94 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



were; Fulton, 9; Essex, 9; Hamilton, 8; Oneida, 6; Ulster, 1. Most of these 

 depredations were committed on the scattered, isolated lots that are situated out- 

 side of the Adirondack Park, and which by reason of their location afford better 

 facilities for small timber thefts. The actual stumpage value of all the timber cut 

 during the past year on the Preserve by trespassers is small as compared with the 

 amount of the fines collected. 



There being no provision for the employment of forest patrols or rangers to 

 watch the lands in the Preserve, the work of guarding the State forests necessarily 

 devolves on the Fish and Game Protectors, who, despite the small number on duty 

 in the Adirondack and Catskill forests, have shown commendable efficiency in stop- 

 ping the work of the timber thieves. While on this matter I would take the oppor- 

 tunity for commending to the favorable notice of your Board the valuable services 

 rendered by Mr. J. W. Pond, the Chief Fish and Game Protector, and the Assistant 

 Chief, Mr. John E. Leavitt. By their active, intelligent work they have contributed 

 largely to the suppression of the marauders whose operations in former years were 

 carried on to such an alarming extent. 



Some of the trespasses on the State lands were committed for the sole purpose 

 of obtaining firewood; but, in each case of this kind, the people who did the cutting 

 were arrested, convicted and fined. These parties, all of whom were very poor, 

 pleaded in their defense that the State owned all the land in their vicinity, except 

 some small private preserves whose owners would not sell them any timber for fuel. 

 They claimed that they had gathered all the dead or fallen timber for a long dis- 

 tance, and that to go farther for such fuel made it cost more than firewood of any 

 kind was worth. They complained loudly of the worthless quality of the old, fallen 

 trees, which they dislike to burn, accustomed as they have been all their lives to 

 using good " body wood " in their cook stoves. 



The following letter is a sample of many that are received : 



PlSECO, N. Y., December 13, 1899. 



DEAR Sir. — I have been informed by one of the officers of your Commission 

 that the people of this vicinity are forbidden to cut any firewood on State lands. I 

 write you for advice whether or not we have a right to cut what cord wood we need 

 to burn during the winter months. As a good many of the people here have no 

 woodland of their own and cannot buy any of their neighbors, it becomes quite 

 necessary for them to cut what wood they want to burn — which does not exceed 

 twenty-five cords for each family for a whole year — on the State. 



All the woods used as firewood are hard woods, no evergreen timber being used. 

 This cutting wood makes but very little difference in the appearance of the forest, 





