622 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



situated, are suited to the large-scale production of range livestock. 

 The natural features of some reservations limit their economic pos- 

 sibilities to the development of this industry, and the crop of native 

 forage is the most valuable product of a large area of Indian lands. 

 In 1929, 1,396,776 head of stock owned by individual Indians, 51,411 

 head of tribally owned stock, and 946,069 head of permitted stock 

 owned by whites obtain pasturage on Indian reservations and brought 

 in a cash income of about $700,000. 



Immediately after the organization of a forestry unit in the Indian 

 Service in 1910, attention was given to grazing conditions on reser- 

 vations in the Southwest, and for 6 or 8 years supervision of grazing 

 activities was maintained on several reservations. As efficient forest 

 organizations were developed on timbered reservations in the North- 

 west, range control has been assumed on the Flathead, Colville, and 

 Yakima Reservations (some 15 years ago), and more recently on the 

 Klamath, Spokane, and Tongue River Reservations. With these 

 exceptions, grazing matters on Indian lands have not been an activity 

 of the Forestry Branch, but have been handled by the superintendents 

 of the several reservations. On April 15, 1930, the Secretary of the 

 Interior placed the supervision of all range activities on Indian lands 

 in the forestry branch. 



In the administration of Indian grazing resources, it has been the 

 policy of the Indian Service, in accordance with existing regulations, 

 which provide for season of use, number and class of stock, etc., 

 to give preference to Indians owning herds. Excess grazing land 

 not needed by Indians is then blocked out into units and ade- 

 quately advertised, sealed bids are required, and the units are leased 

 to the highest bidders. This policy brings to the Indian owners the 

 greatest financial return from use by whites of their grazing resources. 



The objectives of management and grazing policy have been sum- 

 marized by Muck in the report already cited as follows : 



A. The preservation of land, water, forest, and forage in a safe and entire 

 state; the utilization of these resources for the purpose to which they were dedi- 

 cated by nature; and the full enjoyment thereof, today, without destroying the 

 promise of continued enjoyment tomorrow. 



B. The permanent welfare of the livestock industry, generally, and the Indian 

 livestock industry in particular, through proper care and improvement of grazing 

 lands, under principles conforming to the requirements of practical operations. 



C. The protection of the interests of the whole Indian people against unfair 

 competition, the inequable utilization or distribution of forage values and the 

 exploitation of communal and individual assets of the open range by the more 

 aggressive individuals. 



D. The conservative utilization of all forage resources, primarily through the 

 development of the livestock industry among the Indians and secondarily, 

 through the regulated sale of grazing privileges to the end that economic waste 

 will be largely, if not wholly, eliminated and a balanced net income realized for 

 the permanent benefit of the majority of the Indians. 



The management policy contemplates the systematic regulation 

 of Indian grazing resources by 



(a) Increase in the number of stock on undergrazed lands. 



(b) Readjustment of existing ranges by carrying out carefully 

 evolved and scientific grazing management plans to obtain the 

 maximum amount of revenue consistent with sound practice. 



(c) The reduction of the number of stock on the overgrazed reserva- 

 tions of the Southwest. 



Existing regulations specify that where sufficient tribal lands are 

 available, an Indian family may be permitted to graze not to exceed 



