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CIRCULAR No. 17. 
United States Department of Agriculture, 
DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 
RECENT LEGISLATION ON STATE FORESTRY COMMISSIONS AND 
FOREST RESERVES. 
In Circular No. 13, of this division, the existing forest fire legisla- 
tion of the several States and Territories was summarized. Since it 
appeared, in March, 1896, several States have enacted legislation for 
the creation of forestry commissions and the establishment of forest 
reservations, and public interest in these important subjects has been 
greatly stimulated. This increased interest is evidenced in the many 
requests which reach the Division of Forestry for aid in formulating 
legislation affecting forest conditions, and it is believed this summary 
of the more important recently enacted laws will be of material 
service in work of this kind. 
NEW YORK. 
The original Forest Commission of the State of New York, 
appointed under the act of May 15, 1885, was superseded in 1895 
by the Commission of Fisheries, Game, and Forests, under the law 
of April 25, 1895. This law is a comprehensive measure in which 
allied interests are brought under the control of a single board. 
Under this law the commission consists of five members appointed 
by the governor with consent of the Senate, the term of office being 
five years. The president, who is designated as such by the gov- 
ernor, receives a salary of $5,000 per year and traveling expenses, 
and devotes all his time to the work of his office. The remaining four 
commissioners each receive $1,000 per year and traveling expenses. 
The board holds at least four meetings, on designated days, each 
year. It has a secretary at $2,000 per year, and necessary clerical 
force. The duties of the board are to propagate and distribute food- 
fish and game; to enforce all laws for the protection of fish and game 
and for the protection and preservation of the forest reserve. It 
has full control of the Adirondack Park and forest reserve, and is 
authorized to make rules for its care and safety. 
The commission appoints thirty-five ‘‘fish and game protectors 
and foresters” (hereafter called foresters), one of whom to be known 
as chief, and two others as his assistants, the chief to have direction 
and control of the entire force. The foresters give bonds for the 
proper discharge of their duty. The chief forester receives $2,000 
per year and traveling expenses; the assistant foresters $1,200 each; 
and the remaining foresters $500 each; all having an extra allowance 
for traveling expenses and each of them to receive one-half of all 
fines collected in actions brought upon information furnished by 
