120 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 
sawn timbers had to be taken in barges to the ships some 
distance out at sea. The mill was worked by steam-power 
—fuel being abundantly supplied by the saw-dust and 
wood unfit for shipping, with still enough remaining to 
have supplied firewood enough for the town of Kem, 
which was about six or seven miles distant. 
‘Tar is to some extent extracted from the débris of 
felled trees, but it scarcely pays for the manufacture. As 
a rule the débris is left to rot, as there no market for any 
products that might be obtained from it. 
‘By the terms of the contract the débris was to be 
removed from the ground, but the utter usefulness of it 
makes it more profitable to pay the Government’s inspector, 
and keep on good terms with him, and then it rots where 
it is left, and he does not notice it. 
‘Asarule the people will not cut any trees more than 
12 vershocks in diameter, so that such trees wherever they 
may be found are left standing. They seek for trees that 
will give 11 inch. planks, 3 inches thick, 21 feet long. 
Sometimes, I think frequently, they hew trees which will 
give two such lengths. One reason for leaving the thicker 
trees is that they are generally rotten at the heart, 
another is that frames are not made to saw larger timber. 
The wood was red pine. Their contract was only to fell 
timber wherever they found it profitable over a very con- 
siderable area. They had nothing to do with replanting, 
nor do they know whether any means were taken for that 
purpose. Nor did my informant know anything of how 
the trees stood on the ground, as he never saw them, nor 
did he see any on his journey to the place where the mill 
stood. It is a very profitable speculation. The cost of a 
tree at the mill might be about 1 or 14 roubles, but when 
sawn up into planks would be worth on the spot from 4 to 
5 roubles. 
‘One reason why this affair did not turn out successful 
was this: It is usual in these contracts for clearing the 
ground for the Government to receive so much for each 
