The Preservation of the Woods. 89 



law to that effect. The Board accordingly suggested that Gov- 

 ernor Bellomont might fitly be directed to urge the respbctive 

 assemblies to pass acts for the more effectual regulation of the 

 woods; or, if unable to accomplish this, that he should send 

 over headings for a bill to be passed by Parliament. Such a re- 

 quest was sent to Lord Bellomont in January, 1701 ; but the 

 governor's death occurring shortly after this, no definite action 

 was taken with regard to the prevention of waste until 1705, 

 when the Naval Stores Bounty Act was passed.^ The fourth 

 clause of the act forbade the cutting of "any pitch pines or tar 

 trees within any of the N'ew England colonies or New York 

 or New Jersey, not being within any fence or actual enclosure, 

 under the growth of 12 inches in diameter at three foot from the 

 earth, on the penalty or forfeiture of £5 for each offense." This 

 regulation, it will be noted, merely provided for the small pitch 

 pines used for making tar. It was to be the chief duty of the 

 new surveyor to see that the provisions of this clause were 

 strictly carried out. In view of the encouragement to the pro- 

 duction of pitch and tar offered by the act, he was further re- 

 quired to teach the people the proper methods of preparing 

 these commodities. 



Mr, Bridger proposed himself for the office, as a person fitted 

 for those duties by his late experiences as commissioner in 

 New England, and in March, 1705, he formally petitioned the 

 Queen for the post.^ His proposition received further support 

 from a petition made to the Board of Trade by certain mer- 

 chants and traders to New England, who, after the publication 

 of the new act, requested that a person well skilled in the pro- 

 duction of naval stores should be sent over to instruct the peo- 

 ple.^ The Board of Trade, on the 14th of November, 1705, 

 recommended to the Queen that Mr. Bridger be made surveyor 

 of the woods, at a salary not exceeding £200 sterling per an- 



^3 and 4 Anne, c. 9, Sect. 4. 



^Memorial from Bridger and petition to the Queen, B. T. Plants. 

 Gen., H: 4 and 6. 

 ^Petition from merchants and traders, B. T. New Eng., P: 35. 



