THE FOKESTEK. 



173 



PROTECTION OF STOCK AGAINST SOURCES OF LOSS. 



The following table shows, by States, the number of predatory 

 animals killed by Forest officers during the fiscal year 1915, as com- 

 pared with 1914: 



Predatory animals destroyed, fiscal years 19H and 1915. 



The animals reported destroyed in the above table were killed by 

 Forest officers exclusively in connection with their other work. Many 

 other predatory animals were destroyed through loaning traps and 

 furnishing poison to settlers. Protection of National Forest stock 

 against losses due to poisonous plants and contagious diseases was 

 continued along the same lines as in the past. Data covering the 

 losses suffered from all causes showed a total reported loss for the 

 calendar year 1914 of 9,793 cattle, 961 horses, and 77,415 sheep. This 

 represents a money loss to the stockmen of not less than $600,000, as 

 well as a sensible diminution of the possible meat supply derivable 

 from the Forest ranges. Predatory animals were found to be the 

 most serious source of loss. 



CLEARING RANGE OF RODENTS. 



The work of eradicating range-destroying rodents is still being con- 

 ducted by the Biological Survey, which treated 327,935 acres, with 

 excellent results. In some cases the success was 75 per cent. It is 

 estimated that there still remains 1,756,293 acres infested with prairie 

 dogs, ground squirrels, and gophers within the National Forests, 

 which at the present rate will be cleaned up within five years. 



RANGE RECONNAISSANCE. 



Intensive grazing reconnaissance by special parties of trained men 

 covered with field examinations 896,942 acres on the Caribou, Manti, 

 Wallowa, and Trinity National Forests, and data for 1,023,476 acres 

 covered in the 1914 field examinations were worked up. The total 



