CONSEKVATIOX COMMISSIO>" 77 



Cause of Forest Fires, 191Jf 



Smokers 113 



Fishermen 57 



Railroads 50 



Hunters 42 



Campers 29 



Incendiary 29 



Lightning 26 



Berry pickers 21 



Clearing land 20 



Burning buildings 12 



Bee hunters 4 



Children • 2 



River drivers 2 



Limiberjacks 2 



Ginseng diggers 1 



Gum pickers 1 



Sa"s\'mill. 1 



Traction engine ' 1 



Total 413 



An examination of the table shows that 113 of the 413 fires, 

 or 27 per cent, of the total, were caused by carelessness of smokers. 

 This shows an improvement over 1913 when 224 fires, or 33 per 

 cent, of the total, were due to this cause. We think the decrease 

 is due to the educational w^ork. The record, however, is a serious 

 reflection upon the careless smoker. If a person goes into the 

 woods he does so for either pleasure or business ; in either case 

 he should be sufficiently interested to prevent forest fires. 



Fishermen caused 14 per cent, of the total fires this year as 

 against 17 per cent, last season. This reduction also indicates 

 better precaution, but still, there is opportunity for vast improve- 

 ment. 



Hunters were responsible for 10 per cent, of the fires of the 

 year as against 2 per cent, in 1913. This increase is largely due 

 to difference in weather conditions, because it was wet and almost 



