law: Indian Forest Act, 1927
  45.  Certain
  
  kinds of timber to be deemed property of Government until title thereto proved,
  
  and may be collected accordingly. – 
  (1) All timber found adrift, beached, stranded
  
  or sunk; all wood or timber bearing marks which have not been registered in
  
  accordance with the rules made under section 41, or on which the marks have
  
  been obliterated, altered or defaced by fire or otherwise; and in such areas as
  
  the State Government directs, all unmarked wood and timber, shall be deemed to
  
  be the property of Government, unless and until any person establishes his right
  
  and title thereto, as provided in this Chapter.
  (2) Such timber may be collected by any
  
  Forest-officer or other person entitled to collect the same by virtue of any
  
  rule made under section 51 and may be brought to any depot which the
  
  Forest-officer may notify as a depot for the reception of drift timber.
  (3) The State Government may, by notification
  
  in the Official Gazette, exempt any class of timber from the provisions of this
  
  section.