30 MISC. PUBLICATION 10 9, IT. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



11. Are hunting and fishing permitted in a State game refuge? 

 Fishing is permitted, but the following acts are prohibited: Hunt 



ing, trapping, catching, disturbing, or killing any kind of game or 

 nongame animal, or game or nongame bird, or taking the eggs of 

 any bird; carrying or having possession of firearms, except when 

 authorized by permit issued by the State division of fish and game. 



12. Why are forest fires destructive to game animals, birds, and 

 fish? 



Fire destroys the natural feeding and breeding grounds of the 

 wild animals, and severe fires also kill deer and the smaller animals. 

 The nests and young of game and nongame birds are destroyed by 

 fire, and streams are filled with silt and ashes which are very 

 injurious to fish. 



13. Do Forest Service officers enforce the fish and game laws? 

 Yes. All forest officers under regular appointment are deputy 



State fish and game wardens, which service is rendered without 

 compensation. 



FOREST FIRES 



1. How many forest, brush, grain, and grass fires occur each year 

 in California? What area is burned over, and how much damage is 

 done? What is the cost of fire prevention and suppression? 



The fire record for the national forests of the California region, 

 and for the State of California as a whole, based on 10-year averages 

 from 1920-1929, inclusive, are as follows : 



National 

 forests, Cali- California, 



fornia region State 



Fires number.- 1,465 2,892 



Man-caused fires do 898 2,282 



Area burned acres__ 297,394 840,944 



National-forest land acres. _ 179, 943 



Private land inside national forests 



___acres__ 43, 788 



Private land adjoining national for- 

 ests acres__ 73, 663 



Damage $451, 843 $1, 414, 412 



To national-forest timber $200, 565 



To other resources 123, 527 



To private land inside (timber damage) 102, 802 



To private land adjoining national 



forests 24, 949 



Cost of fire prevention and supression 722, 784 931, 212 



2. What are the principal fire-prevention and suppression agencies 

 in California? 



The United States Forest Service, State division of forestry, 

 county forestry and fire organizations, lumber companies, and other 

 private companies and associations. 



3. Does the Forest Service protect and fight fire on lands other 

 than the national forests? 



The Forest Service extends the same measure of protection to 

 private lands within or adjacent to the national forests as is given 

 to Government land upon payment by the owners of the propor- 



