301 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. You cut the logs out and leave the tops there, and there would 

 be scattered over an acre fifteen to twenty tops ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Will that help fire to run ? 



A. Yes, sir; to a certain extent the first year. 



Q. While those tops lie there, don't it promote fire running over the 

 tract of 500 acres ? 



A. Yes, sir; the first year after the chopping is done. 



Q. How about the second year ? 



A. After the first year a spruce or hemlock top is about as hard a 

 thing as we have to burn; we learn that in the clearing up of land. 



Q. So there is no danger after the first year ? 



A. No, sir; not the least. 



Q. How long does it take the limbs and brush of a spruce tree to 

 decay ? 



A. They will not rot away entirely in several years, but they get 

 soaked and the bark is wet. 



Q. Suppose they get dry, isn't fire likely to run through the old 

 stuff when it is dry ? 



A. It will run anywhere when it is dry. 



Q. The more spruce tops dried out in a dry time the more danger 

 of fire running ? 



A. I shouldn't say there would be any more danger by it running, 

 or of it running, where there were spruce tops, than in any other part 

 of the woods in a dry time. ' 



Q. That is your opinion and experienca ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. How recent a tresspass do you know of or have you heard of ? 



A. I have found one only about a week or ten days ago; thejcutting 

 had been done some three or four weeks. 



Q. Did you find more than one ? 

 . A. Yes, sir. 



Q. How many ? 



A. I have found at least six since December. 



Q. How large trespasses were they, how many logs did you find 

 had been cut ? 



A. To the best of my recollection I think there were about 600 

 pieces in one parcel, 500 and some odd in another, I think 600 and 

 some odd in another parcel, 500 and some odd in another, 200 in 

 another, and 160, 1 think, in another parcel. 



Q When you say " pieces " you mean logs. 



