318 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the forests and carelessly tossing away lighted matches, cigar butts or 

 cigarette stubs. Cleaning up the inflammable material along the high- 

 ways would eliminate a large number of fires from this source. Although 

 the percentage of unknown fires is less than last year, it is by no means 

 satisfactory. Each town should pay its forest warden a suitable salary, 

 so thai he can afford to make a careful examination regarding the circum- 

 stances attending each forest fire in his territory. 



Railroads still head the list in the percentage of known causes. It will 

 be observed that the percentage of railroad fires has increased considerably 

 over the figures for last season, but this is explained by the decreased 

 percentage of "unknown" and "miscellaneous" fires. The total number 

 of railroad fires is slightly less than last season. 



Early in the spring this office distributed to the forest wardens through- 

 out the State 12,000 cloth posters on which were printed extracts from the 

 Massachusetts forest fire laws. These were posted in conspicuous places 

 in the forest area of the different towns. Notwithstanding this extensive 

 posting of the fire laws the table shows an increase in the number of fires 

 caused by hunters, smokers or berry pickers, indicating an attitude of 

 carelessness on the part of the general public which must be combated 

 by educational work and by a more active prosecution of offenders. 



Reports show the present permit law, which has been in operation for 

 the past two years in over 220 towns and cities throughout the Common- 

 wealth, to have given general satisfaction. This law applies to all cities 

 and to such towns as have accepted it at any annual or special town meeting. 

 ■Our reports also show that 16,851 permits have been issued this year, 

 and that the percentage of fires caused by burning brush, etc., has been 

 reduced from 16.2 per cent, in 1910 to 5 per cent, this year, which is with- 

 out doubt due to the enforcement of this law. There being less than 25 

 towns that have not accepted the act, it seems necessary that legislation 

 be enacted making this law uniform throughout the State, thus eliminating 

 the considerable dissatisfaction which has arisen in some parts of the 

 State over the unequal application of the law. 



The law relative to the appointment of forest wardens should be 

 amended, allowing the appointment of such forest wardens to be made in 

 January each year instead of in March or April, as it now is. Inasmuch 

 as our fire season is at hand the fu'st of March in ordinary years, the 

 appointment of our men coming at that time allows us no opportunity 

 whatever for perfecting our organization and instructing any new men 

 who may be appointed. We are also unable to have a correct list of all 

 forest wardens and their deputies for the use of our observation men until 

 after the fire season is well advanced. By allowing the mayors and select- 

 men to make their appointments in January, we would have sufficient 

 time to complete our organization and be in readiness for handling spring 

 fires. 



I am very much in favor of legislation being enacted this winter allow- 

 ing the State to assume one-haK the expense of fighting forest and brush 



