FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 347 



about one acre just above the dam on a spruce knoll, which made it very difficult to 

 extinguish. 



July 2, 1899. About one and one-half acres burned over, also five cords of wood were 

 consumed. This fire, which started in a wood pile, was set by some children who were 

 berrying in that vicinity. 



July 20, 1899. Fire extinguished immediately before it burned an eighth of an acre. 

 It was started to destroy a hornets' nest by some men who were haying. 



July 31, 1899. Number of acres, forty-five. Standing timber destroyed, $300. I did 

 not warn out any men to fight this fire, because it was started by sparks from a locomo- 

 tive, and the railroad company sent the necessary men to fight it and put it out. 



August 5, 1899. Number of acres, five. Timber destroyed, $20. Lightning struck a 

 balsam tree at the head of Botheration pond, starting a fire. 



August 27, 1899. Number of acres, seventy-five. Timber destroyed, $300. Fire 

 caught from a locomotive. I notified the station agent at Riverside, and he sent twelve 

 men, who helped to trench and extinguish it. 



Mr. W. J. Hall, town of Luzerne, Warren county, N. Y. : 



June 14, 1899. About five acres burned over and twenty rods of fence destroyed. 

 Fire was started by fishermen on the creek. This was a very dangerous fire, but did no 

 damage, as the timber and wood had all been cut off. I warned out ten men, but some of 

 them may not put in bills for their work, as they live close by and are fighting to protect 

 their own property. 



August 30, 1899. About twenty acres burned over, but no timber destroyed. This fire 

 started on a hill covered with blackberry bushes. There were probably fifty berry pickers 

 in that vicinity that day. There was nothing but brush where it was burned, and I stopped 

 it before it got into any timber. 



September 4, 1899. Number of acres burned, fifteen. Standing timber destroyed, 

 none. Lightning struck a dead pine, causing afire, which Avas mostly in a bush pasture 

 covered with sweet fern and some larger brush. It did no damage, as I kept it away from 

 the fences and timber. 



September 17, 1899. Number of acres, ten; damage, none. Fire was started by berry 

 pickers. 



Mr. William F. Woodward, town of Warrensburg, Warren county, N. Y. : 



August 28, 1899. Number of acres, 125; standing timber burned, $50. I was notified 

 that there was a fire on Ross Patent. I hired a horse at once and went there as soon as 

 possible, ordering out all the men I could get, and commenced trenching around it. That 

 night I got some more men to help, but the fire was on the mountain, where it was very 

 rough, bushy and dry, with no water to be had. 



September 15, 1899. Number of acres, 120; standing timber destroyed, $100. Cause 

 not known; but the neighbors all say that George Twist burned a brush pile at the side of 

 the road where the fire started. I was driving along the road when I discovered it about 

 six p. m. I immediately notified J. N. Scripture to get some men and go there, and take 

 care of it until I could go home and return. I came back in the morning at half-past five 

 and stayed until Sunday night, when I was called to a fire in another part of the town. 



