4 
V. Exploitation- 
I. Timber and Fuel. 
/ 
24. No returns are available from Singapore, but licences were issued to cut man- • 
grove §691.40, and for timber §468.40. 
In Penang although the number of licences issued during the year were a little 
more than half those of the year previous, 54 ^ ^ against 1,05 5> ^ slight!} increased 
revenue was obtained, §854.52 as against §846.55. These passes were, as usual, to cut 
timber, etc., outside the Forest Reserves and were of the usual pole size and chiefly 
used for fishing stakes and construction of native houses. 
Timber realised §656.32, Charcoal and Firewood §4.62. 
25. Marking Fees. — In the Bindings, 651 Class I trees were marked for idling, 
the charge being §1.00 per tree; this item is included in the hardwood royalty figures 
given below. One hundred and fifteen^ Class II trees were also maiaed, but no Sees 
were charged for them. 
Hardwood Timber .— During the year felling operations were on in seven localities 
and four saw-yards were worked. A Chinaman who had taken up to an t s 1 of land foi 
agricultural purposes also set up a small saw-yard to Utilise the timber on Ins own land. 
The record of timber extracted dates from March 1st, and amounts 10-85,062 cubic 
feet {1,701*2 tons); of this 2,884 cubic feet {577 tons) was cut on alienated land and 
paid no royalty, the record being kept for checking purposes only ; the balance of 82,178 
cubic feet (1,643*5 tons) paid royalty according to the classification of the timber F rom 
the amount of royalty and fees paid in January and February under the old system 
(1,09 025) a further 360 tons may be estimated, making a total of about 2,000 ions, 
think that this figure may be taken as fairly correct as the average monthly tonnage 
from March 1st' works out at 170 tons a month. 
In 1903, the tonnage was estimated at 2,000. 
27. The trade is chiefly confined to converting Class /. B. (Meianti, etc.) tuuDtr 
into planks and scantlings, but a certain amount of Class I. A. (Merbau, Chengai, Resak, 
etc.) timber is also exported in baulks. The revenue on timber was §7,476.28 as 
compared with §7.436.180 in 1903. 
og Firewood and Charcoal .— This source of revenue shews a great drop from the 
fiaures in 1903 and there will be a further fall in 1905. J he explanation ns simple. 
The Mangrove Forests require protection from over-working and the maximum numbei 
of cutters^llowed has been reduced. An average of 75 cutters per mensem have been 
working in the Bindings River which will ne maintained in 19 ° 5 * 
oq §2 423 °0 was derived from cutting fees on the land alienated loi pad i cultiva- 
tion at Tan j ong Burong. The District Officer says, “this item now disappears I 
“ regret that the scheme fell through owing to the applicants refusing to cany out then 
“ Pa Vt of the agreement, but the land has not been constituted a part of the reserve 
“ao-ainas it ^highly desirable from an agricultural point of view, that there shall be 
bland available to extend the present bertdang. About 400 acres were cleared and tlu^ 
p Government received $4,342.20 in fees during 1903 and 1904. 
~0 The revenue derived from charcoal was all derived bom one person, a China- 
man who has utilised the useless timber on his land by converting it into charcoal. 
No licences to burn charcoal on Crown Land have been issued for several years. 
Sapors — Seven licences were issued to local Malays to make “Sagors Loin 
hardwood timber (Chengai principally) lying on Crown Land either abandoned by 
cutters or brought down by the weather. Ten per cent was charged on the value o. the 
output and a large number of sagors and boat ribs were manufactured. 
Tenvah Bark. (Ceriops Caudolleana.) — This is a bye-product obtained by fne- 
wood cutters and used for tanning sails, bakau bark is mixed with the tengah. Roy a w 
at the rate of §1.50 per thousand is charged and realised the comparatively large sum 
of §408.57, representing 27,238 bundles. 
Bakau Poles. — I hose were cut on licence for fishing stakes, royalty being paid 
at schedule rates. 
31. The revenue from charcoal and firewood was §6,966.15, as against 
§9,612.35 in 1903. . 
32. In Malacca a small number of merbau and resak trees were tolled jn the 
Tebong and Batang Malacca Reserves for the cutting of sleepers for the Railway, 
under the supervision of Mr. BORGES. Royalty was paid at the rate ol 22 cents pei 
s leeper or about §5.00 per ton of 5° cubic feet measuiements. 
33. Some miscellaneous felling was permitted in the Reserves at MerJim 
and Aver Panas under permits from the District Officer, Jasin. Royalty was paid 
