58 ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



March 1 



April 51 



May 37 



June 4 



July ' 6 



August 1 



September 1 



October 15 



November 10 





Total . 126 



There was an encouraging decrease in the violations of the law which 

 forbids the burning of fallows or brush during certain periods in the spring 

 and fall. The offenses in this respect were 13 in number, each of which 

 was promptly prosecuted by the chief fire-warden as soon as the case was 

 reported. In 12 of these cases the offender was arrested and taken before 

 a justice of the peace who imposed a fine, the penalties amounting in the 

 aggregate to $190, not including costs, which were also paid by the defend- 

 ants. One action is still pending and awaiting trial. 



But in the two previous years there were 85 violations of this section of 

 the forest law, each of which was successfully prosecuted, the fines imposed 

 and collected amounting to $2,806.70. Over 5,000 notices, printed on 

 cloth, containing a copy of the law defining the close season are annually 

 posted throughout the forest towns. Still, there were so many of the 

 farmers or other residents who paid no attention to these warnings, or 

 who openly defied this law, that a vigorous prosecution of all offenders 

 became necessary to secure a proper respect for its provisions. The small 

 number of violations during the last year indicate that the lawless element 

 in the resident population has become convinced at last that the law must 

 be observed. 



As usual the greatest number of fires from any one source were started 

 by live coals dropped from the ashpans of railroad locomotives, or sparks 

 from the smokestacks. Some of the railroad officials were evidently care- 

 less and indifferent in regard to the damages thus caused, despite their 

 professions to the contrary. On the other hand, it is pleasant to note the 



