FORESTRY IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 255 



The inspector of forests is authorized to make representations to the gov- 

 ernor, and also to subordinate political authorities, concerning measures which, 

 in his opinion, are necessary in the interest of forest culture, and which lie 

 within the province of those authorities. By direction of the governor he 

 inspects the action of the subordinate bureaus in matters of forestry. 



It is the duty of the inspector of forests to prompt the communal authori- 

 ties, the forest culture societies, and the managers and owners of forests to 

 take measures which ^e deems necessary for the security and promotion of 

 forest culture, particularly a well-regulated forest economy, the founding of 

 nurseries and production of seed, &c. 



He is authorized to correspond oflScially with all officers and organs of the 

 public administration, as well as with proprietors of forests and their employes, 

 to submit questions to them, demand reports and opinions, also to ask their 

 active support in his official duties. Such correspondence is always subject 

 to the inspection of the governor. 



The inspector of forests is bound to visit at least once a year the offices of 

 the forest commissioners for the purpose of examining their official actions and 

 pointing out defects and oversights. He has to promote instruction in forest 

 culture and the general spread of its principles, also to collect and arrange the 

 materials for general forest statistics, showing the actual state of forest culture, 

 the changes which are taking place, the annual yield of forests, the consump- 

 tion of wood and timber, &c. He directs and inspects the seed and tree 

 nurseries founded or maintained at public expense. 



2. The forstcommissare (forest commissioners). This office was created 

 only a few years ago, in order to subdivide the supervision and to assist the 

 inspector of forests. There are six commissioners in Bohemia; one is attached 

 to the inspector of forests and the others are stationed at the following places : 

 Pilsen, Karolinenthal, Komotau, Trautenau, and Deutschbrod. Accordingly, 

 the country is divided into five circuits, and the power of each forest commis- 

 sioner is co-extensive with his circuit. In matters concerning official func- 

 tions and discipline the forest commissioner is directly subordinated to the 

 captain of the district in which he resides; but he must be at the service of 

 every district captain within his circuit. 



The functions of the forest commissioners are on the whole similar to those 

 of the inspector of forests, and they are thus specified in the general law : 



1. To support the political authorities in the state supervision of forests 

 and in the enforcement of the laws and ordinances concerning forestry, 

 especially through their advice as experts, through a continued observation of 

 the condition of forests, and by means of giving notice of all detected contra- 

 ventions of the law. 



2. To promote forest culture by means of giving instruction and hints to 

 such owners of forests as appear to be in need of them, and through the 

 encouragement of measures calculated to improve the condition of forestry. 



3. To take charge of the actual management of common and other forests 

 in certain cases, with the consent of the ministry of agriculture, when it can 

 be done without neglect of their proper duties. 



