NEW PUBLIC LAND GRAZING FEE

The new grazing fee to be charged for the use of the Federal range during 1958 will be 19 cents per animal-unit-month.

The new fee is based on average livestock prices at markets in the 11 western States during 1957, based on data supplied by the Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Grazing charges are based on the number of livestock permitted to use the Federal range and the length of time for which they use it. The new fees charged for each month's use will be 19 cents. per head of cattle, 38 cents per horse, and 19 cents for each 5 sheep or goats. No fees will be charged for livestock under six months of age.

The new fees apply to all Federal grazing lands administered under Section 3 of the Taylor Grazing Act and affect nearly 30,000 stockmen who graze almost 12 million head of livestock on Federal rangelands.

The 1958 fee is based on a new grazing fee formula ordered by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton, and endorsed by the National Grazing District Advisory Board Council. The new fee schedule was to have taken effect on January 1, 1957, but Secretary Seaton postponed it for one year as a drought relief measure. The new fees went into effect on January 1, 1958.

Public land grazing fees during 1957 were 15 cents a month per head of cattle, 15 cents a month for 5 head of sheep or goats, and 30 cents a month per horse.

NEW OIL AND GAS LEASING RULES

On January 8, 1958, Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton signed new regulations for oil and gas leasing on Federal wildlife lands. A public hear

ing on the proposed new rules was held in Washington, D. C., on December 9, 1957.

The new regulations prohibit oil and gas leasing on all wildlife refuges, unless it can be demonstrated that, because of activity outside the refuge, oil and gas under the refuge lands is being drained off.

On so-called game rangelands, Federal-State cooperative areas, and on Alaska wildlife areas leasing will be permitted except in certain specific areas essential for the protection of fish and wildlife values. All leasing permitted, however, would include safeguards for fish and wildlife. The final decision on any leasing on Federal wildlife lands, however, rests with the Secretary of the Interior.

1958 STAR GUIDE FOR SURVEYORS

The astronomical almanac, issued annually by the Bureau of Land Management is now off the press.

The booklet, The Ephemeris-1958, contains tables and charts of the daily positions of the sun, and hourly changes in declinations, upper culminations, and elongations of Polaris (the North Star). Semimonthly positions of 28 other selected stars are also given.

The Ephemeris, which in recent years has listed the brighter stars in the equatorial belt, is a supplement to the Manual of Instructions for the Survey of Public Lands of the United States. It affords the necessary basic data for field astronomical determinations required in present-day surveying practices.

The Ephemeris may be purchased for 25 cents and the Manual of Instructions for $2.75 from the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.

WAYSIDE PLANTS

Using Wayside Plants by Nelson Coon (Eaton Press, Watertown, Mass.) not only serves as a popular guide to common plants encountered by the urban motorist along the highways but also brings together a wealth of information on ways of using these plants for greater enjoyment of them. While written principally for the Northeastern States, the reader will find many related species or counterparts extending across the breadth of the country.

The author has selected a list of 100 plants including herbs, shrubs, and trees which he describes in sufficient detail for easy identification. In addition his choice has been guided by individual plant properties for use as food, crafts, landscaping, medicinal, and decorative purposes.

Many old recipes, some the products of early day folklore, have been recorded and preserved for the modern wayside nature lover. The reader will be able to prepare cat-tail-pollen pancakes, nettle soup, puffball steaks and elderberry wine after consulting this useful compendium. There are a group of interesting mushroom recipes. The author's easy style and enthusiastic tone will sharpen the reader's curiosity to explore further into the subject of useful native plants.

ANNUAL REPORT

The Annual Report of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, contained in the published report of the Secretary of the Interior, reviews BLM accomplishments during fiscal year 1957.

Receipts from the sale and development of public lands and resources reached an all-time high of $109,850,654. The receipts for fiscal 1957 exceeded by almost 9 percent the returns in 1956 of $100,992,667, which was itself a record breaking total at that time. Costs of BLM's fiscal 1957 operations amounted to $23,776,153.

In addition, the Bureau received $2,208,703 from rents and royalties for mineral leasing on the submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf. BLM's total revenues for fiscal year 1957 were thus $112,059,358. Gross receipts were substantially below those received in 1956 because of a court order prohibiting any oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf, pending action by the United States Supreme Court to clarify the boundaries of the Outer Continental Shelf lands.

Of the total of $112,059,358 gross receipts, $38,700,056 was distributed to 26 public land States and Alaska, of which $9,805,664 went to the 18 O&C timber land counties of western Oregon. Other distributions of BLM receipts were made as follows: $43,159,825 was deposited to the Reclamation Fund; $241,028 was earmarked to Indian Trust Funds; $26,124,400 went into the General Fund of the United States Treasury, $564,846 was designated for range improvements, and $3,269,201 was transferred to other agencies.

Bureau of Land Management receipts came principally from the following sources: Mineral leasing, $83.4 million; O&C timber sales, $19.6 million; sale of public land and timber, $5.4 million; grazing fees and leases, $2.3 million; service fees and commissions, $1.0 million.

New applications received for the use or ac(Continued on page 15)

GRAZING DOWN UNDER (Continued from page 5)

such grasses as sweet vernal, Yorkshire fog, hairgrass, annual bluegrass, goose grass, wheatgrasses and palatable Danthonias. The run holders had formed "improvement associations" for the purpose of obtaining better species of forage plants, seeding and fertilizing the native tussock ranges. Removal of undesirable range plants is also included as an improvement practice and such familiar invaders as cheatgrass and goatweed were encountered in several locations.

On the improved pastures Romney-Marsh sheep were almost universally produced because of wool and lamb size characteristics. This breed is less gregarious than others, which is an advantage in obtaining good dispersal of animals in the small paddocks (pastures) under "mob" grazing on very short rotations.

The range sheep were strains of Merinos which were turned out without herders and roamed high up into the mountains in small bands. Once a year the range sheep were gathered for lambing and shearing after which they were again turned out. Bringing the sheep down from the high, rugged peaks of the Southern Alps is an extremely arduous task, fraught with the danger of snowstorms and avalanches. Unattended ranging of sheep is possible in New Zealand because of the lack of predators. Before settlement by white men the islands' only mammals were two species of bats. There were a few species of ground nesting birds and today, the nearest thing to a predator is a small parrot-like bird called a kia bird. which occasionally kills sheep. Otherwise the sheep are free to roam at will and follow the snow line as it recedes higher into the precipitous peaks. Range lambs are usually sold to operators of the so-called fattening farms located in the lower valleys in the areas of improved pastures. Fat lambs are marketed at dressed weights of around 35 pounds which is the size demanded by United Kingdom and continental consumers. It is interesting to note that the port of Duneden had the world's first commercial cold storage processing plant established in the early 1870's. The ad

RANGE IMPROVEMENTS bear close resemblance to U. S. structures. Windmill pumps water to storage tanks at right.

vent of such plants together with the development of refrigerated shipping space were factors which stimulated large-scale settlement of the islands and the extensive development of their grasslands. Before 1870 the principal exports were wool and tallow.

The islands are largely populated by people from United Kingdom Countries who brought with them their ingrained desire for both outdoor and organized sports. As a result, because of the lack of indigenous mammals, importations of both small and big game were made into the islands. Red deer from England for example, when liberated in a new environment entirely free from the accustomed population checks such as parasites and predators, suddenly exploded into huge populations. Entire watersheds were threatened by destruction from an excess number of grazing animals. It was necessary to undertake control measures, so that there would be sufficient forage available.

Many other species of deer were also imported including the American white tail and mule deer, wapiti and moose, several species of Asiatic deer, and the Indian tar and chamois from Switzerland.

Many game birds were also introduced which have found their new home to their liking. As in Australia, both rabbits and European brown hare were brought in with near-disastrous results. When ferrets were introduced to control the rabbits, these voracious animals turned their attention to the hapless native ground-nesting birds rather than the hares and rabbits. There were no snakes on the island at the time of settlement, an absence which still exists today.

The New Zealand range country lies principally in a setting of mammoth snowclad mountain peaks of the Southern Alps and huge glacial lakes connected or drained by rushing streams of bluewhite water. Some of the lakes appear milky from the fine glacial flour held in suspension. For the most part, however, they are crystal clear and are stocked with rainbow trout introduced from the United States.

The Southern Alps abound with glaciers including the huge Tasman Glacier, the longest in the temperate zone. This is the only location in the world where an alpine glacier terminates at sea level amid lush subtropical vegetation. The run holder in New Zealand has a spectacular setting for his operations.

Australia, like New Zealand, is a land of many contrasts, unique and interesting vegetation, and many opportunities for exciting new experiences. One has the feeling of being truly "down under." The sun is in the north, the shadows fall to the south and at night one is oriented by the Southern Cross instead of the Big Dipper and the North Star. Here in Australia we found the same cordial reception we experienced in New Zealand. Most of Australia's population resides in the large coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin. The eastern coastal

fringe lying in the lee of a low range of mountains receives abundant rainfall and improved grassland similar to New Zealand have been developed. The continent's only large river system, the Murray River, arises on the western slopes of the mountains and flows southwesterly entering the sea near Adelaide. A large gravity diversion system from the Murray River irrigates a substantial acreage in the States of New South Wales and Victoria but the vast interior of the continent is arid and very sparsely settled.

This region of endless plains and plateaus was the main object of the Australian tour because of its similarity to much of the range country in the western United States. Friends made at the Grassland Congress in New Zealand were on hand with arrangements completed down to fine details that would fill every hour of our stay in Australia. The Australian Commonwealth Government is situated in Canberra in the Australian Commonwealth Territory. This large tract of land is a rough counterpart of the District of Columbia in the United States.

Canberra is a very modern city having been established in 1927, following a general pattern of that designed for Washington, D. C. Canberra is the headquarters for the Commonwealth Industrial and Scientific Research Organization, which among other things includes the experiment stations dealing with range management problems. After visiting with the research workers for several days the tour set out for the bush country in the State of South Australia.

An area in the northern part of the State was selected for an extensive tour because it is a vast area of salt desert shrub types. The general plant zones in the dryer parts of Australia are classified according to the dominant species of Eucalyptus. This common Australian tree exists in 660 known species and since it hybridizes freely the numerous subspecies have not as yet all been described.

The Eucalypts thrive in all rainfall zones and at all elevational levels, from rain forest to semiarid dessert. Certain species of Acacia are also found in the dryer regions. For example, the salt (Continued on page 14)

GRAZING DOWN UNDER (Continued from page 13)

desert type in the seven-inch rainfall zone is known as the Mulga type. Associated with the Eucalypts and Acacias are various species of salt desert shrubs such as Kochia and Atriplex. These browse plants are excellent sheep feed and the sheep graze here inside of fenced paddocks without herders.

The Crown or public lands are leased for periods up to 99 years. They are not open for settlement unless so classified and designated by the Commonwealth government. The stockmen or "station" owners, as they are called, have made very extensive improvements and invested large sums of money in developing the bush country.

The South Australian sheep stations or ranches are enormous in size. An area of 120 square miles is considered a small station, and a large station may take in as much as 700 square miles. Sheep numbers range from 10,000 to 25,000 per station depending upon the size and grazing capacity of the station. In this part of South Australia the grazing capacity varies from 30 to 50 sheep per square mile year long.

Annual lease rentals are equivalent to about $2.25 per square mile and in addition the station owner is required to install improvements according to a schedule established by the State Grazing Board. Failure to comply with the rental and improvement requirements of the lease will result in a loss of the lease and sale of all improvements to

a successor.

The sheep, mainly of Merino strains, are loose herded in large paddocks usually grazed on a rotation basis. The stations are fenced and cross fenced into many paddocks with rabbit proof fencing on both interior and exterior fences. In some cases the exterior fence is constructed to exclude dingos, the Australian wild dog which is the only predator of any consequence to the station opera

tor.

The typical station operator in this region is well educated, employs a high degree of technical skill and has a good grasp of range management science. He enjoys a high standard of living even when alone on his isolated station many miles from the nearest settlement. Most of the stations visited had telephones and short-wave radios, electric powerplants and running water.

After observing grazing on public lands in Australia and New Zealand the writer concluded that grazing in the United States and grazing down under have many things in common. While the run holder and station operator may enjoy an unusual security of tenure, they have the disadvantages of isolation and long distances to market. One characteristic found universally among stockmen is their fine display of hospitality and the writer and his colleagues found the run holder and station operator no exception.

End

TO FIGHT A FIRE (Continued from page 9)

the day. Jim's crew came in a little later. So far we had put in about 10 miles of fire line either by backfire or by direct attack. The lines held.

"But by this time the distances were too great to walk the crews. We were temporarily without transportation since the Air Force helicopter returned to Flat as soon as our men and gear were unloaded to work on other fires.

"One of our planes overhead said a helicopter was due any minute. We didn't dare move camp on foot for fear of not being found in the heavy smoke. In the meantime the pilot with the twoplace helicopter was trying to locate us, but failed. But later he found us. Right along with him came the Air Force 'copter with more men and Ron Schaefer.

"Schaefer and I went out in the little 'copter to locate a new camp site. We found one and marked it with a yellow tarp. We left Schaefer and returned to Camp to send fire fighters out. Six men from Copper Center volunteered to hike in to the new camp. By next morning Schaefer and the crews were seen working on the fire. More men were ferried in to the new camp which was on the northeast end of fire.

"At last the smoke thinned out enough to let me take a quick look at the fire. There was not one but four lightning fires in the same area, several miles apart! They were burning together, so I took most of the remaining men from Camp Hesse to set up another base camp at the southwest end of area.

"The fire had two actively burning fronts, fanned by variable winds that really made the job tough. I hung on to the little 'copter to use in scouting the fire at practically tree level and to set up small spike camps of 2 to 4 men at several points where flare-ups were occurring.

"By this time the procedure was for the Air National Guard C-47 to come over the fire, spot us in the blind by radio and then make parachute drops of grub and supplies to the base camps. We used the little 'copter to distribute to the spike

camps.

"The crews were now spread out in small groups over miles of fire line. We had 60 men on the fire at this time.

"A day and a half later we had the fire under control. We began releasing men to other fires that night and the following morning. By late afternoon the next day only 12 men were left on the fire with the 'copter to chase down smokes. The fire was mopped up during the next two days and the 'copter and men left for another fire. The fire was kept under patrol and declared out on June 20.

"All told we built about 10 miles of fire line, had 5 more held by a backfire from a water line, and the rest by direct attack.