26. Do national-forest grazing permits lend stability to live- 

 stock operations? 



Yes. This has been substantiated by the premiums in prices 

 paid for livestock ($50 to $150 per head for cattle and $5 to $10 

 per head for sheep) and for commensurate ranch property used 

 in connection with a national-forest grazing preference. The 

 Farm Credit Administration has for many years recognized the 

 value of national-forest grazing privileges in making loans on 

 ranch properties. Also, private banks give similar consideration 

 to the value of grazing permits in making loans. Economic 

 surveys indicate that ranches dependent upon national-forest 

 ranges are among the most stable operating units in the West. 



27. Should conditions required of the permittee and agree- 

 ments made with him by forest officers be in writing? 



Yes. Commitments, promises, and agreements between per- 

 mittees and forest officers, with the laws and regulations governing 

 the national forests, should be in writing and be considered as 

 binding upon both the permittee and the Forest Service. This 

 was the subject of one of several proposals presented by the 

 Subcommittee of the House Public Lands Committee following 

 its series of hearings in the Western States. 



28. Why are sportsmen and recreationists interested in na- 

 tional forests? 



Sportsmen and recreationists are interested in national forests 

 because they afford the principal public hunting and fishing areas 

 of the West, as well as many of the other outstanding recreational 

 advantages. National forests furnish yearlong or seasonal range 

 for nearly 70 percent of the western big-game animals. The 

 national forests also contain about 90.000 miles of unposted 

 streams and IJ/2 million acres of fish-producing lakes, over 4,500 

 developed camping and picnicking areas, 230 winter sports areas, 

 and 400 organization camps for group outings, besides 77 desig- 

 nated wilderness areas, wild areas, and roadless areas and many 

 scenic and other special attractions. The development and main- 

 tenance of satisfactory habitat for game, desirable fishing streams, 

 and the other recreational attractions is of interest to the many 

 people who use them. 



29. Are wilderness areas open to grazing? 



Yes. Regulation U-l of the Secretary of Agriculture permits 

 grazing of domestic livestock on wilderness areas, subject to such 

 restrictions as the Chief of the Forest Service considers desirable. 



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