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#2973 "Morning Light White Pine Island"
20 x 16 by 3/4 profile depth (inches).
Started 10:30 am Saturday, August 16th, 2025
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The water was like glass on Sunday, April 13th, 2025, so I went for a paddle around Singleton Lake. This is the third painting from that paddle after
#2972 "Spring Paddle to White Pine Island" and
#2971 "April White Pine Island".
Do you know why White Pines are often referred to as the "King's Trees"? Great injustice is often the basis for great wealth and even greater privilege. A similar story can be found behind the White Pine. The British monarchy and the British Navy owe fortunes to the White Pine.
The "King's trees" refer to Eastern White Pines (Pinus strobus) that were the first trees to be harvested during the colonization of North America. Britain had depleted its own forests and relied heavily on Baltic timber, which was expensive and unreliable due to trade disputes. The discovery of abundant, perfect white pines in America was a crucial resource for maintaining their naval dominance.
The tall, straight, strong, lightweight, and durable White Pines were perfect for constructing ship masts for the Royal Navy. A “mast” pine was several hundred years old, 5 feet in diameter at the butt, and at least 120 feet tall. White Pines would grow above the forest canopy, often reaching 250 feet in height. They were exclusively reserved for the British Crown during the colonial era. The best and tallest white pines were marked with the "King's Broad Arrow" symbol, making it illegal for colonists to cut them down. The significant resentment that resulted certainly contributed to the American Revolution. The selection of the blaze mark was a threat in itself.
Starting with the Broad Arrow Policy in 1691, the Royal Government restricted the cutting of White Pines over 24" in diameter. Subsequent British Parliament Acts in 1711, 1722 and 1772 extended protection and eventually decreased the size to 12” diameter pine trees.
The Surveyor Deputy of the colony was in charge of overseeing these Acts and issuing the Special Royal License required to harvest a mast tree. His men were in charge of identifying all suitable trees and marking them with the King’s Broad Arrow slashes. This designated them for Royal Navy use only. The surveyor's men had to assess all white pines before a settler could clear his land. The settler was then required to purchase a royal license, allowing him to cut any remaining smaller white pine trees on his land. If a settler skirted the law, and he was found to have white pine in his cabin walls or at his lumber mill, he would be arrested and/or fined £50 - £100.
A “
mast” White Pine typically weighed about 2000 pounds. They required special care to both harvest and transport. Once a tree was selected, a landing area called the “
bedding” had to be prepared. Uneven ground had to be smoothed. Rocks and stumps were covered by crisscrossing them with smaller fallen trees, which cushioned the shock of the falling giant. The "
Choppers" were two men selected to do the dangerous job of cutting the tree down. They wielded axes on opposite sides of the trunk. Crosscut saws were not used until the 1890s, over a century after the last mast pine was harvested.
Other critical shipbuilding components were produced from the White Pine: frames, planking and knees, pitch and tar for seaming, resins and turpentine for paint and varnish, and spars to hold sails aloft.
The Broad Arrow Policy caused widespread anger among colonists. They saw it as an infringement on their property rights and economic opportunities. Tensions over the "King's Pines" escalated, culminating in the Pine Tree Riot of 1772, where colonists attacked a sheriff who was trying to arrest a miller accused of cutting a marked tree.
The conflict over White Pines and not just the British tax on tea, highlighted the colonists' desire to be free from British control. White Pines became a significant contributing factor to the outbreak of the American Revolution. It is not a coincidence that the last "mast" ship arrived in England on July 31, 1775, just three months after the battles of Lexington and Concord.
The Singleton White Pines were probably too inaccessible for the King to grab. This story, along with others like it, explains my natural tendency to be very wary of any kind of authority. Greed and the lust for power continue to rape the natural resources of the planet in an economy that does not consider the costs of unsustainable extraction.
The following collage of "In Progress" photos highlights just a very few of the steps required to complete #2973 "Morning Light White Pine Island". I was interested in how the early morning light filtered through the forest and touched the fallen trees.
This is the center of White Pine Island, looking southwestward from my canoe. Several convective windstorms had ripped through the area in the past few years, shredding those very exposed white pines. The trees leaning into the water provide excellent habitat for nature and are best left alone. Trees provide life even after they die. I wanted to convey motion with every brushstroke, as nature is always moving. The forest is in a continual dance with the wind and the light.
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| #2973 "Morning Light White Pine Island" nearing completion in the Singleton Studio. |
History often tells the story of wanton and indiscriminate consumption of natural resources until they are gone, extinct like the Dodo. Modern humans are not known for their sustainable living practices, unlike the indigenous people who have lived in relative harmony with nature for thousands of years. There are many stories to be told there as well.
The story of the White Pine is reminiscent of the more recent tales behind "The Ontario Science Centre", "Ontario Place", "Grade A, prime agricultural land" and the "Oak Ridges Moraine". These are examples of irreplaceable and unique assets which are vital for the people and the environment of Ontario in their own unique ways. They are also tools employed by unscrupulous politicians to repay their supporters.
A 14-kilometre stretch of white sand on the southern shores of Georgian Bay is the World's Longest Freshwater Beach. Wasaga Beach is a unique and vital habitat for many species, including the endangered Piping Plover. Wasaga Beach can also be added to the list above, as portions of it are opened for development.
Sadly, examples of honest and competent governments representing the welfare of the people and the environment are a rarity. This will not change until criminal politicians are held responsible for their misdeeds and actually go to jail instead of prospering from their corrupt cronyism.
Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,
A “mast” White Pine typically weighed about 2000 pounds. They required special care to both harvest and transport. Once a tree was selected, a landing area called the “bedding” had to be prepared. Uneven ground had to be smoothed. Rocks and stumps were covered by crisscrossing them with smaller fallen trees, which cushioned the shock of the falling giant. The "Choppers" were two men selected to do the dangerous job of cutting the tree down. They wielded axes on opposite sides of the trunk. Crosscut saws were not used until the 1890s, over a century after the last mast pine was harvested.
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