FOREST SERVICE. 189 



Special mention ma}^ be made of the 40,000 elk in the Yellowstone 

 region, of which about one half are in the Forests surrounding the 

 Park, and a portion of the remainder occui^y at times National Forest 

 land; of the 3,000 to 4,000 Eoosevelt elk in the Olympic Forest; of 

 the smaller elk herds in the Forests of central and western Montana 

 and central Idaho; and of the new herds being built up in various 

 Forests of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Mountain sheep and 

 goats are found in ^:he higher reaches of the National Forests in the 

 Cascades, Sierras, and Rocky Mountains. Bear, black-tail and white- 

 tail deer, moose, and fur-bearing animals are still abundant at many 

 points. 



Improved public sentiment, better game laws, and more active 

 State game commissions, as well as the vigorous work of the Forest 

 Service, have checked the diminution of wild life within the National 

 Forests, At many points the tide has turned and increases are taking 

 place. But the problem is by no means solved. If the National For- 

 ests were to remain a wilderness, mere protective measures would suf- 

 fice. The Forests, however, will be increasingly utilized. Develop- 

 ment of the resources will build up communities, and many more 

 people will be occupied in the Forests in various activities. The right 

 handling of certain classes of game is very dependent on the way the 

 grazing of domestic stock is managed. This applies particularly to 

 such game as elk, antelope, and black-tail deer, which are essentially 

 grazing animals. 



To provide for these conditiojis the Forest Service is developing 

 specific plans of game administration for each Forest. Where game 

 preserves are desirable the States will be asked to establish them. 

 Winter ranges will be provided for herds of elk and other animals 

 of appropriate size. Recommendations for legislation by the States 

 and the Federal Government will be made to permit of the right 

 administration of the wild-life resource, new plants of animals will 

 be made where new herds should be built up, and the local officers 

 will continue to aid in the enforcement of the game laws to the extent 

 of their ability. 



A new regulation has been promulgated prohibiting entering the 

 National Forests with the intent to kill game in violation of State 

 laws. It will bring cases of such violation into the Federal courts, 

 and will thus supplement and strengthen the present procedure for 

 game law enforcement. 



KOADS, TKAELS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. 



At the beginning of the fiscal year there was available for road 

 and trail construction in the National Forests $2,399,179.11, derived 

 as follows: 



Agricultural appropriation for the construction and maintenance 

 of permanent improvements $400, 000. 00 



10 per cent appropriation for the fiscal year 339, 549. 61 



Unexpended balance of 10 per cent appropriation for preceding 

 years 138, 386. 16 



Appropriation for the fiscal year under section 8 of the Federal 



aid road act 1, 000, 000. 00 



Balance of section 8 appropriation for preceding years 971, 243. 34 



At the end of the fiscal year there was an unexpended balance in 

 the 10 per cent appropriation of $302,811.39, showing a total ex- 



