FOREST REGULATION 491 



For regulation, one of the latest authentic definitions is the fixation 

 in advance of the annual or periodic cut which in the normal forest 

 would be equivalent to the annual growth. It might be stated that 

 forest regulation has for its chief object the provision for so managing 

 rotation of cuttings on any given forest area that equivalent yields of 

 harvestable timber can periodically, by periods of one year or longer, be 

 obtained. Other objects of management, such as watershed protection 

 and the stability of esthetic values, are usually secondary and follow 

 naturally from attention given to the first. Yields of harvestable timber 

 are figured to be equivalent by periods usually as to volume, and to a 

 less extent as to the species and quality of crop. 



The division of its area into proper units, that is, working circles, 

 is the first step in establishing figures for regulation on any forest. 

 The conception of working circles here used is that smallest unit area 

 within which equivalent yields will be periodically made available. 

 The number, size, and boundaries of the working circles are dependent 

 on the object of regulation. On National Forests the object is un- 

 questionably that of sustained equivalent yields from the standpoint 

 of volume. 



Sustained yield has of itself, however, a definite purpose — continuity 

 of supply or stability of delivery of timber material and regularity as 

 to the amount of such delivery. Delivery of timber material, it is con- 

 ceived, can be made stable and constant, for either (a) the ultimate 

 consumer, or (b) as raw material for the intermediate producers. 

 Under (a) there is to be considered the general market consumer; 

 that is, the State, region, or the country, or even the world market ; or 

 secondly, the local market consumer, settlers, or nearby communities. 

 Under (b) there is to be considered delivery for established or operat- 

 ing mills dependent on this source for their raw materials; and, sec- 

 ondly, for established and operating logging communities, that is, small 

 communities, if any such exist, dependent entirely on the logging indus- 

 try for their stability. 



The responsibility of the Forest Service in handling timber on a 

 sustained yield basis in accordance with the policy it must decide upon 

 lies in the choice of which one of these classes it is best to serve, that is, 

 what course would yield the greatest good to the largest number in the 

 long run. This question is further complicated by immediately insist- 

 ent factors of ever-clashing practicality, such as accessibility to mar- 

 kets. With these last well considered, compromises must be made, 



