26 



exceptions these did not result in serious damage. They occurred 

 mostly at places where there was a resident population, and 

 hence were seen immediately by some district warden and quickly 

 extinguished. 



The law prescribing a close season, in which the farmers are for- 

 bidden to burn their brush or log heaps, has been in operation but a 

 few years. During this time, however, copies of this section of the 

 law, printed on cloth, have been posted conspicuously throughout the 

 entire region. Several thousand of these notices are sent each year 

 into the forest districts by the Commission for posting, or replacing 

 those that have become defaced or weather beaten. Ignorance of the 

 law is no excuse for its violation. 



When the fires ceased last June, Mr. L. S. Emmons, the Chief 

 Firewarden, commenced immediately the prosecution of all persons 

 who had burned their fallows between April ist and June ist, as for- 

 bidden by law. Suits were commenced against each offender, irre- 

 spective of the fact that in many instances the fire did not escape 

 from the owner's premises. The law was intended to stop a dan- 

 gerous practice, and hence no distinction was made in this respect. 

 Up to this date Mr. Emmons has obtained a judgment in 56 cases, 

 and has collected fines to the amount of $1,781.45, not including costs, 

 which in each case were paid by the defendant in addition to the pen- 

 alty. The fines imposed ranged from $20 to $175, and in a few 

 instances, where the defendant refused to pay, he was sent to jail. 

 Several suits are awaiting trial, and other prosecutions will be com- 

 menced as soon as the necessary evidence is obtained. This work 

 has kept the Chief Firewarden busy the entire summer. Several 

 arrests were also made by the town firewardens, which resulted in 

 the conviction of the various defendants and enforcement of a 

 penalty in each case. 



