on the slopes and summits of the Cascade Mountains. It averages about 15 per cent of the stand and often runs as high as 25 per cent. Furthermore, a large amount of hemlock is situated in the higher, less accessible slopes. There is estimated to be 90,000,000,000 feet, board measure, in the United States and Alaska. Of this total, 40,000,000,000, board measure, are in Alaska. Recently western hemlock has been cut for itself alone.

The wood of the western hemlock is superior to that of the eastern and has a large variety of uses, both as a lumber material and as an important material for wood pulp.

Bark. The production of western hemlock bark is very small in comparison with the annual cut of hemlock logs, and only a fraction of the possible output. The utilization of this bark is only in its infancy.

The extensive use of western hemlock bark for tanning has been hindered by the high transportation costs from the west coast to the eastern tanneries as well as inadequate transportation facilities in the bark region. Shipment of bark or liquid extract has not been commercially feasible, as solid extract can not be placed in the eastern market in competition with imported quebracho from South America. Similar conditions prevail at present in British Columbia, the freight costs to eastern Canada being too high to permit development of the

extract.

The bark is thinner than the eastern hemlock, but contains more tannin-10 to 15 per cent (samples of bark from higher altitudes have shown as high as 19 per cent)-as compared with 8 to 13 per cent for the eastern variety. Bark from the Cascade region shows a higher tannin content than bark from the coast region, and bark from Washington contains a higher per cent than that from the same general region in Oregon. In the East, half a cord of bark per 1,000 feet of logs yielding 112 pounds tannic acid is considered an average yield. The western hemlock gives about a quarter of a cord per 1,000 feet, yielding 90 pounds of tannin. This lower yield is due to the thinner bark and method of logging. The yield per acre is reported to compare favorably with that of the eastern hemlock.

Extract manufacture on the Pacific coast.-A plant was started near South Bend, Wash., in 1893, but owing to insufficient capital, mismanagement, and to general financial depression of that period, and, it is said, to the opposition of eastern bark interests, it was soon shut down. The promoters claim, however, to have demonstrated the possibility of a similar enterprise under more favorable conditions. Extract manufacture has not been carried out since that date.

Bark harvesting (western hemlock).-The western logger usually cuts hemlock for the timber alone and does not care to bother with bark peeling. They report that the harvesting of hemlock bark is feasible where hemlock grows in pure or in nearly pure stands. The western logging methods, with donkey engine and the slack cable system, result in much loss of bark and pitting with stones and pebbles which combine to reduce the value of the bark. Furthermore, with this system log roads are not cut, with the exception of main skid roads and cableways.

While it is possible in a large lumbering operation to lay out roads, cut, peel, and haul the bark before the other trees are cut by a separate crew as carried in the East, the loggers state that this separate hem

lock operation would hamper the subsequent logging of the largesized trees. Hemlock costs more to log in proportion to its value than the larger sized timber, such as fir, cedar, and spruce. If the hemlock bark not utilized at present was sold at a fair price this would offset in part this difference in cost. Peeling might be carried out at central landings and peeled logs sent directly to the mill. This reduces the possibility of log injury from insects, fungi, and fire.

The peeling season is earlier than in the East, on account of the milder climate. June, July, and August are the dependable months for peeling, although hemlock has been known to peel as early as February. The fogs are not a serious hindrance to drying. In restricted sections, however, curing is difficult on account of excessive dampness. The bark should be removed from the woods before the rainy season, as leaching destroys its value. Unfortunately, the heaviest rains occur in the hemlock regions. Bark from water-driven or towed logs has little tannin value as salt water ruins the bark entirely.

Pacific hemlock as source of tanbark. The western hemlock forests offer a large supply of bark for tanning. With the exception of Pacific County in Washington, and Linn County in Oregon, transportation facilities must be developed before the bark supply of this region can be utilized. The establishment of pulp mills in this region using peeled hemlock of all sizes in cooperation with extract manufacture would be an important factor in the development of this resource. At present imported South American quebracho extract can undersell western hemlock extract in the eastern market. The present available supply of hides in the Pacific northwest is insufficient to support a tanning industry of any great proportions. The tanneries are bringing some hides from States east of the Rocky Mountains. The development of the tanning industries in that section would enable further utilization of the bark of that region. After the California oak bark is exhausted, hemlock will undoubtedly be further utilized. In the meanwhile, it is an important reserve supply for the future.

History, eastern hemlock.-Until the development of chestnut extract, hemlock bark was the most important domestic tanning material and was a fundamental factor in the development of the tanning industry in America. The early tanneries were located near the supply of bark, as transportation of light hides was more economical than the heavy bark. New England had 51 tanneries in 1650. Oak bark was used at first but the limited supply caused the early adoption of hemlock. Oak was preferred, largely on account of the appearance of oak-tanned leather. The abundant supply of hemlock made possible the development of a large export trade in leather. In 1810 the value of the output of American tanneries is said to have been about $200,000,000. Salem and Peabody, Mass., became large leather centers and Boston the great leather market of this country.

About 50 years ago, as the hemlock became locally exhausted, the tanneries moved south and west from the New England States. Pennsylvania, on account of the large stand of hemlock, became a large producer of bark and leather.

After 1900 domestic chestnut was of great importance. Foreign tanning materials, on account of their higher tannin content and the increased cost of domestic barks, have been introduced and

compete with domestic tanning materials. During the war, on account of the great demand for military leather and the scarcity of ships for import of foreign tanning materials, hemlock bark sold for its highest figure, resulting in greatly increased production of bark. Previously hemlock was cut in large quantities for the bark alone. At present the wood is used for lumber and for wood pulp.

Western hemlock. In 1893 an extract plant was started at South Bend, Oregon. This plant project was not a commercial success. The only hemlock used at present on the Pacific coast is limited to five small tanneries in Oregon and Washington which use hemlock in conjunction with California oak bark and other tanning materials. Recently an investigation has been conducted on the possibility of using the bark of western hemlock. No large-scale operations have been developed up to 1921.

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION.

Eastern hemlock. The domestic production of hemlock bark and extract is gradually decreasing, while the value per cord of bark is increasing. With the exception of 800 cords per year cut in Oregon and Washington and consumed by tanneries in those States, the production of hemlock bark and extract is at present restricted to the East. The total domestic bark consumption of 1900 was 1,616, 065 cords, 72 per cent of which (1.170, 131 cords) was hemlock. In 1909 the total bark production had decreased to 1,078, 910 cords, 65 per cent of which was hemlock and amounted to 698,365 cords. The amount of bark converted into extract is only a small part of the hemlock bark consumed by the tanning industry. In 1900 it constituted about 1 per cent of the total hemlock consumed. In 1907-8 it was slightly above 8 per cent, and in 1909 it was less than 3 per

cent.

In 1900, 26,011,714 pounds of hemlock extract were produced in the United States, valued at $563,591. In 1904, 18.833,450 pounds were produced; in 1909, 12.588,078 pounds; and in 1914 19,978,031 pounds, valued at $340,402. In 1919, 2,952,660 pounds of solid hemlock extract, 17,442,192 pounds of liquid extract, and 723,077,342 pounds of hemlock bark were consumed in the United States.

In 1900, hemlock extract represented 19 per cent of the total tanning materials consumed, and in 1909, 3 per cent. Chestnut extract has increased from 17 per cent of the domestic tanning materials in 1905 to 48 per cent in 1909.

DOMESTIC EXPORTS.

Hemlock extract is not separately listed in the exports of the United States. (Commerce and Navigation.) Prior to the war liquid hemlock extract was shipped to Russia and England. It has been estimated that this export did not exceed 10,000 barrels, including that sent to Canada. During the war small amounts of extract were exported to Canada. Some exporters have declared sulphite cellulose extract as hemlock.

FOREIGN PRODUCTION.

Canada is the only foreign producer of hemlock bark and extract, hemlock is the most important tanning material consumed in that country. In 1909, it constituted 61 per cent of value of tanning materials used; the remainder was imported. Data are not available on the production in that country. For the 10 months' period ending January, 1917, the value of the total Canadian exports of hemlock extract was $47,241. Of this amount, extract to the value of $40,260 went to Great Britain, $300 to the United States, and $6,681 to other countries. For the 10 months' period ending 1918 the total value of the hemlock extract was $18,421, and for 1919, $2,765.

The annual value of exports of hemlock bark in the period 18951909 varied from a minimum of $174,819 in 1896 to a minimum value in 1908 of $52,087. For the same period the maximum export of hemlock extract was 10,258 barrels in 1896, and the minimum was 4,183 barrels.

IMPORTS.

Our imports of hemlock bark originate in Canada and have decreased to a small quantity in recent years. The maximum recorded import of bark was 20,311 cords, valued at $126,559 in 1909, gradually decreasing to 10,536 cords in 1911, valued at $65,976. In 1912, 5,633 cords, valued at $34,427 were imported. The quantity gradually diminished to 1,118 cords, valued at $7,027 in 1917, and in 1918, 217 cords, valued at $2,624 were imported.

Imports of extract are given for the years 1904, 1910, and 1915. In 1904 they amounted to 9,355,388 pounds valued at $309,242; in 1910, 32,101 pounds valued at $791, and in 1915, 5,263,296 pounds valued at $173,998.

PRICES.

The average price of hemlock bark was $6.28 per cord in 1900; $6.32 in 1905; $8.49 in 1906; $8.60 in 1907; $8.89 in 1908; and $9.21 in 1909. In 1912 $8 a ton was paid on a 250,000-ton contract in West Virginia for bark delivered to the tannery. During the war when the demand was great $11 to $14 per cord was frequently paid. Hemlock extract (25 per cent tannin) is quoted at 23-3 cents per pound in the period 1912 to July, 1915. In the latter part of 1915 it is quoted at 4-5 cents per pound. During 1916-17-18 it fluctuated from 4-5 to 5-6 cents per pound, with the exception of the spring of 1918, when the quotation dropped to 31-41 cents per pound. The quotation for 1919 was 51-6 cents per pound, and for January, 1920, 7-72 cents per pound.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Hemlock bark has been on the free list since 1883.

Hemlock extract, by the act of 1913, was free. By the act of 1897 and 1909 the extract was made dutiable at the rate of one-half of 1 cent per pound. By the act of 1894 it was made dutiable at 10 per cent ad valorem. The act of 1890 made hemlock extract dutiable at at the same rate as the acts of 1897 and 1909.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS AND TARIFF CONSIDERATIONS.

The use of hemlock bark and of hemlock extract has gradually decreased in the United States on account of the gradual exhaustion of hemlock timber in the eastern section, with decreased bark production and the introduction of the cheaper domestic chestnut extract and imported tanning materials.

Quebracho extract, mangrove, wattle, valonia, and other imported tannages are competitive with hemlock. Quebracho wood is the most important tanning material of the world. It contains more tannin and is available in quantities calculated to last for over 100 years. Mangrove extract is available in tropical coast swamps in unlimited quantities and is harvested with cheap oriental labor, the transportation cost to the United States is one of the chief factors in its marketability. Owing to the decreased output of hemlock bark, substitution of the latter by domestic chestnut extract, together with the importation of foreign tanning materials, have been necessary to meet the requirements of the tanners. A high tariff on foreign tanning naterials would hasten the exhaustion of the eastern hemlock and develop the utilization of the western hemlock bark. A low tariff admitting the cheaper foreign tanning materials would tend to conserve the domestic supply of eastern hemlock.

The imported bark and extract from Canada have not offered serious competition with the domestic product.

Hemlock, extract of, for tanning-Production in United States "Official source."