ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION AND FINANCES 125 



puttering at odd jobs. During the fire season a few extra 

 guards are hired to divide their work between trail improve- 

 ments and duty at look-out points. 



In Corsica, where local feuds are not uncommon, it is the 

 practice to lodge two or more guards and rangers together; 

 this is for mutual protection as well as because of the solitary 

 life on the isolated ranger stations. Some unfortunate ad- 

 ministrative errors have been caused by the assignment of 

 subordinates to forests where they were related to the users 

 and the practice is avoided now so far as practicable. 



Administrative Notes. — As to intensiveness of administra- 

 tion, Corsica stands midway between Algeria-Tunisia and 

 France proper. It is rather surprising to find, however, that 

 (as in France) the conservator (district forester) is weighed 

 down with office duties and spends but 10 per cent of his time 

 in the field. " 



Supervision. — When on field duty the conservator is allowed 

 20 francs ($3.86) a day as per diem to cover all expenses, in- 

 cluding railroad fare. An estimate of the days to be spent in 

 the field is made at the beginning of the fiscal year and money 

 alloted on that basis is only allowed at the rate of 20 francs 

 ($3.86) per day spent in the field, but if the estimated number 

 is surpassed, no additional compensation is possible. This 

 unfortunate limitation in per diem money undoubtedly curtails 

 inspection. The system would work admirably, if only the 

 number of days per diem corresponded automatically to the 

 number of days spent on inspection; at present there is in- 

 sufficient field inspection by the conservator. The results of 

 inspection are immediately put into effect and at the end of 

 the field season are compiled into an informal annual report 

 which is forwarded to Paris. A comparison of the reports 

 for 1 9 10 and 191 1 (dated Feb. 8, 191 2) shows that in practice 

 no exact outline is followed. A digest of the 191 1 report^ 

 follows : 



^ In 1888 the conservator spent about 60 days on inspection trips; in 1911 

 and 1912 but 37 and 43. 



23 Conservator de Lapasse's report for 191 1. 



