ABSTRACT
Hemlock forests are found in the US in the East in the Appalachian chain and along the West Coast, in Japan, Taiwan, China, and the Himalayas. In the US, they occur in areas of medium to heavy rainfall, often averaging 80 in. or more per year in the southern Appalachians. Deciduous trees such as sweet birch, red maple, Fraser magnolia, and red oak may be scattered throughout the hemlock stand. The density of these forests precludes the use of the transect method of census. The most satisfactory method is the spot mapping method where maps are prepared for the study area, including natural landmarks and outer boundaries with total acreage determined. The almost impenetrable rhododendron understory in the southern Appalachian forests sometimes requires crawling under the vegetation for short distances. Where vegetation is this dense, the investigator should determine the distance at which singing males may be heard and set the cruising routes accordingly.
