IOO FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 



involving to tho amount of 158,740 yen. 



In the northern part of Honshu and Hokkaido, during 

 the winter snow drifts are trodden hard and are made into a 

 road with proper degree of slant. By the utilization of the 

 smooth surface of the snow, upon which sledges arc run con- 

 veying heavy and numerous timber with comparative ease and 

 a small amount of labour. Workmen in local districts are 

 skilled in this mode of transportation. The plan is simple, and 

 the construction expenses small, but there is something strik- 

 ing the efficiency of this mode of transportation. There is 

 another method of transportation adopted which goes under 

 the name of "Shura" slide or "Shade'' slide. According to this 

 method, timber is laid and arranged in the form of channels 

 upon which timber is glided down. The system is adopted in 

 the celebrated Kiso and other places. The construction of 

 these slides naturally varies with different districts, but the 

 transportation of timber in the forest or to neighbouring places 

 is conducted generally by this method all over the country 

 there being several methods of a similar nature. 



The conveyance by means of water is conducted every- 

 where in Japan, because the country is favoured naturally 

 with many streams, and consequently there is a low cost of 

 freight. According to the method, dams are constructed to 

 preserve the water, which is now and then out off to sweep 

 down timber along the stream. This timber is then caught at 

 a stated place by means of fences or nets. In larger rivers, 

 the method of floating down rafts is also extensively adopted. 

 The method has been in existence from ancient times as may 

 be seen in the instances of the river Kiso (for the Imperial 



