FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 1 75 



a form not appreciated by the great body of its inhabitants, a form 

 which clashes with the interests of some, unless it is prepared to buy out 

 the interests adverse to the purpose held in view. As to what will 

 ultimately transpire, much depends on local public opinion and the 

 sincerity and force of the general movement. One special reason why the 

 Forest, Fish and Game Commission can justly look for special help in that 

 direction lies in the fact that the purposes held in view should work out 

 finally in increased values of real estate, although it is not yet perfectly 

 clear that anything is actually to be worked out that will be of great 

 moment to the State at large. 



The text of the law and a copy of the statement issued by Commissioner 

 Whipple at a meeting of landowners and others interested, held at Highland 

 Falls on September ioth will be found in the report on the Reservation by 

 Forester Moon. 



Law Requiring Lopping of Tops 



The States of New York and Minnesota have this year been making 

 essays in another direction that should be of considerable value to the 

 country at large, as to both subject and method. The new fire protection 

 law enacted in the spring of 1909 contained the following clauses: 



Every person who shall, within the forest preserve counties of the 

 State, cut or cause to be cut, or allow to be cut any coniferous trees for sale 

 or other purposes, shall cut off or lop or cause to be cut off or lopped from 

 the said trees, at the time of cutting the said trees, all the limbs or branches 

 thereof, unless the said trees be cut for sale and use with the branches 

 thereon, or for use with the branches thereon. Any person violating the 

 provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon 

 conviction, be fined not more than twenty-five dollars or shall be imprisoned 

 for not more than thirty days, or both, for each offense, and in addition 

 thereto shall be liable to a penalty of two dollars for each and every conif- 

 erous tree felled from which he shall neglect to cut or lop off the 

 branches. 



With the administration of the fire law absorbing the main energies 

 of this office through the summer season, special attention and care were 



