310 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



named territory. Owing to its being necessary to establish more observa- 

 tion stations within this territory in order to better protect the water- 

 sheds of these rivers, it is necessary that our federal appropriation be 

 increased to at least 13,500 for the coming year. 



Boy Scouts. 



We have within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 7,000 boy scouts. 

 These are divided into 250 separate companies, each company being in 

 charge of a scout master or assistant scout master. As soon as the fire 

 season started in the spring we supplied each scout master and assistant 

 v/ith a copy of the fire law and instruction book, thus enabling them to 

 instruct the members of the different companies relative to the forest laws. 



The reports received do not show that the boy scouts have been instru- 

 mental in causing a single fire, but do show that they have extinguished 

 several brush fires and have patrolled the railroad right of way in different 

 localities, extinguishing fires, and it is but fair to assume that the educa- 

 tional work done through the scout masters has resulted in the prevention 

 of many fires. When necessary to have camp fires they have always 

 complied with the law by applying to the town forest warden for the 

 necessary permit, the same being granted when weather conditions were 

 favorable. 



Prosecutions and Convictions. 



Under section 2, chapter 244 of the Acts of 1911 every forest warden 

 or deputy forest warden is vested with authority to arrest, without a 

 warrant any person in the act of setting or maintaining a fire in violation 

 of the law. To the average person this may seem a very easy matter, 

 but owing to the fact that a party must be caught in the act of setting 

 or maintaining a fire in order to arrest and take him before a magistrate 

 having jurisdiction in such cases, it is possible to get but a small percentage 

 of the violators. Reports show that 16 parties have been convicted for 

 violating the fire law during the season; also that several parties have 

 been allowed to settle by paying to the selectmen an amount equal to the 

 cost of extinguishment. Owing to the permit law which governs all 

 forest or brush fires, having been in operation but two years, I have not 

 been in favor of enforcing the law too severely by recommending arrest 

 in every instance of violation, but have endeavored, in cases where parties 

 were unfamiliar with the laws and had violated them unlcnowingly, to 

 arrive at some satisfactory settlement. 



Deputy Fish and Game Commissioners. 

 It is gratifying to report the efficient forest fire work accomplished 

 by the deputy fish and game commissioners of the State. While their 

 duties are confined, in general, to the protection of the fish and game, 

 section 299 of the Acts of 1907 also gives them authority to arrest without 

 warrant any person found in the act of unlawfully setting a fire, and under 

 section 20, Revised Laws, they have power to summon necessary assist- 



