SCOUTING FOR TIMBER IN THE EASTERN PYRENEES 



1197 



latter, supported by higher authority, won out. 

 Believing that the Quillan, Hares and Carcanet tracts 

 would afford a sufficient opening for Pacific Coast log- 

 gers to establish European reputations and put them in 

 shape to exhaust the further possibilities of the region, 

 we went in search of hardwoods to appease the woods 

 appetite of our Eastern and Southern logging contingents. 

 An offer of some beech and oak from the State forests of 

 Cayroulet, Hautaniboul and Ramondens had been received 

 which looked very promising as tie prospects. These 

 forests form the greater part of Montagne Noire on the 

 boundary between the Departments of Aude and Tarn. 

 The old city of Carcassonne with its massive walls and 

 towers is the historic landmark of the region. The "cite" 



was to clear cut but the French were unwilling to practice 

 this method further until the results of experiments 

 under way were known. About 10 years ago clean cutting 

 on limited areas had been made and fir planted, on the 

 ground that the value of fir in the region was greater than 

 beech and oak. The plantations were thriving, giving 

 every promise of success. 



The stands varied in size considerably under the sys- 

 tem of management followed, which provided for periodic 

 fellings whereby succeeding age classes were thinned and 

 developed to maturity serving in turn as a nurse to suc- 

 ceeding stands. The fight against the encroachment of 

 holly was waged by requiring each timber operator to 

 grub out the holly on the area from which he purchased 



A WILD BOAR (SAXGLIER) HUNTING PARTY NEAR QUILLAN, I N THE EASTERN PYRENEES. THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE, 

 MAJOR R. Y. STUART, 20th ENGINEERS (FORESTRY) STANDS ON THE EXTREME LEFT 



and Montagne Noire attract many tourists in normal 

 times ; the former at the time of our visit was a con- 

 finement camp for some German officials. 



The demand for ties on the part of the Allies seemed 

 insatiable, and for this purpose hardwoods were eagerly 

 sought. Normally one would secure ties, of pine if 

 necessary, from more accessible areas than Montagne 

 Noire, but under pressure of war demand the Montagne 

 Noire prospect looked exceedingly good. Eliminating 

 portions of the forest which presented transportation 

 problems incommensurate with the quantity of timber to 

 be secured a cut of 18,000 M3 (4,500,000 feet, B. M.) 

 was assured under the French system of marking. While 

 a much heavier cut without injury to the forests seemed 

 possible it was explained by the foresters that the en- 

 croachment of holly in the openings would follow a more 

 severe cutting. The alternative to secure a heavier cut 



the timber. Had the A. E. F. operated on these forests 

 it would have been necessary for it to expend the time 

 of 100 men for 30 days on this work or compensate the 

 French Forest Service 30,000 francs for having the 

 work done. With such care it is small wonder that 

 beech 2 feet in diameter with a clear length of 40 feet 

 and without defect was being produced. 



It proved unnecessary to begin operating in any of 

 these regions, the summer drives of the Boche having 

 developed into a boomerang by early fall, terminating in 

 the procurement of a supply of timber to meet the needs 

 of the Army of Occupation from German forests and a 

 freer movement throughout France of material already 

 produced. By December 1, the stage was reached where 

 mills were being dismantled and arrangements made to 

 wind up our timber affairs. Many of the men who, under 



