370 



We understand that he has work ahead which will occupy his 

 time for about six weeks. We desire, if possible, that he be 

 authorized by your Board to undertake the above work for us at 

 the end of that period, or as soon thereafter as possirjie. 



Thanking you in advance for an early reply, we remain, 



Very truly yours, 



Hawaiian Mahogany Lumber Co., Ltd. 



R. W. Shingle, 



Secretary. 



The object of the company in making the above request is that 

 they may use the report as an aid in securing options on the koa 

 on the lands in question against the time when it is found possible 

 to undertake systematic lumbering. 



To furnish adequately the information requested entails a care- 

 ful examination of each of the tracts enumerated, a matter necessi- 

 tating field work extending over a number of weeks. In dis- 

 cussing with the Committee on Forestry a few days since the 

 advisability of making such an examination it appeared that in 

 view of the present statues of the koa industry in the Territory, 

 a general statement might for the present be sufficient, leaving 

 until nearer the time of actual work the detailed examination of 

 each of the several tracts. I have accordingly prepared this re- 

 port, which I submit with the recommendation that a copy be 

 transmitted to the Hawaiian Mahogany Lumber Company, 

 Limited. 



The general policy of the Board, as well as my own attitude in 

 the matter, is in favor of lumbering the mature trees of mer- 

 chantable value in the Hawaiian forests, wherever such w^ork 

 can be done without detriment to the continued well being of the 

 forest as a whole. In certain districts where the primary value 

 of the forest is from its serving as a protection cover on im- 

 portant watersheds it will probably be found advisable to main- 

 tain the forest intact. 



But in districts where, except in restricted localities, the ques- 

 tion of stream protection is a minor consideration, as is the case 

 in the greater part of Kona and much of Kau, there is in my 



