The administration and protection of these forests is in 

 the hands of the Forest Service of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, and is conducted not only with a view to the utiliza- 

 tion of their economic resources but also to make them serve 

 the public in every possible way. By protecting them from 

 fire the government does much to make them enjoyable by 

 visitors, for without their covering of trees the beauty and 

 attractiveness of the mountains would be largely lost. Great 

 burns make unattractive and depressing scenery. Further, 

 they are often the cause of the drying up of streams and of 

 erosion, which make muddy waters and fills mountain lakes 

 with sediment. 



Protects Fish and Game. 



The forest service works in co-operation with state author- 

 ities to protect game and fish and to restock streams and 

 lakes with trout. It also employs hunters to keep down the 

 predatory animals such as wolves, lynxes, and mountain 

 lions, which prey on the big game as well as on the millions 

 of sheep and cattle that feed on the national forest range, 

 in some regions it is working in co-operation with state au- 

 thorities and the Biological Survey of the Department of 

 Agriculture to reintroduce elk and other kinds of big game. 



An important part of the work of the forest service is the 

 construction of trails, bridges, and roads to make access 

 easier into the remoter parts of the forests. Where the in- 

 flux of visitors is heavy regular camping places are often es- 

 tablished, and signs are placed along the way indicating the 

 distance to the next camping place or where water may be 

 found. Another provision for the needs of summer visitors 

 is made through the reservation of forage for their saddle 

 and pack horses. A system of visitors' registers is main- 

 tained on some forests, at the forest ranger's headquarters, 

 so that those who care to record their movements can be 

 readily found in case a message from outside is to be con- 

 veyed to them. When timber sales are made the cutting 

 areas are so located as to prevent unsightliness in the neigh- 

 borhood of lake shores, traveled roads, and other places where 

 protection of scenery is especially desirable. 



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