50 FORESTRY BRANCH BULLETIN NO. 33 



logging unit. Thus it is better, especially from the point of view of administration 

 in the woods, to use natural topographic features for boundaries. When the quantity 

 of timber to be cut, and not the area, governs the limit of the sale, the general 

 boundaries may be stated in the contract, and the detailed location left to the forest 

 officer as the operation proceeds. The amount of timber may be stated in feet, board 

 measure, if the major portion of it is to be saw-logs, and an average board-foot con- 

 tent laid down for other classes of material that are not readily scaled in board 

 measure. A time limit should be set for the complete removal of the sold 

 timber, but provision may be made for extension of the period for valid reasons. 

 Many sales are made for a year only with provision made for annual renewal on the 

 same terms in case the regulations have been observed. The removal of all improve- 

 ments and equipment should be required within a prescribed period, say six months 

 from the termination of the contract, subject to the ownership passing over to the 

 government in case of non-removal. 



A contract should usually state that only the green timber designated by the 

 forest officer to be cut may be removed. It may then fix a definite percentage of the 

 total volume as a maximum to be reserved, but the selection of this amount should 

 be left to the forest officer to meet in his judgment the silvicultural requirements 

 of the stand. Reservation of a portion of the stand may be made by fixing a diameter 

 limit, which is the simplest in operation, but not as effective from a silvicultural 

 standpoint. When a conservative silvicultural system is to be followed, the buyer 

 must be made to understand in advance the general nature of it so that he can form 

 a judgment as to the extra cost involved in marketing the timber under these con- 

 ditions. It is usually impossible to lay down in advance in the contract the exact 

 details of the method of cutting to be followed. Where dead timber has a market 

 value, it should usually be required that it be utilized just as far as it is merchantable, 

 and a diameter limit that may be set for green timber should not be applied to the 

 dead. 



Regulations as to the cutting of individual trees should specify the maximum 

 height of stumps, and, for lodgepole pine and spruce, may be very satisfactorily 

 stated as not greater than the diameter of the tree, and in no case over 18 in. This 

 rule is at the present time voluntarily followed by some operators. The maximum 

 diameter at which utilization of material in the top of the tree is to cease must be 

 set. This will vary with market conditions and will be largest .where only saw-logs 

 can be taken and smallest where there is a demand for cordwood. 



The price will usually be fixed according to standard units board feet, pieces, 

 cords, &c. The scale to be used in determining board-foot contents must be stated. 

 A severe penalty should be imposed for removal of timber previous to measurement. 

 In case of large sales extending over a number of years, provision may be made for 

 adjusting the prices at stated intervals. The basis would probably be the average 

 prices obtained in a specified region in a certain period previous to the time of 

 adjustment. 



A penalty, usually the payment of double stumpage, should be imposed for the 

 cutting of unmarked trees. When the latter are damaged during logging, the forest 

 officer may be given authority to require their removal and double stumpage be 

 charged for them. In large operations, a provision that different parts of the work 

 must keep pace with one another is important, especially in relation to protective 

 measures, such as brush-piling. 



Of protective measures, the disposal of brush is the most important. Provision 

 should usually be made for either lopping or piling, as the forest officer in his judg- 

 ment may direct. In practice, scaling is sometimes kept back until the brush is satis- 

 factorily disposed of. The brush-burning may be done independently by the govern- 

 ment, but it is better to have an agreement with the buyer by which he will furnish 

 men engaged on the logging operation to assist, even if remuneration for those ser- 

 vices has to be allowed. 



