FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 207 



office, and to dismiss the district wardens under them; also that the super- 

 visors were made town fire wardens by virtue of their office. 



On June 2d a superintendent of fires was appointed ; on July 1 5th three 

 regular patrolmen for the counties of Ulster, Sullivan and Greene ; on July 

 19th one more was appointed for Delaware county. At various other times 

 seventeen special patrolmen were appointed in these four counties; several, 

 however, did not accept. This constitutes the fire-fighting force in the 

 Catskills this year. 



There have been installed three observation stations. Station No. 1 

 is located on Balsam Lake mountain, in the town of Hardenburgh, 

 about two miles from Balsam Lake. This observatory was built four 

 years ago by the Balsam Lake Club and is in poor condition, though it may 

 answer for another season. It is connected by telephone with the Seager 

 Telephone Company, which runs to Arkville and Margaretville and also to 

 the Balsam Lake lines, which run down to the main line at Beaverkill. All 

 the Shawangunk mountain fires were discovered and reported from this 

 station, also two fires in the town of Liberty and one in the town of Falls- 

 burgh in Sullivan county. 



Station No. 2 is located on Belleayre mountain, west of the village of 

 Pine Hill, in the town of Shandaken. This is a steel observatory, eighty- 

 five feet high, and was erected by private subscription by the summer board- 

 ers of that section. This station was not wired up, owing to the right of 

 way. One fire was reported from this station. 



Station No. 3 is located on Hunter mountain in the town of Hunter, 

 Greene county. This observatory was built by the State at a cost of $100, 

 and is connected by telephone with the local telephone lines in Greene 

 county. Two fires were reported from it. 



These are all desirable locations and should be maintained. Observa- 

 tion stations are a great help in the prevention of forest fires. Besides 

 locating and reporting fires quickly they have a tendency to make people 

 cautious — when they realize a man is on the mountain with a field glass 

 looking for fire. 



I suggest the building and installing of at least three more stations 

 in the Catskills. 



