38 THE WOODSMAN'S HANDBOOK. 



450 per cent in 6-inch logs over the Doyle Rule, and of 26 per cent 

 in 11-inch logs to 175 per cent in 6-inch logs over the Scribner Rule. 

 These logs were scaled by the smallest diameter outside the bark 

 at the small end. If the inside-bark diameter had been used the 

 discrepancies would have been still greater. 



These facts prove that the seller of timber need^jtQ__spcify in 

 his contract that long logs shall be scaled as two or more short logs, 

 with the proper increase in diameter allowed. On pages 39-43 are 

 given the scaling regulations adopted by the Forest Service. 



If all the logs on a skidway were sound and straight the opera- 

 tion of stealing would be largely mechanical and would not require 

 much skill. But many logs are cut and piled which may be partly 

 rotten, or crooked, or seamy. Such logs must bo entirely discarded 

 or reductions must be made for imperfections when the contents 

 are calculated. Skill is required in deciding what logs should be 

 1 thrown out. The obviously rotten logs are not piled on the skid- 

 way at all. The contractors include many which are doubtful 

 and which they think may be accepted by the purchaser. The 

 final decision rests with the sealers. There are many logs having 

 center rot or rot only on one side, seamy, shaky, and crooked 

 logs, which contain enough good lumber to pay for the hauling, 

 but can not be given a scale equivalent to straight sound logs of 

 equal dimensions. When such a log is measured a deduction is 

 made to compensate for the loss through the imperfection. If the 

 sealer is recording only the diameters and lengths of the logs, dis- 

 count for defects in a specified log is usually made by reducing the 

 measured diameter sufficiently to cover the loss. Sometimes, 

 chiefly in the South, the allowance for defect is made by reducing 

 the log's length. If the contents of the logs are reduced in the 

 woods the discount in board feet is made when the log is measured. 

 The experienced sealer who has worked at a sawmill is able to 

 estimate the loss through certain imperfections merely by looking 

 at the log. It requires skill and experience to recognize defects 

 and to know how much they affect the quality of the timber. It 

 also requires good judgment to determine how much the dimensions 

 of a defective log should be reduced to scale what can actually be 

 manufactured from it. The best sealers have this experience and ' 

 judgment. 



