than ever before, and the other improvements which are in progress will, it is believed, cause the lake to remain a valuable source of water supply for years to come.

Through a recommendation made by the Board an Act was passed by the Legislature of the year 1909 by which it was provided that the Board might close and terminate the existing connection between Lake Cochituate and Dug Pond in the town of Natick, and transfer and release to that town all interest in and control over the waters of Dug Pond, it being provided that thereafter the pond should not be used as a source of water supply for the Metropolitan District or allowed to overflow into Lake Cochituate. This pond has an area exceeding 50 acres, and its shores had already been acquired by the town for a public park. Its situation was such that it was especially difficult to provide for the protection of its waters against pollution, and its surroundings and central situation were such as to offer to the residents of Natick attractive opportunities for boating and other like privileges. The Board made a release of its interest and control over the waters of the pond to the town of Natick which was accepted by the town. The connections between the pond and Lake Cochituate were closed in the month of July, and an outlet was made for the waters of the pond into the watershed of the Charles River.

A force, varying according to the different seasons from 3 to 15 men, has been employed to patrol the margins of the several reservoirs, and, in cases, the waters of the reservoirs, for the purpose of enforcing the regulations of the Board relative to boating, fishing, hunting and other menaces to the water, as well as the property of the Commonwealth. This protection has been particularly required upon the grounds surrounding the Chestnut Hill Reservoir where large numbers congregate on evenings and especially on Sundays and holidays. The opening of the electric car service to Spot Pond during the past season caused large numbers of people to resqrt to the shores of the pond, and especial vigilance was required in order to protect them and prevent the pollution of the water.

A considerable number of persons have been found violating the rules and regulations of the Board. Some men and boys were discovered bathing in the reservoirs, and five have been called before the court and two of them have been fined. Forty-eight persons have been detected violating the regulations pertaining to fishing. Eleven of these were summoned into court, of whom six were fined.

(9) SANITARY INSPECTION.

A constant inspection of the watersheds has been maintained during the past year by William W. Locke, C. E., who has had the help of two assistants.

On the Sudbury and Cochituate watersheds 19 cases of typhoid fever were reported during the year. Precautions were taken by the sanitary inspectors in all cases to protect the water supply from pollution, and so far as known no harmful results have followed.

During the year there have been reported on the Wachusett watershed 9 cases of typhoid fever and 1 of dysentery, these all occurring in the town of Holden. All of these with the exception of 2 cases occurred in houses not supplied with water from a public water supply. The 2 cases excepted were at the Mt. Pleasant Hotel, from which originated an epidemic of typhoid fever resulting in 59 cases and 8 deaths, all of which cases, with the exception of the 2 mentioned, developed outside of the watershed. The epidemic was ascribed to a contamination of milk which had been supplied.

Premises upon the watersheds have been inspected during the year for the purpose of ascertaining the number and condition of sewer connections and cesspools, and also the condition of privies, sink drainage, manufacturing wastes and other disturbing elements. Upon the Wachusett watershed there were inspected during the year 1,475 premises. During the year 7 new cesspools have been constructed, and under the requirements 16 new buildings, built upon the watershed, have been provided with cesspools. The sanitary condition of the watershed has been further improved by the removal of 4 buildings which were standing upon the territory belonging to the Commonwealth. The number of cases inspected upon the Sudbury and Cochituate watersheds was 7,083. Upon the Sudbury watershed 44 old and 14 new premises were connected with public sewers, and upon the Cochituate watershed 33 old and 29 new premises were so connected.

(10) FORESTRY.

The Board is obliged to exercise a care over more than 15.5 square miles of land, the larger part of which is covered with trees. Not only has considerable forestry work been done for the care and improvement of tracts of existing woodland, but also a large

portion of the cleared lands, particularly those directly about the reservoirs, has been planted with trees. On the margins of the Wachusett Reservoir, a total area of 1,341 acres has been planted, and of this aggregate 27.5 acres have been planted during the past year. This planting has been principally of white pine seedlings. Besides, areas covered more or less with woods have been improved by the thinning out of the trees and the removal of brush. Tree planting and improvement have also been effected in some of the outlying lands belonging to the Board, and particularly upon the highways through lands of the Board and on the forest roads through these lands.

For the protection of the marginal lands a fire patrol has been found necessary, but, notwithstanding the precautions which have been taken, three fires of considerable extent have taken place during the year in which large areas have been burned over, and considerable damage has been done in the destruction of the newly planted trees.

During the year there were used for planting on the Wachusett watershed 36,000 white pines, and 34,050 arbor vitæ and maple seedlings were transplanted from the nursery to the margins of the highways.

In the Lamson nursery on the north side of the reservoir there are 58,100 arbor vitæ and a considerable number of sugar maples, locusts, white oaks, ashes and walnuts.

The Flagg nursery is maintained upon the south side of the reservoir and now contains 23,350 white pines and 19,350 arbor vitæ.

Considerable forestry work has also been done on the margins of the Sudbury Reservoir, where 5,000 white pines have been planted during the past year and where brush and undesirable trees have been removed, and other areas have been improved by cutting. Some tree planting has been accomplished about the Ashland and Hopkinton reservoirs, and other work has been done around Lake Cochituate and along the Sudbury and Cochituate aqueducts in the cutting out of underbrush and the removal of undesirable trees.

(11) MOTH SUPPRESSION.

Much work has been required during the past year to prevent the depredations not only of the gypsy and brown-tail moths but of the elm-leaf beetle and the pine-tree weevil, and the amount which has been expended on different regions under the control of the Board