3 
PENANG. 
North East District. 
2. I visited all the Reserves several times during the year. 1 he Forest Rangers 
paid altogether 93 visits. 
3. Mr. H. C. Hill of the Indian Forest Department visited Block D in June in 
company with Mr. Ridley, Director of Gardens and Forests, Mr. Curtis, Assistant 
Superintendent, Botanic Gardens, and myself. Mr. Hill’s report was published in 
the Government Gasette of 21st September, 1900. He appeared at the time to be 
much struck with the natural reproduction going on in the Reserves with which he 
deprecated any interference. His recommendations on the Get ah producing area 
inside and outside the Batu Ferenghi side of the block are now being carried out. 
419 acres have been added to the Reserve bringing the boundary up to the path from 
Batu Ferenghi to Bukit Laksamana. Of this, 33 acres were acquired from two 
Chinese owners for §1,000. The extension of the boundary to the path will' save the 
Forest Guards much labour in clearing, on the other hand it considerably reduces the 
area within which woodcutting passes were issued and a sharp watch will have to be 
kept over owners of fishing stakes to prevent illicit cutting. 1 have very little faith 
in the possibility of exploiting this area as a Get ah preserve. 
4. Blocks E, A and I call for little comment. E and A 1 contain fair timber but 
no geiah, . 
The line of / was only opened out in November ; with the exception of a few 
.acres it is all scrub and small jungle. 
5. As far as 1 can ascertain very little illicit cutting and that only of stakes and 
jungle produce goes on in any of the Reserves. The difficulty of carrying away large 
timber in addition to the risk of almost certain detection is sufficient to deter the 
most inveterate timber thieves. 10 prosecutions were instituted during the year, in 
most cases for trespass, and fines to the amount of §99 inflicted. 
6. Two Forest Guards and 4 coolies were employed during the year. Paul, the 
head Forest Guard, was sick for much of the latter part of the year. He is still hardly 
fit for work and will be replaced as soon as a suitable man can be found. 1 employed 
two Kling coolies during the last quarter of the year and found they worked much 
better than the Siamese who are quite incapable of changkulling, 
7. The staff allowed for 1901 is 1 Forest Guard at §io, two Forest Guards at 
§8 and three coolies. at §7 each. I consider this an uneven distribution and would 
