320 



AISTNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMEZs^T OF AGRICULTURE. 



might secure funds from the sale of surplus cattle at the end of the 

 grazing season. 



The following table shows the number of delinquents and the 

 total amount of unpaid fees on July 1, 1923, for the grazing seasons 

 of 1921 and 1922: 



Delinquent gracing fees, fiscal years 1921 and 1922. 



It is gratifying to observe that the total delinquency for these 

 two years of privation and hardship among the cattlemen is less 

 than 2 per cent of the grazing receipts for these years. Probably a 

 portion of this will have to be dropped from further consideration 

 as uncollectible, the majority of the delinquent owners having been 

 forced to dispose of their livestock and go out of the business. Con- 

 sidering the wide distress among livestock owners during these years, 

 this showing is better than was to be expected. 



PENDING CHANGES IN GRAZING REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURE. 



The regulations and instructions now governing the use of national 

 forest ranges were made the subject of careful study with a view to 

 their thorough revision. In this study an earnest effort was made 

 not only to improve the regulations from the standpoint of adminis- 

 trative methods and practice, but also to introduce such modifica- 

 tions as would best serve the interests both of the stoclonen and of 

 the public, by promoting more stable use of the ranges and by helping 

 to rehabilitate the industry after the period of depression through 

 which it has passed. The leading changes proposed are — 



(1) Grazing fees amounting to $10 or more may be paid regularly 

 hereafter in two installments. 



(2) Term permits issued in 1925 will run to the close of the 10-year 

 period, expiring in 1934. On these term permits, however, reduc- 

 tions in the number of stock grazed may be made at the end of any 

 year if necessary to prevent damage to the range, forest growth, or 

 watershed, and at the expiration of the first five years of the period 

 a reduction may be made to admit to the range new applicants prop- 

 erly qualified or to allow increases to small permittees. The amount 

 of this reduction, taken together with all reductions made for pro- 

 tection during the 5-year period, will not exceed 10 per cent. 



(3) What will be known as an " exemption limit " will be estab- 

 lished, between the present protective and maximum limits, below 

 which permittees engaged permanently in livestock production will 

 not be called upon to make reductions in favor of new applicants 

 not wholly engaged in stock grazing as their means of livelihood. 



(4) No limitations will be placed upon the frequency of sales of 

 livestock accompanied by waivers of grazing preferences. The pur- 



