STATE WORK EESUMBD IN MASSACHUSETTS. 31 



kind, and general appeal was made that something be done to abate 

 the nuisance. 



During the summer of 1904, Mr. C. L. Marlatt, first assistant ento- 

 mologist of this Bureau, visited the infested territory and strongly- 

 urged that the matter be given immediate attention. In his report 

 on the conditions existing, which has been published in Circular 58, 

 Bureau of Entomology, he stated that at the time his observations 

 were made the property owners in the badly infested section were at 

 a conservative estimate spending more than $200,000 annually in 

 fighting the gipsy moth, and that the results were far from satisfactory 

 owing to the fact that the work was not carried on in a systematic 

 manner. The amount cited represents the largest annual appropria- 

 tion which had been made by the State before the work was discon- 

 tinued. 



All these factors led to the formation of many local associations 

 which had for their object the destruction of the moths. Many of 

 the infested towns and cities appropriated funds which were used to 

 protect the trees, and the citizens, after becoming thoroughly aroused, 

 fought the pests vigorously as a matter of self-protection. The work, 

 however, was far from effective because it was not properly organized 

 and undertaken in a systematic manner, and while many owners had 

 their premises well taken care of, their efforts were largely nullified by 

 the negligence of careless neighbors or nonresident property owners. 

 This was particularly true on estates adjoining wooded areas which 

 had a small market value. 



The brown-tail moth, which had confined most of its energies up to 

 the present time to feeding on fruit and ornamental trees, was now 

 found widely scattered throughout the woodlands, and the trees, 

 especially oaks, in many regions were thoroughly infested with webs 

 of the pest. 



STATE WOBK BESTJMED IN MASSACHtTSETTS. 



So serious was the situation and so urgent were the appeals for 

 assistance that the Massachusetts legislature took action in the mat- 

 ter in 1905. The law was amended in 1906 and is given in full, as it 

 has formed the basis for similar laws in other States. 



[Chap. 381, acts of 1905, as amended by chap. 268, acts of 1900.] 

 AN ACT To provide tor suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths. 



Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 



Section 1. For the purposes of this act the pupse, nests, eggs, and caterpillars of the 

 gypsy and brown tail moths and said moths are hereby declared public nuisances, 

 and their suppression is authorized and required; but no owner or occupant of an 

 estate infested by such nuisance shall by reason thereof be liable to an action, civil 

 or criminal, except to the extent and in the manner and form herein set forth. 



Sec. 2. The governor, by and with the consent of the council, shall appoint a super- 

 intendent for suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths and shall determine hie 



