192 France. 



maitres des eaux et forets, who were appointed to 

 watch over the execution of the ordinances and the con- 

 duct of the officers in charge of the forest districts 

 (maitrise). Under these, with similar functions in 

 smaller spheres, were maitres particuUers with lieuten- 

 ants under them under various designations (Procureur 

 du roi, greffier, gardemarteau, sergen du garde). A 

 stamping hammer was employed for marking trees 

 which defined the boundaries, or which were to be re- 

 served in the fellings (kept by the gardemarteau). In 

 addition to these regular officers there were employed a 

 great number of capitaines des chasses whose functions, 

 as the title indicates, related mainly to the chase. 



v/ By the middle of the 17th century the devastation of 

 forests had progressed so far and the abuses in the man- 

 agement of the royal domain had become so evident that 

 Louis XIV^s great minister, Colbert, was induced to 

 make the historical remark "France will perish for. lack 

 of woods," and instituted a most searching investigation 

 and reform which took shape in the celebrated forest 



A ordinance of 1669; this ordinance superseded all others. 

 For this purpose he instituted in 1661 a commission 

 which not only investigated conditions but was clothed 

 with power to reform the abuses which it might discover. 

 As the first act it recommended the ceasing of all cutting 

 in the royal forests, and after deliberation and consul- 

 tation with interested parties through eight years, the 

 final law was enacted, a masterpiece whose principles 

 and prescriptions to an extent have persisted into the 

 19th century. The commission from time to time made 

 reports giving in detail their findings, and these form a 

 most interesting record of conditions prevailing at that 



