AH 



RECREATION. 



of treating a forest, and hence, differing 

 as doctors do, criticise the method of arti- 

 ficial reproduction by planting, which the 

 college is in part forced, in part has cho- 

 sen, to follow. These recognize only the 

 culling process, which the lumberman has 

 practiced with the softwoods, as legitimate ; 

 and advocate even that the State practices 

 it in the Forest Reserve on its virgin lands, 

 and culls out the valuable spruce in order 

 to make the reserve of financial use. 



"While, no doubt, the gradual removal 

 system has some advantages, it means, 

 when applied to hardwoods, which can not 

 be transported by water, the development 

 of an extensive system of railroad trans- 

 portation, which requires funds such as 

 the college has not had at its disposal. 



"In conclusion, I repeat that the College 

 of Forestry is doing what it* was instituted 

 to do. It is harvesting from an area from 

 which the valuable part has been already 

 removed, the old, decrepit hardwood crop 

 which is rotting and becoming less and less 

 valuable, and is replacing it by a young, 

 vigorous crop of better composition. It 

 is doing this by trying to make the old 

 crop pay for the new ; that is, carrying on 

 the experiment like a business venture. It 

 bespeaks the support of all broad minded 

 men who see beyond their own selfish 

 pleasures and recognize the economic value 

 of our forest resources, and of a rational 

 use and reproduction of the same." 



PROTECTING CALIFORNIA FORESTS. 



Pasadena, Cal. — Forest Supervisor E. B. 

 Thomas says that about 25 fires were start- 

 ed in the San Gabriel forest reserve last 

 season, but in almost every case they were 

 checked in their incipiency, and little dam- 

 age resulted to the covering of the moun- 

 tains. Twenty-five rangers are employed in 

 the reserve, an increase of 10 over last 

 year, and they are maintaining a strict pa- 

 trol of their territory, one of their duties 

 being to keep a record of every person who 

 passes through or to. the interior of the 

 reserve. These persons are cautioned by 

 the. rangers to be careful in the building 

 of camp fires, and in no case to leave such 

 fires burning after abandoning a camp. 

 Flagrant disregard of this admonition has 

 involved a party of 3 men in a serious diffi- 

 culty. They were cautioned by the rang- 

 ers in the customary way, but on leaving 

 camp neglected to quench their fire. As 

 the names of the men were known, war- 

 rants were issued against them and are now 

 in the hands of the United States Marshal 

 ,for service, and the men will soon be taken 

 into the Federal court, for trial. The ex- 

 treme penalty for the offense charged is one 

 year's imprisonment or a fine of $1,000, 



placing- the offenders in a serious dilemma. 



Another order recently issued forbids the 

 carrying of shot guns into the government 

 forest reserve. The enforcement of that 

 order is a source of much discomfiture to 

 hunters, but it is considered necessary for 

 the protection of the forests. The reason 

 for the order is the danger from ignited 

 gun wads, which fall into the brush and 

 smoulder sometimes for hours before break- 

 ing into flames. A»fire was started in this 

 manner but a few days ago near Monrovia, 

 and only the prompt action of the rangers 

 prevented a destructive conflagration. Per- 

 sons carrying shot guns are informed by the 

 rangers that such firearms must be re- 

 linquished to the government agents ; fail- 

 ure to turn them over barring the hunter 

 from the reserve. — California Paper. 



Little trouble is found by the rangers in 

 enforcing these regulations. Intelligent 

 persons recognize their justice, hut an ob- 

 streperous individual is encountered occa- 

 sionally, and harsh treatment becomes 

 necessary. All rangers wear government 

 badges, making their identification positive, 

 and their word is law in the reserve. — Cal- 

 ifornia Exchange. 



Forest protection means a great deal to 

 the people of Southern California, and they 

 are beginning to realize it ; also that forest 

 protection means game protection. A few 

 days ago I asked one of the forest rangers 

 about deer and small game. He said deer 

 were fairly plentiful, but hard to hunt un- 

 less one knew their range. Mountain 

 quails, great big fellows, with beautiful 

 long plumes, are plentiful, and as shot 

 guns are barred from the Forest Reserve; 

 these birds ought to do well. Trout fish- 

 ing was not good this year. The heavy 

 rains washed the young fish out of the 

 mountain streams and several previous dry 

 years had not improved matters in the fish 

 line. Right below my house is a gulch, 

 well wooded, with a small stream. Valley 

 quails have always resorted to this place, 

 and I have noticed with satisfaction that 

 they have increased from a few to several 

 large coveys. Dove shooting is not at its 

 best, but I think it is because there is so 

 much feed they are spread out more. I 

 shoot them with a rifle. It is far greater 

 sport ; besides the bird has a chance. 



The 303 Savage always goes with me 

 on my hunts, and its deadly little voice 

 means business. Game is better protected 

 than it has ever been before. You. know 

 how California is about anything of real 

 importance to its own welfare. Just be- 

 fore the deer season opened — that is, the 

 first of August — our game wardens caught 

 a number of hunters with deer, and had 

 the law-breakers convicted, but I do not 

 know how it turned out. Our game war- 

 dens are alert just before any game 



