FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 1 79 



has been found. There are but two considerable changes suggested by the 

 experience of the past season, for which change in the law is required. 

 One is the addition of another superintendent in the Adirondacks. That 

 region is so extensive and the means of communication are such that another 

 man there would add much to efficiency and probably save money besides. 

 Secondly, more territory is included than is either necessary or desirable. 

 The farm lands along the St. Lawrence river, for instance, can probably 

 be looked after well enough by the inhabitants under the supervisor system. 

 At any rate, they have proved a burden with no apparent gain that is com- 

 mensurate, as included under the present law. 



Observation Stations on Mountains 



An idea early suggested, that gathered force as the season passed, 

 was the desirability of increasing the number of observation stations. The 

 plans already laid at the time the season began embraced but five stations — 

 four in the Adirondacks and one in the Catskills. But these stations proved 

 their value so soon and so conclusively, the prompt notice they gave of even 

 small fires created such a sense of control over the situation, that it was 

 clear they should be increased in number. One crew, therefore, was kept 

 building stations and telephone lines and, at the end of the season, patrol- 

 men were employed in the same way, until at the present time fifteen such 

 stations, of which eleven are in the Adirondacks, are either ready or decided 

 on. Assistant Superintendent E. H. Johnson reports on these stations 

 for the Adirondacks; Mr. Todd for the Catskills, and in Mr. Hutchins' 

 report will be found a description of the working of Whiteface and Mount 

 Morris stations, which were typical of this work elsewhere, and as it should be. 



The essential equipment for these stations is a good map and field 

 glass, with telephone close at hand, or at least within a few minutes reach 

 of the observer. The topographic sheets of the United States Geological 

 Survey were used for the maps as far as they were available and when in 

 use, set in proper relation to the surrounding country on a table erected 

 on the mountain top. So equipped, an intelligent man, even if a stranger 

 to the country, could soon learn to pick out the points in the region around. 

 vVith good relief, locations could be certainly made without an instrument; 



