Conservation Commission. 27 



suit upon them with a view to prosecuting only real violators of 

 the law, and as a result of this policy of discrimination but two 

 cases have been decided adversely to the State's interests since 

 the formation of this department. 



There seems to be a growing tendency to observe the laws 

 which lessen the dangers from forest fires, and the violations, for 

 the most part, come from those who were ignorant of the law. 

 In nearly all cases the precautions required of each have been 

 promptly taken when their attention was directed to the regula- 

 tions. A great many cases arise from deliberate trespass upon 

 lands claimed by the State in order that disputes as to title may 

 be settled by the courts. These cases require careful preparation 

 and great difficulties have been experienced on account of the lack 

 of a proper survey, as many thousands of acres of land have been 

 purchased by the State without any attempt at a survey, and we 

 have cases where no such land as described can be located or 

 found to exist. We have established a bureau of surveys, with 

 a plan whereby each survey as made will fit into a scheme of 

 surveys and field notes so that when complete there can be no 

 excuse for trespass upon the State's land and no question as to 

 the location of any parcel. 



An experienced title lawyer has been appointed specially to 

 prepare cases involving titles, to make abstracts and, as far as 

 possible, the titles abstracted will when completed set forth fully 

 and comprehensively the status of the State's title to lands in the' 

 t*vo great parks. 



The codification of the forest law is doubly important at this 

 time when the water storage problem, whereby the waste waters 

 of the State can be converted into power, is of great moment, 

 and laws encouraging reforestation of lands now barren and look- 

 ing to the scientific cutting of timber at the head waters of the 

 streams so as to preserve a forest cover, have received careful 

 attention and we hope will meet with the approval of all inter- 

 ested. The codification of the fish and game law is also of great 

 importance and we hope to report a statute so that no violation 

 can be excused by a misunderstanding of its provisions. Many 

 changes and amendments are suggested, possibly the chief of 

 which is that an habitual offender shall receive more severe pun- 



