1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 15 



The Moths are Public Nuisances. 



The gypsy and brown-tail moths are declared public nuisances 

 and their suppression is required. 



The Superintendent of Suppression. 



A superintendent appointed by the Governor, with power, sub- 

 ject to the Governor's approval, of appointing agents and assist- 

 ants, has entire general charge of the work of suppressing the 

 moths. 



Duties of Cities, Towns and Individuals. 



Cities and towns (under the advice and general direction of the 

 superintendent, and by such agent as they may designate or ap- 

 point) are required, under penalty for neglect, to destroy the eggs, 

 pupae and nests of the gypsy and the brown-tail moths within 

 their limits, excepting that such work is not to be done by cities 

 and towns on property controlled by the Commonwealth; nor is it 

 to be done upon private property, excepting where the owners of 

 the same fail to destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the moths, in 

 accordance with the terms of the official notice to private owners, 

 noted in the section here following : 



Notice to Private Owners. 



The mayor of every city and the selectmen of every town shall, 

 at suitable times, notify every owner of laud located therein which 

 is infested with the moths, requiring him to destroy the eggs, 

 pupae and nests of the moths within a specified time. 



When the mayor or selectmen decide that the cost of such de- 

 struction (on lands contiguous and under one ownership) will 

 exceed one- half of one per cent of the assessed valuation of the 

 lands, then they may designate in the notice a part only of such 

 lands on which the destruction shall take place. 



Failure of Private Oivners to destroy Moths. 



If the owner does not, as required by the terms of the aforesaid 

 notice, destroy the eggs, pupae and nests of the moths, then the 

 city or town, subject to the approval of the State superintendent, 

 shall destroy them, and shall assess upon such aforesaid lands the 

 actual cost of so doing, to an amount, however, not exceeding 

 one-half of one per cent, of the assessed valuation of the land. 



This amount, so assessed, shall be collected in the form of taxes, 

 and constitutes a lien upon such lands. 



