FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 33 1 



in order to obtain a proper degree of efficiency. It is hoped and expected that the 

 Legislature will soon make the necessary provision for some such appointment.* 



The firewardens are required by law to send to the Commission a written report of 

 each fire. Printed blanks are furnished them for this purpose, on which, in answer to 

 the questions contained therein, the firewarden states all the facts connected with the 

 fire — the date, duration, locality, area burned over, estimated damages, cause of the 

 fire, means employed in extinguishing it, number of men employed, and the number 

 of days' work, together with any further information of a specific or general character 

 which might be worth mentioning. 



Some of these reports are very readable, containing considerable information on 

 the subject of forest fires in general. But many of the firewardens seem to be unable 

 to make out an intelligent report, and confine themselves to the bare answers to the 

 printed questions. They are also very apt to overestimate the burned area and to 

 exaggerate the losses. Too often they neglect, or are unable, to furnish information 

 as to the cause of the fire, their failure in this respect being largely due to an evident 

 reluctance to furnish information against their neighbors. Of the ninety-four fires 

 which occurred last year, thirty-six were reported as " Cause Unknown." 



In accordance with the provision of the law requiring that the annual reports of 

 the Commission shall contain a statement showing the date, location and extent of 

 each fire, I submit herewith a tabulation by counties containing this information. 



* Since the above was written the law has been amended in accordance with the suggestions of the 

 superintendent, and a chief firewarden has been appointed. 



