PEOYIDING AGAmST ITS DEPREDATIONS. 37 



vide and carry into execution all possible and reasonable measures 

 to prevent the spreading and to secure the extermination of the 

 ocneria dispar or gypsy moth in this Commonwealth ; and to this 

 end said commission shall have full authority to provide itself with 

 all necessary material and appliances and to employ such compe- 

 tent persons as it shall deem needful ; and shall also have the right 

 in the execution of the purposes of this act to enter upon the lands 

 of any person. 



Sect, 2. The owner of any land so entered upon, who shall 

 suffer damage by such entry and acts done thereon by said com- 

 mission or under its direction, may recover the same of the city or 

 town in which the lands so claimed to have been damaged are sit- 

 uate, by action of contract; but any benefits received by such 

 entry and the acts done on such lands in the execution of the pur- 

 poses of this act shall be determined by the court or jury before 

 whom such action is heard, and the amount thereof shall be applied in 

 reduction of said damages ; and the Commonwealth shall refund to 

 said city or town one-half of the amount of the damages recovered. 



Sect. 3. Said commission shall have full authority to make 

 from time to time such rules and regulations in furtherance of the 

 purposes of this act as it shall deem needful ; which rules and 

 regulations shall be published in one or more newspapers published 

 in the county of Suffolk, and copies of such rules and regulations 

 shall be posted in at least three public places in each city or town 

 in which said ocneria dispar or gypsy moth shall be found by such 

 commission to exist, and a copy thereof shall be filed with the city 

 or town clerk of each city or town. Any person who shall know- 

 ingly violate any of the provisions thereof shall be punished for 

 each violation by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars. 



Sect. 4. Said commission shall keep a record of its transac- 

 tions and a full account of all its expenditures, in such form and 

 manner as shall be prescribed by the governor and council, and 

 shall also make return thereof to the governor and council at such 

 time or times and in such form as shall be directed by the governor 

 and council. The expenses incurred under this act shall be paid 

 by the Commonwealth, except claims for damages by the entry 

 upon the lands of any person and acts done thereon by said com- 

 mission or by its direction, which shall be paid as provided in sec- 

 tion two of this act. 



Sect. 5. The governor and council shall establish the rate of 

 compensation of the commissioners appointed under this act, and 

 the governor may terminate their commissions at his pleasure. 



Sect. 6. Any person who shall purposely resist or obstruct 

 said commissioners or any person or persons under their employ, 



