LOGGING IN" THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. 131 
used, with this or any overhead system of yarding is much the same 
as in the case of a ground system, there is some difference in the 
character of the work performed and the wages paid some members 
of the crew. 
The crew used for skidding, loading, and rigging generally con- 
sists of from 16 to 18 men, made up as follows: 
Skidding crew : 
1 skidding engineer. 
1 fireman. 
1 wood buck. 
1 hook tender. 
2 or 3 choker men. 
1 nnhooker. 
1 signalman. 
Rigging crew : 
1 head rigger. 
3 assistant riggers. 
Loading crew : 
1 loading engineer. 
3 loaders. 
This crew is used in connection with a wood-burning skidder. If 
oil or coal is burned, a wood buck is not necessary. Sometimes five 
riggers are necessary. A knotter should be added to this crew, unless 
knotting is considered a part of the operation of felling and bucking. 
The fireman, wood buck, hook tender, choker men, and signalman 
are paid approximately the same wages as in the case of the ground 
yarding system. For a discussion of the wages paid the loading engi- 
neer and loader, see the section headed " Loading." A skidding engi- 
neer, as a rule, is paid more than a ground yarding engineer, the 
wages of the former ranging from $1 to $5 per day. A head rigger is 
paid from $5 to $6 per day ; the assistant riggers about the same as the 
choker men. 
It is roughly estimated that a crew handling 40,000 feet per day 
costs about $50 per day ; one handling 60,000 feet per day, about $55 
per day; one handling 70,000 feet per day, about $60 per day; one 
handling 80,000 feet, about $63 per day ; one handling 90,000 feet per 
day, about $66 per day ; and one handling 100,000 feet per day, about 
$66 per day. 
One crew, handling about 80,000 feet per day in large, second- 
growth timber on rolling ground, cost about $63 per clay, as follows : 
1 skidding engineer $-1. 50 
1 fireman 2. 75 
1 wood buck 2. 75 
1 hook tender = 6. 00 
1 choker man 3- 50 
2 choker men, at $3.25 0. 50 
1 unhooker 3 - 50 
