OHIO FISH AND GAME COMMISSION.

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HE Ohio Fish and Game Commission was created in 1886. The commission is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, who serve without compensation excepting their actual expenses, for a period of five years each. The present personnel of the Board consists of Col. J. L. Rodgers, President, Columbus, Ohio, Col. Albert Brewer, Tiffin, Ohio, J. C. Burnett, Sabina, Ohio, A. J. Hazlett, Bucyrus, Ohio, and C. E. Buroker, St. Paris, Ohio. The Board being non-partisan, the first three are the Republican, and the last two the Democratic members of the Board. L. H. Reutinger is secretary and chief warden. "It is the duty of the commissioners to examine the various rivers, lakes, ponds and streams in the state or bordering thereon and ascertain whether they can be rendered more productive of fish and game, and what measures are required to effect this object, either in restoring the production of fish and game in and about them, or in protecting and propagating the fish which at present frequent and abound in them, or otherwise; and the commissioners shall carry into effect all such measures, in this behalf, that they deem necessary, so far as means are placed at their disposal for these purposes; and they shall also inquire into the matter of the artificial propagation of fish in the waters of the state, and adopt such plans to test the efficiency of this mode of increasing the quality of edible fish as they think best."

The commission has erected a plant at London, Ohio, for the purpose of propagating the Mongolian and English ring-necked pheasant and the breeding of black bass, marble cat and other species of edible fish. The plant is an extensive one and the commission succeeds in rearing at least from two to three thousand pheasants every year for public distribution. and from a half to one million fish for planting in the public streams. According to an act of the last General Assembly the commission may appoint deputy state wardens wherever they see fit. Their jurisdiction extends over the waters of Lake Erie within the boundary line of Ohio. That industry alone is of great magnitude and importance and from twenty-five to forty million pounds of fish are taken from these waters annually. The experiment of propagating the Mongolian pheasant has proved very successful and within a few years the commission expects to report an abundance of pheasants in every locality in the state of Ohio.

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D. HOLLENBECK, the first State Fire Marshal of Ohio, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, August 19, 1850. He received

⚫ his early education in the common schools, afterward attended the Western Reserve at Hudson, Ohio, and later graduated in a commercial course at Hiram College.

In 1887 he was elected auditor of Geauga county, and was four times chosen for that important office. From his youth up he has been prominent in politics-a recognized leader in local affairs-and also prominent in State politics.

He is a ready speaker and noted for the originality of his ideas and clearness of expression. His long experience in the auditor's office during the tax-inquistorial days gave him an experience along the detective line, which will prove valuable in his present position.

While the law creating the office of Fire Marshal was in no sense a political one, yet the manner of appointment by the Governor makes it a political office and subjects the marshal to the changes incident to politics, but while Mr. Hollenbeck is a strong party man, he proposes that the management and operations of the bureau shall be absolutely non-political.

The State Fire Marshal.

DUTIES OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

The act which established the office of the State Fire Marshal was passed by the Seventy-fourth General Assembly on the 16th day of April, 1900, and on May 30th Governor Nash, by the authority given him under this act, appointed S. D. Hollenbeck, of Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, to be the first State Fire Marshal.

Under the provisions of the act it becomes the duty of the Fire Marshal to cause an investigation of all fires which occur in the State, with the object in view of reducing, if possible, the enormous fire waste, lessening the loss to insurance companies, and thereby reducing insurance premiums. It is also his duty to make an investigation of inflammable and other conditions from which fires are liable to originate, and have the same remedied or removed. For many years, on account of the difficulty connected with establishing the crime of arson, very few incendiaries have been punished in the State, the total average per year not exceeding two. Estimating the loss caused by incendiary fires upon the best information to be obtained, the total loss to the people of the State resulting from such fires will amount to from twenty to forty percent. of the total fire waste of the State each year. The wisdom of the Legislature in providing some means of reducing this waste is therefore apparent. To assist the Fire Marshal in carrying out the object of the act, the State was divided by him into seven districts and a division assistant to the Fire Marshal was appointed for each district, to whom, under the provisions of the law, township clerks, mayors of villages and chiefs of fire departments report all fires occurring in their respective territories. All fires reported as suspicious are investigated by the assistant, and where necessity requires one of the two deputies appointed by the Fire Marshal goes to the scene of the fire and holds an inquest. The testimony of all witnesses who have knowledge of the fire, is taken in writing under oath. If the facts warrant, an arrest is made and the guilty party bound over to the grand jury, indicted and tried for arson. The office is provided with a corresponding clerk and a statistician, whose duties are to keep a com plete and classified record of all fires and their causes. The office has already met with unexpected success in the prosecution of incendiaries. and a goodly number of fire bugs who, through the efforts of the office. are now in the "Pen," will be prevented for some time from carrying out their nefarious calling of setting fire to buildings for the purpose of securing insurance or for any other motive. Below will be found a complete roster of the employes of the department, together with their postoffice addresses.

The Geological Survey of the State of Ohio was undertaken during the year 1869 by legislative authority and was actively prosecuted until 1875 by which time the work had been practically completed and a published report made in several volumes. The work was begun under Professor John S. Newberry and completed under Professor Edward Orton, who had been closely identified with its details and practical execution from its inception. The professorship of State Geologist is now attached to the Ohio State University, where the work is continued. The State Geologists have been :

John S. Newbery, appointed 1869; E. B. Andrews, appointed 1872; Edward Orton, appointed 1875, and Edward S. Orton who succeeded to the position upon the death of his father.