GOVERNMENTAL WORK FOR COVXTRY LIFE 399 



In his annual report^ Eoth set forth with clearness 

 and emphasis the forest requirements of the State, 

 the harm wrought by wasteful methods of manage- 

 ment. His own policy with reference to the forest 

 reserves was used, but as this proved unsatisfactory, 

 a nursery at Higgins Lake was established. 



In 1907 the office of State Game, Fish and For- 

 estry Warden was created out of the former offices 

 of Chief Warden and Game and Fish Warden, which, 

 unlike the Forestry Warden, was charged with gen- 

 eral protective work throughout the State. It was 

 obligatory on the deputies of the Game, Fish and 

 Forestry Warden "to familiarize themselves by per- 

 sonal investigation with the locality and the condi- 

 tion of the cut-over lands, prairie lands and other 

 districts in their respective counties where tires are 

 most likely to start and spread, aiid to take such 

 precautions as they shall deem reasonable and proper 

 to prevent the starting or spreading of fires in such 

 districts, and in doing so, may enter upon lands and 

 remove or destroy brusli, rubbish and other danger- 

 ous combustible material, wherever necessary." 

 This provision of law, if it had remained more 

 than a dead-letter, would have done much to relieve 

 Michigan of the perennial losses from forest fires. 

 The State Game, Fish and Forestry Warden has be- 

 come the State Game, Fish and Forest Fire Com- 

 missioner, but the fires burn as frequently and as 

 fiercely as ever. The Forestry Warden became the 

 State Forester, but he cannot obtain results without 



