Forest Fires. 341 
under protection. In 1902 nearly 37,000 square 
miles, or nearly 40% of the area in reserve, but only 
12% of the total government forest area, were under 
protection at a cost of $4.00 per square mile or less than 
one cent per acre, half of what it was 10 years before, 
and over 2 per cent. of the gross revenue. Nearly 
5,000 fires occurred, to be sure, which burnt over 3,000,- 
000 acres, that is to say over 90 per cent. of the area 
the protection was effective. For nearly half the 
fires the cause remains unknown. Danger from fire 
has, however, become less in protected areas because of 
the changes in herbage and moisture conditions. Yet 
it costs still about two per cent. of the gross revenue to 
protect the area, and the figures just cited show that 
this expenditure is only partially effective. 
The first successful attempts to deal with forest fires 
were made in 1864 by Major (now Colonel) G. F. Pear- 
son, who was then Conservator of Forests in the Central 
Provinces, and who devised a system of cleared fire 
lines or “fire traces,’’ surrounding the areas to be 
protected, which were cut and burned over early in 
the season, a system now in vogue in all India. In the 
jungle forests the traces must be broad; the grass often 
taller than an elephant must be cut and burned before 
the grass on either side is dry enough to burn. 
This protection forms the most important duty of 
the forest officials, a trying one as it has to be carried on 
during the hot season. 
A separate branch of the forest service carries on the 
work of surveying and mapping the forest area instead 
of the regular Survey of India, with the result of cheap- 
ening the cost. Some 60,000 square miles have been 
