12 NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL GRAZING. 



the presidential proclamation creating a National Forest, such 

 passive consent ceases and is superseded by definite regulations by 

 the Secretary of Agriculture prescribed under the authority of Con- 

 gress. Grazing stock upon the forests, except in accordance with 

 these regulations, is trespass against the United States. 



Permits will be issued to graze a certain number of live stock in 

 each National Forest, or part thereof, so long as no damage is done by 

 such stock. A reduction will be made from the number of stock 

 grazed during the previous season if, owing to the number grazed 

 or the method of handling the stock, damage is being done to the 

 Forest, and in extreme cases all stock will be excluded. 



Permits will usually be granted for one year, but where all contro- 

 versies have been settled and proper numbers of stock are allowed, 

 the Secretary of Agriculture will authorize the approval of applications 

 for periods of not more than five years, with the understanding that 

 all permits are terminable at any time and that the renewal of permits 

 will be within his discretion. 



All grazing permits are issued upon a charge per capita basis, as 

 there are several reasons why the use of National Forest ranges under 

 an acreage lease system is impracticable. It would greatly increase 

 the difficulty of proper silvical development, prevent a proper use 

 of ranges under abnormal natural conditions, and tend to exclude 

 the smallest owners. Adequate protection of the Forest would be 

 rendered difficult if not impossible because a lease even though 

 filled with careful restrictions would give the lessee some right to 

 dictate the use to which the area would be put. During the tenure 

 of the lease no part of the tract could be closed to grazing even 

 though the necessity was urgent to prevent the destruction of seed- 

 lings, to secure reproduction on cut-over or burned areas, or to pro- 

 tect important watersheds. The privilege would be a fixed instead 

 of a flexible one, and if during the period forage was destroyed by 

 fire, insects, or other cause the stock would have to be removed from 

 the Forest instead of being transferred temporarily to another range. 

 The leasing system would practically result in a number of individual 

 allotments equal to the number of permittees and this would tend 

 to shut out the small owner because he could not afford to hold his 

 stock upon the small area to which he would be entitled. Fencing of 

 the leased areas would necessitate leases for a term of years, and term 

 leases would not only hamper forest management, but also preclude 

 recognition of new applicants who might be entitled to range. 



The majority of the National Forest users are small owners who 

 prefer the right to graze a fixed number of stock rather than the right 

 to use a specified range, with a maximum but no minimum limit. 



GRAZING REGULATIONS. 



AUTHORIZATIONS. 



Reg. G-l. The Secretary of Agriculture will prescribe each year 

 the number of stock to be allowed in each National Forest, and 

 will authorize the approval of applications for permits during periods 

 of one or more years, but revocable at any time within his discretion. 

 The yearlong grazing fee to be charged for each class of stock will be 

 determined by the Forester in accordance with regulation G-9. Sea- 

 sons less than yearlong will be established by the oUstrict forester, who 



