FOREST SERVICE. 



235 



When the cohl weather broke in the spring of 1920 and the grass 

 finally began to grow, the stockmen, always hopeful and seeing prom- 

 ise of plenty of grass, undertook to replenish. This at once sent the 

 prices of stock up to almost the former levels. 



About the middle of May, however, financial complications affected 

 the bujang of wool and cattle. The buying of wool stopped almost 

 within a day, and prices dropped from above 60 cents a pound for 

 western range wool to around 25 cents, with practically no market 

 at any price. Prices of beef and cattle also declined seriously. 



Use of the range. — While adverse market conditions if long-con- 

 tinued will be reflected in reduced numbers of western live stock, use 

 of the National Forest ranges Avill not permanently be lessened; for 

 their carrying capacity is so far below the demand that where one 

 man drops out others will immediately apply for the vacated range. 

 Irrespective, therefore, of prosperity or lack of prosperit}'^ in the live- 

 stock business, the number of stock on the National Forests bids fair 

 to be reasonably constant, and near the limit set by the necessity of 

 maintaining the productiveness of the ranges at their maximum. 



Xuviber of stock grazed during the jlscal year. — The following 

 table shows the number of stock grazed on the National Forests for 

 the fiscal year : 



(Iraziny permits ififiiicd nnd numbrr of stock (/razed, 1020. 



These figures show a consideralile reduction from the totals of 

 the i^revious year. This was due thieily to the heavy depletion of 

 range stock in the Northwestern States during the winter of 1919-20, 

 by death, by shipping to market, and by shipping out to regions 

 where feed could lie procured. Had it been possible to foresee the 

 decline in numbers of stock which would be grazed by establisheil 

 permittees, new applicants could easily have been found, but when 



