116 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



trunk were obtained four boards of the following dimen- 

 sions : 



Trunks in diameter, 7 74 8 S 9 9 10 vershs. 

 Two inner boards, 9 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3 inches- 

 Two outer boards, 9-li, 11-1 11-lJ, 11-2^,11-2^, 11-3, 11-3 



The charge, royalty, or tax, as it is called in Russia, is 

 about 1 s 4 d for every tree. Such is the charge throughout 

 Russia, subject to modification by agreement or Imperial 

 grant. And the tax, I was informed by the representative 

 of the Company, was paid by them, and that on the same 

 terms as any other purchaser. I was by another friend 

 given to understand that while the Company was by their 

 contract bound to fell or to pay for 00,000 trees, anJ in 

 no one year to fell more than 200,000 trees, their annual 

 operations were always much nearer to the latter number 

 than to the former. 



I had found in several of the annual reports of the 

 Imperial Forest Administration an entry of 5000 roubles 

 as paid by the Onega Company. This, I learned from the 

 representative of the Company, was in earlier years a rent 

 paid by the Company for the saw-mills, which were then 

 the property of the Government, and was a charge distinct 

 from that made for the wood ; but the saw-mills were 

 subsequently purchased from the Government by the 

 Company, and the charge for rent ceased. But when the 

 number of forest officials required to mark what trees 

 should be felled was increased the Company was required 

 again to pay 5000 roubles a year, to cover the expenditure, 

 and a charge for extra watchmen in the Onega district. 1 

 had remarked in later Government reports an annual entry 

 of charges for extra forest watchmen at Onega. 



I was informed that oftener than once the Government 

 had attempted to carry out the exploitation there ; but it 

 was always with a loss, and the existing arrangement was 

 deemed more satisfactory. 



By the Onega Wood Company sawn wood lias been 

 supplied for the market in France, and this may still be 

 the case ; but their trade is almost entirely with Britain. 



