44 2 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



having this work in charge to see that the rules for governing conservative 

 lumbering are thoroughly enforced in order to bring about the desired results. 

 All the rules suggested for governing the removal of timber should be included 

 in any contract of sale of the timber stumpage, and the penalties advised for 

 a non-observance of the rules should also be fully stated and included in the 

 agreement and signed by the purchasers of stumpage. 



Marking Timber. 



It is customary in marking trees for removal to blaze the butt of each tree, 

 below the point where the stump will be cut in felling the tree, with a hatchet 

 specially designed for the purpose, and stamp the blaze thus made with the head 

 of the hatchet upon which, in the Forest Service work, the initials " U. S." are 

 raised. These letters may easily be changed for State work to the letters 

 " N. Y." or " S. N. Y." or any other symbol which it is desired to use. The 

 marks stamped on the stump make it possible for the inspector to determine 

 whether any trees which were marked for removal have been left, and also whether 

 any trees have been taken which were not marked for removal. 



In marking timber to be removed, it has been demonstrated that the best 

 results can be obtained by using not more than three men in a party. The 

 most satisfactory and cheapest tree marking has been done in close forests by using 

 only two men. Commencing upon some well-defined line, it is the usual custom 

 to take a strip through the forest, which will keep the men continually within 

 sight or speaking range of each other, marking all trees within the boundaries 

 of the strip which are to be removed, and each watching carefully to see that no 

 trees over the advised diameter limit are missed. The man on the side nearest 

 the guide line follows its course, and the other members of the marking crew 

 are guided by him. The man on the outside blazes a hardwood tree occasionally 

 on the side towards the forest which has not been marked when there is not a 

 sufficient number of trees marked for removal to make a plainly defined line for 

 their return. After having marked all trees in the strip taken, or until they 

 come to some division line, the top of a mountain, the shore of some pond or 

 lake, or some trail, road or stream, which will clearly define the outskirts of the 

 territory marked, the markers usually turn and mark a strip back, using 

 the outside line of the strip last marked as a guiding line. 



A crew of three men, under advantageous conditions, can mark from forty to 

 sixty acres a day. The cost of marking timber to be removed on all these 

 townships should not exceed fifteen cents an acre, and the work should be well 

 and carefully done for that amount. 



