FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 12 1 



fires which appear to be entirely out, but which after a few days burn up 

 through the " duff " to the surface and, if no one is present, are soon beyond 

 control. It is a difficult matter to protect the entire four million acres 

 embraced in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. But a sufficient number 

 of reliable men, familiar with the work, should be employed during dangerous 

 periods to travel the ponds and trails, particularly in isolated sections, 

 to caution travelers in regard to fire, and to put out an}- fires that may 

 have been left. The open season for hunting and fishing should be sus- 

 pended by an executive act, in order to keep people out of the woods at 

 such times. 



It is gratifying to report that we have been able to convict several 

 persons of willfully setting fires. This, as already stated, is not a common 

 practice, but their conviction should be of value in its moral effect. 



Complaint has been received from some of the forest towns that the 

 State fixes too high a price for fighting fire. Each town fixes its own price 

 for fighting fire, but the State will not pay any town a rebate of more than 

 one-half of a two-dollar per day rate. If in any town the set rate of wages 

 for fighting fire is anv higher than is paid for ordinary labor, the price should 

 be reduced to, at least, an equal wage. 



The fires of 1908 were not only of great severity but extended over an 

 unusually long period. Late in April it was necessary to place patrols on 

 the railroads and in some places it was necessary to retain these men in such 

 service almost continually until October 25th. A comparison of the records 

 for the past eighteen years shows that the season of 1908 was one of drought 

 unprecedented for duration and severity. The fires began in June. It was 

 sufficiently dry for fires to start during the first week of that month, and it 

 continued dry until the 14th when there were many small fires which were 

 put under control with the aid of a rain at that time. Then came another 

 period of hot, dry weather extending until July 7th, when there were manv 

 fires and the situation was becoming alarming until rain came. But this 

 rain was not general; it did not check the fires in the Champlain Valley. As 

 early as July 12th the situation became serious again. In the Saranac 

 section large columns of smoke were rising in many directions, and the force 

 of railroad patrols was increased. 



About this time a large fire occurred near the head of Keene Vallev, 

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