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 2[State Government] directs, all unmarked wood and timber; shall be deemed to be the property of Government, unless and untill 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 s ion 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 2[State Government] may, by notification in the 3 [Official Gazette], exempt any class of timber from the provisions of this section.