FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 113 



In 1904 the amount of damages in the forests by fire 

 and other reasons, was as follows: 



Loss caused by fire $84,930 . 50 



Loss caused by insects 24, 068 . 50 



Loss caused by floods 1,039.50 



Loss caused by snow storms 10,098.50 



Loss csused by wind 33, 147 . oo 



Loss caused by other reasons 6, 566 . oo 



Total loss $159,852.00 



The means taken for preventing and extinguishment 

 of forest fires is not stated. 



Question n. Number of persons annually employed 

 in the state forests and average number of days in a year; 

 and about what number of them reside in or near the 

 forests? 



In reply to the first portion of this question it is neces- 

 sary to state that nearly all the lumber obtained from the 

 state forests is used either for the requirement of the 

 peasant population or is sold by auction, so that both the 

 peasants and contractors work the forests with their own 

 laborers; on this account the Forestry Department does 

 not employ laborers for the state forests, and when it does 

 employ laborers it is for timber required for its own use 

 (valued of about 2^ million dollars per annum), as well as 

 for reforesting purposes. 



The second portion of the question is so indefinite that 

 it is difficult to give a reply. If this question is made in 

 order to ascertain the relation between the forest area and 

 population in various parts of the empire we then refer 

 to the information on this subject contained in the copy 

 of the ''Forests of Russia," edited for the Universal Paris 

 Exhibition in 1900. (This book has been forwarded.) 



Questions 12 and 13. On an average how many acres 

 are under the supervision of a scientifically educated for- 



