120 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



these, and the administration requisite for the develop- 

 ment of their resources ; and on 2d November 1865 were 

 issued special instructions from the Economical Department 

 of the Imperial Senate of Finland to the Commission which 

 had thus been appointed to enquire into all matters 

 relating to the Crown forests in Finland. 



Of these Commissioners it was required that, having made 

 themselves acquainted with the Imperial Forest Ordinance 

 of the 9th September 1851, the Imperial notification 

 relative to the forest establishment of 7th May 1859, and 

 the Imperial instructions relative to the management of 

 the Government forests and the land surveying regula- 

 tions of the 15th May 1848, they should endeavour to 

 obtain trustworthy information in regard to the Crown 

 forests in Abo and Bjorneborgs, Tavastehus, Wasa, Ulea- 

 borg, and Kuopio lans (counties or districts) ; enquiring 

 into the general condition of the forests which thus far had 

 not been constituted Crown parks, and enquiring particu- 

 larly (1) concerning the authority or ground upon which 

 the population living in these forests had established 

 themselves there, and were prosecuting agricultural opera- 

 tions, and to what extent and upon what conditions, more 

 or less of that population might on that ground claim in 

 whole or in part a continued enjoyment of the advantages 

 which they then possessed. 



(2) Which and what of the Crown lands, in view of 

 their character, position, and climatal conditions, ought 

 more especially to be reserved on account of the Crown. 



(3) What disposition should be made of Crown forests 

 which had not been constituted Crown parks, and all that 

 related thereto in regard to 



(a) Their fitness for Crown buildings and Crown crofts. 



(b) Their fitness for being occupied for a time by private 

 persons for agricultural purposes, and the terms on which 

 this should be done, and to what extent and on what con- 

 ditions the greater part of the Crown forests should either 

 be let to private parties on a wood rent or a capitation 

 tax, or be otherwise disposed of by the Crown. 



