228 



REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF 

 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY FOR THE FISCAL 

 YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920. 



The work of this Board has, as during the previous fiscal 

 year, been confined to the four main fines of work of forestry, 

 entomology, plant inspection, and animal industry. 



Forestry. 



Forest protection and forest extension have continued to con- 

 stitute the main activities of the Division of Forestry during 

 the past fiscal year. A few minor changes in forest reserve boun- 

 daries were made during the year in order to take in additional 

 forest land, adjust the ofiicial boundaries to establish fence lines, 

 or throw out agricultural land of higher value than for forest 

 purposes. By an adjustment of boundaries the area of the Lihue- 

 Koloa Reserve on Kauai was reduced by 658 acres and the Kealia 

 Reserve on the same island was reduced by 885 acres. One 

 acre along the Volcano Road was added to the Olaa Forest Park 

 Reserve and from the Olaa Forest Reserve 83 acres of agricul- 

 tural land were withdrawn so that they could be leased. The 

 total area included in the 47 forest reserves throughout the Ter- 

 ritory now amounts to 817,114 acres or about 20 per cent of the 

 total land area of the eight main islands in the group. Of the 

 area in forest reserves 557,344 acres or 68 per cent is land be- 

 longing to the Territory. 



Progress has been made in fencing forest boundaries, where 

 they are exposed to the ravages of stock, but in a smaller degree, 

 on account of the high cost of materials and scarcity of labor. 

 During the fiscal year the construction of new wire fences was 

 completed on 5.25 miles of forest boundaries and 1.80 miles of 

 old fences were repaired. An additional 2.50 miles of new fence 

 is in the process of construction, making a total of 9.57 miles 

 receiving attention during the year. Eleven forest and grass 

 fires have been reported during the year, a surprisingly low num- 

 ber in view of the very dry condition which has prevailed. Most 

 of these were not extensive, did very little damage, and were 

 extinguished the same day by men working under the fire w^ar- 

 dens of the Board. 



Wild stock doing damage in forest reserves, to the total num- 

 ber of 584 were killed or removed during the year. These com- 

 prised 309 wild goats, 46 wild cattle and 229 wild pigs. 



The field force has been increased from eight to eleven forest 

 rangers, whose chief duty it is to carry out forest protection 

 measures by building and repairing boundary fences, but who 

 also are at times engaged in tree planting and general adminis- 

 trative duties. By the arrival of an assistant to the Superinten- 

 dent at the end of the year, it will now be possible, to extend the 

 scope of forest work. 



