FOREST, FISH AXD GAME COMMISSIONER. 37 



ground was thickly and deeply strewn with dead tops, limbs, and brush, it 

 made a hot fire, which killed some standing timber on adjoining property. 

 This fire was started by the manager to clear off the brush and debris so 

 that the ground could be replanted with seedling trees, an appropriation of 

 $5,000 having been granted the University by the Legislature for this pur- 

 pose. The fire once started was soon beyond control, and the fire-warden 

 of an adjoining town had to order in a large force of men to fight it. As 

 the manager kindled this blaze during the close season, in which the State 

 law forbids the starting of brush or fallow fires, he was arrested by Mr. 

 Emmons, the Chief Fire-warden, and fined $200. 



Altogether, in the Adirondacks and Catskills, there were 10 1 alarms, 

 including brush fires on waste lands and the numerous small ones that were 

 extinguished on the spot where they originated. The causes, known, 

 supposed, and unknown, were: 



R. R. locomotives 21 



Clearing land 20 



Smokers 14 



Hunters 9 



Fishermen 8 



Incendiary 4 



Campers 2 



Tramps 2 



Children 2 



Firecrackers 1 



Burning garbage 1 



Burning leaves 1 



Lightning 1 



Blasting rocks 1 



Unknown 14 



101 



In nearly all of the above instances the fire-wardens reported the 

 cause as to the best of their knowledge and belief. Although they had 

 good reasons for attributing the fire to the source specified in the report, 

 they lacked the complete evidence on which to convict the suspected 



