No. 4.] RErORT OF STATE FORESTER. 381 



fighting equipment, and indifference on the part of the general public 

 until such time as the fire assumed sufficient proportions to threaten 

 their villages and homes. I do not wish to give the impression that this 

 is the state of affairs in every town, but I must admit that it has been 

 found to be the condition in several instances where serious fires have 

 occurred, and until these conditions can be remedied, or this department 

 vested with authority, equipment and funds so that we may be in a po- 

 sition to assume full responsibiUty, just so long shall we have serious 

 fires and unnecessary damages. It is of the greatest importance that 

 some system be adopted whereby this department can be of assistance to 

 the various towns in handUng their more dangerous fires. We should 

 be suppUed mth at least two motor trucks equipped with modern forest 

 fire apparatus and capable of carrying from 10 to 15 men trained in forest- 

 fire work. These trucks should be placed under the supervision of the 

 district forest wardens and located, one in the Cape country and one 

 in the central part of the State. Nearly every serious fire has been practi- 

 cally extinguished the first day, but for various reasons was allowed to 

 start anew the second day and was beyond control before night. It is 

 on such occasions as these that we need men trained in this line of work 

 with sufficient equipment to handle large fires, together with some method 

 of quick transportation to enable them to get to the fire promptly. With 

 automobile trucks located as above we would be able to reach any fire 

 throughout the eastern part of the State within two or three hours. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



M. C. HUTCHINS, 



State Fire Warden. 



Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth Work. 

 The conditions of this work were discussed quite fully in 

 last year's report by the writer. One year's time has not very 

 materially changed them, generally speaking; nevertheless, I 

 am frank to say that this work has never been more thoroughly 

 comprehensive and better prosecuted than at the present time. 

 Our organization is smaller, the men are giving greater study 

 to the problems and more real work of a permanent nature is 

 being done. The State Forester has constantly endeavored to 

 impress the importance of making the moth work practical and 

 self-supporting wherever and whenever possible. The local 

 moth superintendents in our cities and towns are yearly ac- 

 quitting themselves as men in whom confidence and public 

 trust may be placed. When this work was first placed under 

 my charge the constant yearly changes in the personnel of the 

 local superintendents, due to various causes, resulted in much 



