The prevention of forest fires.

The prevention of theft and waste of trees.

The dimensions

of ’Ton Timber'.

Shingles.

Cordwood.

II. And be it enacted, That this Act shall continue and be in force for the period of Five Years after the passing of the same, and no longer.

1825 An Act to provide a Remedy for Injuries arising from improper burning of Woods. [5 George IV, C. XVll

Whereas the practice of setting fire to Woods at improper seasons, and the carelessness and improvidence with which such fires in the Forest are often managed, has already destroyed much valuable property, and unless restrained, threatens ruin and destruction to the Woods in this Island: Be it therefore enacted That any person who shall set fire to the Woods at any time of the year, and thereby injure the Woods or property of another, the person so causing such injury shall be liable in damages to the person so injured, and shall also be liable to the payment of a fine of Five Pounds for each and every such offence.

1833 — An Act to consolidate, amend and reduce into one Act the several Acts of the

General Assembly relating to Trespasses, and for other purposes therein mentioned. [3 William IV, c. XXVII]

And whereas there has been great waste committed of Pine and other valuable Timber Trees in this Island—to prevent which in future, be it further enacted That from and after the publication hereof no person or persons shall cut down or fell any Trees or Timber, nor bark or box* any Pine or other Trees standing or growing upon any lands in this Island, nor carry away the same therefrom, without first obtaining a written license from the owner or owners, on pain of forfeiting and paying a sum not exceeding Thirty Shillings for every Tree removed, barked or boxed the said fine to be paid to the owner or owners of such Trees Provided always that such penalties shall be sued for within Six calendar months next after the offence shall have been committed and not afterwards.

1849, 2 May. An ACT to regulate the Survey of Timber and Lumber. [12 Victoria, C. XIX]

Be it enacted ...... That Birch, and other Hardwood Ton Timber [which shall be exported from this Island], shall be squared with not more than one perpendicular inch of wane upon any part of such Timber.

That no Spruce, Pine or Hemlock Ton Timber shall be less than Sixteen Feet in length, nor any Birch or other Hardwood Ton Timber less than Twelve feet in length: nor shall any Spruce, Pine, or Hemlock Ton Timber be considered merchantable unless the same shall square at least Twelve inches, nor any Birch or other Hardwood Ton Timber unless the same shall square at least Thirteen inches;

That all Shingles which shall hereafter be exposed for sale in this Island as Merchantable Shingles shall be of Pine or Cedar Wood, and shall be Eighteen inches in length, and not less than Four inches in width and free from sap and worm—holes

That all Wood designed for Fuel commonly called Cordwood, shall be at least Four feet long, and shall be of good and sound Hardwood,

* To ’box’ a tree is defined as making an excavation or ’box’ in the trunk for the sap to collect (Oxford 1989). In North America the procedure was carried out especially on the long-leaf pines of the southern United States in order to collect the natural resins from which turpentine could be distilled. Williams (1989) says that the bark was first removed from the

trunk on the sunny side of the tree and then a downward pointing V-shaped incision or ’box’ was cut in order to stimulate the flow of resin for collection.