340 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



the production of successive forest driving squall or from some protected 

 crops. passage into a veritable maelstrom of 

 The temporary or permanent inhab- "white water," caused by a "tide rip" 

 itants of these thousands of miles of or the equalizing flow of the tides 

 forested shore line are almost ex- through some narrow channel. The 

 clusively interested in commercial de- wind draws through some of the larger 

 velopments. The region, however, can- channels as through a chimney, and even 

 not fail to make a deep impression; moderate gales kick up a sea which 

 while the conditions are so varied, and means lashing everything fast and a 

 the aspects so constantly changing, that round of pitching and rolling which is 

 even familiarity does not dull the at- more spectacular than pleasant. On 

 tractions. The forest engineer, who such occasions the quiet, protected cove 

 was an entire stranger to the region may not be within reach, and as night 

 less than ten years ago, has a variety of shuts down, the launch is glad to creep 

 unique experiences entirely different into partial protection along the shore 

 from forest workers in any other sec- or behind a boom of logs where the back 

 tion of the country. w r ash makes the anchor chain a creak- 

 Since there are practically no means ing, grinding nightmare and the night 

 of transportation except by water, the a mystery of strange sounds through 

 forester depends on his cruising launch long hours of anxious watching, 

 for transportation, and as a camp in The forester's launch on one particu- 

 much of the survey and exploration lar night, when a gale of rain was driv- 

 work on tidewater limits. As part of ing up Clatham Channel, had found 

 the day's work, he may find himself in snug refuge in a little cove protected by 

 the long northern twilight cruising down a boom of logs. Sharing the same shel- 

 an inside channel over quiet water ter w r as a small, low-powered launch 

 which reflects the dark forested shore owned by a couple of loggers, who came 

 line in an endless variety of shades and aboard late in the evening loaded with 

 colors, while in the far distance the a strong nerve tonic in the form of 

 snow-capped peaks may still reflect the "Canadian red rye." Despite warning 

 full sunlight or the saffron tints of the of the danger they started their engine, 

 Alpine glow. At night he may anchor and after a half hour's loud talking and 

 in a sheltered cove, dark and silent, save maneuvering to get through the opening 

 for the many sounds of the sea and wil- of the boom, put out into the driving 

 derness, or cruise on under the decep- gale and heavy sea of the main channel, 

 tive light of stars or moon which makes with the brag that they would make 

 familiar landmarks like strange and un- their camp across Knight Inlet or 

 known sights. Most wonderful of all drown. For a few minutes their light 

 is a night run in a heavy fog when the could be seen bobbing up and down, and 

 moon above the fog bank lights the re- then was gone in the rain and darkness, 

 stricted view of water with a weird and Whether they arrived or not the writer 

 ghostly radiance, giving the constant does not know, but probably they did, 

 impression that the boat is turning in a for something of their spirit, whether 

 narrow circle. shown in wild recklessness or cool, 

 While these inside channels are sober judgment, has been a dominant 

 usually calm and peaceful, the launch factor in the development of this fron- 

 may run out of the sunshine into a tier coast. 



No More Barbed "Wire 



Forest officers in Washington and Oregon plan to discontinue the use of barbed wire on 

 their forests. This will affect their own pastures and public drift fences. They say barbed 

 wire has no advantage over smooth wire, that it injures stock, and that it is more "likely to 

 be borne down by soft snow. Stockmen on the Ochoco forest, in Oregon, recently con- 

 structed drift fences of smooth wire, though with some misgivings; now they say they will 

 never use barbed wire again. 



