THE STRAITS .SETTLEMENTS. 121 



The superior staff seems to consist of one Conservator and 

 eight Assistant Conservators in charge of provincial circles. 



The average annual exports of timber during late years 

 amounted to £17,862, the imports to £50,888, or a net 

 import of £33,026. A more vigorous forest policy in the 

 island seems indicated. 



The Ceylon climate is well suited for the production of 

 rubber and planting of rubber-yielding trees is being prose- 

 cuted. The exports of rubber in 1904 amounted in value to 

 £14,741. 



THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 



The area of the Settlements amounts to 1,526 square miles, 

 the population to 572,249, or 875 to the square mile. 



We have an excellent report, dated 1900, on forest operations 

 in these settlements by Mr. H. C. Hill, the lamented late 

 Inspector-General of Forests to the Government of India. 



The report shows that an area of 188 square miles, equal to 

 9 per cent, of the total area of the settlement, had been 

 declared reserved State forests. Mr. Hill's proposals for the 

 future may be summarised as follows : — 



(1.) All Crown lands which yield timber and other forest 

 produce should be treated as forests, whether reserved or not. 



(2.) A special forest law should be enacted. 



(3.) The reserves should be divided into blocks of con- 

 venient size. 



(4.) Selected reserves should be protected against fire. 



(5.) Young gutta-percha woods {Palaquium sp.) should be 

 weeded and further plantations made in one or two selected 

 localities. 



(6.) All mangrove tracts to be worked on a systematic plan 

 of annual fellings, fixed by area. Other reserves may be 

 closed against cutting of timber for a time, while the most is 

 made of the timber on unreserved Crown lands. 



(7.) All minor produce to be utilised as far as demand 

 goes, whether it is found in reserves or outside. 



