FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 247 



I have attended quite a number of fallow fires. If you want me to make a report 

 of those also, I will do so. 



The fire on Lots 116, 11S and 119, in June, was started by some person unknown. 



B. F. Merwin, Firewarden at Blue Mountain Lake, reports: 



There were no fires in this district to do any damage. Several fallows were burned 

 without doing any injury. There was one forest fire on the south side of Blue Moun- 

 tain that was started by someone who built a camp-fire, and went away and left it 

 burning. I had it put out before any damage was done. 



Herkimer County. 



J. M. Richard, Firewarden for the town of \\ "ilmurt, reports : 



There were no fires in this town during the past year except on the line of the 

 railroad, about two miles above Old Forge. It burned over less than half an acre, 

 and occurred before I was notified of my appointment. 



Part of what we call, or is commonly called, the Potter Hills, were burned over. 

 That was also before I was appointed. That hill covers about 300 acres, and has been 

 burnt over, or partly over, even' year or two since I have lived in this town, and that 

 is since 1865. But the burned spot is not fifty acres larger now than thirty years ago. 

 It grows up with brakes and briars, and burns over rapidly. The people in the near 

 vicinity watch it pretty close, as it lies among us residents, and we take care of it. 



There has been no fire of any account the past season, and the charges I have 

 made are for putting up the notices. I have made no charge for fighting fire. But 

 it is one of the best things we can do to keep these notices posted. It shows the 

 people there is a firewarden. I think it is the means of parties being more careful of 

 their camp-fires, for they might run across the firewarden. 



Henry Conklin, Firewarden for the town of Wilmurt, reports : 



On June 1st there was quite a forest fire in the central part of this town, known as 

 North Wilmurt. The fire was started by some unknown person, along the highway 

 leading from the town of Russia up the Black River towards North Lake, on Great 

 Lots 15, 16 and 12, in the Remsenburg Patent, between the highway and the Black 

 River, mostly on the north side of the highway. There were nearly 200 acres burned 

 over. It was on land that has been partly cleared by a few residents, and all the 

 valuable timber has been cut away years ago. What scattering trees remained had 

 been more or less burned. The old dead tops were falling down, and with the briers 

 and bushes that grow and die yearly to encumber the ground, made it a fit place for 

 forest fires. It burned a day or two, when there came a heavy rain and put it out. 



