26 A MANUAL FOR NORTHERN WOODSMEN 
by a personal mark, such as a stamp cut on the poll of the 
blazing axe. 
4. Original Surveys and Resurveys 
The woods surveyor has two broad classes of work to do, 
— the running of new lines, outlining property for sale or 
administration, and the work of relocation. The first 
class of work constitutes an original survey, which the sur¬ 
veyor must carry out with due regard, on the one hand to 
accuracy, on the other to cost. His ordinary duty here 
consists of three parts: first, to duly outline and measure 
the tract in question; secondly, to mark the bounds of it 
in satisfactory fashion; third, to take notes of what he 
does for record and the benefit of those who come after. 
Resurveys. When a boundary has once been surveyed, 
marked on the ground, and accepted, it becomes authorita¬ 
tive, and the usual duty of the man who comes after is 
simply to locate the work of the original surveyor. He 
uses the compass commonly as the best means of finding 
the old lines and corners. He may use the chain for the 
same purpose, or to satisfy himself about area. But his 
business, so far as the boundary itself is concerned, is to 
find and remark the old one, not set up a new one ac¬ 
cording to his notions of propriety. In relocating that 
boundary the marks of the earlier surveyor are a more re¬ 
liable guide than his notes: they must, however, be clearly 
identified and not confused with those of irresponsible 
parties. On the other hand, where monuments cannot be 
found, reliable verbal testimony is admitted, while it has 
further to be recognized that property boundaries may be¬ 
come sanctioned by use or agreement, even though they 
are crooked and astray from their original location. 1 
5. Age of Spots or Blazes 
A subject of special interest to the forest surveyor is 
the determination of the age of spots on trees. This means 
1 For both legal and practical guidance in resurvey work, see 
“Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners,” by the Land 
Office, and Hodgman’s “Land Surveying.” 
