3 
13 A Teak built life boat with the buoyancy tanks was purchased for use along 
the coast as the Malay boats in use were not trustworthy in bad weather and had very 
little capacity for impedimenta .when out for several nights. 
• II. Forest Offences. 
For particulars see Form 7. 
14. In Singapore, there were 12 cases during the year. There were 12 convictions^ 
15. In Penang, prosecutions for illicit timber cutting rose from 19 in 1903 to 30 in 
1904^ out of which there were 28 convictions and two acquittals. The fines realised 
amounted to $>255.60, Jn Province Wellesley four cases only were prosecuted and in 
each case a conviction was obtained, the fines amounted to §65. 
16. No persons were charged with offences in the reserves and no traces of ill-ici} 
cutting discovered. 
The list of Police Court cases shows as great a diminution in numbers as in serious- 
ness, and the proportion of undetected offences is now probably much smaller than in 
former years. This is attributed to three causes- — (1) the diminished number of firewood 
cutters working in the Dindings River, (2) the lack of inducements to hardwood kongsi 
managers to try to keep illicit cutters at work under the new royalty system, and (3) 
improved supervision of checking of current passes by the staff under the direction of the 
Forest Ranger. Of 46 persons charged, 40 were Chinese and 6 Malays ; 43 were con- 
victed, two acquitted and one escaped from custody after arrest and was not recaptured. 
17. In Malacca, there were 26 cases, 16 convictions and 10 acquittals, a poor per- 
centage, and it seems probable that there have been undetected cases. Owing to the 
absence of Forest Laws, however, it is perhaps surprising that anything can be proved 
against offenders. 
o 
] 8. No hres were reported during the year. 
IV. Improvement of Forests. 
I. Natural Reproduction. 
19. There is no mention made of this most important subject in any of the reports 
sent in to me, but the remarks contained in the 1903 report, paragraph 12, apply. 
II. Artificial Reproduction. 
20. Particulars are shewn in Form 8. In Singapore, the gutta percha plantation 
was up-kept during the year, about 30 acres. 
21. In Penang, the teak plantation at Tassek Glugor was weeded on two occasions 
during the year and blanks filled, and inspected by the Conservator of Forests. So far 
this small trial shews teak will not do here, at least in such a locality as Tassek 
Glugor. The cost was $>79.40. 
The gutta percha plantation at Batu Ferringi has been weeded and cleared, an 
additional three acres were planted up with 283 trees. Some of the plants planted 111 
1889 are now over six feet tall. The old trees of a seed-bearing age fruited in August, 
and a considerable quantity of young plants have been raised. It was only by cover- 
ing the trees as well as we could with old fishing nets that it was possible to save any 
of the fruits from the attacks of bats, squirrels, monkeys, etc., which are extremely fond 
of them. 
22. The Government plantations of gutta percha (Getah 'Laban) at Ayer Kroh 
were not enlarged during the year. The area remains at 125 acres. 
Some 15 acres of “blanks” in the Bukit Bruang Reserve were planted with 
mahogany and tembusu plants, bringing up the total area to 85 acres. 
'1 he gutta percha trees are planted under shade and on the whole are doing well 
1 he seedlings received from Borneo and Sumatra have turned out badly and no more 
such plants will be purchased. 
Para rubber . — There are some valuable rubber trees, at least 20 years old, at Rukit 
Sebukor. The seed crop is used for distribution to planters, and some experimental 
tapping produced rubber sold in London at 5/8 a lb. 
The total cost of planting, weeding, clearing undergrowth, tools, etc., was $2,101 .33. 
The Conservator paid two visits to the plantation during the year. Records kept 
have been insufficient. 
There are no plantations in the Dindings. 
23. Great difficulty is experienced in procuring young gutta purcha plants, and in 
spite of efforts to obtain seed throughout the year in the Federated Malay States, the 
Conservator of Forests only succeeded in obtaining about 5 ° seeds, out of which 10 
germinated. 
