Thirty-five coastal Douglas-fir trees were evaluated for embryonic genetic load from comparisons of sound seed set following self- and cross-pollinations, that is, from determinations of relative self-fertility. Estimates for the 35 trees ranged from about 3 to about 27 lethal equivalents per zygote active in the embryo stage, with the median tree carrying about 10 lethal equivalents per zygote. Relative self-fertility of Douglas-fir was compared with that reported for other coniferous species, and genetic load was compared with that reported for Drosophila, Tribolium, and man.