8 .REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



Violations of Law: The vigorous pursuit of every individual 

 and corporate violator of the forest fire law is .doing more to se- 

 cure forest property than any other element of the Commission's 

 policy. The oft-heard assertion that no law against firing the 

 forest can be enforced does not apply in New Jersey. The total 

 violations established were 350, of which 39 were technical of- 

 fenses, chiefly illegal back-firing and burning without permit. 

 Deducting these, though they are among the most important, it 

 is found that over forty-five per cent of the 678 fires reported were 

 traced to their authors and fixed as violations of law! Of the 

 350 established violations the railroads were responsible for 255, 

 or 72 per cent; brush burners for 72, smokers for 8 and miscel- 

 laneous agents for 15. The detailed distribution and disposition 

 of this responsibility is shown in Tables V, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, 

 XII and p. 56. The points that demand emphasis here are, that 

 the authors of forest fires can be and are discovered ; that an 

 active fire service is a strong deterrent force in that through the 

 constant watchfulness of its members there is less disposition 

 to take chances with fire, to risk burning without a permit, to 

 do anything that may result in a forest fire ; that the greatest 

 responsibility is upon the railroads ; and that while enforced 

 penalties are making individuals more careful the same policy 

 has had little effect upon the railroad managers. 



The money penalties recovered amounted to $1,538.67, f 

 which $1,314.62 was paid to township treasurers and the balance 

 to the State Treasurer.* 



Federal Co-operation: See p. 59. The co-operative agreement 

 with the U. S. Forest Service by which $2,000 a year is allotted 

 to this State from the appropriation made by Congress to exe- 

 cute the "Weeks Law" is still in force. This sum has made pos- 

 sible the maintenance of lookouts and patrolmen in North Jer- 

 sey at dangerous times, particularly during the hunting season. 

 The organization and its influence have become so effective that 

 for two years no serious fire has burned in the patrolled area. 



Fire Patrol: See p. 59. The results gained by the Federal 

 'patrol in North Jersey naturally suggest an extension of the 

 plan to other sections, and that is being provided for. As the 



* Between the writing of this report and March i, 1914, additional penalties 

 amounting to $1,072.51 were recovered from railroads, and $136.95 from individuals. 



