RATE OF GROWTH OF SITKA SPRUCE 255 



on Prince William Sound, as well as for other such estab- 

 lishments, is brought by vessel, a sawmill established in 

 the neighborhood being unable to compete. There are, 

 nevertheless, a number of sawmills at intervals along the 

 coast supplying local needs, notably at Sitka, Metlakahtla, 

 Wrangell, and Douglas City. 



That the value of this forest resource must increase 

 with the development of the country and with the increase 

 of local needs allows of no doubt; as a field of exploita- 

 tion under present economic conditions, however, it does 

 not, in the belief of the writer, offer any inducements, un- 

 less it be that the spruce could be turned into paper pulp, 

 a good felting fiber being probably insured by the rapid 

 growth which is found at least in the Archipelago. 

 Farther north and west the rate of growth diminishes con- 

 siderably. In various localities a few measurements were 

 made, which will exhibit the rate of growth. 



At Sitka, several large spruce trees, freshly felled, 

 showed a height of 175 feet and a diameter of 6 feet, with 

 ages varying between 400 and 500 years. 



At Prince William Sound, a number of logs gave the 

 following measurements: 



50 annual rings, 1 1 inches, 

 72 " " 12 to 15 inches, 



80 " " 20 inches, 



125 " " 22 inches, 



which would indicate a rate of about five years to the inch 

 of diameter, a rather slow growth for this species. 



At Kadiak, at the western limit of tree growth, the rate 

 appeared more rapid; the heights, to be sure, were reduced, 

 but the diameters still made a very fair showing, although 

 variations in width of annual rings greater than usual with 

 trees grown in such open position were apparent. Trees 

 50 to 60 years old showed diameters of 12 to 15 inches and 



