other as- sited the same organization in their waterfowl production studies at Delburne from May to July. He then established and operated a duck bait-banding station in the Brooks region until September. Research Students - Seven special wildlife research projects were undertaken dur¬ ing 1959 by various personnel other than those mentioned above. The muskrat population study initiated in 1958 in the Big Island Lake region east of Edmonton was continued. The sharp-tailed grouse experimental areas near Provost and Wanham were again studied to provide specific ecological and behavior data. Both projects are unique, long term research studies undertaken by graduate wildlife students. Sponsorship and direction are provided by the Fish and Wildlife Division in the former instance and jointly by the Division in the former instance and jointly by the Division and the University of Alberta in the latter. The remainingfive wildlife projects were undertaken in con¬ junction with the Alberta Experimental Station at Gorge Creek, a joint Department of Lands and Forests-Univer sity of Alberta endea¬ vour. They are describedin detail in " The Alberta Biological Station Report No. 10, 1959." The first, a study of the breeding ecology of the ruffed grouse, was initiated in 1959. A detailed study of blue 82 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS grouse populations entered its fourthyear . A mule deer population study was succes sfully concluded after three years. The second year of work on Columbian ground squirrel ecology and number s was completed. And finally, anew project studying the effects of grazing on numbers of resi¬ dent small mammals was initiated. Conservation Officers - Fore stand fish and wildlife officers assisted in the collection of a considerable amount of biological information in 1959. Outstanding co-operation was received from members of the Eastern Rockies Con¬ servation Boar d during the fall season. With their help gaps were plugged in the network of big game checking stations along the east slope. Al¬ berta Forest Service employees performed a similar service innorthern forested regions. The operation of major big game checking stations outside forested regions was aided by the activities of fish and wildlife officers. Some officers as sumed a lar ge share of the responsibility for checking station supervision in their districts. Fish and wildlife officers in southern districts conducted phea¬ sant crowing counts. It is hoped that with proper training and super¬ vision this activity can be expanded. Almost all officers in important bird game districts gathered harvest information by completed "bird game hunter questionnaires" during peak periods throughout the fall. A few assisted at bird game checking stations. Some contributed upland game "brood" information leading to estimates of productivity. Others reported whitetailed deer observa¬ tions as part of a study of the species' distribution. Still others re¬ ported deer road kills, surveyed the extend of deer damage when and where it occurred, submitted winter status reports on big game species, and collected diseased wildlife specimens upon request. Part-time Employees - In the fall months 35 part-time employees were hired to collect research facts at big game checking stations. An additional 13 worked alongside volunteer and department personnel at bird game checking stations . Miscellaneous Research Help - Ducks Unlimited naturalists, besides fulfilling their regular duties of waterfowl census and management, repeatedly helped collect uplandbird and big game harvest, population and production data. Their efforts were warmly appreciated. FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 83 R.C.M. Police and highway inspection service personnel, while assisting mainly in an enforcement sense, occasionally contributed data on bird and big game harvests. B UPLAND GAME BIRDS BREEDING POPULATIONS The year 1959 was not a spectacular one for grouse, partridge, and pheasants although spring counts of most breeding birds gave early rise to optimism. Pheasant crowing count transects indicated significant increases over 1958 in twelve of twenty regions. No change or a slight decrease were reported for the remainder. Pheasant Crowing Count Indices, 1959 and 1959 (average number of cocks heard per 2 1/2 minute stop) NO. AREA 1959 1959 CHANGE 1 Stoney Plain - Spruce Grove 0. 98 2.4 + 2 Redwater #1 2. 3 3. 1 + 3 Redwater #2 3.9 2.7 - 4 Warwick- Two Hills 2.9 2. 6 - 5 Marwayne-Hazeldene 0.7 1.6 + 6 Ve gr evill e - Hilliar d 1.7 0. 6 - 7 Borradaille 1.6 1. 3 - 8 Sturgeon River NE - 4. 4 ? 99 Sturgeon River NW ' - 4. 8 ? 10 Camrose - Gwynne 7.6 8.4 + 11 Gwynne-Ferintosh 5. 8 - ? 12 Camros e-Kelsey 9. 1 8. 6 _ 13 Camrose-Roundhill 5 . 6 7. 6 + 14 Ponoka 2. 9 5. 6 ' + 15 New Sarepta 2. 3 5. 4 + 16 Leslieville 0. 1 _ 9 17 Provost 0.0 0.0 Nil 18 Lacombe 1.0 _ ? 19 Day sland 7 .. 1 . - ? 20 Bentley-Rimby 2.0 1.8 - 21 Markerville-Benalto 5.4 5. 1 _ 22 Olds- Wimborne 5. 6 6. 6 + 23 Castor - 4. 7 + 24 Duchess 35.4 35.4 Nil 25 Tilley 16. 1 18. 0 + 26 Ros emary 17. 6 35. 0 + 27 Rolling Hills 18.0 36. 6 + 28 Ranier 17. 1 32. 1 + • 29 Namaka - 8. 0 ? 30 Nightingale - 11.7 ? 31 Taber - - ? 32 Brant - 4. 1 ? 33 Highwood - 3.0 ? 34 High River- Gladys Ridge - - ? 35 Milo - 1.6 ? 36 Drumheller _ _ ? 37 V auxhall - 21.8 ? 38 Bow Island _ _ ? 39 Raymond-MacGrath - - ? 40 Okotoks-High River - 2. 6 ? 4.1 Clares holm NE _ 6. 9 ? 42 Mosquito Creek _ 8. 6 ? 43 Pulteney - ? 84 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse and sharp-tailed grouse figures were not as complete. Early indications were that sharp- tailed grouse had increased considerably in northern regions but had remained static in eastern sectors. The Wanham study area showed 54 percent increase in breeding males. Sharp-tail dancing grounds doubled in number on Edmonton- North transects and increased slightly in northern parkland regions. Bodo figures indicated no change. Biological reports from Edmonton- North indicated little change in spring Hungarian partridge populations. No comparable data were collected elsewhere. Sprung ruffed grouse populations went largely uncensused. In¬ cidental information garnered on pheasant crowing counts indicated lower numbers in the Edmonton regions. Production - Fine weather in April precipitated an unusually early nesting attempt. Some full clutches of eggs had been laid when a series of cold weather disturbances gripped northern and central areas in late April and early May. Southern Alberta escaped the 14 days of snow and below freezing weather. The effect of the un seasonal but not unusual onslaught was marked and decisive. Egg-laying was interrupted and apparently many partial clutches abandoned or destroyed. However, a few full clutches, being incubated when the first storm struck, were hatched successfully. Occasional broods were seen later in the summer in parkland regions that dated back to the pre storm period. The general effect of the inclement weather was to "push back" pheasant and Hungarian partridge hatching peaks (Figs. 2-4). It caused an increased degree of renesting. Similar effects on native grouse could not be determined because of no comparable 1958 curves. (Fig. 5) The forcedrenestingalso meant smaller clutches and thus broods for all species. The average pheasantbrood size in the Camrose region was 4.5 in 1959 comparedto 6.5 in 1958. Pheasant brood sizes in the E.I.D. (unaffected by spring snow but showing a "cultivation-forced" large renesting effort) averaged 5.0 (Fig. 1). The average "Hungarian" flock size dropped from 13.5 to 10.5 in Edmonton- North. Sharp-tailed grouse averages at Bodo dropped from 5 . 4 to 4.9. Adult: Juvenile age ratios from wings obtained at fall game checks provide the best guide to overall reproductive success. (Table II) Sharp-'tailed grouse showed the greatest drop in production. Hungarian partridge were next. Pheasants, probably because of more persistent renesting effort, recovered to stage a fairly good reproductive year . Ruffed grouse producedwell and seemedlittle effectedby early setbacks. That the pheasant hatching peak was later than in 1958 is also shown inTable III. Average juvenile pheasant weights were less in 1959. FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 85 Fall roadside transects north of Edmonton substantiated the lack of "sharp-tail" reproduction (Table IV). They also showed that "Huns", despite some loss of reproduc¬ tion, increased in numbers over 1958. TABLE II ADULT: JUVENILE RATIOS IN FALL POPULATIONS OF UPLAND GAME BIRDS, 1958 AND 1959 Region Pheasants 1958 1959 Peace River Block _ - Edmonton North 1:4. 6 1:6. 4 Parkland (Camrose area) 1:6. 1 1:5.0 Hanna - - E. I. D. 1:6. 1 - W. I. D. - 1:5.5 Ruffed Gr . Hun. Partridge S. - tailed Gr , 958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 :2. 8 1:2. 2 1:4. 9 1:2. 9 1:2. 8 1:0.8 :2. 6 1:2. 8 1:4.3 1:3. 3 1:3.4 *1:1.9 1:0. < * Based on morphological characters exclusive of wings. AVERAGE JUVENILE PHEASANT WEIGHTS, OCTOBER, 1958 AND 1959 - (IN OUNCES) Region 1958 1959 Edmonton - North 43.4 42. 0 Parkland 44. 4 42. 8 E.I. D. *42.2 - W.I. D. - 37. 8 * 1959 figures TABLE IV FALL UPLAND BIRD POPULATION FIGURES, 1958 AND 1959 (BIRDS/MILE OF TRANSECT) Area Pheasants "Hungarians" Sharp-tails 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 Edmonton North 0. 16 1.24 0.8 1.3 . 50 .25 ^Rosemary 3.4 3.7 - - _ *Rolling Hills 5.6 5.7 - - Eastern Irrigation District Regulation Changes - The year 1959 saw major changes made in bird game regulations. The most im¬ portant were the reduction in daily pheasant limit from 5 to 3, the innovation of a split pheasant season in southern regions, and the early season on native grouse in the north. Harvests - Alberta upland gamebird hunters are largely opportunists. They concentrate their shooting efforts on what is available. Thus 1959 saw changes in the relative composition of the bird game harvest (Table VI). Pheasants and Hungarian partridge increased slightly in importance because of increased number and availability. Conversely sharp-tails de¬ creased in importance. Ruffed grouse, the species with the highest breeding success, became of prime importance in parkland and northern regions. Hunter success increased over 1958 in most respects (Table V). Fewer hours were required to bag pheasants in both northern and southern regions. Increased E.I. D. success can be attributed not to a significantly larger fall population of birds, but rather to lowered hunting pres sure as aresultof the smaller daily bag limit. Decreased northern success was due to a combination of factors: fewer birds, more hunters and the smaller pheasant limit. 86 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS TABLE V . EARLY SEASON UPLAND BIRD HARVEST FIGURES 1958 AND 1959 Area Pheasants /Hunter Hour s / Pheasant Upland Game Birds /Hunter 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 Edmonton North . 08 . 2 _ _ 2. 2 L. 5 Parkland (Camrose) 0.4 0. 5 10.4 6. 1 0.9 1.0 E.I. D. 1. 4 1. 6 4. 9 3.5 *1.8 1.7 W.I.D. - 0.7 - - - 0. 9 High River - 0.5 - - - 0. 9 Vauxhall - 1.0 - 4. 0 - 1.3 Claresholm - 1.4 - 4. 2 - 1.7 TABLE VI RELATIVE KILL OF UPLAND GAME BIRDS , 1958 AND 1959 Area Pheasants Ruffed Gr. Hun. Partridge S. - tailed Gr, 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 Edmonton North 3 9 54 47 23 27 19 16 Parkland (Camrose) 49 56 21 13 22 29 8 2 E.I.D. 77 93 - - 21 6 2 1 W.I.D. - 78 - - - 19 _ 3 High River *65 53 - - *35 44 - 2 V auxhall - 77 - - - 23 - - Claresholm - 80 - - - 20 - Trace Pheasant Stocking - Approximately 6, 000 pheasants were released in Alberta during the fiscal year 1959. The Fish and Wildlife Division pheasant hatchery at Brook s supplied them all. Four thou- sand and forty were rele, ased by the Government as juvenil es during the fall months , (Table VIII). Adult birds released in the spring by the Government numbered 545 (Table VII) . The program of distributing day old chicks to interested parties for rearing and release contributed an additional 1,400 birds. Map 2 shows the di stribution of all releases. TABLE VII SPRING PHEASANT RELEASES IN ALBERTA, 1959 Region Land Location No. of Hens No. of Cocks Ponoka E 1/2-29- 42 -25-W4 24 4 NE-23-42-27- W4 30 3 SE-36-43-26-W4 20 2 SE-6-44-25-W4 29 4 Stobart 9-23-23- W4 10 1 21-23-23-W4 10 1 20-23-23-W4 10 1 Pincher Creek SE-28-5-28-W4 20 2 SW-26-5-28-W4 20 2 NW-25-5-28-W4 40 4 SW-30-5-27-W4 20 2 NW-33-7-28-W4 30 3 NW-36-8-30-W4 30 3 Woolford SE-25-24-W-W4 10 1 NE-27-24-2-W4 20 2 SE-28-24-2-W4 10 1 Bow Island NE-33-9- 11-W4 30 3 NW-3- 10-11-W4 10 1 Stavely NW-13-14-29-W4 40 4 Lacombe NE-1-41-26-W4 30 3 SW-7-41-26-W4 20 2 SE- 14-41-26-W4 30 3 Totals 493 52 FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 87 TABLE VIII FALL PHEASANT REL .EASES IN ALBERTA 1959 Area Land Location No. of Hens No. of Cocks Total Big Island Lake 16- 53-22-W4 45 45 90 Bretona 25-51-23-W4 45 45 90 Sturgeon River 36-54-27- W4 72 89 161 29-54-27-W4 68 90 158 Drummheller 13-30- 19- W4 Surplus Cocks 200 200 Waskatenau Creek 32-59- 19- W4 40 40 80 32-59- 19-W4 16 - 16 White Earth Creek 27-59- 16-W4 48 48 96 Vermilion River 2-54- 14- W4 72 136 208 Hay Lakes 17-48-23-W4 40 40 80 17-48-23-W4 24 8 32 15-48- 23- W4 48 48 96 New Sarepta 12-50-23-W4 64 32 96 Looma 34- 50=23- W4 48 48 96 Viking 31-46- 14- W4 40 40 80 3 1-46- 14 -W4 64 48 112 Killiam 34-45- 13-W4 61 127 188 Calgary 15-26-25-W4 Surplus Cocks 144 144 28-25-24- W4 48 48 Medicine Hat 33- 11-6-W4 Surplus Cocks 96 96 29- 1 1-6-W4 96 96 2 1- 10-7- W4 112 112 Burdett 32-9- 1 1- W4 16 16 32 6-10-11-W4 16 16 32 30-9- 11-W4 40 40 80 Bow Island 34-9-10-W4 24 24 48 Halkirk 16-38-15- W4 40 40 80 16-38- 15-W4 8 24 32 26-38- 15-W4 48 48 96 Sedgewick 4-43- 12-W4 48 48 96 1-43- 12- W4 40 56 96 Nevis 2-40-22-W4 56 50 96 35-39-22-W4 56 40 96 14-39- 22- W4 35 62 89 Cardston 25-24-2- W4 40 40 80 25-24-2-W4 40 24 64 25-24-2-W4 64 64 128 28-24-2- W4 40 88 128 Pincher Creek 26-5-28- W4 144 240 384 Totals 1, 550 2,490 4,040 * Additional fall releases * Additional fall releases were made by several fish and game groups of bird raised from day-old chicks. They were: Snyder game farm, Calgary - 130; Stettler - 620; Mueller game farm. East Coulee - 35; Big Valley - 156; Peace River, Bonnyville, Vail ey view and Ardmore . Shelterbelt Program - A policy of aiding the establishment of "shelterbelts" near farms for the use of upland game was initiated by the Fish and Wildlife Division. in 1957. Increased activity in this rdgard took place in 1959. A total of eight projects were begun. Three plantings were made near Ponoka, one at Edmonton and one at Redwater. Others reached initial stages in the general Edmonton area. Planting sites are selected and the shelterbelt planned by Provincial Wildlife Biologists. The trees and shrubs are provided by the Provincial Department of'Agricul- ture. The actual planting is done by Fish and Game Association members with further care the responsibility of the farmer. Miscellaneous Research Projects - The effect of habitat change on upland game bird number s was studied in E. I. D. and parkland regions during 1959. The rapid rate of cover los s was and is causing consterna¬ tion among wildlife specialists. Results of the studies are incomplete. 88 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS What promises to be an extremely rewarding experiment designed to evaluate pheasant stocking was begun in the Foothills Creek region of southern Alberta. Several hundred birds, both adults and juveniles , were released therein 1959. No pheasants were present prior to these plant¬ ings. Although the experiment was not completed certain tentative results were obtained. It was found that a 30 percent return of fall released juvenile cocks could be achievedthe fir styear under existing regulations and policy. It was also concluded that summer stocked adult hen phea¬ sants add an insignificant number of juvenile cocks to fall populations . Status of Minor Species - Blue and spruce grouse populations remained lightly harvested during 1959. Increased interest in "blues" was shown by hunter s in the southern foothills region. High densities of blue grouse exist in scattered districts. Early altitudinal migration habits make them generally un¬ available during regular seasons. Sage grouse reputedly increased in numbers during 1959. Too few existed for a general season, however. Chukar partridge numbers were resurveyed. A few were found near original release sites along the Milk River. Populations are not large or thrifty. It is still too early to judge the success of this recent attempt at establishment. The search for positive recent pinnated grouse records continued. Many leads were investigated. None were positively substantiated. For all intents and purposes this species is extinct in Alberta. Preliminary plans to reintroduce "pinnates" to selected areas of the province were formulated. FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 89 C. BIG GAME Breeding Populations and Production - As in 1958 population studies were conducted for seyeralbig game species by aerial survey. Most flights were made in winter or early spring to census breeding populations. (Table IX - Map 3). The general population trend was upward in 1959. Densities of moose were greater in northern regions and the same or higher in most of the foothills. Deer densities had particularly increased. Elk herds, talliedby complete count in mountainous regions, were either static, increasing or had been deliberately reduced for management reasons. TABLE IX Big Game Spring Population Indices, 1959 and I960 (animals /square mile). Moose Elk . Deer Antelope Area 1959 I960 1'959 I960 1959 1960 1959 I960 Zone 12 1.0 1.2 _ _ _ _ _ _ Zone 13 1.4 - - - - - - Zone 18 and 19 (Peace River & 2. 1 - - - 3. 0 - ' - Smoky River) Zone 21 . - - *1. 1 2.2 - - Zone 10 4. 0 - - - - - - Zone 22 - - - - - $2. 0 $3.0 * 1958 figure $ July survey: includes current fawn crop. Elk andmoose pregnancy rate s ,- calculated from collections of uterii made at check¬ ing stations the previous year, gave advance in- sight into regional calf crops. (Table X). Elk samples promised satisfactory if not phenomenal 1959 productions . Moose herds showed improvement, probably a result of recent, herd reductions, but were still below the theor¬ etical maximum for the species. In Zone 10 yearling moose began to assume a significant calf-producing roll for the first time since records were kept. Twins, however, were still infrequent. Moose calf counts obtainedin January-March I960 reflected the magnitude of 1959 moose production. (Table XI). A significantly low figure of 13 percent for north-western regions suggests an unhealthy situation there. Foothill regions showed improvement. TABLE X Pregnancy Rates of Alberta Big Game, 1958 and 1959 (percent of females pregnant in late November) Area Moose Elk Deer 1958 1959 1958. 1959 1958 T959 Zones 9-10 72 _ 88 83 _ _ Zone 12 - 78 - 91 - - TABLE XI Moose Calf counts animals seen durir Area Zone 12 Zone 13 Zones 18 - 19 Zones 9-10 1958 to I960 (percent of total Lg early spring surveys) Moose 1958 1959 I960 _ 21 20 - _ 23 - - 13 23 - 25 Population pyramids consisting of age class data were assimilated from collection of lower jaws made in 1958. The pyramid for moose in Zones 9-10 indicated poor re¬ cruitment 2 and 3 years before, a result of over-populations and range deterioration. Elk data from the same area showed the converse. Younger age classes had steadily increased in representation while populations remained high. Recruitment increased along with harvests . 90 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS An investigation was launched into widespread moose mortality that recurred during April andMay in the central foothills regions. Pre¬ liminary results attributed the deaths, which threatened to equal or sur¬ pass normal harvest figures, to a winter tick-malnutrition complex in¬ curred by long standing super-populations of moose. The cure rests in continued well-managed antlerles s open seasons. Field staff reports suggest that similar die-offs occurred or are on the verge of occurring in other sectors of the provincial moose range . The relative ease with which antelope can be seen from the air makes possible the combination of breeding population and production surveys. An extensive survey was undertaken in July of 1959. It's re¬ sults were not satisfactory. A low production figure of 67. 5 fawns /doe was achieved. Populations were drastically lower in important south¬ eastern sections. Inability to restrict hunting pressure to healthy herds kept the season closed during 1959. Harvests - A comprehensive report on the big game kill in Zones 1 to 18 a- ppeared in the July-August edition of "Land-Forest-Wildlife", pages 3- 9. Little of the data in that article will be included here. Resident big game licence sales increased only slightly during 1959. (Table XII). The recent upward trend in sales was evidently slackening. Whatever the cause it was not lack of opportunity. Sep¬ tember shootingof male elk and deer became general for the first time. Female moose, elk and deer seasons occurred from the United States boundary north to the Peace River block during November and December . Alberta hunters' moose bag FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 91 TABLE XII Summary of Game Licence Sales, 1953 - 1959 BIRD GAME BIG GAME Res . Non-Res Non-Res . Res . Non-Res. Non-Res. Res. Res. Date Bird Can. Non- Can. Big Can . Non- Can. Sheep & Goat Antelope 1953 58, 188 365 557 6, 546 4 78 _ _ 1954 61, 193 306 613 8, 754 4 95 - - 1855 63,623 400 869 24, 924 13 131 - - 1956 74, 252 415 1,048 28, 528 10 159 620 2, 295 1957 83, 132 345 1,020 33, 356 14 220 628 2, 494 1958 97, 571 544 1, 113 45, 379 11 186 772 2,481 1959 91, 560 486 813 46, 986 25 239 805 ' Failure to establish an open season for deer in Zone 2 1 created the farm crop damage anticipated by the department. Rapidly increasing mule and white-tail deer herds must be harvested if they are to be maintained as a productive game item and to give maximum pro - tection to agricultural field crops. Harvest estimates for Zones 1-20 are given in Table XIII. It can be seen thatmoose kills decreased in most foothill zones but increased in the north. Elk kills increased in nearly all zones. Fewer deer were shot in Zones 1-7 because of inclement weather during the short doe season. Deer harvests increased elsewhere. TABLE XIII Big Game Harvests, 1958 and 1959 - (Estimated Totals for Selected Big Game Zones) Area Moose Elk Deer Antelope 1958. 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 ' 1959 Zones 1-7 136 127 820 1,002 1, 210 834 _ Zones 9- 10 750 430 1,037 1,018 500 630 - Zones 12-13 690 624 465 638 297 334 - Z one 14 * 52 35 21 59 187 230 - Zones 15-20 1, 902 2,280 0 0 1,024 1 , 246 - Zone 22 - - - - ? ? 2,090 Moose decreased in relative importance in nearly all zones, a direct function of increased elk and deer harvests. (Table VIV). Elk, conversely, became more important in terms of relative kill. Hunter success figures were higher in all regions except Zones 9-10, the central foothills. (Table XV). Lack of an antlerless moose season brought about the lowered success. TABLE XIV Percentage of Kill Statistics, 1958 and 1959 Area Moose Elk Deer 1958 1959 1958 1959 1958 1959 Zones 2-7 7 7 38 51 55 42 Zones 9-10 37. 1 20. 6 35.8 49. 0 27. 1 30. 4 Zones 12-17 43 37 17 24 40 39 92 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS TABLE XV Big Game Hunter Success Figures, 1958 and 1959 Area Days /animal Percent Success 1958 1959 1958 1959 Zones 2-7 8.7 *8. 1 19 *18 Zones 9-10 11. 5 14.5 19 17 Zones 12 - 13 14. 7 8. 0 36 42 Zone 14 6. 8 4. 8 21 36 Zones 15 - 17 7. 3 5. 6 38 46 Zone 22 - 5. 2 - 23 Deer and Elk Crop Damage - High deer and elk number s combined with unseasonal weather con¬ ditions to cause consternation among farmers in many regions of Alberta last year. October snowfalls prevented them from harvesting stooked and swathed fields at their normal rate. Thousands of acres were left untouched, partially covered by snow. Mule deer, white -tail and elk were quick to find this ready source of high quality food. In January farmers began to notice their losses. By March nearly all fields of grain adjacent to large tracts of uncleared land were being utilized by big game. An aerial survey of the situation west of highway No. 2 was made in late January. It showed that approximately 90 percent of grain fields along the "fringe" of the green area were suffering damage from deer and elk. Twenty percentof those in western parkland regions were being raided, principally by deer of both species. At that time only 25 percent of the damage was classed as heavy; the rest moderate to light. Later flights in the eastern parkland (Vermilion area) unearthed a similar situation. An estimated 30 percent of stooked and 32 percent of swathed grain fields werebeing damaged by deer. Atotalof 123 dam¬ aged fields were seen in 3 hours flying. Few of these were ever reported to the department. Qualitative estimates of the amount of damage wrought by ungulates were not attempted. Heavy losses to field mice complicated the picture in some regions. Various control measures were invoked by fieldofficer s , none of them completely successful. Automatic "exploding guns" were tested in several instances. They proved temporarily successful on mule deer but had little effect on herds of " white- tails" . Further experiment is in order, however. Timber cutting - Big Game Study - During 1959 the second year of a three year study designed to e- valuate the effect of logging on wildlife was completed. White spruce, lodgepole pine, and spruce-pine-poplar forest types are being clearcut by the Northwestern Pulp and Paper Company Limited at Hinton. The study involves gathering data on vegetative composition, big game forage production and utilization, and big game number's on the pulp lease. It's FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 93 objective is to describe wildlife population portentials for "logged" sec¬ tions of the three forest types. Antelope Research - Preliminary work was begun on a comprehensive study of antelope herds and antelope range. Several observations of food habits were made Ecological typingof the light brown soil zone of southeastern Alberta was started. Data on sex ratios, population densities, and behaviour were described. The study will be continued. White-tail Deer Study - An exhaustive description of past and present white-tail deer pop¬ ulations in Alberta will be undertaken at a future data. Data were gathered in 1959 that shed light on the species distribution, food habits and cover requirements, and its present status. Early results indicate the white- tail is not a newly arrived "foreign" species but an indigenous species reinvading former range and rapidlyreturning to former numbers. This study will also be continued. Meat Spoilage Study - The trend in Alberta has been to progressively earlier big game seasons. With it comes the increased problem of getting animals "out" in good condition despite the handicapof warm weather. Antibiotics have been usedfor some time to prevent bacterial development and thus spoil¬ age in dressed beef, poultry and fish. A study was initiated in 1959 to determine the best method of applying similar technique s to big game car¬ casses. First results indicate that brushing antibiotics directly on to the meat delays the spoilage rate considerably. D. MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS Breeding Populations - The year 1959 was an unusual waterfowl year. Spring water con¬ ditions deteriorated in prairie and parkland for the third consecutive season. The April run-off was slow of cold evening temperatures . Ponds and sloughs received little benefit from the light snow cover. There were fewer potholes at the beginningof the 1959 season than in July of the pre¬ vious year. Despite the ‘water shortage myriads of ducks and geese arrived in Alberta during April and May. Displacement from the arid prairies was immediate. Masses of prairie-nesting birds moved northward only to be blocked by a stationery cold front somewhere north of Edmonton . Flocks of 500 - 1000 desultory mallards and pintails were common in the parkland for 2-3 weeks. They exhibited little breeding behavior. Finally, in May, the cold front moved and the masses of birds drifted northward. Usual numbers of most species were left in the park¬ land and prairie regions. Two species, the pintail and blue- wing teal, showed a considerable drop in numbers, however. Pintail and teal pop¬ ulations were 19 percent and 33 percent below the long term average. 94 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Meanwhile the displaced flocks settled in northern Alberta andthe Northwest Territories. Breeding population indices for the major spe¬ cies, mallards, pintails, baldpate, blue-wing teal, shovellers, and scaup were up by 61, 121, 108, 121, 87 and 57 percent respectively. Canada and white -fronted goose number s showed marked incr e as e s in northern regions. Local tallies of southern Canada geese also in¬ creased over 1958. Production - Breeding populations of most duck species had increased. Their production record, however, was a poor one. Large masses of displaced birds in the north failed to breed successfully. The usual numbers of parkland and prairie breeding birds also suffered recruitment setbacks . Indices for these areas averaged 48 percent lower than in 1958. The re¬ duction was severed enough to affect all species, but particularly mal¬ lards, pintails and diving ducks. The fall flight from Alberta was predicted, on the basis of those figures, to be 1/3 less than in 1958. Drought conditions were the major cause of decline. The Harvest - The presence of fewer ducks was born out by decreased hunter success in all regions. Geese on the other hand passed through Alberta innumbersnot seenin years. A westward migration route shift was evi¬ dent, particularly for Canada geese. Hunter success increased accord¬ ingly. (Table XVI). As predicted juvenile ducks were scarcer than in the previous year. Age ratios (adult: juvenile) dipped to below 1:1.5. The flocks of adults that had moved north returned on the way south however. Large, wary groups of mallards inhabited the larger lakes for most of the fall. Hunt¬ ing was difficult, a probable function of the increased collective experi¬ ence of the birds. TABLE XVI Early Season Waterfowl Hunter Success Figures, 1958 and 1959 - Area Ducks /Hunter Geese /Hunter 1958' 1959 1958 1959 Parkland (Camrose) .71 . 18 trace trace Edmonton - north 5. 5 1. 9 - - Hanna - Castor - 1. 8 1. 1 1.4 Hay Lakes - trace *2.4 5. 6 * 1956 data Crop Damage - Unfortunately, fewer birds did not mean a similar reduction in crop damage complaints. Unusual fall snowfalls kept crops in the fields . Local damage adjacent to large waterbodies was severe. A total of 824 FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 95 waterfowl damage permits were issued. (Table XVII). TABLE XVII Duck Damage Permits Issued During 1959 District No. of Permits V ermilion _ Vegr eville _ Valleyview _ Castor _ Didsbury - Calgary (East and West) St. Paul _ Red Deer _ Lethbridge - Lac La Biche - Edmonto n _ Grande Prairie - High River _ Drumheller _ Peace River _ Slave Lake _ Pincher Creek _ Medicine Hat _ Athabasca - Barrhead _ Bonny ville _ Brooks _ - _ 103 _ 56 _ 3 _ 1 _ 25 _ T 13 _ 75 _ 50 _ 33 _ 46 — 19 _ 2 _ 1 _ 24 _ 3 _ 1 _ 1 _ 5 40 _ 9 132 _ 82 Total _ 824 Waterfowl Banding - Seven crews of naturalists, biologists ,> students and enforcement officer s banded ducks and geese during 1959 in Alberta. The Department of Lands and Forests contributed directly to the operation of three of them. A single bander bait-trapped 142 free flying ducks and 31 coots near Brooks in August. A joint U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service- -Alberta crew working in the northern parkland banded 2, 965 birds compared to 3, 169 in 1958. A Ducks Unlimited crew at Brooks captured and banded approximately 330 large, local Canada geese. Department personnel assisted. Miscellaneous Waterfowl Studies - - Ross's Geese Investigation was continued into the relative abundance and chrono¬ logical migration habits of Ross's geese in south central Alberta. Ex- tensivebag checks were undertaken in the Castor -Hanna region. Several hundredof an estimated 10 , 000 Ross's geese are killed accidentally and illegally in this region each year. Bag_ checks proved that 10 percent of the total early- season goose kill consisted of this species. - Canada Goose Taxonomy Research designed to clarify the taxonomic status of Canada geese in Alberta was begun in 1959. Weights and measurements were collected 96 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS at Hay Lakes, Hanna, Castor, Peace River and Brooks. This study will be continued. Hay Lakes Survey - The Hay Lakes region of northern Alberta has long held the in- terestof sportsmen and conservationists because of it's value as a goose nesting area. Ducks Unlimited projects ensure an adequate water supply. Biological investigations were initiated in 1956 by Ducks Unlimited and departmental personnel with the purpose of accurate evaluation of the kill. This investigation was continued in 1959 by the fish and wildlife division. Preliminary results showed hunter success to be a high 5. 6 birds /hunter . The yearly kill by white hunters approached 1,000 geese in a 2:3:2. 8 Canada: white-front: snow goose ratio. Of the 131 white hunters using the area in 1959, 81 were from Alberta points other than Habay, 17 were non-resident Canadians, 14 were of local origin, and 19 were from the U. S.A. Much additional biological information was ob¬ tained. Mallard Winter Survey - Unknown factors combined with a ready source of food to lure several thousand mallards into staying the winter in central Alberta . Their presence after the close of the regular season necessitated un¬ usual action to alleviate crop damage complaints. On December 12th section 32 of the Migratory Bird Regulations was invoked and damage permits were once again issued. A joint Canadian Wildlife Service — Department of Lands and Forests investigation found 4, 175 ducks on three lakes; Buffalo, Dried Meat and Whitford. Fifty-four were collected for examination and found to be decidedly underweight; perhaps not physiologically ready for mi¬ gration. Attempts were made to scare the birds from holes kept open in the ice. All but one were unsuccessful. Some displacement occurred. Half-Mile Limits - During 1959 several lakes were surveyed with regard to the pos si- bility of making them semi- permanent waterfowl resting places under the Alberta Game Regulations. None were. approved for immediate action pending more detailed study. E. DISEASE STUDIES Several disease studies transpired during 1959. Portions of moose, elk, deer, sheep and goat were examinedat checking stationsfor parasites and disease. A review of the helminth parasites found in Al¬ berta big game is forthcoming. Muskrat Mortality due to an as yet undetermined haemhorragic agent was investigated thoroughly on Big Island Lake east of Edmonton. Numerous dead waterfowl were again locatedon Hay Lake south¬ east of Edmonton. Examination of these and several water samples failed to substantiate that botulism was the cause. Algae poisoning was not ruled out. FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 97 Several moose carcasses were examined in the Clearwater Forest Reserve. All were found to be heavily infested with winter ticks . Signs of anemia and malnutrition were common to all. TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS Numerous publications appeared in 1959 and early I960 that des¬ cribed data gathered by departmental wildlife biologists. Most were au¬ thored by the biologists themselves. Author Title Source Wishart, W.’D. Wildlife Pests & Predators Transactions of the First Alberta Re¬ sources Conference 'Wishart, W. D. Wildlife Predation Land-Forest- Wild¬ life Vol. 2(4) ;4- 13 Wishart, F. Sharp W. D. & Earlier Photographic Records of the Common Crane (Grus grus) for North America- for Alberta, Canada The Auk, Vol. 76/195' Webb, R. Alberta 1 s Big Game Resources Transactions of the First Alberta Re¬ source Conference Webb, R. Mighty Mite, the Moose Tick Land- Forest- Wild¬ life Vol. 2(3) :3- 10 Mitchell, G. J. Alberta's Upland BirdResources Transactions of the First Alberta Re¬ sources Conference Mitchell, G. J. Chukar Partridge in Alberta Land- Forest- Wild¬ life Vol. 2(2) :2 1-24 Mitchell, G. J. Larval Physaloptera sp. in the Richardson's Blue Grouse Jour . Wldl. Mgt. Vol. 24(2): 223 Mitchell, G. J. Bird Observations at Tahsis Inlet, Vancouver Island Canadian Field Naturalist Vol. 73(1) 6- 12 - Game Seasons - 1959 Land- Fore st- Wild¬ life Vol. 2(3): 3-9 - 1959 Hunting Review Big Game Checking Stations Land- For est- Wild¬ life Vol. 3(2): 3-9 - 1959 Hunting Review Upland Bird Harvests Land- Forest- Wild¬ life Vol. 3(1): 3-11 98 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL The establishment of an independent Commercial Fisheries Branchin addition to three new Assistant Fish and Wildlife Officer posi¬ tions motivated a relocation of personnel and employment of new people. M. J. Paetz, Fishery Biologist, was given the responsibility of guiding the Sport Fishery Program for the Division. Ron Thomas transferred to the Commercial Fisheries Branch. Rod Paterson, graduate of Oxford University, England, assumed the position of lakes fishery biologist. E. B. "Buck" Cunningham, M.S. graduate of Wyoming State Uni¬ versity joined the Division in the capacity of stream fishery biologist. Incidentally "Buck" wrote his Master's thesis on Chuckar Partridge and was subjected to pres sure from the Game Biologists until it was realized that he was a true Fishery Biologist. William Black, Fish and Game Officer at Castor was transferred to fill the Calgary West position. L. R. Johnston, As sistant at Pincher Creek, was placedin charge of Castor District. Ron Sble, Assistant at Edson, took charge of Entwistle District with headquarters at Entwistle. MatEberle, Bob Woodward, Chuck Gordon and Frank Somerville, were stationedas Assistants to district officers in Rocky Mountain House, Edson and Pincher Creek. A1 Kirkwood was placed at Vegreville in charge of this subdivision of the Edmonton office. Miss D. M. Melin was employed with the Division as an Assistant to the Traplines Clerk. W. Schenk, who served a five year apprenticeship in fish culture in Germany, joinedthe Fish Hatchery staff in Calgary at the close of the fiscal year. With untimely passing of H. E. F. Aastrup, Fish and Wildlife Officer, High River, the Division suffered the loss of a good friend, a knowledgable fish culturist and an efficient Officer. Itis only slight con¬ solation to realize that his death occurred during the discharge of his duties. The Division wishes to extend their sincere sympathies to his wife and next of kin. FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICERS' SCHOOL 1959 marked the commencement of an in-training program for Officers designed to further their under standing of all facets of Fish and FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 99 Wildlife management. Visiting instructors and Division staff covered a wide range of subjects including - populations censusing, techniques, law, St. John's ambulance to mention a few. This course was so successful and well received by students that it will be extended to two months in I960. The course will be divided in¬ to two periods one in late winter and the other in late spring to facilitate field trips designed to demonstrate the practical application of subjects discussedin the classroom. A great deal of creditfor the success of this venture goes to P. J. Murphy, Director of Forestry School andhis Assis¬ tant S. J. Macnabfor their efficient organization, to the Division staff for yeoman service andof course to the first graduates for their sincere in¬ terest and devotion to study. Weather - If one single factor highlighted the year 1959, it was the weather. Lack of surface water caused a major dislocation of the waterfowl breed¬ ing cycle neces sitatingmajor adjustments in seasons and bag limits . Late spring snow storms retardedthe uplandbird nesting seasons causingpost- ponement of opening dates and a dangerous increase in the ratio of adult birds to young of the year in hunter 's bags. Rains during the chick rear¬ ing season contributed to poor reproductive success. Water soaked roads impeded the fish distribution program. Heavy snow a week after the open- ingof the bihd season made native birds less accessible to hunters in the north. Inclement weather during the harvest season left crops unthreshed and subject to crop depredation by ducks. The wet fall made northern roads impassable reducing access to hunting areas and consequently big game hunter success. Unharvested crops remained in the fields in Central and Northern Alberta during the winter. Unharvested deer, populations doubled in the Parklands and these animals found easy feed in croplands adjacent to brushy draws and wooded areas. It is essential that a more realistic approach to deer management be effected in the future. Lack of snow during the winter in Southern Alberta hamper ed aerial surveys of big game populations and allowedthe drought cycle to become more firmly entrenched. Returning waterfowl breeding populations found I960 water conditions a little better than the previous year. The displace¬ ment of duck populations which occurred in 1959 was not evident probably because less birds returned to the breeding grounds. Finally the birds early nesting attempts were destroyed to a large degree by a late spring snow and near freezing weather. Is it any wonder that weather can be given a priority in adminis¬ tration problems in 1959-60? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - In conclusion the Division wishes to express its thanks and appre- cation to: The other branches of the Department of Lands and Forests and their valuable staff. 100 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS The Department of Health and Department of Mines and Minerals for their co-operation and assistance. The R. C.M.P. for their assistance in enforcement and super¬ vision. The members of the Game Advisory Council and their associations for the time and effort devoted to the production of constructive advice and planning. The hundreds of sincere sportsmen who strive to keep their fish¬ ing and hunting activities on a high plain of courtesy and conservation. A young Antelope FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 101 CONVICTIONS UNDER THE GAME ACT 1959-60 Number of Convictions _ 597 CONFISCATED FURS Amount Realized from the sale of confiscated fur during the period April 1st, 1959 to March 3 1st , I960 _ _ _ $1,597.60 TRAP-LINE REGISTRATIONS Number of Registered Trap-Lines and Revenue April 1st, 1959 to March 31st, I960 2514 at $10.00 _ $25, 140.00 FUR DEALERS' LICENCES, ETC. KIND NUMBER REVENUE Resident Fur Dealer's Licences to carry on business in a city and elsewhere than in a city _ 205 $2,050.00 Non-Resident Fur Dealer's Licences to carry on business in the Province _ 2 _ 200 . 00 Resident Travelling Fur Purchasing Agent's Licences _ 11 275.00 Furrier's Licences _ 12 120.00 Tanner’s Licences _ 5 50.00 FUR TAX REVENUE Amount collected 71,436. 62 MUSKRAT AND BEAVER Muskrat Permits issued free (Damage to Farmers's Lands, Roads and Irrigation) _ -- _ 56 Muskrat reported taken _ 1 1 , 666 Beaver Permits issued free (Damage to Farmer's Land, Road and Irrigation) _ 296 Beaver reported taken _ 654 102 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS GAME COMPARISON OF THE NUMBER OF GAME LICENCES : ISSUED KIND 1956 1957 1958 1959 Resident Bird Game Licences 72,518 83,079 97,571 91,560 Non-Resident (Canadian) Bird Game Licences 406 345 544 486 Non-Resident (Non -Canadian) Bird Game Licences 1,048 1,020 1, 113 813 Resident Big Game Licences 27,650 33,268 45,379 46,986 Non-Resident (Canadian) Big Game Licences 10 14 11 25 Non-Resident (Non -Canadian) Big Game Licences 159 132 186 239 GAME LICENCES April 1, 1959 to March 3 1 , I960. KIND Number of Licences FEE Total Amount Resident Bird Game Licences 91,560 $ 2.50 $228,900.00 Non-Resident (Canadian) Bird Game Licences 486 5.00 2,430.00 Non-Resident (Non -Canadian) Bird Game Licence s 813 25.00 20,325.00 Resident Big Game Licences 46,986 5.00 234,930.00 Non-Resident (Canadian) Big Game Licences 25 50.00 1,250.00 Non-Resident (Non -Canadian) Big Game Licences 239 100.00 23,900.00 Permit to Collect 30 FREE Taxidermist Licences 20 5.00 100.00 Guide Licences (Class "A" and "B") 227 2.50 567.50 Guide Licences (Class "C") 26 1.00 26.00 Game Farm Licences 39 5.00 195.00 Outfitter Licences 49 25.00 1,225.00 Resident Trapper Licences 3,239 3.00 9,717.00 Dog Trainer Licences 17 Various 185.00 Resident Spring Bear Licences 276 5.00 1,380.00 Non-Resident Spring Bear Licences 5 25.00 125.00 Resident Sheep and Goat Licences 805 10.00 8,050.00 BOUNTY ON COUGARS - SEASON 1959 -60. Cougars killed from April 1, 1959 to March 31, I960. 25 Cougars at $ 15 . 00 _ $375.00 12 Cougars at $40.00 _ 480.00 FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 103 104 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 106 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 107 108 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 109 PERCENT OF "HUNGARIANS" HATCHING ro OJ o 5 o O o 110 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 111 FUR PRODUCTION More than one-half the fur bearing pelts produced in Alberta are taken on privately owned lands. It is unfortunate that both beaver and muskrat on farm lands are looked upon as a nuisance when farmers could harvest this resource and supplement their income by trapping. Ex¬ pressed in dollars this resource ranges from one-half to one million dollars per year on agricultural lands. The potential revenue could be doubled if residents would harvest the fur crop and take proper care in preparing the pelts. The Division has attempted to carry on a trapping education program for farm youths, but the response has been disappoint¬ ing. A lad living in the agricultural areas of Alberta could obtain suffi¬ cient money from trapping to assist materially in paying for University training. The movenient of live beaver into unsettled areas has been cur¬ tailed since all accessible areas in the Province are supporting adequate populations . Recent biological studies on muskrat indicate that generally high fall populations cannot be maintained during the winter. As with all wild¬ life the value of the resource can best be realized by adequate harvests that leaves sufficient brood population to produce the annual abundance for another controlled harvest. It has been determined from these stud¬ ies that no single factor is responsible for the decimation of high fall pop¬ ulations but that food shortages, disease, parasites and population in¬ tolerances all contribute in reducing populations by ninety percent. The fur crop of the entire Province is a multi-million dollar re¬ source. Its value could be doubled by adequate harvests and handling of pelts. This Division will continue to encourage wise use programs and also attempt management policies designed to alleviate damage caused by under harvests of the fur crop. 112 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS ALBERTA FUR PRODUCTION - SEASON 1059 -60 (WILD FUR) Total Number of Pelts Average Value of Pelts Total Value of Pelts Badger 309 2.64 815.76 Beaver 53 , 326 11.91 635, 112.66 Ermine 74,246 1.25 98,807.50 Fisher 223 12.90 2,876.70 Silver F ox 46 5.20 239 .20 Cross Fox 211 3.06 645.66 Red Fox 310 3. 17 982.70 White Fox 9 21. 52 193.68 Blue Fox 5 4.00 20.00 Lynx 7,675 13.38 102,691.50 Marten 1,425 10.21 14, 549.25 Mink 9,683 17.35 168,000.05 Muskrats 202, 185 . 73 147,595.05 Otter 133 18.22 2,423.26 Jack Rabbits 17,654 . 38 6,708.52 Skunk 161 . 75 120.75 Squirrel 1, 153,942 .45 519,273.90 Coyote 3,574 3. 17 11,329.58 Timber Wolves 84 5.07 425.88 W olverine 14 15.25 213. 50 1,525,215 1,707,025. 10 FISH AND WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION 113 114 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION 115 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION Report of the Superintendent of Commercial Fisheries H. B. WATKINS Commercial fishing as an industry has seen very little adminis¬ trative change during the past year. However, record breaking figures have again been provided bothin production and exports. Licence sales increased somewhat, but still remain well below the record sales figure s . Improvements within the branch were evident with the addition of some field personnel and a laboratory technician in the biological field. We were also fortunate in obtaining additional new field equipment in the form of a number of larger patrol boats, motors, trailers, etc. Extensive surveys were commenced on some impounded water s within the Eastern Irrigation District with a view to increased commer¬ cial activities in that part of the Province. Considerable quantities of adult whitefish were planted in Ridge Reservoir and Rock Lake. This projectoperatedunder the able direction of Fishery Officer A. A. Svendsen with the assistance of fish hatchery and pond personnel andthe generous loan of Fish and Wildlife transporta¬ tion equipment. As transportation of adult whitefish has not previously been attempted, this was done on an experimental basis and to our know¬ ledge proved extremely successful. Several notable advances were made in the field of biological in¬ vestigations during the year. A technician was employed to handle the problems of laboratory procedure andis being trained to age fish from scale samples submitted by fieldofficers and others. Reading of scales and compilation of various fish population structures is thus greatly accelerated. Intensive surveys of ten commercial fishing lakes of major im¬ portance were instituted. Studies of fish populations, bottom and plank¬ ton productivity, water quality, parasite infestation, catchability an d ■ yield are being continued. The surveys combine periodic sampling by fieldofficers of the fish populations, etc. with intensive shortterm studies by a biologist. One such investigation was carried out on Wabamun Lake when winter fishing proved less fruitful than in previous years. It was found that the fish population structure combined with the physical condition of the lake was causing a decrease in the whitefish catch, although the fish population was high. Joint studies are being. carried out with other agencies. Samples of various pathological conditions are being senttoa noted New York fish pathologist as they are received. A publication of reports is planned. A co-operative study of iodine metabolism and balance of the fish population of Lac Ste. Anne was instituted with the Zoology Department, University of Alberta. Determination of iodine content of the lake water , 116 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS bottom and plankton fauna, and of the fish populations if planned. The Zoology Department is also co-operating on studies of fish parasites, particularly those affecting mammals. Instruction of field officers in methods and concepts of biological procedure continues, as well as explanations of biological problems to public meetings. The premature death of two of our senior officers, namely: Mr. F. J. Harman and Mr. H. E. F. Aastrup, dealt a severe shock to re¬ maining member s of the organization. The Commercial Fisheries Branch wishes to express gratitude for their many years of devoted service and sorrow at their early passing. Deepest appreciation is hereby extended to Mr. A. A. Svendsen for services, well and faithfully rendered, during his long term of office which terminated on his retirement in January, I960. Officers and ad¬ ministrative staff of this branch wish success for Mr. Svendsen in any future activities and regret the necessity for termination of a pleasant as sociation. Wabamun Lake Commercial Fisheries Depot MARKETED COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION 117 118 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS LICENCES Kind 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 1959-60 Domestic Licences 137 159 93 133 149 Fisherman's Licences 5,365 6,352 7,987 6,415 7,088. Commercial Licences 250 156 180 184 212 Fish Dealers' Licences 124 142 127 99 86 Total 5,876 6,809 8,387 6,831 7,535 COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF FISH Species 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 1959-60 Lbs . Lbs . Lbs. Lbs . Lbs. Whitefish 3,614,007 3,689, 193 3,813, 128 4,182,729 4,377,844 Trout 15,906 17,214 17,664 23,762 16,491 Pike 426,683 460,915 554,958 690,657 752,842 Pickerel 618,440 195,251 268,594 436,304 738,783 Perch 119,232 43,363 49,815 47, 141 128,503 Tullibee 3,753,209 4,074,803 4,644, 004 5,560, 153 5,630,789 Mixed Fish 537,489 915,302 950,627 1,210,904 810,083 Total 9,084,966 9,396,041 10,298,790 12,151,650 12,455,335 Value as Value as W eight Fishermen Marketed Lbs . & & Totals for year 1955-56 9,084,966 751, 574. 96 1,291, 567. 86 Totals for year 1956-57 9,396,041 794,648.83 1,289,254.68 Totals for year 1957-58 10,298,790 798, 127.75 1,321,179.77 Totals for year 1958-59 12,151,650 980,525.06 1,553,410.24 Totals for year 1959-60 12,455,335 955,053.07 1,649,462.20 FISH EXPORTED FROM ALBERTA 1959-60 Species Canadian Markets Lbs. U.S.A. Markets Lbs . Totals Lbs . Whitefish 79 ,678 2,946,086 3,025,764 Trout 3,032 3,032 Pickerel 15,046 608,504 623,550 Perch 600 118,241 118,841 Pike 13,564 182,357 195,921 Tullibee 158, 167 158, 167 Suckers 20,325 20,325 Total 129,213 4,016,387 4, 145,600 Prosecutions 1959-60 _ 65 C onf i s cation i 63 Amisk Lake (64-18- W4) 13 750 19,550 - 427 896 _ 25 21,648 Athabasca Lake 44 - - - 173,760 132,864 _ _ 306,624 Battle Lake (46-2- W5) 318 1,600 - - 90 4,500 _ 43,990 50,180 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION O'NNOOOfOHONfOCOO^COin^ or'-coTp'-HTt | O CO xO | o |> IT) xO x£> O ' CO CO CO co ^ co m m co co O' o ^ co o Tf N O fO I-H CO o xO O' o o o o in o co o ^ o oo oo N N CO H H in r- ^ xO O' CM ^ m o oo o o 00 CO CM j> (M O O CM in cm o LO O O O I O xO ^ xO o m ^ xO CO CM H CO O' O O I xo o m xO m > — 1 (M I m ^ H cm •— » cm m cm in co cm" o o oo co CM O' xO O' xO m o cm ^ m co xO CM CO © O O CM O O' O CM CM CO CM — 1 o r- O' 00 CM CO 00 -< r- m O' © ax r- -h cm [n- r- CM -h co xO m cm o xO CM xO i-h h h m m (M co m co CM Floating Stone Lake (60-11-W4) 344 6,084 - - 200 2,622 _ 53,518 62,424 Fork Lake (63- 11-W4) 403 3,661 - - - 800 _ 64,092 68,553 Frances Lake (69- 1 1- W4) 7 - - - - 780 _ _ 780 Francis Lake (66-25-W4) 1 - - - - 90 _ _ 90 120 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS O O' ^ O' o co r- co sD ^ N h in LO h ^ m ^ o Is- 00 CO LO o o m o^o^co^^inoofo^co o Is- CO vO sO 00 co co co ^ CO vO (\] CO ’ — 1 ro O' O' ^ H LO LO o LO r- co lo o n m co 0 0^000 O' m n o oo •— 1 LO o O sO VO ^ O' o vO 00 N N O In O LO 7 £ x " a 3 £ cti I a O CtJ C rG ^ ^ ^ o % i £ g £ £ £ £ a ui ^ m n (i) h « IU o a *J « £ . u w ni n) a ^ £> a * 3 C ni ni M &0 C O 0 ■J i-l (U 0) 4) ^ ^ ^ ^ ni n) ni n) j ni bO* C«D bD -ri a fl c a o o o d COMMERCIAL CATCH OF FISH IN POUNDS 1 9 5 9 - 60 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION 121 122 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31 ST. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ADMINISTRATION 123 124 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS TECHNICAL DIVISION 125 TECHNICAL DIVISION Report of the Director of the Technical Division H. SOLEY The fiscal year ending March 31st, I960, was againa very busy period for this Division. During the year legal descriptions were prepared fort 966 notifications covering 369,099.299 acres of land for which certificates of title were issued in the Land Titles Offices. The previous year 855 notifications were is sued covering an area of 320 , 077 . 939 acres . Itwillbe noted, therefore, that there was an increase in the number of notifications issued by one hundred and eleven. The program of bringing unpatented Crown lands unde.' the Land Titles Act to facilitate pipeline financing, etc. was continued and 85 notifications were issuedto the respective Land Titles Offices and certificates of title were cl-eated. The area patented to the Minister of Lands and Forests is shown in the table hereunder. Hereunder is a schedule of the various notifications issued for the fiscal year ending March 31st, I960. NOTIFICATIONS ISSUED DURING FISCAL YEAR April 1st, 1959 to March 31st, I960 (Surface rights only) Classification Notifications Area Homesteads 334 Sales 231 School Land Sales 290 Notifications to Minister of Lands and Forests 85 Transfer of Administration and Control 5 Release of Habendum Clause 5 Exchange of Land 5 Special Grants and Free Grants 7 Rectification of Titles 3 Homestead Sales 1 7 6 , 857 . 24 acres 30, 692. 238 acres 51,749.175 " 125,110.326 " 569.88 43.83 905.34 " 82,743.57 267.70 160.00 966 369,099.299 TOTAL 126 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS TECHNICAL DIVISION 127 NUMBER OF SALES IN SUBDIVISIONS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE 23 1 NOTIFICATIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE Subdivision No. of No. of Notifications Lots Blocks Canmore 1095 F 5 Lodgepole 3504 K.S. 3 Passburg 185 AA 1 Pincher Creek 7756 A. L. 1 Whitecourt 3746 K.S. 4 Fox Creek 1367 K.S. 3 Harvie Heights 13 Walsh 3644 B 1 Little Smoky River 1 Three Sisters Plan 8170 H. X. 1 Carbondale 232 A. I. 1 6 4 41 1 5 3 13 1 1 2 5 5 3 3 4 (2. 24 acres) 3 (3.66 acres) 13 1 1 ( 1 . 84 acres) 1 (1.06 acres) 1 34 82 35 NUMBER OF HOMESTEADS IN SUBDIVISIONS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE 334 NOTIFICATIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE No. of No. of Subdivision Notifications Lots Blocks Boyer Settlement 1 1 -- (118.00 acs) NUMBER OF SPECIAL GRANTS AND FREE GRANTS IN SUBDIVISIONS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE 5 NOTIFICATIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE Subdivision Notifications No. of No. of Lots Blocks Bushe Indian Reserve 207 1 Jean D'OR Prairie Indian Res. 1 Fox Lake Indian Reserve 1 Upper Hay River Indian Res. 212 1 (22, 512. 30 acs) (34,424.30 " ) (25,793.00 " ) 4 1 NUMBER OF TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL IN SUBDIVISIC WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE 5 NOTIFICATIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE Subdivision McKay Settlement 25S No. of No. of Notifications Lots Blocks I 1 -- (37.30 acs) 1 1 Area not stated in these 27 notifications - 26 sales in subdivisions 1 Special Grant and Free Grant 27 Total number of notifications in which area stated- 939 Total number of notifications - 966 128 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS TECHNICAL DIVISION 129 LAND SETTLEMENT SURVEYS Lands were surveyed in Townships 69 and 70, Range 8, West of the 6th Meridian to complete the subdivision of these two townships where settlers had become eligible to obtain title to lands in the area. Surveys were also carried out in Township 72, Range 19, West of the 5th Meridian where homestead lessees had completed sufficient duties to be eligible for title to their leased lands. MISCELLANEOUS SURVEYS The program of surveying commercial and summer cottage prop¬ erties was continued during the year and brief details of these surveys are as follows: Ghost River Park The summer village of Ghost River was extended by surveying an additional 70 lots in the existing subdivision, these lots were for summer cottage development. Kananaskis Lake Subdivision A survey was carried out in Townships 19 and 20, Range 19, West of the 5th Meridian on lower Kananaskis Lake where 70 lots were provided for summer cottage development. Canmore (Triangle) The demand for commercial lots in the Canmore area adjacent to the new Trans Canada Highway was partially alleviated by the survey of 9 commercial lots between the new Trans Canada Highway and the old highway in Township 25, Range 10, West of the 5th Meridian. Lodgepole Addition Due to the continued demand for lots in the Lodgepole Townsite an additional 26 residential sites were surveyed in this townsite in Town¬ ship 47, Ranges 9 and 10, West of the 5th Meridian. Cartier Creek Subdivision A small recreational subdivision was surveyed in Sections 25 and.36., Township 31, Range 7, West of the 5th Meridian on the Red Deer River where 28 lots were provided for cottage development. 130 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS HISTORICAL SITE SURVEYS This Department in conjunction with the Department of The Pro¬ vincial Secretary has instituted a program of marking historical points of interest and locations throughout the Province. This Division has undertaken the survey of these sites anda summary of the surveys so far carried out are listed below: Ribstone Fort White Earth Fort George and Buckingham House Fort Vermilion Massacre Butte Standoff Earlyman Fort Victo ria -S. W. 1/4 Sec. 25-46- 12- W. 4th Meridian -W. 1/2 Sec. 35-58- 16-W. 4th Meridian -E. 1/2 & S. W. 1/4 Sec. 25-56- 6- W. 4th Meridian -S.E. i /4 Sec. 14-54-3-W. 4th Meridian -S.E. 1/4 Sec. 33-7- 1-W. 5th Meridian -W. l/2Sec.21-6-25-W. 4th Meridian -S.E. 1/4 Sec. 6-9-27-W. 4th Meridian -Twp. 58- 17- W. 4th Meridian When the sites have been surveyed plans of the surveys are registered in the respective Land Titles Offices and certificates of title to the parcels are acquired in the name of the Minister of this Department. Several miscellaneous surveys were also carried out for the Forestry Branch covering tower site locations, which were acquired from private landholders , andfor ranger headquarters and administra¬ tion sites. RESTORATION SURVEYS No restoration surveys were carriedout duringthe fiscal year covered by this report as the crew normally engaged on these surveys spent the survey season on a restoration survey of the boundary of the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation area in southern Alberta. Ades- cription of this survey is mentioned elsewhere in this report. BOUNDARY SURVEY Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Area The boundary of the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation area plays an important part in segregating lease holdings , big game hunting zones and other land uses and it has become increasingly important in recent years that the boundary of this conservation area be properly and visibly marked on the ground. TECHNICAL DIVISION 131 The survey of this boundary commenced during June 1959 in Township 3, Range 30, West of the 4th Meridian at the intersection of Eastern Rockies Forest Boundary with the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park, The survey was carried out until November at which time the crew returned to headquarters. The survey lines were cut out and cleared where necessary and all section and quarter section corner markers were re-established or restored where necessary. Duringthe season a total of 59 miles of survey line was re-established in this area and the boundary has now been markedfrom Waterton Lakes National Park to Township. 7, Range 4, West of the 5th Meridian. It is anticipated that this survey will continue when time permits and eve¬ ntually the surveyed portions of this boundary will be inspected and re- surveyedwhere necessary. The assistance of the Superintendent of the Crowsnest Forest Reserve and the forestry employees in this area during the course of this survey is gratefully acknowledged. PLANS OF SURVEY Another busy year has passed which was characterized by a large increase in the number of plans submitted for examination and filed in this Division in order that the rights of the applicants filing the plans could be established on Crown lands. This increase was parti¬ cularly noticedin the number of survey plans covering pipeline rights- of-way andplans of well sites, battery sites, etc. Brief details are as follows : 242- survey plans covering pipeline rights-of-way affecting Crown lands were received from the various oil companies and pipeline companies and filed in accordance with their pipeline agreement applications and right-of- entry applications . 237-plans of survey covering wellsites, battery sites, access roadways and flow line rights-of-way were received from the various oil companies and filed in conjunction with their Mineral Surface Lease applications . 213-plans of survey covering surveyed roadways affecting Crown lands were received from the Department of Highways, Municipalities and Counties. The usual reservations were entered in the records of this Department against all Crown lands affected and the plans filed. 102- survey plans of general surveys affecting Crown lands were filed. Of this number 35 plans covered wayside campsites received here from the Department of Highways for our records. 75-plans of survey covering access roadways used by the various oil companies in reaching their operations were received and recorded in this office. 132 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS MAP SHOWING * EXTENT OF l" = I MILE J MOSAICS COMPLETED jv TO MARCH 3lt 1960*1 82 — - NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TECHNICAL DIVISION 133 63-plans covering transmission line rights- of-way were received from the major power companies and rural electrification associations and filed in conjunction with their easement applications. 35-irrigation plans covering reservoir sites and canal rights-of-way affecting crown lands were deposited in our records. 97- subdivision and parcel plans checked in which there was no crown land included. TITLES ACQUIRED IN THE NAME OF THE CROWN Certificates of Title in the name of the Crown were acquired as follows : 55 quarter sections acquired through purchase by the Department of Agriculture for inclusion in Minburn Community Pasture. 16 quarter sections acquired through purchase by the Department of Agriculture for inclusion in the Rannoch Community Pasture. 70 quarter sections acquired through purchase from the Federal Department of Agriculture, P. F.R. A. Portions of 8 quarter sections purchased or otherwise acquired for Provincial Parks and Historical sites. A small parcel in one quarter section was ac¬ quired for a Forest Ranger Site (Kinuso). Exchanges of Land: 33 quarter sections were acquired through exchanges of pri¬ vately held land for Crown land. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Aerial Photographic Library: The number of contact aerial prints produced during the fiscal year amounted to 87 , 873 . This was an increase of 26, 696 prints over last year . This included photography at scales of 1" = 1320' and 1" = 3333'. The total number of prints developed by our aerial photographic laboratory since 1950 amounts to 608,502. 134 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Aerial Photographic Surveys Act 33 licenses were is sued this year comparedwith 27 licenses last year. A total of 178 licenses has been issued since the inauguration of the Aerial Surveys Act in 1951. Photographic Enlargements There was a small increase in the number of enlargements under¬ taken this year. A total of 336 enlargements were made as compared with 325 last year. Mosaics 2 19 mosaics were undertaken during the fiscal year and of these 212 were completedand reproduced on a scale of 1" to 1 mile. These were, compiled for the Research Council of Alberta and ultimately the whole of the Province will be mosaicked at a scale of 1" to 1 mile. The Zeiss Seg V photographic enlarger is now being used entirely on these mosaics and this year 14, 667 semi controlled prints were printed on this machine. 14 mosaics of various areas in the Province were undertaken for Government departments covering a total of 893 square miles. Film Processing Duringthe fiscal year under review films were processedinthe photographic laboratory covering 802 K20 films and684 9 1/2" x9 1/2" photography taken by the Forest Surveys Branch. Multiplex and Kelsh Diapositives During the year 256 Kelsh diapositives and 105 multiplex dia¬ positives were printed. This is adecrease of 156plates comparedwith last year. Contour Mapping Fourteen projects were finalized this year atvarying scales and contour intervals for a total of 183,000 acres. Extensive preliminary work and control selection was also carried out for several projects. A new Kelsh plotter was pur chased to facilitate the large amount of backlog work from last year as well as the ever increasing demand for more contour maps. A new electronic contact printer was also acquired which has improved the quality of Kelsh diapositives to the extent thatmore precise viewing canbe made. In addition to the above equipmenta new diapositive printer was pur chased for the reproduction of Wild photography which is used in conjunction with the Multiplex plotter. In view of the demand for this type of map particularly from the Departments of Highways and Water Resources , it will be neces sary to train an additional operator to undertake this work. The indexing of the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation area flown under Job 1388 has now been finalized and we are in the process of compiling new indices of the 3333' scale photography covering the whole Province. These new indices are being made on film and it is much more economical and faster to make ozalid copies which are made available to the public free upon the ordering of photographs. TECHNICAL DIVISION 135 136 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS MAPPING Planimetric Mapping All manuscripts, sketching and fair drawing on films were completed for map sheets 82 P 1 to 14 inclusive. These maps sheets were also photographed and reduced to the scale of 1" to 1 mile for sale to the general public. The point picking and template laydown was completed and transferred to the manuscript for block 7 3 LI- l6inclusive. Appro¬ ximately 50% of the photography for this area has been interpreted and is ready for sketching. All point picking and interpretation has been completed for map sheets 82 I 13, 82 J 16 and 82 O 1. The transverse mercator projection and control has been com- pletedfor map sheets 82 HI- 1 6 inclusive and the plotting of the trans¬ verse mercator projection, survey and control has been completed for map sheets 73 L 1 - 16 inclusive. Forestry Drafting 27 townships have been completed in management unit S 5 for the Forest Surveys Branch. These townships show all the planimetry , survey andforest types and are drawn at a scale of 1" = 1320' on stable film. 113 Townships were drawn at a scale of 1" = 1320' and 158 townships were drawn at a scale of 1" = 2640' on transparent drawing paper showing all planimetry for the Eastern Rockies Forest Conserva¬ tion Board. 28 townships were drawn on stable film at a scale of 1" = 1320' for the Forest Conservation Board. Map sheets 83 B 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 14; 83 G 3, 4, 5 were com¬ pletely redrawn showing the changes of trails , roads, forest types, etc. for the Forest Surveys Branch. Map Revisions Map sheets 83 B 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15; 83 G 2, 3,4, 5, 16; 83 O 1 to 8 inclusive; 83 J 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 to 16 inclusive have been revised on the master copies of 1/40,000 and photographically reduced to 1" = 1 mile. Revision included road types , additions, building locations , etc. , as shown on the new 1320 photography taken in 1958. Planimetric Maps Fiftyof the above map sheets were lithographed during the fiscal year covering the area from Medicine Hat to Wainwright along the Alberta- Saskatchewan border . These maps were revised with respect to roads, pipelines, transmission lines , etc. Due to the consistent demand it was necessary to have 10 maps of this series reprinted. 100 copies of each were ordered. Fringe Area Booklet A revised edition of the Fringe Area booklet was published in March of this year. The maps show the patented area in red; lands held under lease and sale in brown; areas withdrawn from settlement in green and the public lands available in white. 5,000 copies were printed. TECHNICAL DIVISION 137 Map of Alberta- Open and Closed to Settlement The heavy demand for this map still exists and a new map was published showing the boundaries of the yellow and green areas of the Province. 3,000 copies were printed. In conjunction with the Director of Lands it was decided to have 200 copies of the north half of our 8 mile map overprinted showing the yellow and green boundaries . These maps are on a muchlarger scale and show quite clearly the boundaries of the yellow and green areas particularly where the boundaries are very irregular. Map Sales During the fiscal year the sale of maps and plans amounted to $31,697.24. This is an increase of approximately $8,000.00 over last year and is indicative of the fact that the demand for maps of the Province is increasing steadily. Miscellaneous Drafting During the fiscal year a great deal of miscellaneous drafting was undertaken in the Aerial Survey Section for the Forest Surveys Division, Forestry Division and the Publicity Office. Practically the full time of our artist is required by the Publicity Officer, Fish and Game Branch etc. in designing layouts for publications. A great deal of time and effort also went into the display at the Natural Resources Convention that was held in the Jubilee Auditorium during the early part of this year. Mapping on Scribecoat Material This material is of a recent origin and it would appear at this early date that a large saving will be made in the cost of having maps lithographed. This material is similar to a negative film and by the use of scribecoat tools the emulsion is removed and consequently the color separation is made, thus saving the costs charged by commercial firms. It is anticipated that this Division will undertake the drafting of 50 planimetric maps on this material and same will be lithographed this year. Photostat and Ozalid Machines. As usual the two photostat machines and the ozalidmachine have been working at full capacity throughout the year in order to meet the requirements of this and other Government departments. This year can also be regarded as a busy one within the Depart¬ ment as the work of this Division is closely interwoven with the Lands Division, Forestry Division and other Divisions of the Department in the disposal of the natural resources etc. Onceagain appreciation is expressedto the Staff for rendering valuable service within this Department, to other Government depart¬ ments and the general public. 138 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS ACCOUNTING DIVISION Report of the Administrative Accountant A. MCCALLUM Gross receipts on Income and Capital Accounts totalled $8,699,259.00 for the year ending Mar ch 3 1 , I960. Monies refunded amounted to $760 ! 8 14^ 66 leaving a total net revenue from all sources at $7, 938, 444. 34. Income Account REVENUE Net Revenue on Income Account for the year was $6,334, 512. 96 being a decrease of $336, 664. 13 from the previous year . Main increases and decreases are as follows: - Increase Decrease $ $ Fishing Licences 6, 194. 50 Fisheries Royalty 9,528.84 Game Licences 6, 628. 27 Fur Tax 5,895.39 Grazing Leases, Permits, Etc. 69, 063.34 Hay Permits 2,060.93 Homestead Leases , Etc. 17,398. 13 Land Sales- Interest 4, 087.35 Cultivation Leases, Permits, Etc. 34,892.28 Right of Entry 58, 994. 63 Land Sundry Revenue 43,795. 80 Timber Fees, Rentals, Dues, Etc. 338, 654. 87 School Lands Sales Interest 3,024. 69 School Lands Leases, Permits, Berths, Etc. 91,759. 16 East Slope Surface Rights 12, 176. 82 Maps, Plans, Etc. 8,010. 95 Restoration of Monuments 9, 547. 44 Administration Sundry Revenue 11, 111. 25 Sale of Aerial Photographic Maps 7, 943. 96 Dominion- Provincial Agreements 79, 131. 94 Miscellaneous 15, 569. 65 Net Revenue Decrease 336, 664. 13 $586,067. 16 $586,067. 16 For details of revenue on Income Account see Statement "B". Gross receipts from all sources amounted to $8,699,259.00 a decrease of $402, 690. 27 from the previous year. Capital Account Net revenue was $512, 191. 16 an increase of $292, 433. 52. General Totalmonies refundedon Income and Capital Accounts for the year under review totalled $7 60 , 814. 66. During the sarhe period $57 8, 579. 7 1 was refunded in respect of revenues received in previous years. In accordance with the pro¬ visions of "The Crown Cultivation Leases Act", "The Grazing Lease Taxation Act", and "The Tax Recovery Act", refunds totalling $276,000.54 were made to the taxing authority. As at March 31, I960, Accounts Receivable in connection with leases, berths, permits, etc., stood at 24,364. At the same time Fish and Game Vendors' Accounts were 2,481. ACCOUNTS DIVISION 139 Cash entries for the year were 64, 204 for which 59, 353 receipts and permits issued. Fishing Licenses sold during the year totalled 135, 243 while for the same period 140,914 Game Licenses were sold. The following Trust Accounts were being maintained at the year end totalling $733,669.07:- Timber Deposits Parks Board East Slope Road Tolls Homesteader's Compensation Reforestation and Forfeited Monies Miscellaneous $585, 131.05 45, 342. 92 10, 240. 56 59. 293.98 9,096. 57 24. 563.99 $733,669.07 EXPENDITURE For the year ending March 31, I960, total expenditure on Income Account amounted to $8,531,591.7 6. For the same period capital spending amounted to $364, 920.03. Firefighting c o s t s for the year amounted t o $ 1 , 234, 405. 09. Costs of developing and maintaining Provincial Parks amounted to $419, 107.04 from Income Account and $6, 301. 30 from trust funds . Forest T r a i n i n g School costs for the year amounted to $26,730.48. Aircraft Patrol costs for the year under review totalled $217, 817.06. Maintenance costs of the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Agree¬ ment, including expenses of the Board totalled $769,221. 17. Funds disbursed from the Homestead Lease Loan Account during the year amounted to $128,818.23. Total disbursements from this fund to date - $882,593.20. Repayment of loans under this Act amount to $115,079.87. Under agreements negotiated with Canada and the Province with respect to Winter Works' Programs $ 18 1, 70 1. 94 was disbursed in connection with Camp Ground and Picnic Area development. At the same time in the building of Access Roads and Trails in forested areas the amount of $90,496. 16 was disbursed. The cooperation and spirit of team work exhibited by all members of the staff throughout the year is gratefully acknowledged. INDEX OF STATEMENTS A. Statement of Receipts from All Sources. B. Statement of Receipts - Income Account. C. Statement of Receipts - Capital Account. D. Statement of Receipts - School Lands. E. Statement of Expenditure for the year ending March 31, i960. F. Statement of Receipts by Branches. G. Statement of Disbursements by Branches. H. Alberta School Land Trust Fund. I. Alberta School Land Sales - Revenue Account. 140 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS STATEMENT A STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS FROM ALL SOURCES FROM APRIL 1, 1959 TO MARCH 31, , 1960 Gross Receipts Refunds Net Receipts Income Account $6, 665,045. 59 $330, 532. 63 $6,334,512.96 Capital Account 525, 967.72 13,776. 56 512, 191. 16 Reimbursement of Previous Year's Expenditure 3, 822.22 60. 90 3,761.32 School Lands Trust Fund 336, 195. 99 2,014. 97 334, 181. 02 Timber Deposits Trust 328,281.70 217, 889.00 110,392.70 Homesteader's Compensation Trust 18, 939. 96 2,068. 62 16, 871.34 Homestead Lease Loan Fund Trust 65, 485. 39 3,338.52 62, 146. 87 East Slope Road Tolls Trust 10,790. 50 - - 10,790.50 Parks Board Trust 33,016. 92 915.70 32, 101. 22 Miscellaneous Trust 12,431.78 1,781.78 10, 650.00 Reforestation & Timber Forfeited Monies Trust 8, 257.45 464.24 7,793.21 Unapplied Receipts Carried Forward: Improvements 11,762. 10 3, 120. 60 8, 641. 50 Suspense 299, 261. 68 184,851. 14 114, 410. 54 School Lands Grazing Permits 15,000.00 — 15,000.00 Public Lands Grazing Permits 35,000.00 — 35, 000.00 Public Lands Grazing Lease Rentals 300,000.00 — 300,000.00 Public Lands Homestead Lease Crop Share 30,000.00 — 30,000.00 $8,699,259.00 $760,814.66 $7,938,444.34 ACCOUNTS DIVISION 141 STATEMENT B STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS - INCOME ACCOUNT FROM APRIL : L, 1959 TO MARCH 31, I960 Gross Receipts Refunds Net Receipts FISHERIES ACCOUNT $ $ $ Fishing Licenses Fisheries Miscellaneous Fisheries Royalty 162, 850. 65 2, 112.88 34, 305. 62 168. 95 25.72 19. 20 162,681.70 2,087. 16 34,286.42 $ 199, 269. 15 $ 213. 87 $ 199,055. 28 GAME ACCOUNT Game Licenses Fur Tax Game Branch Miscellaneous 519, 573.32 80, 973.00 2,633.22 2,766. 54 2,665.23 466. 25 516,806.78 78, 307.77 2, 166. 97 $ 603, 179. 54 $ 5, 898.02 $ 597, 281. 52 LANDS AND GRAZING Grazing Leases, Permits, Etc. Hay Permits, Fees, Dues, Etc. Homestead Leases, Crop Share, Etc. Land Sales Interest Cultivation Leases, Permits, Etc. Right of Entry Miscellaneous Leases Lands Sundry Revenue Land Patent Miscellaneous 585, 805. 98 10, 275. 68 143,725.79 6, 131. 58 163, 650.76 310,779.34 189,680.44 75, 959.36 4, 189.28 150,926.81 "2,235.25 93,738. 60 6.49 1,442.72 25, 102.44 11,956.40 13, 674. 63 146.76 434, 879. 17 8, 040.43 49, 987. 19 6, 125.09 162, 208.04 285, 676. 90 177,724.04 62,284.73 4,042. 52 $1,490, 198.21 $299,230. 10 $1, 190, 968. 11 TIMBER Timber Fees, Rentals, Dues, Etc. $2,981,717.21 $ 11,295.89 $2,970,421.32 SCHOOL LANDS School Land Sales Interest 49, 265. 84 475. 10 48,790.74 School Land Leases, Permits, Berths, Etc. 370, 960.45 9, 372. 15 361, 588. 30 $ 420,226.29 $ 9,847.25 $ 410,379.04 EAST SLOPE SURFACE RIGHTS REVENUE $ 555,615.29 $ 1,241.68 $ 554,373.61 MISCELLANEOUS Maps, Plans, Etc. 31, 829. 63 132.39 31, 697. 24 Restoration Survey Monuments 356. 90 -- 356. 90 Administration Sundry Revenue 111,045.22 2, 654. 18 108,391.04 Sale of Aerial Photographic Survey Maps 30,852. 62 19. 25 30, 833.37 Dominion- Provincial Agreement - Forest Inventory 75,266.24 75, 266. 24 Sale of Equipment 4,777. 61 -- 4,777. 61 Canada- Provincial Agreement (Air Weapons Range - Primrose Lake) 53,049.98 53,049. 98 Reimbursement of Salaries & Expenses 10, 241. 26 10,241.26 Dominion- Provincial Agreement - Forest Fire Protection 94, 573. 20 94, 573. 20 Sale of Automobile's 1, 373. 88 __ 1, 373. 88 Sale of Materials & Supplies 1,473.36 -- - 1,473.36 $ 414,839.90 $ 2,805.82 $ 412,034.08 TOTAL INCOME ACCOUNT $6,665,045.59 $330, 532. 63 $6,334,512.96 (Carried forward to Statement A) 142 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS STATEMENT C STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS - CAPITAL ACCOUNT FROM APRIL 1 , 1959 TO MARCH 31, I960 Gross Receipts Refunds Net Receipts Clearing and Breaking Projects - $ $ $ = Crop Share and Sales 26, 937. 96 93.16 26, 844. 80 Lands Sales Principal 164,362.59 9, 365. 89 •154, 996.70 Homestead Sales Principal 54,435.23 4, 317. 51 50, 117.72 Dominion- Provincial Agreement - Picnic Areas & Camp Grounds 77,340.56 -- “ 77, 340. 56 Dominion- Provincial Agreement - Forest Inventory 35, 213. 50 -- 35, 213. 50 Dominion- Provincial Agreement - Forest Access Roads and Trails 167, 677. 88 • ** 167, 677. 88 TOTAL CAPITAL ACCOUNT (Carried forward to Statement A) $525, 967.72 $ 13,776.56 $ 512,191.16 STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS - SCHOOL LANDS STATEMENT D FROM APRIL 1, 1959 TO MARCH 31, 1960 INCOME ACCOUNT Gross Receipts Refunds Net Receipts 0 $ $ $ School Land Sales Interest 49,265.84 475. 10 48,790.74 School Land Hay Permits, Dues, Etc. 743. 50 287.00 456. 50 School Land Grazing Leases, Permits, Etc. 54, 621. 87 551. 96 54,069. 91 School Land Cultivation Rentals, Crop Share 236,235.66 4, 859. 53 231, 376. 13 School Land Right of Entry 14, 669. 18 1, 288. 87 13,380.31 School Land Miscellaneous Leases 13, 804.02 240. 10 13, 563.92 School Land Timber Fees, Rents, Dues, Etc. 46, 807.52 341. 19 46,466.33 School Land Patent Miscellaneous 134.59 2.50 132.09 School Land Sundry Revenue 3, 944. 11 1, 801.00 2, 143. 11 $420,226.29 $ 9,847.25 $ 410,379.04 Government of thb Province of Alberta LANDS AND FORESTS DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE CLASSIFIED BY APPROPRIATIONS AND CHARACTER 1^3 FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1960 INCOME ACCOUNT *c 901 ■» Offic. i §1 ■f 1“ lii - s 5 * “1 | i 2 Is 1 . < il Board . Books and binding . Be i Icings and sites . Ooching . Cc or contracts Contract, labour . . . Feed and seed . - . Fees and commissions Freight, express and cartage . Grants . Heating, lighting and power . Laundre and cleaning . Legal fees and expenses . . L > estock . . Material . Miscellaneous expenses and supplies ... Newspapers and period reals ... Photography and photographic supplies Fostife Printing. stationery and office supplies Rates, rentals and Repairs Salaries and TOTAL: Income Account . 181.25 '*45.34 14.48 40.00 42.43 149.09 1.20 14,140.00 568.50 53^968 27 % 18,956.45 $ 61.476.91 $169,128 2,146.71 28.60 II 37.65! 44,542.14, 8, 108.28| 70.49] 78,238.51 676.09 1 ,000.00 2,295.97! 6.704.1 13,271. 53,055.97 3,082.58 39.61 341.81 1,180.92 976.87 22,724.67 18,956.72 321,446.19 1,152.06 734.58 59,369.48 2,061.08! 107,663.62 $ 1,148.12 $ 6,103.63 $769,221.17 29.94 501.47 1,660.54| 131.25| 226.69| 37,615.01 647 A 8 382.90 279.57 II ji 1909 Forest Protection | !! 1910 Forest Inventory 1 1911 Forest and Prairie Fires Suppression j 1912 I Fish and Wildlife Division 1913 Commercial 1914 Lands Division II 1916 Radio Communications 1917 Technical Division 1918 Registration Branch 1 1919 Postage 1 i r! $ 13,675.02 $ 98.47 $ $ 103.26 $ . $ 3,747.76 $ $ 2,18038 $ $ f\ 92384.04 9,317.10 16,999.92 11.891.43 1,421.07 6,447.83 | 2,133.70 1, 45,695.74 10,418.82 124,289 76 1,478.14 1030 lj 69.73 61.51 253.19 "97.37 27.61 1 10238 14.15 125.00 . 16,137.76 4338.05 2,365.39 18.00 ' 111,152.76 756.50 10’(567.23 ' 332,471.25 4,516.51 1,502.57 13,625.56 11,439.43 2396.76 137^943' 13 19,841.69 52739 1 1,078.84 42.65 630235 3,156.95 7.45 l 347.26 132 14.50 798.17 543)5 41339 62.90 28.67 2,539.00 21,74935 1,22133 1,307.95 2,246 30 332.88 4.92 2^91632 ! 416.05 339 ' 32,884.02 6.09133 2,04839 1,34132 216.94 4,639.58 631.70 147.50 1,976.50 67.80 162.13 2.45 70.00 60^00 i 193,859.24 23,147.83 5,407.16 5,719.85 15,199.04 2,4891 :0 21.839.93 14,370.85 1,117.18 2,268.69 9331 06 ?2, 685.74 2,601.59 28.73 2.50 35.58 1437 15.91 15.07 i 195.81 317.17 26^84 3.60 1,007.06 21,632.74 14.50 3,032.50 555.00 ’90.00 202.00 240.00 50.00 20703.29 537.20 148.15 | 3.549.25 124.02 100.17 1,258.42 454.18 114.52 386,0/ >.79 1,037.71 ! 746,830.04 4,178.64 2,764.55 150,193.16 20.400.69 12,584.95 119.00 80,509.51 1,23';. 68 898.00 1,7903 2 1,462.42 1,15333 47,457.78 1,297.94 188.18 | 885,558.95 147,979.18 269,139.07 70,934.71 333,934.45 114,625.94 211.406.43 98,382.06 j * 184.14 7,537.04 10,788.50 245.58 1 7,83635 Ipll.97 2,184.84 6,528.50 [ 309.58 j 255,825.68 19,989.96 36,539.03 134,633.05 36,357.70 35.96133 13,758.12 5,106.43 46830 1 379,874.06 1 75,798.54 293,046.09 28,587.57 3,896.76 9,321.54 2,448.94 (2,641.06 429.30 ! $2,832,547.28 $275,526.53 $1,234,405.09 1 $536,644.36 $150,886.65 $565,710.99 $369,307.53 $320,492.32 $102,959.07 $ 20,703.29 2 " ft £ . t 3 190.97 1,598.50 26.50 * 46.2 3 15.00 65.78 428.62 17.38 12,495 137.20 3,855.73 2, 706.il 83,4 56,145 820.00 13.50 49.30 2,299.20 5,602/ 31.40 88.00 366.28 55,415.84 17.895.15 51.382.15 1,1 4733 17,800.59 96,498.23 E 2'i z-c i Mjk 42,983.20i 688.75 181.86 141.37 1,134.84 37.392.1C 203,184.71 206, 187. 5< 1,410.9? 715.0C 30.02435 242,314.18 4O3.0C 716.787.81 21.862.46 3.250.66 2.588.36 37,165.65 9.332.42 59,892.84 3,269.88 70.00 591.78 25.726.64 26,196.71 63.950.94 1,56537636 175.045.32 2,901,198.12 7321 IS 3330039 643335.42 1.093J64.42 CAPITAL ACCOUNT Service S.Ws. 3. 12, a 53/ 59-60 Completion ] program for con¬ struction of camp 1 grounds and picnic j l S.W,. 4, 11. 13, I 34 ft 45/59-60 Construction of forest access roads | and trails for fire protection S.W. 8/59-60 Payment to Govern¬ ment of Canada for j administration and 1 control of lands 1 S.W. 39/59-60 Payment to Govern¬ ment of Canada for lands and improve¬ ments transferred to the Province J3 3 H Board Construction contracts Equipment, permanent Freight, express and cartage Hr.-.tmg, lighting and pewer Land purchases Laundry . Material Miscellaneous expenses and supplies Rates, rentals and insurance Repairs and replacements Travelling expenses Wage, TOTAL: Capital Account . $ 1,234.64| 43.508.021 186.751 8.001 1,179.561 8.78; 21,571.90 86.61, 10, 350.95i 25l3l| 123.101 103.192.4 2: $ 1,485.03 1 1,784.38 1,078.89 257.60 37^287 n 903.87] 37’779;04( h:9o| 57,546.08 $ 33,642.42 $ 1 ,278 00 $ 2,719.67 55,292.40 186.75 • 1,086.89 1.437.16 34,920.42 8.78 58.859.63 990.48 48,129.99 411.36 138.00 160,738.50 $ i8i.701.94l $ 148,297.67| 1 $ 33,642.42 $ 1,278.00 $ 364,920.03 ACCOUNTS DIVISION 145 STATEMENT F _ STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS BY BRANCHES FROM APRIL 1, 1956 TO MARCH 31, 1960 FISCAL YEAR ENDING March 31/57 March 31/58 March 31/59 March 31/60 INCOME ACCOUNT $ $ $ $ Fisheries Branch 154, 984. 86 Game Branch 484, 937. 16 Lands &c Grazing Branch 914, 488. 53 Timber Branch 3,293,603.76 School Lands 474, 278. 82 East Slope Surface Rights 590, 928. 85 Miscellaneous 237, 980.46 CAPITAL ACCOUNT Land Sales Principal Homestead Sales Principal Clearing Sc Breaking Projects 149, 341. 93 26, 226. 94 Reimbursement by Dominion Government - Forest Inventor ■y 20,181.00 Reimbursement by Dominion Government - Picnic Areas and Camp Grounds Reimbursement by Dominion Government - Forest Access Roads Sc Trails Transferred to Other Departments 7,631.22 School Land Trust Fund 370, 151. 89 Timber Deposits Trust 487, 119.75 Homesteader's Compen¬ sation Trust 10, 843. 93 Homestead Lease Lpan Trust 300.00 East Slope Road Tolls Trust 4,083.36 Parks Board Trust 15, 552.75 Miscellaneous Trust 3, 657. 97 Reforestation and Timber Forfeited Trust Unapplied Receipts Carried Forward 304, 365. 54 $ 171, 367. 06 182, 963. 81 199,055.28 544, 128. 60 598, 293. 64 597, 281. 52 872,707.33 1, 209, 587.67 1, 190, 968. 11 3, 490, 542. 54 3, 309, 076. 19 2, 970, 421. 32 424,341.71 505, 162. 89 410, 379. 04 585, 286.09 566, 550. 43 554, 373. 61 211,700.37 299, 542.46 412, 034. 08 152, 811.43 130,772. 83 154, 996. 70 4,222. 64 15, 889. 47 50, 117.72 42, 838. 91 13,512.44 26, 844. 80 29, 907. 15 35, 213. 50 29,719.68 77,340. 56 93, 581.75 167, 677. 88 3, 240. 12 9,002.09 3,761.32 375, 920.03 399,594.04 334, 181.02 510, 220. 15 371, 111. 13 110,392.70 20, 328. 61 12,429.48 16, 87 1. 34 16,491. 10 35,397.67 62, 146. 87 3, 613. 39 10,972.55 10,790.50 20, 806. 62 38,052.33 32, 101. 22 14, 850.00 8,355.00 10, 650.00 172. 83 2, 241. 34 7,793.21 225,490. 68 499,494.01 503,052.04 $7,550,658.72 $7,691,080.21 $8,371,210.05 $7,938,444.34 146 DEPARTMENTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS BY BRANCHES FROM APRIL 1, 1955 TO MARCH 31, I960 FISCAL YEAR ENDING INCOME 1901 Minister's Office 1902 Deputy Minister's Office 1903 Accounts Branch 1904 Advisory Board 1905 Destruction of Pests 1906 Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation 1907 Forest Administration 1908 Forest Management 1909 Forest Protection 1910 Forest Inventory 1911 Forest and Prairie Fires Suppression 1912 Fish and Wildlife Division 1913 Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board 1913 Commercial Fisheries 1914 Lands Division 1916 Radio Communications 1917 Technical Division 1918 Registration Division 1920 Printing, Stationery and Office Supplies 1921 Forestry Training School 1922 Provincial Parks 1923 Aircraft Patrol SW 13/57-58 Setting up of summer camps in the coal mines in the Blairmore Areas on the Forestry Projects of the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board. SW 11 and 33/58-59 Payment of wages of former coal miners employed by the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation SW 69/58-59 Payment to settlers of the Wanham Project. SW 5/59-60 Relief of settlers on the 13,589.05 36,447.31 124,610.22 264.24 21, 139.67 451,043.36 17, 187.76 44,732.08 138,079.79 527.73 23,569.33 568,249.05 16.230.52 57.253.52 156, 970.77 1, 102.57 18, 907.05 624,732.32 1,454,444.25 137,365.71 (Amalgamated with 1906) 2, 124, 624. 10 172,452.34 87, 856. 82 522,483. 82 2,405,548.49 242,468.70 1,499,336.70 568,302.88 515,868.93 530,483.17 214,903.10 256,898.50 234, 143.81 300,769.68 89,551.47 92,889.76 16,767.16 19,328.37 51,414.22 51.381.07 8,935.49 13,352. 16 226,379.75 360.865.21 36,584.76 192,506.87 39,991.09 14,935.43 SVr 48/59-60 Contract for raising the ground level of Sylvan Lake Provincial Park. 9,332.42 8,424.81 Total Income Account $3,657,486.81 $4,535,719.71 $5,144,301.97 $7,464,254.83 $8,531,591.76 CAPITAL 1982 Aerial Photography and Forest Inventory - 1983 Aircraft Patrol SW 74/55-56 Aerial Photography and Forest Inventory. 16,229.80 SW 5/55-56 Purchase of 4, 514.92 acres of land from the Hudson's Bay Co. 15, 692.00 SW 71/57-58 Construction of Forest Access Roads and Trails, essential to the attainment of adequate fire protection. _ SW 72/57-58 Costs of implementing a program whereby sites will be cleared and picnic shelters built in Provincial SW 2/58-59 Construction of Forest Access Roads and Trails. - SW 3/58-59 Development of tourist industry by implementing a program whereby sites will be cleared and picnic shelters built in Provincial Parks. - SW 62/58-59 Winter works programs for the building of Access Roads and Trails in the forested areas of the Province. SW 63/58-59 Construction of camp grounds and picnic sites in Provincial Parks and the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation 68,932.30 70,427.01 35,803.46 (Amalgamated with 1923 Income) 85,799.45 35,457.97 89,997.84 178, 813. 85 1,509.73 ACCOUNTS DIVISION 147 Mar. 31/60 $ 79 33,642.42 1,278.00 $ 225,993.18 $ 444,729.82 $ 364,920.03 148 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS , STATEMENT H ALBERTA SCHOOL LAND TRUST FUND BALANCE SHEET AS AT MARCH 31. I960 As at March 31, I960, the fund amounted to $ 16, 937 , 149. 48 made up as follows :- Cash 127,600.65 Accounts Receivable, collections not remitted 97,971.95 Investments: School Districts, School Divisions, and Counties Debentures 15,383,001. 19 Unpaid Principal on School Land Sales: (a) Not Due $1,077,585.51 (b) Due or in Arrears 250 , 990 . 18 1, 328, 575. 69 - $16, 937, 149. 48 STATEMENT I ALBERTA SCHOOL LAND SALES - REVENUE ACCOUNT FROM APRIL 1, 1959 TO MARCH 31, I960 DEBITS CREDITS $ Arrears Interest as at March 31, 1959 Interest Charges Interest Revenue Interest Written-Off (Cancelled Sales) Arrears Interest as at March 31, I960 31,413.06 51, 763.76 $83, 176. 82 48, 790.74 3, 184. 95 31, 201. 13 $83, 176. 82 REGISTRATION DIVISION 149 REGISTRATION DIVISION Report of the Registrar C. B. KENWAY Since 1952, incoming and outgoing mails have risen steadily un¬ til now. This past year showed a decrease of about 2% in incoming mail and a decrease of 4. 5% in outgoing mail. Recordings in the township re¬ gisters were down about 3% over the previous year. One phase of the work that is increasing steadily and will probably continue to do so is the request for search letters, most of which involve the oil-producing areas. The search for oil has been moving more and more onto crown lands in recent years. And although the total of rights of entry, mineral surface leases and pipeline agreements are down from the previous year, it would seem that the oil companies are still invest¬ igating future development, though possibly on a reduced scale. In the last annual report mention was made of the scale drawings of land dispositions in the oil-producing areas. At that time it was felt that this project was one of the best methods of record control. How¬ ever, as the project becomes better known throughout the department various additional uses have been found in conjunction with land inspec¬ tions, forest surveys, leasing and internal procedures. It is felt that its cost is going to be more than repaid in internal savings if not in re¬ venues. In view of this, it was decidedto place another person on the pro — jectto speedup the work. With the result that at the time of writing 1421 sections were in various stages of completion with 557 sections comp¬ letely up-to-date. During the pastyear the grazingfiles were placedin folders and color indexed to locate misfiles. However, the occurrence of misfiles are few and far between under our present system of filing. Periodic spot chgcks have shown misfiles to be far below the standard allowance of tolerance for this type of work. Spot checks were conducted by this office to assess the volume of file distribution by the registration division among other agencies of the department. At present the division has around one- half million files in cabinets or on microfilm. Checking revealed that at busy times be¬ tween five and ten thousand files are out of the cabinets daily. Incoming and outgoing files will vary from three to five thousand daily. Some idea of the file recall can be obtained when one realizes that the total of all leases, licences and permits etc., presently in force, for both lands and timber, is around thirty thousand. It is a pleasure to again acknowledge my gratitude to the staff for their co-operation and friendliness in carrying outtheir duties in an ef¬ ficient and courteous manner, and at the same time producing quality work. 150 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS SUMMARY OF INCOMING AND OUTGOING MAIL BY NUMBER OF PIECES FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS Year Incoming Outgoing Total 1955-56 114, 659 208, 821 322, 480 1956-57 120,947 222, 401 343,348 1957-58 138, 339 223, 685 362,024 1958-59 141, 141 252,076 393, 217 1959-60 138,002 240,401 378, 403 A TWO YEAR COMPARISON OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL RECORD ENTRIES Item 1957-58 1958-59 Difference Assignments registered 501 463 -38 Notifications for Patent Timber berth and special timber 855 966 111 permit applications 387 200 - 187 Homestead leases (civilian) entered 233 43 9 206 Homestead leases (civilian) cancelled 441 578 137 Homestead leases (veteran) entered 20 23 3 Homestead leases (veteran) cancelled 57 88 31 Licences of Occupation entered 147 123 -24 Licences of Occupation cancelled 51 44 -7 Miscellaneous leases entered 207 427 220 Miscellaneous leases cancelled 37 117 80 Cultivation leases entered 55 19 -36 Cultivation leases cancelled 132 100 -32 Public land sales entered 155 178 23 Public land sales cancelled 20 29 9 Purchase agreements entered 14 102 88 Purchase agreements cancelled 4 92 88 Road Allowance leases entered 126 176 50 Road Allowance leases cancelled 76 89 13 Grazing leases entered 209 182 -27 Grazing leases cancelled 193 90 - 103 School land sales entered 149 89 -60 School land sales cancelled School land cultivation leases 40 13 -27 entered 107 39 -68 School land cultivation leases cancelled 135 77 -58 Rights of entry entered 1, 310 930 -380 Rights of entry cancelled 180 185 5 Mineral surface leases entered 105 241 136 Mineral surface leases' cancelled 10 38 28 Pipeline agreements entered 57 224 167 Pipeline agreements cancelled 0 1 1 Sand and gravel leases entered 147 61 -86 Sand and gravel leases cancelled 32 70 38 Grazing permits entered School land grazing permits 1, 804 1, 481 -323 entered 739 504 -235 8,735 8, 478 -257 PROVINCIAL PARKS 151 PROVINCIAL PARKS ADMINISTRATION Report of the Provincial Parks Commissioner E „ P . SHAVER Each year sees continued increase in the number of residents and tourists who are enjoying the facilities of Alberta Provincial Parks. Inclement weather caused a slight drop in the total number of visitors to the Provincial Parks during the past year. However, on weekends when weather conditions were ideal, attendance at the parks exceeded the pre¬ vious year's figures in all cases. The demandfor increased recreational facilities in the past years has resulted in more areas being considered for Provincial Park develop¬ ment and during the past fiscal year two new Provincial Parks were esta¬ blished. These parks are: BOW VALLEY PROVINCIAL PARK: Established by Order ih Council 1121/59 dated July 27th, 1959 and comprising 2,384 acres. This park was established to provide recreational and camping facilities in the Calgary area. BRAGG CREEK PROVINCIAL PARK: Established by Order in Council 87/60 on January 19th, I960 and comprising 160 acres. This park is also established to provide recreational and camping facilities in the Calgary area. In addition, three Provincial Park Historical Sites were also established as part of the policy of the Provincial Parks Branch to pre¬ serve areas anditems of historical significance to the growth and develop¬ ment of the Province of Alberta. These historical sites are: Ribstone Provincial Park Historical Site Fort DeL'Isle Provincial Park Historical Site Fort Vermilion Provincial Park Historical Site There are now 43 Provincial Parks established of which 34 are being developed with 4 being maintained as Provincial Park Historical Sites. Five parks are classed as inactive at the present time. The Federal- Provincial Program of Winter Work was, as in previous years, of considerable assistance in the development of additional camping and picnicking facilities. Funds are allocated for this purpose by the Province with the Federal Government reimbursing the Province for 50% of the total expenditure. The administrative duties of the branch were carried out by a permanent staff of 13 and a part-time caretaker's staff of 23, together with a large number of employees on wages. The major construction pro¬ jects were completed by contractors. It is worthy of note that the performance of the members of the branch in dealing with the ever increasing duties has been both able and willing. The following is a brief summary of the main projects and acti¬ vities carried on in the Provincial Parks during the fiscal year. 152 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS ASPEN BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK - Work consisted primarily of improvements to sanitary facilities , additional parking space for vehicles and additional sources of water for drinking. Under the Federal- Provincial Winter Work Program a picnic shelter, a washhouse and a change house were constructed. The storage section of the caretaker's residence was also insulated and sheeted. BEAUVAIS LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - During the past year the camping, picnic and bench areas- were improved through the addition of a well, aboatpier, a camp stove and additional picnic tables . Under the Winter Work Program additional sanitary units were constructed as well as a storage building. Additional camping areas were underbrushed and further cleaning work of the lakeshore and road allowances was undertaken. BIG HILL SPRINGS PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects un¬ dertaken during the past year consisted of providing parking space for vi¬ sitors, the construction of a picnic shelter andthe construction of an access road to the caretaker's residence. Additional playground equipment was also installed. As part of the Winter Work Program a picnic shelter, two sanitary units and a utility building were built. CRIMSON LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - Development work consisted primarily of improving the camping and picnic areas as well as improving the beach and swimming areas and in this respect additional wells were drilled for drinking water and three open air fireplaces were constructed. A 100’ x 81 floating pier was provided as well as a floating diving raft. The beach was extended by the construction of a sand causeway which will double the area available for swimmers. Under the Winter Work Program a picnic shelter, a washhouse and a utility building were constructed as well as addi¬ tional underbrushing being undertaken. CROSS LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The development of this park has continued at a rapid pace and during the past year a caretaker's re¬ sidence and storage building was constructed, 80' x 8' of pier was built for the swimming area, approximately 1000 cubic yards of sand was spread to improve the beach area, additional playground equipment was provided and the roads and parking areas were gravelled-. Under the Winter Work Pro¬ gram a fireguard was cleared around the park and additional areas in the picnic and campgrounds were underbrushed. CYPRESS HILLS PROVINCIAL PARK - During the past year an additional 10 miles of fireguards were constructed and maintenance was carried out on an additional 90 miles of fireguard and 94 miles of road. Four new picnic shelters were constructed as well as a storage shed, two car garage, gas storage bxiilding, two lookout towers and construction was commenced on a comfort station at the trailer court. Improvements to the beach area consisted of the placing of 120,000 yards of fill adjacent to the beach area for car parking and for boat launching facilities as well as the construction of a breakwater and a marina to accommodate 16 boats. Over 73, 000 trees were cutand soldfrom an area of approximately 350 acres and work on the thinning of trees in accordance with the Forest Management Plan is continuing. Thirty five hundred headof livestock were grazedin the park and a total of 885 tons of hay was cut. PROVINCIAL PARKS 153 Big Hill Springs Provincial Park Crimson Lake Provincial Park 154 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS DILLBERRY LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects com¬ pleted were the construction of a caretaker's residence and storage building as well as additional improvements to the campgrounds and playground area. Under the Winter Work Program two change houses and one picnic shelter were constrvcted. ENTRANCE PROVINCIAL PARK - No development projects un¬ dertaken. GARNER LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - A concession booth, four sanitary units, sanding of the beach and a floating pier 100' x 8' were the main projects constructed for this park during the past year. Additional facilities were also provided in the playground and campground areas. Un¬ der the Winter Work Program a utility building was constructed and under¬ brushing was undertaken to provide additional camping and parking areas. GOOSEBERRY LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects undertaken in this park during the past year was the construction of a con¬ cession booth and of afloating pier 60' x 8'. Additional facilities were pro¬ vided for the picnic area and an extension was made to the water system. Under the Winter Work Program a picnic shelter, two sanitary units and a utility building were constructed. KINBROOK ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects com¬ pleted during the past year were the construction of a concession booth and completion of the water system. Additional improvements were made to the beach area including a pier 80' x 8' as well as continuation of the tree planting program for this park. LAC CARDINAL PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects com¬ pleted were the construction of a caretaker's residence and storage build¬ ing, the provision of additional facilities in the picnic and camping areas as well as improvements to the beach area. Under the Winter Work Program a pump house was constructed for the water system and underbrushing of the picnic area was undertaken. Little Bow Provincial Park PROVINCIAL PARKS 155 LITTLE BOW PROVINCIAL PARK - During the past year addi¬ tional improvements were made to service roads within the park area as well as improvements to the swimming area. Additional facilities were provided for the picnic area and playground area. Under the Winter Work Program additional sanitary units were constructed. LITTLE FISH LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects during the past year consisted of the construction of a picnic shelter and utility building as well as fencing the beach area and gravelling service roads . Under the Winter Work Program the construction of a bathhouse was under¬ taken. LONG LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - Development work in the park consisted primarily of the underbrushing of approximately 100 acres in the camping and picnicking areas, the provision of two parking areas, the pro¬ vision of three water wells as well as the construction of an access road to the main beach area and the construction of additional sanitary facilities. Under the Winter Work Program two changehouses were constructed and a fireguard along the boundary of the park was cleared and brushed as well as an additional 20 acres being underbrushed along the main beach and in the camping area. MA-ME-O BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK - Improvements consisted of maintenance to existing facilities. MIQUELON LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The major projects un¬ dertaken consisted of the construction of service roads and parking areas within the park, the underbrushing of approximately 10 acres for a picnic area, the construction of a floating pier 80' x 8' and the construction of a boat launching site. Additional picnic and playground facilities were also provided. Under the Winter Work Program two changehouses, two sanitary units and one picnic shelter were constructed as well as additional under¬ brushing being undertaken in the picnic and campground areas. MOONSHINE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The main undertaking was the construction of a dam and water intake channel which will increase the water area of the lake from 35 acres to 80 acres. Under the Winter Work Program a picnic shelter, utility building and two sanitary units were con¬ structed as well as approximately 20 acres being underbrushed in the picnic and campground areas. O'BRIEN PROVINCIAL PARK - Workinthis parkwas confined to the maintenance of existing improvements. Under the Winter Work Pro¬ gram 5 acres were underbrushed to provide additional picnic and camping areas . PARK LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects consisted of maintenance to the existing facilities as well as improvements to the picnic and camping areas. Under the Winter Work Program a garage was con¬ structed. PEMBINA RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK - The main projects con¬ sisted of the provision of additional sanitary facilities, improvements to service roads as well as additional facilities provided for the playground area. Under the Winter Work Program two picnic shelters and two sanitary units were constructed and approximately 5 acres were underbrushed to provide additional picnic and camping areas. 156 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS RED LODGE PROVINCIAL PARK - The construction of a care¬ taker's residence and storage building, the provision of additional picnic and camping facilities as well as maintenance of existing improvements were the main projects during the past year. Under the Winter Work Program two sanitary units were constructed and an area of 10 acres was constructed. to provide additional campground area. ROCHON SANDS PROVINCIAL PARK - Work in this park consisted of providing additional sanitary facilities as well as improving the picnic and campground areas and the maintenance of existing facilities. Two changehouses and four sanitary units were constructed under the Winter Work Program. SASKATOON ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK - Work was limited primarily to the maintenance and improvement of existing facilities as well as the construction of a floating pier 80' x 8' and the installation of electrical power. Two picnic shelters and four sanitary units were constructedunder the Winter Work Program. STEVEVILLE DINOSAUR PROVINCIAL PARK - 'A combination storage and caretaker's residence was constructed as well as two picnic shelters and four sanitary units. The discovery of additional items of palaeontological interest and the preparation of these items for display pur¬ poses was undertaken as well as the development of trails leading to areas of interest. Improvements were made to existing facilities and under the Winter Work Program two display buildings and three additional sanitary units were constructed as well as additional areas being underbrushed to provide additional campground areas. Steveville Dinosaur Provincial Park PROVINCIAL PARKS 157 TABER PROVINCIAL PARK - Major work consisted of main¬ taining and improving existing facilities as well as the installation of ele¬ ctrical power . Apicnic shelter andutility building were constructed under the Winter Work Program. THUNDER LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - Work of a limitednature was undertaken in this park prior to the completion of a development plan for this area. THE VERMILION PROVINCIAL PARK - Improvements to the existing facilities and general maintenance of the park were the main pro¬ jects during the past year. One picnic shelter and two sanitary units were constructed as well as electrical power being extended to new areas in the park. A washhouse anda caretaker's residence and storage building were constructed under the Winter Work Program. WABAMUN LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - Major construction pro¬ jects consisted of the construction of three camp kitchens as well as the construction of additional parking facilities and improvement of the service roads within the park. Additional picnic, camping and playground facilities were provided and considerable areas were seeded to grass. Under the Winter Work Program additional areas were underbrushed to provide addi¬ tional camping and picnic areas. WILLOW CREEK PROVINCIAL PARK - No development work was undertaken. Winagami Provincial Park 158 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS WINAGAMI LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK - The major projects undertaken duringthe pastyear consisted of the construction of a caretaker 's residence and storage building, the construction of two sanitary units and 200 'of floating pier. Maintenance was carriedoutto existing improvements andan additional 50 acres was underbrushed for picnic andcampground areas. A fireguard was constructed around the park under the Winter Work Program and additional underbrushing of the camping and picnic areas was undertaken. A breakwater was constructed for the swimming area and two utility buildings and two sanitary units were also constructed. WOOLFORD PROVINCIAL PARK - Work consisted of improvements to existing facilities and the construction of a picnic shelter and two sanitary units. Under the Winter Work Program construction of a utility building was undertaken. WRITING- ON- STONE PROVINC IAL PARK - A caretaker and storage build¬ ing was constructed and an irrigation system was acquired during a year which saw continued improvements to existing facilities. Under the Winter Work Program a picnic shelter and two sanitary units were constructed. PARK LEASES Standing of Provincial Park Leases on March 31st, I960. Leases Applications Cancellations As signments Beauvais Lake Park 37 1 3 5 Crimson Lake Park 90 4 2 3 Cypress Hills Park 163 7 2 15 Dillberry Lake Park 30 1 1 0 Gooseberry Lake Park 10 1 0 0 Kinbrook Island Park 56 1 0 4 The Vermilion Park 9 1 0 0 Wina garni Lake Park 49 10 3 1 Total 444 26 11 28 PROVINCIAL PARKS 159 The following is a summary of the revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year: Amount a p p r o p r i a t e d for Provincial P a r k Purposes $388,000.00. Revenue received from each park: Administration Aspen Beach Beauvais Big Hill Springs Bow Valley Bragg Creek Crimson Lake Cross Lake Cypress Hills Dillberry Lake Entrance Fort De L'Isle Fort Vermilion Garner Lake Gooseberry Lake Hommy Kinbrook Island Lac Cardinal Little Bow Little Fish Lake Long Lake Ma-Me-O Beach Miquelon Lake Moonshine Lake O'Brien Park Lake Pembina River Red Lodge Ribstone Rochon Sands Saskatoon Island Steveville Dinosaur Taber Thunder Lake Twelve Foot Davis Vermilion Wabamun Lake Willow Creek Wina garni Lake Woolford Writing- on- Stone $ 335. 52 26.00 1, 131. 85 27, 964. 84 270.00 26. 00 272.00 450. 50 32. 00 3. 50 4, 250.60 12. 00 50.00 29. 16 252.00 500.00 45. 00 273.45 525.00 25. 00 614. 42 2,635. 50 779.95 113. 13 Total $32,086. 22 160 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS Expenditures for each park: Administration Aspen Beach Beauvais Lake Big Hill Springs Bow Valley Bragg Creek Crimson Lake Cross Lake Cypress Hills Dillberry Lake Entrance Fort De L'lsle Fort Vermilion Garner Lake Gooseberry Lake Hommy Kinbrook Island Lac Cardinal Little Bow Little Fish Lake Long Lake Ma-Me-O Beach Miquelon Lake Moonshine Lake O'Brien Park Lake Pembina River Red Lodge Ribstone Rochon Sands Saskatoon Island Steveville Dinosaur Taber Thunder Lake Twelve Foot Davis V ermilion Wabamun Lake Willow Creek Wina garni Lake Woolford W riting-on- Stone $64,734. 98 8, 640.03 2,914. 28 4, 996.77 8, 937.44 7,961. 20 59, 150. 88 6,232. 15 6, 259. 55 3,094. 96 8, 230. 34 6, 312. 83 5,776.79 4, 384.25 15,749. 81 1, 133. 34 6, 800.00 13, 112. 13 5,777. 82 3, 971. 33 7,760.75 500.00 2. 642. 88 4, 266. 37 19, 092. 16 6.787.88 670. 52 9, 171. 32 48,727.73 13,418. 24 2, 947.73 7,568. 43 Total $367,724.89 General Expenses: Salaries $51, 382. 15 INFORMATION ON ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PARKS PROVINCIAL PARKS 161 Expenditures from Parks Board Trust: Administration $3, 561. 57 158. 35 Crimson Lake 164. 99 Cypress Hills 300.00 Lac Cardinal 161. 95 Park Lake 1, 954. 44 Steveville Dinosaur Total $6, 301. 30 .62 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS PERSONNEL Of Department of Lands and Forests by Branches 1. MINISTER'S OFFICE 1 Minister 1 Secretary 2 2. DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE 1 Deputy Minister 1 Departmental Solicitor 1 Publicity Officer 2 Secretaries 1 Stationery and Supplies Clerk 1 Personnel Officer 1 Personnel Clerk 4 Clerk- Typists 1 Multilith Operator 13 3. PUBLIC LANDS 1 Director of Lands 1 Asst. Director of Lands 1 Supervisor Grazing Appraisal 1 Grazing Appraiser 1 Supervisor Land Classification 1 Field Supervisor 4 District Supervisors 9 Soil Investigators 5 Supervisors (Office) 1 Asst. Supervisor (Office) 19 Correspondence Clerks 1 Counter Clerk 3 Clerks 26 Stenographers 7 Clerk- Typists 2 Sub-Agents, Peace River 1 Sub-Agent, Grande Prairie 1 Sub-Agent, Edson 1 Sub-Agent, Lac La Biche 86 4. ALBERTA FOREST SERVICE a. Administration Branch 1 Director of Forestry 1 Chief Clerk 3 Clerks 1 Secretarial Clerk 4 Stenographers 1 Clerk- Typist 11 b. Forest Management Branch 1 Sr. Superintendent Forest Management 1 Asst. Sr. Superintendent Forest Management f. 2 Foresters 1 Timber Administrative Officer 1 Audit Scaler 5 Timber Auditors 1 Clerk-Accountant 5 Correspondence Clerks 3 Clerks 2 Clerk- Stenographers 6 Stenographers 28 c. Forest Protection Branch 1 Sr. Superintendent of Protection 1 Asst. Sr. Supt. of Protection 6 Foresters 1 Equipment Artisan & Supervisor 2 Aircraft Dispatchers 1 Chief Carpenter & Bldg. Supervisor 6 Forest Superintendents 10 Asst. Forest Superintendents 1 Chief Check Scaler 2 Asst. Check Scalers 11 Forest Officer III 71 Forest Officers II 35 Forest Officers I 1 Electrician 1 Plumber 1 Warehouse Man 6 Mechanical Foremen 6 Radio Operators 20 Lookout Men - classified andyear round 63 Lookout Men - seasonal 7 Stenographers 7 Forest Clerks 6 Asst. Forest Clerks 266 d. Forest Surveys Branch 1 Sr. Superintendent 1 Forester i/c Inventory 1 Forester i/c Planning 7 Foresters 1 Photogrammetry & Compilation Supervisor 12 Photogrammetrists 5 Draughtsmen 5 Draughtsmen and Compiler s 1 Photo Librarian 1 Stenographer 1 Clerk- Typist 36 e. Radio Communications 1 Radio Superintendent 1 Asst. Superintendent (Administration) 1 Asst. Superintendent (Operations) 1 Chief Radio Operator, Calgary 12 Radio Technicians 5 Radio Operators 1 Store skeeper - Technician 1 Shipper 2 Stenographers 1 Clerk- Typist 26 Forestry Training School 1 Forester i/c Training School 1 Asst, to Forester i/c Training School 2 PERSONNEL 163 g. Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve Administrative Office, Calgary 1 Administrative Officer 2 Foresters 1 Forest Engineer 1 Maintenance Foreman (Construction) 1 Maintenance Foreman (Mechanical) 1 Road Foreman 2 Gradermen 1 Garage Mechanic 1 Warehouse Man 1 Truck Driver 1 Office Supervisor 1 Secretarial Clerk 1 Accounting Clerk 1 Clerk- Typist 16 Crowsnest Forest 1 Forest Superintendent 1 Asst. Forest Superintendent 1 Forest Officer III 6 Forest Officers II 3 Forest Officers I 1 Mechanic Operator 5 Lookout Men - classified and seasonal 1 Sign Painter 1 Forest Clerk 1 Stenographer 21 Bow River Forest 1 Forest Superintendent 1 Asst. Forest Superintendent 1 Forest Officer III 7 Forest Officers II 9 Forest Officers I 1 Mechanic Operator 7 Lookout Men - classified and seasonal 1 Forest Clerk 1 Stenographer 1 Clerk- Typist 30 Clearwater Forest 1 Forest Superintendent 1 Asst. Forest Superintendent 1 Forester 1 Forest Officer III 5 Forest Officers II 6 Forest Officers I 1 Mechanic Operator 4 Lookout Men - classified and seasonal 1 Forest Clerk 1 Stenographer 1 Clerk- Typist 23 5. FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION 1 Director of Fish and Wildlife 1 Superintendent of Game 1 Asst. Supt. of Fish and Wildlife 6 Biologists 1 Hatchery Superintendent (Fisheries) 1 Hatchery Superintendent (Game) 1 Asst. Hatchery Supt. (Fisheries) 1 Asst. Hatchery Supt. (Game) 6 Hatchery Assistants 1 Fish and Game Officer IV 3 Fish and Game Officers III 25 Fish and Game Officers II 9 Fish and Game Officers I 2 Clerks 7 Stenographers 66 6. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES BRANCH 1 Superintendent of Commercial Fisheries 1 Biologist 2 Fish and Game Officers III 7 Fish and Game Officers II 5 Fish and Game Officers I 1 Lab. Technician 2 Stenographers 19 7. TECHNICIAL DIVISION 1 Director 1 Assistant Director 2 Surveyors 1 Engineer 1 Draughting & Compilation Supervisor 1 Supervisor Technical Assistants 4 Photogrammetrists 3 Technical Assistants 1 Survey Assistant 2 Asst. Surveyors 1 Inspector & Investigator 1 Instrument Man (Restoration Surveys) 14 Draughtsmen 1 Supervisor & Photo Processor 3 Asst. Photo Processors 1 Photostat Operator 1 Ozalid Machine Operator 1 Map Mounter & Jr. Photostat Operator 4 Stenographers 3 Clerk- Typists 1 Librarian 48 8. ACCOUNTS BRANCH 1 Administrative Accountant 1 Asst. Administrative Accountant 6 Supervisors 4 Asst. Supervisors 20 Clerks 2 Cashiers 6 Bookkeeping Machine Operators 2 Stenographers 10 Clerk- Typists 1 Comptometer Operator 53 164 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS 9. REGISTRATION DIVISION 1 Registrar 2 Supervisors 2 Asst. Supervisors 2 Recordak Operators 1 Land Status Clerk 2 Surface Rights Technical Clerks 23 Clerks 1 Stenographer 34 10. PROVINCIAL PARKS 1 Parks Commissioner 1 Supervisor Field Staff & Parks Planning 1 Secretary k Administrative Officer 1 Correspondence Clerk 1 Park Warden - Cypress Hills 2 Asst. Park Wardens - Cypress Hills 1 Park Warden - Wabamun 1 Park Warden - Steveville Dinosaur Park 2 Park Supervisors 2 Stenographers 13 STATIONERY AND SUPPLIES 165 OFFICE OF STATIONERY AND SUPPLIES Once again the continued increase in the responsibilities of the Department has required a proportionate increase in the service sup - plied by this office. In addition to the usual service of supplying all provincial offices of the Department with stationery andother miscellaneous office supplies as well as filling orders for printed material, this office handles all mail¬ ing of the Department's publication, Land- Forest- Wildlife , the quantity of which has now reached 6600 copies mailed bi-monthly. About 1000 stationery forms are available for supply to provincial departmental offices . These include licences, receipts, applications, lease forms, etc. , plus copies of acts and regulations. Among the offices included on the regular mailing list are:- Fish & Wildlife Offices at High River Brooks Rocky Mtn. House Claresholm Athabasca Barrhead Medicine Hat Lethbridge Peace River Calgary Pincher Creek Cold Lake Bonny ville V ermilion Canyon Creek Didsbury Ste.ttler Lac La Biche Camrose Vegreville Grande Prairie Edson St. Paul Blairmore Ponoka Westaskiwin V alleyview Drumheller Castor Evans burg Crammond Olds High Prairie Cards ton Red Deer Stony Plain Forestry Offices at Cal gary Whitecourt Lac La Biche Blairmor e Peace River Bowden Rocky Mtn. House Edson McMurray Grande Prairie Slave Lake Lands Sub-Agent Offices at Calgary Lac La Biche Edson Grande Prairie Bonnyville Lethbridge Peace River Rocky Mtn. House Provincial Park Offices at Elkwater Wabamun Patricia Lethbridge 166 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS During the year under review the following amount of mail and express was handledby the office. A comparison with the year previous is made. Mail and Express 1958-59 1959-60 Express parcels 378 463 Registered mail 4, 139 4, 553 Parcels mailed 2, 196 2, 599 Pamphlets 3,809 4, 317 Parcels by bus 28 33 Magazines 15, 500 34, 750 Letters 364 393 Parcels by Messenger 150 57 6 Printing volume for the past two years : is compared below: Printing 1958-59 1959-60 No. of masters cut 1, 658 2,314 No^ of sheets run off 753, 880 802, 153 Printing material transmitted to the Queen's Printer through this office (forms, etc.) 3, 358, 300 In addition to the above special duties occur at two particular periods when this office must count and forwardthe following quantities of licences andbig game tags to licence vendors throughout the Province . Big Game Licences Big Game Tags Bird Game Licences Angling Permits 93,000 93,000 142, 000 141, 500 Appreciation is expressed for the loyalty and efficiency staff throughout the year and often under conditions of duress that obtained at peak load periods.