^ol. 6, No. 3

Edmonton, Alberta

August-September, 1963

Land

Forest

Vol. 6, No. 3

Wildlife

Aug. - Sept., 1963

Published bi-monthly by the Department of Lands and Forests,
Natural Resources Building, Edmonton, Alberta.

DEDICATED TO THE WISE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF
THE PROVINCE’S RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES;
ITS LAND, ITS FOREST AND ITS WILDLIFE.

HON. NORMAN WILLMORE, H. G. JENSEN,

Minister. Deputy Minister.

EDITOR— W. H. MACDONALD

Contents Page

Editor’s Notes, (Guest editorial) 3

The Department 5

Bow Valley Provincial Park 22

Forestry Trunk Road 23

In Public Service 24

In The Mail 26

Education Exhibit 27

Photo Credits:

C. F. Platt — Cover,

S. R. Hughes — page 23,

C. W. Dougherty — page 12,

Alta. Gov’t Photo — pages 3, 11, 15, 22

and 27.

Permission to reprint material from this publication is hereby granted. A credit
line would be appreciated.

All corresiwndence should be addressed to the Publicity Officer, Department of
L.ands and Forests, Natural Resources Building, Edmonton, Alberta.

2

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

by H. G. JENSEN

Heber C. Jensen is deputy minister of the department of Lands and Forests. During the past
sixteen ^ears, while he has been jointly and successively a member of the Eastern Roddies Forest
Conservation Board and the department's deputy, he has acquired a broad perspective of major
resource administration responsibilities.

Following are his concise comments on the subject of resource multiple use, a major consider-
ation in natural resource administration. Multiple use policies strongly influence unit resource planning;
they also sponsor co-ordinated program objectives among member agencies of this large department.

Editor.

The principle func-
tion of the Depart-
ment of Lands and
Forests is the man-
agement of renewable
natural resources of
the public lands. The
renewable resources
are forests, grasses
and other animal for-
age, fish, wildlife and
the soils upon which
flora and fauna de-
pend.

It is recognized that all lands have
more than one resource and therefore
several uses. Some uses are considered
more important to the local or national
economy than others. The present trend
of thinking by public administrators is
that all resources on public lands should
be used for the public benefit. It is a
responsibility of government to decide
which resources are most important and
classify them in order of priority. In
some areas forests may be most im-

portant and should have first priority,
while other resources may also be used
according to their importance. Forest
lands may be used for grazing, both by
game and domestic animals; for fishing
and other recreational pursuits. Lands
given priority for grazing may readily
be used for fishing and hunting, for
recreational use, et cetera. Some lands
may be managed with priority given to
watershed control. Other lands may be
classified as suitable for agriculture and
disposed of by various means to private
ownership for agricultural purposes. The
determination of priorities in the use of
the renewable natural resources involves
important decisions by any steward of
public lands.

Management of resources is not
static. A permanent and final program
cannot be made. Relationships and
values are continually changing. Values
of resources are subject to population
changes; to changes in the national
economy; accessibility; supply, demand

H. G. JENSEN

3

and other man-made factors. Further-
more a specific resource is subject to
changing conditions which require care-
ful attention. A dry season may reduce
grazing, a severe winter may reduce
game. Management must continually
adjust its program according to these
ever fluctuating factors.

The increasing demand for the use
of natural resources requires careful
consideration to avoid depletion of the
resource or damage to its environment.
Highly trained men are required who
can analyze resource needs and foster
sustained productivity. This phase of
management, sometimes called “Con-
servation”, is the optimum use of the
several resources to maintain them in
their most productive condition.

The Forest Service requires highly
trained foresters who continually ana-
lyze the condition of the forests. They
determine the risks of damage from
fire, disease and insects and advise on
methods of protection. They determine
the rate of growth of 'the forest to guide
the rate of utilization. They study the
reproduction of trees and recommend
methods for securing regeneration. This
has become a highly specialized work,
and will continue to increase in im-
portance as the value of the forests
increases in our economy.

The Fish and Wildlife Service re-
quires biologists trained to study these
resources and help to maintain them in
their most healthy and productive con-
dition. Natural enemies, diseases, re-
production, climatic conditions, food
supplies, et cetera, must be considered.
As some lands are more suitable than
others for production of game, the
province must be divided into zones for
most effective management. The carry-
ing capacity of each zone must be
studied, the game population must be
known, so the harvest or bag limits can
be determined. With migratory birds,
the international factor must also be
considered. Hunting and fishing is in-
creasing in intensity, therefore increased
consideration must be given to the
management of these resources.

The requirements of stock producers
for public grazing lands exceed the

supply. Therefore, there is danger of
overgrazing and creating damage to
the land. Range management is very
essential. Trained personnel are required
to study the range to determine the
carrying capacity, possible methods of
improvement and abuses in the range
use. The increasing size of the cattle
industry has made range management
of grazing lands an important economic
function of the department.

Many factors in our present economy
are increasing the need for recreational
areas and suitable facilities. The Pro-
vincial Parks Branch requires men
skilled in the field of recreation, men
who can help select suitable areas for
parks and who can help to develop and
equip them for picnic, camping and
other recreational uses. The selection
and development of such lands are im-
portant functions of land management.

Some lands are suitable for agri-
cultural purposes. Trained men are re-
quired to classify them and lands found
suitable for agricultural use are dis-
posed of to private owners. The great
demand for land requires careful classi-
fication, so that only suitable lands will
be opened up for occupancy.

It seems natural that men who have
a great interest in one resource should
tend to minimize the value of other
resources in the same area. The govern-
ment is being urged to establish single
use areas. However, the present trend in
most free countries is toward multiple
use. This requires unselfish co-operation,
not only of the public who use the
resources but of government agencies
and others who plan the management
policies. All resources should be fitted
into the program of utilization. Alberta
is richly endowed with a variety of re-
newable natural resources. A large pro-
portion of these resources are owned
by the public. It is possible in Alberta
to establish policies of management by
which the people of the province can
enjoy these resources, and by which the
resources can continue to be renewed
indefinitely for future generations. This
is the great responsibility of the
Department of Lands and Forests.

4

DEPARTMENT

The Department of Lands and
Forests is an agency within the Alberta
provincial government service. Its prin-
ciple purpose is to convert accepted
public policies into responsible con-
servation and management practises for
Alberta’s renewable natural resources:
namely, public lands and forests, fish
and wildlife. Its responsibilities may
generally be described as “services to
the people of Alberta in terms of bene-
fits from their natural resources”. It is
well to remember that these resources
belong to all the people collectively and
not to any person or agency exclusively.
Nor do they “belong” to any govern-
ment department. The department’s
functions may take many forms: e.g.,
protection of forests from fire, manage-
ment of public grazing lands, protection
of fish and game from over-exploitation,
collection and report of statistical data
for public and business reference, infor-
mation services on behalf of public in-
terest and recording transactions made
with resource users, to describe a few.

Since the scope of the department’s
enterprise is relatively broad, its admin-
istration has been broken down into
divisions and branches for more accurate
and detailed supervision. Public lands
form one readily recognizable cate-
gory, hence there is a “Public Lands
Division”. So with forests, fish and
wildlife, provincial parks and their re-
lated agencies. In addition to these
major spheres of stewardship, the
department requires special service
agencies to expedite its operations.
Accounting for monies received and
expended needs unit supervision; thus
arose the “Accounts Branch”. Land
surveys become the responsibility of
the “Technical Division” and the vast
assembly of files and correspondence,
which has built up over the years and
which constitutes an important record
of the department’s operations, is cared
for by the office of the “Registrar”.

Following are outlines of some of
the duties of these units or branches
of the service.

NOTE: An outline of responsibilities and functions of the various agencies within the Alberta
government department of Lands and Forests is long overdue. It is painfully evident at times that
manp citizens of Alberta and elsewhere do not l^now just what services the^ purchase with their
tax dollar. The editor of "Land-Forest-Wildlife” sincerely hopes these capsule descriptions will
dispel some of the myster}).

To those readers who customarily seelf outdoor drama within our pages we aclfnowledge the
possibility of boredom in current manuscript. However, we should be mindful that citizens who
understand how their resource agencies function will be more qualified critics and supporters in future.
He is a better operator who l^nows how his machinery worlds.

Editor.

5

6

oV—

PUBLIC LANDS

Alberta has many square miles of
crown or public lands which are avail-
able for settlement, farming, or other
economically suitable uses. The control
and disposition of these lands through
sale and lease is a major responsibility
of the lands division. In co-operation
with other government agencies it also
assists in the development of land use
policies for the province. Its specific
functions are detailed under six branches
of organization; administrative pro-

cedures occupy a seventh section. In
general terms these are labelled as
follows:

1. Land Classification

2. Land Appraisal

3. Grazing

4. Homesteads

5. Cultivation

6. Special Land Use

7. Administration

7

Classification:

As suggested this agency classifies
parcels of land with respect to types of
soils, plant cover and topography. Re-
ports are submitted to head office
together with maps and plans of speci-
fied areas under scrutiny.

Appraisal:

Following classification, staff of the
land appraisal unit evaluate areas in
terms of user needs and public demand.
They may recommend that certain
lands are economically and physically
suitable for agricultural or other uses.
In addition, following settlement, they
act as advisers and agents between the
government and the settler in future
transactions concerning the land unit.

Grazing:

This unit assists in the organization,
development and administration of
crown grazing reserves and community
pastures, encourages stock growers to-
ward range improvement and wise land
use and promotes control over the
spread of noxious weeds on grazing
lands.

Homesteads:

In the dictionary a homestead is de-
fined as “lands and buildings accupied
by the owner as a home for himself
and his family”. Such a general defi-
nition is not quite specific enough for
a public lands administration. Here it
is a unit of new farm land containing
from 320 to 480 acres having a pre-
scribed minimum percentage of arable
(fit for cultivation) land. These units
of land are made available to settlers

in fringe agricultural regions, at mini-
mum rental or price, for the promotion
of farming in acceptable soil regions
and under economically suitable con-
ditions. Rules regarding the acquisition
of homesteads are designed to encourage
the establishment of family fann units
and promote agricultural enterprise in
semi or uninhabited rural areas.

The lands division agency established
to administer these policies acts upon
applications for the lease or sale of
homesteads, enforces the necessary
duties and collects or disburses all fees,
rentals and loans which may be in-
volved in homestead transactions.

Cultivation:

This unit handles sales of public
lands by auction, acts upon applications
for cultivation leases of crown lands
and collects crop shares on their behalf.

Special Use:

Where crown land leases are re-
quired for purposes other than agri-
culture, the department’s special land
use agency is involved. Some of the
principle uses are: townsites and recre-
ation areas, right of entry for mineral
exploration or exploitation, sand and
gravel extraction and other licensed
temporary occupation.

Administration :

An office administrative unit is re-
quired to coordinate branch activities
within the lands division, to expedite
the transcription of a large volume of
correspondence and to generally assist
in staff personnel matters and clerical
programs.

8

'Piiyision ^)P

FORESTRY

The largest agency of the depart-
ment in terms of staff is the forestry
division. Its full time staff numbers
over 400, nearly one-half the total for
the department. Approximately three-
quarters of these work at places away
from Edmonton headquarters.

Forestry administration breaks down
into four main branches:

1. General Administration

2. Forest Protection

3. Forest Management

4. Forest Surveys and Inventory
Additional supervision is provided by
a geographic breakdown of field oper-
ations. This employs 10 separate forest
divisions with 9 headquarters located
at: Blairmore, Calgary, Rocky Mountain
House, Edson, Whitecourt, Peace River,
Grande Prairie, Slave Lake and Lac La
Biche. The Rocky Mountain House
office is headquarters for two related
units, the Rocky Mountain House di-
vision and the Clearwater forest. Each
of the ten forests or forest divisions is
a relatively autonomous unit headed by
a superintendent and staffed in such a
way as to provide effective liaison with
the above listed four main forestry
branches. Forest divisions are further
divided into “ranger districts’’, smaller
regions within the large unit, staffed
by a forest ranger and his assistants
(where necessary) and also functioning
with a small degree of autonomy. The
ranger is directly responsible for all
forestry activities conducted in his
district.

General Administration Branch:

Established at Edmonton office, this
relatively small unit operates directly
under the chief forestry administrator.

It supplies coordination between the
work of other forestry brances and field
operations. It is particularly involved
with equipment and machinery parts
replacement and supply, control and
scrutiny of accounts payable for pur-
chases and services together with per-
sonnel records, public and business
liaison.

Forest Protection Branch:

Chief function of the organization
is prevention and suppression of forest
fires. To this end the protection branch
is involved with road and building con-
struction (especially fire lookout towers
and ranger stations), aircraft dispatch
and supply, planning for recruitment,
transportation and services required for
fire fighting and overall records con-
cerned with fire discovery, suppression,
mop-up and costs. Interests of this
branch are closely allied with forestry
publicity tactics, for the promotion of
forest protection programs through ad-
vertisement and other appeals to the
public conscience. Special programs are
entertained for building and testing new
and improved equipment, used for any
aspect of fire suppression or detection.

Forest Management Branch:

Sustained yield forest use is the
principle motive of this branch of the
forest service, it deals in the regu-
lation of commercial forest enterprise,
assures the collection of dues and
royalties, issues timber permits and
applies forest inventory data on behalf
of the health of timber resources.
Silviculture methods and associated
regulations are planned and executed
by professional foresters on the staff.

9

Guidance is provided to other forest
land users (petroleum and gas com-
panies) by consultation and practical
enforcement of designed regulations.

Forest Surveys Branch:

A principle responsibility is the ac-
curate evaluation of Alberta timber
resources, in broad terms throughout
the forested area and, in detailed analy-
sis, on specific “management units”.
Evaluation is provided in terms of
volume, age, height and condition of
the forest. Involved are techniques of

aerial photography and photogram-
metry, mapping, timber cruise and
mensuration, statistical compilation and
recording. In addition to supplying
volume and other data to the forest
management branch, “surveys” also
photograph and map locations and
sightlines for new fire lookout sites,
as required by the forest protection
branch. Special map and chart illus-
tration jobs are undertaken for the
department as well.

Two service units augment the work
of the four main forestry divisions.

10

These are the Radio Communications
Branch and the Forestry Training
School.

Installation, supply, and service re-
pair of the communications system are
provided by Alberta Government Tele-
phones; operators are staff members of
the forest service. They are equipped
to perform minor service duties. The
system which involves both teletype and
radio communication is used extensively
by the whole department of lands and
forests and, to a lesser degree, supplies
emergency service to other government
agencies. Its primary service rests with
forest protection and fire fighting
messages receive transmission priority
during seasons of high fire incidence.

The forestry training school is
located at Hinton, Alberta. Modern
quarters sufficient to accommodate
about 20 students and staff are pro-

vided in a building erected for this
purpose by the government’s Public
Works department. School staff live at
Hinton but, during class semesters, in-
structors are brought in from Edmonton
office, the university and elsewhere.
Both forestry and fish and wildlife
school “terms” are held annually; each
is from two to two and one-half months
in duration. Instruction is limited to
service personnel and Junior Forest
Warden groups of youngsters which
visit the school briefly in mid summer.
Various other short refresher courses
are organized and presented to selected
groups of in-service trainees from time
to time. For example, lookout and
tower men are entertained at classes
of one week’s duration every spring.
Free lodging is provided to all students
and, in most cases, the continuous com-
plement of guest instructors is similarly
accommodated. The full time staff num-
bers about four members.

FOREST SENTRY

Dwarfed by surrounding terrain, a forestry lookout perehes on top of a
mountain in the Canadian Rockies.

11

v"l 910 n <5^

FISH & WILDLIFE

This organization breaks down into
two obvious fields: one fish and the
other wildlife or game birds and game
animals. Secondary division is required
to specify research, enforcement and (to
a limited extent) management through
the use of hatchery stocks. An admin-
istration unit designed for pay account-
ing, supply and correspondence exists
at Edmonton office. Field staff enforce-
ment supervision and non technical
personnel administration also falls under
the chief administrator. Fisheries re-
search and management, including oper-
ation of the fish hatchery and rearing

FISHERY MANAGEMENT

A catch of perch and trout from a
once barren Alberta prairie lake.

ponds is supervised by the chief fishery
biologist. His staff is composed of pro-
fessional biologists and their assistants.
Wildlife research is organized in identi-
cal fashion, also under a chief biologist.

Principle responsibilities are organ-
ized under a broad management con-
cept. Angling and hunting harvests are
regulated each year in response to
known resource conditions and antici-
pated sport needs or pressure. Control
measures supported by government acts
and regulations are enforced by appoint-
ed peace officers. These regular staff
members, over sixty in number and
called fish and wildlife officers, receive
some assistance from the R. C. M. P.
and Inspection Service Officers of the
Attorney General’s department. The
division’s enforcement staff, spread
throughout the province, is separated
into four subdivisions. Each of these
fourths has a supervisor in charge. Sub-
division offices are located at Calgary,
Red Deer, St. Paul and Edson.

Research activities in both fish and
wildlife are designed to give long term
account of their particular resources as
well as supply short term or annual
information for administrative facility.
Investigations are conducted in com-
mercial fishing and fur bearing resources
as well as in angling and hunting con-
ditions. Census in the form of species
population counts and estimates is an
important factor in this work.

Two special duty units are attached
to the administrative unit. These are
“beaver control’’ and “fur market
inspection’’.

Beaver in Alberta, as elsewhere, are
both a help and a hindrance to wise
land use, depending on their location.
In most wooded regions their “dams”
provide an acceptable means of con-

12

trolling stream flow and sustain water
supplies throughout a stream course for
long periods of time, restricting floods
and preventing damage by erosion to
stream beds. From the viewpoint of
total resource management these effects
are generally good in virgin areas of
forest and other non agricultural lands.
However, unhindered expansion of
beaver colonies, which may be sponsored
by successive years of heavy precipi-
tation, invites them to establish on farm
lands with limited tree cover. Here
their activities interfere with farm man-
agement, transportation and watershed
control. Their removal is required for
economic reasons and, while farmers
are encouraged to trap beaver found in
this environment, some assistance is
provided by an agency of the fish and
wildlife service. Sometimes beaver are
“live-trapped” and moved from a farm-

ing region to a suitable part of the
forest lands.

Fur inspectors check against un-
licensed or illegal traffic in fur. A
significant proportion of this work is
also handled by all fish and wildlife
officers and a number of forest officers.
The headquarters agency checks on furs
as they appear in transit to market
centres which eventually they must do
if the trapper is to profit. Edmonton
is the fur trade centre in Alberta. In
addition to enforcement, a close scrutiny
is obtained on trapping and market
conditions, variations in prices offered
and the general health of the fur
industry.

A third unit was recently added to
fish and wildlife adminstration. An
office has been established for coordi-
nating public efforts in hunter training

13

programs and to provide leadership,
guidance and information assistance to
local organizations who sponsor hunter
training and education clubs.

A liaison conservation officer, meet-
ing with seriously interested district
representatives throughout Alberta, as-

sists them in the formation of programs
aimed at increasing hunters’ knowledge
of field and stream, safety and survival
measures and laws of hunting and fish-
ing. A major objective is an improved
public philosophy toward these recre-
ational pursuits.

PROVINCIAL PARKS

A fast growing “youngster” in lands
and forests is the agency responsible
for establishment, development and
maintenance of public recreation areas
called provincial parks. Transferred
from the department of agriculture in
about 1950 this service has expanded

rapidly in response to similar growth in
holiday and week-end recreation travel
by citizens of Alberta and visitors to
the province.

Policies for parks establishment and
development and, to a lesser degree,
administration, are established under

14

recommendations of a three man pro-
vincial parks board. The board is made
up by directors of lands, forestry and
the technical division, all from the
department of lands and forests. A
parks commissioner, who is also assist-
ant director of lands, is the chief admin-
istrator. Service is divided into three
classifications: general administration,
planning and management.

The administration unit is chiefly
occupied with clerical work including
budgeting, purchase accounts, inventory,
correspondence, publicity and personnel
matters.

The parks planner works closely
with the board (above), attempting to
anticipate and design for long range
park development and facilities. Crown
lands, chiefly lake shore sites, which
might someday be required for public
access are considered for reservation.
Studies are made of new concepts in
park management, including the pro-
tection of installations from abuse,

space alignment and optimum use,
traffic and public recreation trends.
Collaboration with other authorities in
this rapidly expanding occupation is
important to model park planning.

The management branch of pro-
vincial parks is intimately associated
with works projects, and the supervision
of park staff. Park operation includes
public relations and liaison with other
land uses, such as stock grazing, permit-
ted on parts of large park reservations.
Enforcement of timber and wildlife pro-
tection regulations, boating and swim-
ming safety and control, fire protection
and general courtesy within operational
limits are all important park manage-
ment duties. A permanent core staff is
engaged throughout the year, half of
whom are established in the field, at or
near large and important park regions.
Staff is augmented each summer by
the addition of several “wardens” to
supervise activities at many of the
nearly 40 provincial parks in Alberta.

HOODOOS AT WRITING-ON-STONE PARK

15

1 I'S’ior)

Ik^TECHNICAL SERVICES

Any agency that deals in large meas-
ure with lands, their use and disposition
and the plants and creatures that live on
them must have constant need for land
descriptions. These are supplied on be-
half of the department of lands and
forests by the technical division through
its survey, photogrammetry, and mapping
facilities. Ground and aerial surveys, the
preparation of land disposition docu-
ments, production of aerial photos and
mosaic photo composites, cartography,
and miscellaneous drafting assignments
and the provision of advice and consulta-
tion to major public land lessees; all are
functions of the technical division staff.
In addition regular counter sales of
aerial photos, mosaics and maps are
made daily. A price list covering such
purchases is available.

For facility of operation the technical
division breaks down handily into three
major units. These are the surveys sec-
tion, general office and technical admin-
istration branch and the aerial photo,
photogrammetry and cartography sec-
tion.

The surveys section is staffed by sur-
veyors and their assistants. They per-
form legal surveys on crown lands for a
variety of special uses, such as subdivi-
sion township plans, park and recreation
sites, roadways, sand and gravel leases
and survey monument restoration pro-
jects. In coordination with the mapping
section of the division survey crews also
obtain ground control information for
use with aerial photographs in contour
map preparation.

The administration and technical
branch collaborates closely with staff of
the department’s lands and forestry
divisions in the preparation of documents

and descriptions to control public lands
disposition. An examination of all public
land plans requires meticulous plotting
for area estimates, to minimize disputes
between lessees or others who gain right
of entry upon these lands for exploration
or commercial enterprise. Office records
of equipment purchase and inventory are
kept together with wage and other per-
sonnel records for the branch. Map sales
at the division’s counter are handled by
staff of this agency.

Production of aerial photos and maps
is the principle duty of the third section
of the technical division. This includes
the preparation, rectification and en-
largement of aerial photos and the pro-
duction of photo mosaics. Photo develop-
ing and printing is handled as well as
photostat and ozalid copying. Planimetric
and contour maps are prepared for print-
ing in both plain and color negatives,
using stereoplotting and scribing tech-
niques. Many small drafting and illus-
trating duties are performed on behalf
of other divisions of the department. A
photo library is kept and aerial photo
counter sales and other photo requests
are attended to. Supplies inventory and
purchases, and minor equipment main-
tenance are regular staff duties.

16

ACCOUNTS

'^iV\s.tor\

Several millions of dollars in both
expenditure and revenue are involved
in lands and forests’ transactions each
year. Accounting for these monies to the
department, the provincial treasury and
its auditors and Alberta citizens in gen-
eral is a responsibility of the accounts
division. Records are provided of all re-
ceipts and expenditures whether from
department budget funds or trust ac-
counts.

Three broad accounting functions
divide the services of this division. These
are disbursements or expenditures, rev-
enue, and accounts receivable, including
receipts from use of public resources
administered by lands and forests.

Under disbursements is the recording
of expenditures made by all divisions of
the department in accordance with prev-
iously agreed estimates. A complete in-

ventory of all departmental equipment
is kept. Necessary licences required to
authorize patrons of resource use are
issued and adequate insurance protection
supplied for department activities. Em-
ployee wages, salaries and deductions are
accounted for and dispatched. Invoicing
as required is issued.

Accounts receivable is, of course, just
the opposite to expenditure and equally
as important. Receipts in the form of
royalties, rents or dues are collected
from commerce for the use of such re-
sources as timber, grass, public lands and
sand and gravel deposits. Included in
these collection duties is the responsibil-
ity for making the necessary taxation
refunds from receipts to other govern-
ment authorities registering legitimate
claims. Closely allied with receipt of
accounts is the special section of this

17

division which distributes all hunting and
fishing licences to vendors throughout
the Province and collects associated fees
and royalties in return.

A revenue section deals in codification
and reporting of all monies received.
Statements are issued from time to time

which record financial balances for the
convenience of senior staff and division
directors. Fund balances and reconcilia-
tion with bank statements are obtained
on behalf of government auditors. Such
correspondence as may be necessary to
satisfy accounts is conducted.

REGISTRAR

The original and most important
duty of a registrar’s office is the regis-
tration or recording of all major public
transactions entered into by its parent
organization. The registration branch of
the department of lands and forests
performs these functions and has ac-
quired some others. In addition to filing
documentary evidence on behalf of the
department’s negotiations with respect
to timber sales and land assignments,
reservations and cancellations, the reg-
istrar provides a standing record of
crown land disposition for ready public
reference.

This office not only makes the
proper records of transactions but oper-
ates a file transfer system within the

department that permits staff to refer
to filed documents which may be re-
lated to current business. A staff of
five employees is constantly engaged in
supplying files to departmental offices
as needed and returning them to shelves
for future reference.

All departmental mail services are
handled by registration staff; this re-
quires book entires of items of cash
received through the mails and distri-
bution of mail to departmental offices.
Composite township plans of oil pro-
ducing areas are drafted to supply
illustrated record controls, augmenting
filed records of miscellaneous leases
issued to cover pipeline, drilling and
other right of entry on crown lands.

PERSONNEL OFFICER

Complete records of the department’s
staff are maintained by the personnel
office. A staff of five is required to
record changes in staffing and pay rates
and, in cooperation with central gov-
ernment personnel offices, submit ad-
vertisements of position vacancies and
route job applications and applicants to
the proper authorities. A job of liaison
between senior officials of the depart-
men and the government’s central per-
sonnel is an important duty. A chief
objective of this function is the distil-
lation of applications for particular
duties to the point where senior depart-
mental officers can make a reasonably
accurate choice of new staff from
among the best applicants. An equally
important duty of the personnel officer
is the interpretation of government
personnel rules and regulations to the
department’s staff. He may also be re-
quired to provide technical and pro-
fessional advice on matters of discipline.

Assistance in planning staff organization
is provided to all division directors who
seek it. Staff counselling is also avail-
able for all members of the department
if circumstances of their employment
indicate the need for professional
advice.

In addition to regular personnel
duties, the officer in charge supervises
the activities of the department’s
stationery and supplies agency. This
office orders printing and advertising
as required by all sections of the de-
partment. It maintains and distributes
supplies of office equipment as required
both at head office and in the field.
It carries out special packaging and
distribution assignments where the
quantity of material to be handled is
beyond regular mailing room or di-
visional office capacities. A table-top
offset printing machine is operated to
supply departmental notices and special
correspondence in quantity.

18

PUBLICITY OFFICER

Also operating directly out of the
deputy minister’s office, the depart-
ment’s publicity officer processes news
statements in consultation with senior
officers for the release of public an-
nouncements in the name of the Minister
of the department. He produces, edits
and publishes pamphlet and brochure
material as directed by division heads.
He assists in the preparation of official
documentary and informational material
as required by officials. He writes, edits

and publishes the department’s official
information publication, Land-Forest-
Wildlife. He collates and edits reports of
senior officials to produce the depart-
ment’s annual report. A small in-service
paper, published in the interest of staff
entertainment and advice, is produced at
irregular intervals. He provides advice
as requested on matters of public infor-
mation and public relations and super-
vises special display advertising assign-
ments as required.

THE DEPARTMENT’S
PERSONALITY

The accomplishments of any organ-
ization, no matter how skillfully it may
be designed, are a direct reflection of the
character and ability of the people who
staff it. The department of lands and
forests is eminently qualified as a testing
ground in this regard, having, as it does,
a very wide range of duties and their
attendant skills and qualifications.

In the department, employee char-
acteristics must necessarily range from
the earthy and unsophisticated manner
of the semi isolated northern forest
ranger to the polished veteran adminis-
trator with his breadth of understanding
and burden of final policy making deci-
sion. Technicians in several professions
abound and new undertakings of the
most improbable skills are constantly
required of staff. Under such circum-
stances a forest ranger may become in-
volved with radio electronics, a grazing
appraiser must be familiar with current
farm economics, the park warden is
blessed who has some knowledge of psy-
chology, the motorized cavalcade of
many officers, far afield, must master
some rudiments of auto mechanics or
risk the embarrassment of immobility.
Biologists, foresters and agriculturists
probe within their respective realms,
sometimes with less than adequate tools,
to lend scientific advice to policy deci-

sion. Photogrammetrists and draftsmen
study, plot, scribe and copy to add to the
mounting files of chart and photographic
material. Dewy eyed young stenograph-
ers, fresh from grade ten spelling and
the doubtful assistance of a commercial
education, grapple with the obscure
terminology and latin nomenclature of
the zoologist and the botanist. Clerks are
introduced to punch card systems and
electronic data procedures. The Indian
fire fighter uses aircraft for transport.

In the field of natural resources the
span from “mother” earth to final pro-
duct is as broad as human ingenuity and
management planning is necessarily as

19

complex as the commerce that it guides.
The government services of the depart-
ment of lands and forests attempt to
keep abreast of the devious channels of
progress in resource use; to anticipate,
to exert reasonable restraint, to encour-
age where necessary and to explore in
both the fundamental field of nature and
the pressing atmosphere of human in-
dulgence. As a result the branches of
employment are numerous and constant-
ly growing.

Some other results bear considera-
tion. Contrary to the popular vision of
the narrow minded, disdainful naturalist,
people who deal seriously in natural re-
sources usually acquire an enviable
breadth of knowledge and understanding.
This is not so strange for their studies
and endeavours operate on the threshold
of the roots of life ; a realm where funda-
mental behavior patterns, important
bases for human motivation, are exposed
to an elementary degree. The integrity
of primitive life is a useful yardstick if
understood and applied to more super-

ficial activities. Employee ranks of the
department of lands and forests are not
without examples having these charac-
teristics; their value is thereby enhanced.
This, of course, is not to say that the
great majority of 800 lands and forests
employees have been so well conditioned
for their enterprise. Hardly — ^but as
leaders arise within those civil service
ranks they include men who have been
closely associated with elemental pur-
suits. Their influence is inescapable and
their associates are thereby infected.

As might be expected from a staff
whose interests lie close to earth, a re-
laxed and casual attitude is charmingly
apparent: strikingly so in the field and
to a lesser extent at head office. While
the independence of spirit, fostered at
grass roots levels, becomes the staff
member who must act often on his own
initiative, it has presented a few prob-
lems in the co-ordination of technical
forces under such rules as might be im-
posed, for example: in radio communica-
tion. Earthy vocabulary is not tolerated

At head office, nearly 400 lands and forests employees gather to blend their
voices in caroling every Christmas.

20

by communications monitors and effi-
ciency depends partly on universally ac-
curate broadcast procedure.

On the other hand a relaxed and con-
fident worker is usually a good one,
especially in emergencies. A relaxed man
need not be unpoised and is in fact often
better prepared to leap into action than
his more highly strung counter-part,
part. Many lands and forests employees
dwell quite literally “somewhere between
earth and sky”, often with little super-
vision, and relatively few bonds. This
freedom is infectious and even office
bound staff retain or have acquired an
equally casual and nonetheless willing

approach to their duties. While not
exactly disdaining the privilege of
authority to guide their working behav-
ior, staff of lands and forests are, as a
whole, unintimidated, self-assured, re-
markably capable and loyal to all but
specious doctrine and unworthy disci-
pline. Few are the timid, brow beaten
“Tom Cratchits”, of Dickens’ Christmas
story. Most are well oriented, pleasant,
industrious people; secure in the knowl-
edge and reflection that their responsibil-
ities are based on some important facts
of life. It behooves them to act accord-
ingly and they do, with a most creditable
record of accomplishment.

(Oo^'Aoof

Tn-\ecIton

21

On July 5th, Norman Willmore, Min-
ister of Lands and Forests, conducted an
official opening ceremony at the new
Bow Valley Provincial Park beside Al-
berta highway #1, about 60 miles west
of Calgary. The 2,400 acre park site lies
just west of the confluence of the Kan-
anaskis and Bow rivers. Its location, on
the busy trans Canada highway, makes it
an ideal stop-over site for both out of
province tourists and week end picnick-
ers. Its facilities are being developed to
a great degree with the itinerant camper
in mind. The scenery is mountainous and
captivating.

Careful planning at Bow Valley park
has provided excellent accommodation.
There are 53 segregated tenting sites,
each served by a short driveway and
each containing a wooden tent platform,
picnic table, stove and refuse receptacle.
Tenting sites are located adjacent to a
main thoroughfare which cuts a circle
through a well wooded area of the park.

Each such campsite is attractive, shaded
and secluded; conditions not often avail-
able at tourist wayside stations.

A focal area of the park contains a
modern washroom building with com-
plete sanitary facilities, (wash basins,
toilets, showers and electric outlets). A
coin operated laundry is also available;
it contains sinks, washers and a large
clothes dryer.

Fourteen trailer stalls, two semi open
camp kitchens, drinking water outlets, a
number of random picnic tables and
small picnic stoves are situated conven-
iently within the focal area.

The official opening ceremonies were
attended by representatives of the Pro-
vincial government, the National Parks
Service, Members of the Legislative As-
sembly and park tenants of the day. Fol-
lowing formal dedication, A1 and Eva
Guinn were hosts to the official party
at their nearby Rafter 6 ranch.

22

CEREMONY MARKS COMPLETION
FORESTRY TRUNK ROAD

On a bright, warm August 17th
afternoon, Norman Willmore, Minister
of Lands and Forests, officiated at a
novel road opening ceremony at Brazeau
river bridge, north of Nordegg on the
forestry trunk road. Mr. Willmore was
accompanied by about one hundred
interested spectators: forestry officials,
holiday travellers and district civic rep-
resentatives who came to mark com-
pletion of the last link in a 600 mile
forest road that extends from Grande
Prairie to Coleman (see “Land-Forest-
Wildlife”, Vol. 3, No. 1).

Following his comments on the his-
tory and characteristics of the trunk
road, Mr. Willmore stepped from the
speaker’s platform to a large gate
which had been erected for this func-
tion. As he did so, a forestry helicopter,

hovering overhead, lowered a hook and
cable attached to the aircraft’s winch.
Mr. Willmore placed the hook on the
proper gate bar and stepped back as the
helicopter lifted this final barrier from
the now completed roadway.

Major portions of this very scenic
byway have been constructed by the
Alberta Forest Service. A few links,
notably near Kananaskis and Entrance,
have been formed by municipal road
construction. One or two substandard
sections remain to be improved but the
30 foot grade has received a gravel
surface throughout and is quite passable
to automobile traffic at this time of
year. A program of improvement and
maintenance will continue to be a major
item in future Forest Service construc-
tion plans.

23

LisiuvcHs oiwd

GORDON R. KERR

The well-known se-
clusion of Alberta’s
mountain goat popu-
lation is being invad-
ed these days by a
young new member
of the Alberta Fish and Wildlife biologist
staff. The intruder of this alpine privacy
is Gordon R. Kerr, a native Albertan
from the Crowsnest Pass, and a student
of mountain goat ecology,

Gordon was born and raised at Cole-
man, Alberta, where his father Jim Kerr
now operates the Chinook Motel. The
elder Kerr was once a well-known guide
and outfitter in the “Pass” mountain
regions.

Gordon Kerr graduated from Montana
State University in 1961 with a degree in
wildlife technology. In 1962 he entered
the University of Alberta and is present-
ly completing a thesis leading to his
Masters degree.

Mr. Kerr joined the permanent staff
of Alberta’s fish and wildlife service in
April, 1963. He had worked as a student
research assistant for the service during
three previous successive summers. He
married Marilyn Collins of Calgary;
Gordon and Marilyn have a two-year old
son.

Gordon was recently transferred from
Edmonton to the city of Lethbridge,
from which point he will be assisting
southern area biologist. Bob Webb of
Calgary, with wildlife management and
research in all of southern Alberta. His
familiarity with game habits in south
west regions, established during his
youth in Crowsnest Pass, will undoubt-
edly prove valuable to this special field
of endeavour. The move suggests that
mountain goats and their neighbors in
south Alberta mountain ranges will con-
tinue to come under the scrutiny of this
energetic young biologist.

HYPO PETS

In New Zealand, tranquilliser kits
for dogs and cats are being issued free.
The object of this is to prevent animals
from getting lost on holidays. One dose
is for the car journey; one is to aid
familiarisation with the holiday site;
and the final dose is for the return
journey. These kits are provided by
animal protection officials.

24

ALBERTA

Note :

The folloToing poem n>as I^indly sent to us
b\) R. M. Retd of Edmonton. IVe are pleased
to publish Mr. Reid’s charming verse rvith the
hope that friends at the Coast rvill not be
greatly offended.

Editor.

Any man, who talks about a mountain
With silver peaks, etched in an azure sky
And tumblin’ streams, with finny sport aboundin’
Or flocks of fleecy cloudsheep grazin’ high.

Any man, who speaks of storm clouds risin’

Low, in the west, toward a harvest moon.

And distant lightnin’ on the far horizon
The hauntin’ eerie laughter of a loon.

Any man, who dreams of misty valleys
Of trout rods, or of tangled flshin’ lines
Of Jackpine ridges, and of autumn salies
To rustic huntin’ cabins in the pines.

Any man, recountin’ long past forays
In mud, or driving sleet and fadin’ light
Describes, like soldiers telling of past glories
The whistle of a mallard’s wings In flight.

Any man, who sees in yonder ocean
Just sullen waves, beneath a leaden sky
Then his heart’s full of only one emotion
He’s homesick, son, the same as you and I.

Repatriated.

ESCAPE AND PROGRESS

Man has no prospect of a machine
that will fly him away from himself.
Though he were to become so entirely
a product of machinery that he could
subsist on Coca Cola and protein tablets,
they still come from the earth that he
came from and is bound to. Actually,
hardly an individual wants to escape
the earth, but regard the mass of us;
We spend our prime energies building
cities and then spend what’s left trying
to escape the progress we have made.

— J. Frank Dobie.

Reprinted from:

WYOMING WILDLIFE

COVER PHOTO

The photograph on the cover of this
issue is an unusual shot of a well known
site. The scene is the summit between
the Kananaskis and Highwood river
drainage in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain
range. The view is westward and the
road shown is a section of the forestry
trunk road winding its way upward
from the Highwood basin to reach its
highest point near the centre of the
photo. This site is the highest mountain
pass encountered along the 600 mile
forestry trunk road (see elsewhere in
this issue). In fact, this portion of the
road, at an altitude of 7,234 feet, is said
to be the highest graded thoroughfare
in Canada.

Forestry’s Frank Platt took the un-
usual shot while on a helicopter lookout
site survey. He used a K-20 aerial
camera and infra-red film.

CROWDED

Population Could Overrun Earth

In a 38-page report on the sensitive
issue of the population explosion, the
National Academy of Science warned
that “the problem of population growth
can no longer be ignored’’ because it is
undermining human welfare. “Other
than the search for lasting peace, no
problem is more urgent,” the report
stated.

Continuing, the report said that the
world’s population is now “somewhat in
a record pace of about two per cent a
year. Had this rate existed from the
time of Christ to now,” it said, “the
world population would have increased
in this period by about 70 million billion.
In other words, there would be about
20 million individuals in place of each
person now alive, or 100 people to each
square foot.”

Reprinted from:
Colorado Outdoor.

25

Letters to the editor will be published under a pseudonym if requested but they must
be accompanied by the writer’s proper signature and address. Letters are welcome and particularly
so if they are brief and deal with a topic currently being treated in Land-Forest-Wildlife or with
one of general interest in the field of renewable natural resources. Land-Forest-Wildlife reserves
the right to decide whether any letter shall be published in its columns and to condense any letter.

Editor:

I must congratulate you on the
“RAVEN REARING STATION” which
is replete with good information and
accounting. However I am sure you won’t
mind my adding to your historical ac-
count for the record — ^firstly you are
kind enough to mention my name as
follows “Geo. Spargo past manager of
the Alta. Fish and Game Association
was one of its earliest advocates”. I
might say that it was as Director of
Fisheries I was primarily responsible for
acquiring the site. I was invited by
Garfield Thompson emd others to view
the site as at that time we were com-
mitted to construct rearing ponds from
Canyon Creek in the north to Lees Creek
in the south; the Raven became a must.
I obtained this site thru Mr. W. F. Wal-
lace’s instruction, and prepared the order
in council for the purchase from the
C.P.R. at some $3.00 per acre having
had the assistance of the Hon. Dave
Mullen and Mr. J. R. Sweeney, Deputy
Minister of the Dept, of Agriculture.
Afterwards we were pleased to note
that the late Premier Aberhart viewed
the site together with the aforemen-
tioned officials and we were congratulat-
ed on our foresight. The purchase was
made by Mr. Alfred Aspinall of Innisfail

then agent of the C.P.R. So history was
made.

Later the Hon. Mr. Fallow as Min-
ister of Public Works contacted our
Minister and offered us many of the huts
on the Bighorn River, earlier used as
an “Unemployment project”, for a start
on a hatchery. We used the open pasture
field of Curley Wren to get the two huts
into place just were Mr. Wren has his
home now. The temporary huts were
serviced with all kinds of equipment also
donated by Mr. Fallow’s dept, and we
were away. The old road can be seen
down to the present site.

I am instructed by the Alberta Fish
and Game Association to review a history
of the association, (and by the way the
association donated some $300.00 for the
electrifying of the Garfield Thompson
building). Therefore I want to let you
know of the foregoing so there will be
no error in this history. It is hoped that
in due course the central Fish and Game
Picnic Association will be able to build
a cairn closeby with the names of those
who contributed to this very big achieve-
ment.

G. M. Spargo,

Calgary, Alberta.

Thanks once more George for peeping the
record straight and adding these touches to the
Raven stor^.

26

EDUCATION EXHIBIT

TESTS WOODS LORE

Three thousand children between the
ages of 6 and 15 entered the Lands and
Forests “nature recognition” contest at
the Edmonton Exhibition and the Cal-
gary Stampede this summer.

The booth display, (shown above),
exhibited a combined total of 30 trees,
animals, birds and fish. On a prepared
“dual choice” contest form, entrants
were required to identify the 30 speci-
mens. From among tied top scorers a
winner’s name was drawn and prizes in
the form of heliooper rides were present-
ed late in August.

Remarkably high calibre scores were
registered in all of the 5 age groups
represented. In every group except the
6-7 year olds, perfect scores were ob-
tained by at least one entrant in both

cities. In a few casual tests, tried on
adults, no perfect scores were registered.
Naturally, in any group of 3,000 individ-
uals, someone is bound to guess correctly.
Nevertheless some of the winners knew
that they were right in their identifica-
tion and group averages surprised con-
test organizers.

The display, designed and built by
Edmonton artist Meredith Evans, was
purchased by the Alberta Forest Service.
It was operated by staff of the forest
and fish and wildlife services of Lands
and Forests. Forestry’s Bell helicopter
provided short flights for prize winners.
Runners up received cheques to the
amount of $3.00 each. Flight winners
were kindly entertained by Happy Valley
Recreation staff in Calgary and admitted
to Storyland Valley Zoo in Edmonton.

27

THRILLED COMPETITORS

Susan Williams and Glen Jameson, both of Calgary, board the Alberta Forest
Service helicopter for their prize winners’ trip (see page 27).

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