Introduction

SD 4-l\ aV4 u)\ \a\a>^^^ ^ %cdx ^- (, ^ \ ^^(XAAci ftcVi^ iTniiT ;\X3-tLuAA^/^ri'l- ' iif Glass_SD_4 Book V4 ATRNDBOOH^ )REST PROTECTION STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA DEP4BTMENT0F FORESTRY, GAME AND Fl FVEI^INQTON. .^ NOTICE TO FOREST USERS BURNING THK WOODS Does not improve the {�raziniii Does not extei-niinate poisonous instnts oi- animals -- Does injure the j^raziu^ by: Killing- the better j;rasses Decreasing the fertility of the soil Increasing the damage from frost, sun, wind, and rain. Does injure timber Does increase insect damage Does kill young trees COOPEUATE WITH THE STATE DEIH TV FIIU': WARDENS AND THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL PATROLMEN IN PREVENTING Fiin:s. STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF Forestry, Game and Fish A Hand Book of Forest Protection Forest Laws; Instructions to Fire Fighters; Lookout Stations and Equipment; List of Deputy Forest, Game and Fish Wardens. 1914 J. A. VIQUESNEY, Warden Belington. .r*' n[- TRIBUNE PRINTING CO., CHARLESTON* W. VA, D, �P 13. JUL 26 <gi9 ^ FOREWORD. The forest laws of the State are given in full. The following summary is intended to show briefly what provisions are of particular interest to different classes of citizens. -- Alenihcrs of County Courts. The law makes it your duty to set a per diem wage to be allowed to fire fighters, and gives you authority to pay such claims out of the funds of your county. When you audit these claims and find that they are correct be prompt in making settlement, as this tends to create a better sentiment among the people toward our forestry laws. Report any claims which are not made properly to this office. -- Timber Owners. Caution your employees not to set fires. If the county has to fight them you are liable for the full amount of all expenses incurred, and should they burn up the property of others you are liable to twice the amount of damages sustained. Take care of your slashings. See that you have adequate spark arresters on wood or coal burning engines. ^'-^ -- Fire Wardens. Q^et to' all .fires as quickly as possible, ami use all available means to extinguish them before they cover much ground. Study the forest laws. -- All Citizens. Be careful with fires in timber, grass or brush. Fight fires when called upon. THE TEN POPLARS. Ten large yellow poplar trees take one hundred men one day to manufacture. That means one day's wages for one hundred men brought into the country. That means the clothing, housing and feeding of one hundred families for one day. Suppose those trees are destroyed by fire. That lAeans the loss of one day's wages to one hundred men. The support of one hundred families wiped out for one day. The bread taken out of the mouths of the women and children of one hundred families for one day. The timber value is wiped out. The owner loses. The workmen suffer. The fanner who sells the supplies suffers. The value can never be returned. HOW MANY FIRES DESTROY ONLY TEN TREES? THE FIKE BUG AND THE EAST WIND, "No, I'll not burn my slash this spring" The moss-back logger said, "ril trust to God and luck again ; Expense is what I dread." "It's time to hit the trail again" The careless camper said. And Jeft his little fire ablaze Within its leafy bed. "I'll light another cigarette" The idle loafer said, And chucked his old snipe in the brush, One end still glowing red. "Let's punch the screen out of the stack' The donkey fireman said. And so he did and all the sparks Sailed blithely overhead. "Come on, we'll dump our ashes now" The railroad trainman said. The train soon fanned them far and wide And on its way it sped. "Good time to fire my slashing now" The thrifty rancher said, And touched it off without a thought Of how far it might spread. "Millions in lives and timber lost" The newspapers next said. What made those fires all start at once We wondered as we read. "It wasn't us, it was that wind" The fools in chorus said. So the're alive and loose this year, We hope the wind is dead. PART I. Administratio7i. -- Sec. 2759 1 [Code of West Va., Supp. 1909]. The governor shall between the first day of June and the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and nine, appoint some person, a citizen of this state, whose Forest, game term of office shall begin on the first day and fish ward- of July, one thousand nine hundred and en. Appoint' nine, to the offl'^e of forest, game and fish ment. warden. Said warden shall hold his office for four years and until his successor has Term of office, been appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed for cause by the governor. He Removal. shall receive for his services the sum of eighteen hundred dollars per annum, to be Compensation, paid out of the treasury, quarterly, after and mileage. being duly audited ; and shall be allowed mileage of three cents a mile while traveling by railroad or steam-boat, and ten cents a mile while travel- ing otherwise than railroad or steam-boat, for the distance necessarily traveled while actually in the discharge of his official duties as such warden. Provided, however, that the mileage expenses of said warden shall be reported quarterly under oath to the governor and approved by him ; and pro- vided, further, that such mileage expenses shall not, in any one year exceed five hundred dollars. Said warden shall devote all his time to the discharge of the duties of his office, imposed upon him by law. Said warden shall appoint two persons who are citizens of this state and Chief Deputy one of whom shall reside In the eastern sec- wardens. Ap- tion of the state, chief deruty wardens of pointment. forests, game and fish, said chief deputies shall hold their office at the pleasure of the Term of office, warden appointing them. Said chief deputies shall each receive for their service, the sum Compensation of nine hundred dollars a year, to be paid and mileage. out of the treasury quarterly after being duly audited, and shall be allowed mileage of three cents a mile while traveling by railroad or steam-boat, (8 ) and ten cents a mile while traveling otherwise than by rail- road or steam-boat, for the distance necessarily traveled for the purpose of performing the duties imposed upon them by law, and they shall devote all their time thereto, such mile- age expense of either of said chief deputies, shall be reported quarterly, under oath to the warden and approred by him, and forwarded to the governor and approved by him ; pro- vided, however, that said mileage iji any one year, shall not exceed four hundred dollars to each chief deputy warden. The warden shall appoint such persons aa Deputfj uard- he may deem fit, who are citizens of this ens. Appoint- state, to act as deputy wardens in the several mcnt. counties of this state. Said deputy wardens shall hold their office at the pleasure of the Term of office, forest, game and fish warden. The sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and constables in the several E.T officio counties of this state shall be ex-ofticio ilcputu Hardens, deputy wardens therein, and the chiefs of police of the cities, towns and villages of this state shall also be ex-officio deputy wardens therein and their .iurisdiction shall extend no further than their respective counties, cities, towns and villages. .\11 said dei)uty wardens, either appointed or cx-ofiicio. shall receive Co}iii)cni<ation. for their services one- half of the fines im- posed by any justice or court having juris diction, and collected in each prosecutioi;i instituted by any such deputy warden, and the other half of such fine shall be i)aid to forest, game and fish warden, who shall pay the same over to the treasurer of the state, to be credited by him as other fines are credited ; but no fees or moneys shall be paid any deputy for services rendered as such deputy warden, out of the treasury of this state, and in any prose- cution under this chapter, section two of chapter thirty-six of the code of one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine and section one thousand one hundred and fifty-nine of the code of one thousand nine hundred and six shall not apply to any warden. [Act approved March 1, 1909; Sess. Laws, t:hap. 60.] Sec. 2760-2. The forest, game and fish warden shall have general charge of the following public matters, and necessary ' ' powers therefor. The collection and diffu- GCner*ai duties, sion of such statistics, literature and in- "'^''- i^'" formation as he may deem useful in regard (9 ) to the protection of forest and the protection and propagation of game and fish, the publishing thereof, and the taking charge of and keeping all reports, books, papers and documents which shall, in the discharge of his duties hereunder, come into his possession and control, and the institution of all proper legal proceedings to enforce the provisions of law, now in force, or hereafter enacted, in reference to forests, game and fish. Said warden shall, on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and Biennial eleven, and biennially thereafter, submit to the reports. governor, a dotailod report showing what has been done by him during' the preceding biennial period, the amount of all moneys received by him and from what sources, in detail, a complete inventory of all game and other property seized and sold, and the amount received therefor, and the amount of disbursements in detail. Examination The books and vouchers of said warden shall of hooks and be subject to examination by the auditor of vouchers hij the state at. all times. fSess. Laws, 1909, state auditor. Chap. 60.] Sec. 2761-3. The chief deputy wardens and deputy wardens shall act and be under the direction and supervision of said forest, game and firsh warden. Said chief dep- Chief deputy uty and deputy wardens shall have authority, wardens and and it shall be their duty to enforce the deputy -wardens. game, fish and forest laws of this state, General powers now in force or hereafter enacted, for the and duties. protection of forests and protection, pre- servation and propagation of game, fish and birds, and shall be immediately responsible to the warden, and shall report all matters under their jurisdiction, when- ever requested by him and receive instructions from him. It shall be unlawful for any deputy warden. Compromise or either appointed or ex oflScio, to settle, settlement of compromise or adjust any prosecution un- prosecutions. der this chapter and to receive moneys from any violator or alleged violator of, any of the provisions thereof, unless the same are moneys received in the payment of fines imposed in due process of law by a justice or court having jurisdiction of the offense charged, and if any such deputy warden shall receive any moneys from any such violator or alleged violator, either aa such settlement and compromise or to prevent any prosecu- (10 ) t^pn therefor, such deputy warden shall be guilty of a punishment. felony and upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the penitentiary not lesa than one nor more than five years. [Sess. Laws, 1909, Chap. 60.] Sec. 2762-4. The forest, game and fish warden, and ap- pointed deputy wardens shall have full power to execute and serve any warrant or process of law, issued Arrests for by any justice of the peace or by any court violations of game, fish or forest laws. Power to make. having jurisdiction under the law, relating to game, fish, birds and forests, in <he same manner as any constable or sheriff might serve or execute such process, and may arrest on . sight without a warrant, any person or persons, detected by them, actually violating any of the provisions of the laws of this state relating to the game, fish, bii'ds and forests, and may take such person or persons, so offending, before any court, or justice of the peace, having jurisdiction of the offense, and make proper complaint before such court, or justice, which shall proceed witli the case in the manner as provided by law. Any such appointed warden, who on receiving information from a reliable person, of the violation of the Neglect to game, fish or forest laws, neglects or re- caiise offenders fuses to thoroughly investigate such al- to he appre- leged violation, and apprehend or attempt hended. to apprehend the offender, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction Punishment. thereof, shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense. [Sess. Laws. 1909, Chap. 60.] Sec. 2767-6. The forest, game and fish warden and the chief deputy wardens, shall each before entering upon the discharge of