.MTUyNg.MTMxNzI

216

[Message of Gov.] public lands as should be prescribed by the Governor of this State. Under the Resolve Agents were appointed in different parts of the State in the vicinity of the public lands with instructions so to conduct their business, that there should be an entire stop pat to every species of depredation on the Government property generally, and especially on the Penobscot and Schoodic Rivers and all their tributary streams as well as on the waters which empty into the St. Johns — A correspondence was opened with the Executive of Massachusetts requesting information as to what measures it would be agreeable to that State to pursue in conjunction with this to preserve the joint property of both from depredation. — From the answer, a copy of which will be laid before you it appears that the State of Massachusetts relies upon the authority of Maine to preserve the common property, and that whatever expense may be thereby incurred will be a subject of cognizance by the Commissioners in making a division. By information received from various sources there is good reason to believe that extensive depredations are committing upon the timber in different parts of the State. It is stated that companies are forming to take timber from the public lands on one of the principle rivers emptying into the St Johns and that the erection of a mill on the land of the State for the cutting of lumber is contemplated the ensuing season. The depredations committed on this river are represented to be made principally by persons who are not citizens of this State. On the Penobscot and Schoodic Rivers it has been found impossible wholly to prevent the cutting of the timber. It had been the practice of the Commissioners of the Land Office in Massachusetts previous to the Separation to sell grass and timber on these rivers by permits