518 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



A COMMON SIGHT. 



SUCH A VIEW OF MOUNTAIN SCENERY AS THIS IS OF NOT INFREQUENT OCCURRENCE DURING THE MUCH 



DREADED FIRE SEASON. 



left burning when the hunter goes on. 

 Forest fires of course greatly injure 

 the interests of sportsmen by robbing 

 the birds of their proper cover. They 

 also impair the food supply of both 

 birds and big game, through the de- 

 struction of the undergrowth which 

 furnishes browse, berries, and other 

 food. 



The Eastern woods are exposed to 

 the danger from fires principally in the 

 spring and fall, when most of the trees 

 are bare and the leaves on the ground 

 are dry. The spring fires, many of 

 which are due to trout fishermen, may 

 destroy the eggs of game birds and even 

 the young birds themselves. Since 

 trout fishermen are likely to hunt in the 

 fall, the same individuals, if careless, 

 may be a source of danger at both 

 seasons. 



" It is suggested that the manufactur- 

 ers of arms and ammunition ought to 



o 



be sufficiently interested in the matter 

 of perpetuation of game to be willing to 

 help in the campaign against forest 

 fires. This help may come through the 

 printing of some brief fire warning on 

 cartridge boxes or some slip to go with 

 any hunting or camping supplies which 

 are furnished. Several manufacturers 

 have already expressed their interest 



in the matter and their willingness to 



help. 



A REPORT FROM THE WEST. 



While the early forest fires reported 

 in May were mostly in slashings 

 and without loss, June opened the 

 commonly recognized fire season with 

 indications of a dangerous year that 

 demands more than usual precaution, 

 according to bulletins received by the 

 Western Forestry and Conservation 

 Association from all States in the 

 Pacific Northwest. Much less than the 

 usual amount of snow remains in the 

 mountains and in some regions there 

 have already been several weeks of 

 dry weather broken only by one short 

 rain. Atmospheric conditions seem to 

 be conducive to frequent dry interior 

 winds, requiring extraordinary precau- 

 tion in firing slashings. Patrols are 

 already in the field and being rapidly 

 recruited to their full strength. Unless 

 there is rain trouble is expected, but 

 the protective organization to meet it 

 will be better than in any past year. 



Washington had fully 100 fires in 

 May, some of them receiving much pub- 

 licity, but practically all were slashing 

 fires more useful than otherwise. The 

 State has county wardens on duty and 

 is very active in educational work. The 

 Washington Forest Fire Association 



