As has been stated, the administration of the management of forests in Russia constitutes a special department of the Ministry of Imperial domains. But there are in different parts of the Empire forests which were formerly, and still continue to be, under the supervision of special departments of the administration. Thus has it been with the government forests in the Baltic Provinces. In a codification of the then existing forest laws of the Empire, issued in 1857, it was enjoined in regard to the fourth division of the admiralty forests in the Baltic district: —
* 336. The admiralty forests of the Baltic district are supervised by a board of management, similar to the boards of other districts.
337. The members of this board are determined by the authorities. The requisite number of forest officials and warders, for the improvement and protection of the woods, are appointed by the board of managers.
338. The Board is located in the town of Vytegra, as the most suitable for its duties; but the Ministry of Imperial Domains may appoint any other town as the seat of the board.
339. The principal duties of the board are: —
1. Supervision of admiralty woods and forests,
which will be placed under its sole control and management, in the governments of Olonetz, Novgorod, and St Petersburg.
2. Preparation of leaved and other timber in the government of Olonetz for the port of St Petersburg.
3. The allotment of civil forests, as well out of the district as out of the government forests, for the ports of Revel and St Petersburg.
4. Preparation of timber (a) in Courland and the island of Osel; (6) on the Dwina, until the appointment of the western board of management; (c) along the Nieman river, from the confluence of the same with the Windau canal; (d) from Finland, should such preparations be deemed desirable.
340. The following districts come under the exclusive control of the Direction of the Baltic district: —
1. All eastern and northern leaved and other forests, from which timber can be conveyed to St Petersburg, after the distribution of lands to peasants, namely, lands producing less remunerative qualities of timber.
2. Several wooded districts of St Petersburg government already apportioned to the Morin department.
3. Forest districts and parks which have to be set aside, on account of adaptability for timber being floated down by flowing rivers in Olonetz, Novgorod, and St Petersburg governments, after deduction of lands apportioned to government peasants, and for building of government and private barges, also for sawmills, and for Olonetz and St Petersburg government foundries.
341. Out of the remaining portions of forests of this district it is permitted to prepare timber for building of ships, according to requirements, but without exhausting the forests. The timber requisite for government building purposes at Revel is to be furnished as far as practicable from government forests.
342. As regards management and improvement of forests,
the division of the same into forest districts, and the preparation of building timber, the board of management will be guided in its action by —
1. Rules existing for other Admiralty forest districts.
2. Rules issued to the existing commission of
Pudosk town, and pre-sketched in code, &c., of Department of goverment forests.
The Department of admiralty forests is, however, directed to issue, without loss of time, a codex for the Baltic districts, with basis of rules existing for northern districts of leaved forests.'
In Courland there are several forests belonging to the government, and in the codification of the then existing laws in regard to administration and management of forests, the following were published as the laws and regulations relating to these forests, specifications being given of the chapter and section of the law on which each statement was based: —
' Foundation of Board of Management of Government Forests in the Government of Courland.
DIVISION I. — GENERAL COMPOSITION OF BOARD.
' 362. The local management of government forests of Courland belongs to that of the Courland Palata Imperial Domains, which manages these forests on strength of rules 867 to 1,050, 1,534 to 1,589, 1,645 to 1,668 of this codex.
363. In forest districts of Courland there exist, (1) foresters, according to rules of forest corps, as stated in section 70-71; (2) foresters and under foresters, with warders and guardians.
Note. — The foresters and foresters' assistants presently existing are to be replaced, on their leaving the service, by students of the forest corps of the St Petersburg Institute, and these may serve up to grade of Lieutenant-Colonel.