PARIS — Forestry students from Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico got a lesson this week in reading deeds as preparation for working in the logging business.

“I want them to know how to find a deed of the property and be able to understand the description of the land,” instructor David Mason said. “Some boundary lines of properties are not marked well and I want them to be able to read the deed so they can find the length of a line and the approximate directions the line goes in.”

The four students and Mason met with Register of Deeds Patricia Shearman at her office in the Oxford County Superior Courthouse on Western Avenue on Tuesday.

Mason said the students will not be surveyors but they need to know how to determine where a boundary line runs and follow it before they cut on the land.

“They should always check with the landowners to be sure they all agree with the boundaries before they start to cut,” he said.

Mason said many of the students were surprised when they started reading the deeds, especially old ones, and saw the descriptions that were used to mark boundaries. They included an “old elm tree” as a corner marker or a “big rock” in the middle of the field.

“They realized many of the markers may no longer exist and the importance of keeping boundary lines well marked,” Mason said.

He said he also wants the students to know how to use the tax maps at the local town offices so they can get information to fill out an Intent to Harvest form and be able to determine who owns what land.

The vocational school educates students from Dirigo High School in Dixfield, Telstar High School in Bethel and Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

 ldixon@sunjournal.com

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