FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 327 



It was quite a relief to me, as we would have had an awful time if it did not come. The 

 fire would very soon have been in good timber, where it would have done a great deal of 

 damage. Mr. Robert Bibby, superintendent of the North Woods Club, looked the ground 

 over for me since, as it was about twenty miles from my place, and this is about the way 

 he reported it to me. 



Mr. Alvin Winslow, Fish and Game Protector, at Stony Creek, Warren county, 

 N. Y., writes under date of June 28, 1899 : 



I have investigated the fire on Lot 12, Township 26, Totten & Crossfield's Purchase, 

 reported by Firewarden Wilson; and also the one on Lot 67, Township n, reported by 

 William Merrill, firewarden for the town of Johnsburgh, and find that in each case the 

 facts are the same as reported. No timber was burned and no damage done. I talked 

 with Mr. Heffran about the fire on Lot 12, and his statement agrees with the report of 

 the firewarden. The young man that started this fire, and who was working for Mr. Heff- 

 ran at the time, had left, and so I did not see him. I talked with Mr. Dalaba about the 

 fire on Lot 67, Township n. He admitted starting it, but claimed that he did not under- 

 stand that a person was liable to a fine for starting a fire on his own land, unless it got out 

 and did some damage. He is quite an old man and was considerably frightened about 

 the matter. I think he will not start any more fires out of season. 



Mr. Warren H. Broughton, town of Moriah, Essex county, N. Y. : 



August 20, 1899. One hundred and fifty acres burned over. Value of standing timber 

 destroyed, estimated at $550. I warned out eighty-three men, who worked 101 days, 

 plowing and backfiring. Three men were seen running from the place when the fire 

 broke out. They were chased a considerable distance, but not caught. 



August 22, 1899. This fire broke out several times after we thought it was completely 

 extinguished. 



Mr. Byron R. Brewster, town of North Elba, Essex county, N. Y. : 



May 15, 1899. This fire was started by James Peacock, who was burning brush on his 

 own land, in violation of the law which forbids the setting of any fallow fires at this time. 

 He was arrested by Mr. Fletcher S. Beede, the Fish and Game Protector, and fined $50 

 and costs. 



June 13, 1899. Tw-o acres; on Township 12. Timber destroyed, fro. Caused by a 

 man who was clearing land and burning brush near the Lot that Stevens Bros, cut wood 

 on last winter. I cannot tell exactly the number of days worked, as I was unable to find 

 out how many men were at this particular place. The town was all on fire, and men were 

 going from one place to another fighting the flames. 



August 2, 1899. Two acres; on Lot 235, Township 11. Does not belong to the State. 

 Timber destroyed, $15; cordwood and pulpwood, $10. This was caused by some sports- 

 men, who built a fire in getting their lunch. It was on the side of a ledge on the east 

 shore of Lake Placid; but I managed to check it so that it burned over only about two 

 acres; it was near State land. It was quite expensive, as you will see when we send in our 

 bill for rebate. We had to hire boats to cross the lake in order to get to the place. 



