FOEEST SERVICE. 517 



Tbron.oliont the remainder of the West range conditions during the 

 same period were normal or better, and the ranges were in fair to 

 excellent condition at the close of the season. 



Within the region previously visited by drought the winter of 

 1911-12 was most severe. There was a pronounced shortage of winter 

 feed, and heavy losses of stock occurred in Colorado. Wyoming, and 

 southeastern Montana, notwithstanding that heavy sales had light- 

 ened the demand and that every effort had been made to provide 

 adequate pasturage and winter feed. Conditions elsewhere were 

 favorable except in Arizona, where drought and shortage of feed 

 caused a heavy loss of ewes and lambs upon the desert ranges. Cali- 

 fornia also suffered from drought, but early spring rains relieved the 

 situation. 



During the spring of 1012 exceptionally licavy falls of snow and 

 rain continued until the approach of summer. Many of the lambing 

 grounds were covered with deep snow when lambing began. There 

 has been a gradually growing tendency to advance the date of lamb- 

 ing, and the severe storms during the lambing season caused a most 

 unusual loss of ewes and lambs. Losses of ewes amounting to 20 

 per cent or more and lamb crops 25 to 33 per cent below the average 

 were reported from northern xVrizona, New Mexico, Utah, and 

 Nevada. Cattle in the same region entered the forests in poor con- 

 dition. In the coast States the spring season was favorable and no 

 spring losses have been reported. After June 1 the weather became 

 warm and clear, there was an abundance of moisture in the ground, 

 and an unusually plentiful crop of forage developed. 



A period of drought affords a searching test of the advantages of 

 a regulated range. For a series of years the forest ranges have stood 

 this test with credit. Within the region visited by the drought the 

 forage productivity of the range w^as much below normal, and it was 

 necessary to provide feed for many stock from depleted outside 

 ranges; yet practically all stock left the national forests in fair flesh 

 and generally in prime condition. The winter losses did not occur 

 within the national forests. The spring losses were mainly due to 

 the effort to lamb sheep upon open ranges when the climatic condi- 

 tions make the operation hazardous at best. The heavy losses which 

 occurred were the result of circumstances which can not be controlled, 

 not of any defect in the administrative sj'stem. 



Cattle prices reached new high levels during the year, while the 

 prices of sheep and wool strengthened materially. The cattle indus- 

 try has received a new impetus, and the demand for cattle range will 

 inevitably increase. While many sheep changed ownership, they re- 

 mained in the same locality, and there has been no marked diminu- 

 tion in the demand for sheep range. The prospects are that the 

 demand for forest range next season will oqnnl or exceed that of past 

 years. 



IMPORTANT CnANGKS IN LIVE-STOCK INDUSTRY. 



The beneficial results of range regnlation and control have led the 

 stock growers to improved methods. Permittees are voluntarily 

 const rncting many miles of drift fence to confine stock to the allotted 

 ranges, are gi-eatly increasing the quantities of salt placed upon the 

 range, are making better provision for wintering their stock, are buy- 

 ing and breeding superior grades of stock, and finally are cooperat- 

 ing with each other in the handling and nuinagcment of the stock 



