92 Fourth Annual Report of the 



ranger if we should pay a fixed salary of, say, eighty -five or ninety 

 dollars per month with no allowance for expenses. It should be 

 stipulated that, where necessary, the ranger should keep a horse. 

 In order to pay the salary mentioned above, an amendment to 

 the statute would, of course, be necessary. 



There are a number of rangers who have been in the employ 

 of the Department for several years. Some of these men have 

 proved their ability and their experience has made them more 

 valuable for the work. I believe that small increases in salary 

 should be given to those rangers who have earned them by 

 meritorious service. 



The area within which the Conservation Commission has juris- 

 diction over fire protection is defined by section 97 of the Con- 

 servation Law. This section enumerates ninety-seven towns in 

 the Adirondack and Catskill regions which comprise the pro- 

 tective area. The intent of the framers of the law was apparently 

 to name the towns which would include the more densely forested 

 portions of the regions in question. 



However, in the Catskill region there are large areas of forest 

 land outside of the present fire towns. In Greene county the 

 town of Halcott is largely forest land. To include this town as 

 a fire town would not onty extend fire protection to areas where 

 it is needed, but would also facilitate the administration of the 

 fire law by rounding out the exterior boundaries of the pro- 

 tective area. 



Quite another condition exists in Sullivan county. Two forest 

 towns — Neversink and Eockland — in the northern part of the 

 county are now included among the fire towns. A belt of forest 

 extends around the outside of the county, although the central 

 portion is agricultural land. In order to facilitate administra- 

 tion, I recommend that the entire county be included in the pro- 

 tective area. 



CUBA RESERVATION 



The plans made last year have, during this season, been put into 

 effect. The survey to locate the boundaries of the property has 

 been completed. Seventeen concrete and numerous iron monu- 

 ments designating corners have been erected. Such portions of 

 the property as are suitable for camp sites have been surveyed 



