1910] FOREST, GAME AND FJSH WARDEN. 39 



ters, and I fully realize that some prosecutions have been made, that 

 were trifling in the extreme, and should have gone unnoticed. 



The fish dynamiter, the game >hog and other wailful violators of the 

 law, should have no mercy shov\n them, and should be prosecuted with- 

 out fear or favor, but to prosecute fon a trivial offense, is the hard mat- 

 ter to guard against- -under a system of deputy service, where a part 

 of the emoluments are the remuneration 'received for service. 



On account of the law being new, and not thoroughly understood by 

 many local deputies' and Justices of the Peace, before wOiom most of 

 these prosecutions have been made, the acquittals have been more nu- 

 merous than should have been. Some justices, who have not felt fa- 

 vorably inclined toward the law, or some of its provisions, have even 

 dismissed cases because they judicially determined that the law was! 

 unconstitutional, while others gave no other reason for; acquitting cer- 

 tain violators, than that they did not feel like imposing a fine, be- 

 cause the party was poor, or because of the friendship that they en- 

 tertained for the person who was being prosecuted. All of these mis- 

 takes will grow less, as the deputies and justices become morie familiar 

 with the statute. 



Fifteen thousand copies of the law have been distributed, since the 

 statute became effective, and every means possible, have been used to 

 familiarize all persons with its provisions. 



Forest and Forest Fires. 



Conservation and protection of forests, is not only claiming the 

 best thought and attention of our own citizens, but is one of National 

 importance. Experts calculate that at the present rate of cutting, the 

 great forest areas of the United States, will be almost exhausted ini 

 twenty years. In view of the fact, the Government has undertaken the 

 administration of the forests remaining on its land in the West, and 

 has set apart more than 1:40,000 square miles of its land for this pur- 

 pose, which territory would make ten states the size of West Virginia. 

 But large as the National forests are, they are only a little more than 

 one-fifth of the total iorests of the United States, and if we are to pre- 

 serve our great and valuable forests, states and individuals must take 

 up the work and see that our forests are not needlessly wasted. 



If the timber famine, which threatens the whole country, is to be 

 averted, then some system must be devised, whereby the question will 

 be handled by individuals, as the Government is handing its forest 

 lands; by stopping useless waste, cut mature trees only, let the sap-- 

 lings stand, and protect same from fire. There are many things which 

 are necessary and important in our forest areas, but protecting them 

 trom fire is the principal thing to be done, and, in fact, if this is not 

 done, other things will be of little avail. 



It cannot be denied, but that a state has the right, and it might be 

 urged, that it is the absolute duty of every state, to take this matter 1 in 



