May 1948

YOSEMITE NATURE

Western Robin

VOL. XXVII MAY, 1948 NO. 5

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DIVISION AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

C. P. Russell, Superintendent D. E. McHenry, Park Naturalist H. C. Parker, Assoc. Park Naturalist R. N. McIntyre, Acting. Asst. Park Naturalist

VOL. XXVII MAY, 1948 NO. 5 A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE ICE CAVE OF DANA GLACIER

By Ranger Naturalist Allen Waldo September 1, 1947, I accompanied Ranger Naturalist Carl Sharsmith on one of his naturalist hikes. I was eager to do so because on an earlier hike, which I had conducted to this same glacier, our group had discovered an ice cave and I wanted to re-examine this to see if it might not now be possible to enter it.

A cursory examination from the base of the glacier showed the cave to be much more open than it had been upon the first visit. When we climbed to the cave we found that, with the aid of a rope, and by cutting two steps in the ice with our ice axe, it was very simple for the whole group to descend and enter. Several facts seem worth recording as a result of this visit.

First of all, the large volume of rushing water which had been so clearly audible upon the first visit was now entirely gone. The floor of the cave was dry solid rock, or in some places solid ice. There was no visible stream left, nor could one be heard.

Great ribs of translucent ice were present on the cave roof, and examination showed them to fit perfectly the shape of the rock surface over which they had last flowed. As might be expected, occasional boulders and smaller particles of rock, which had been frozen into the ice and dragged along the rock floor, were now left in the ceiling of the cave from which they were slowly melting.

The cave surfaces had no stalactite or stalagmite formation, and there was very little dripping from the roof, practically all surface melting dripping in only around the cave opening. This cave did contain, however, a few wavy curtain- or drapery-like formations hanging from the roof. These only hung down from one to three inches and were from a foot to several feet in length. They were entirely similar in shape and appearance to much larger, wavy, curtain-like formations found in some limestone caves. One portion of the cave, against which the moist air blew, was covered by white frost instead of the clear to translucent ice characteristic of the rest.

Further examination indicated that the cave was the result of two factors. One of these was the fact that the glacier was here descending a particularly steep, step-like section of rock face. The other was that as the ice came over this surface it was being obstructed from below. This caused a buckling up in the vicinity of the riser of this step, causing the cave. This strong resisting pressure and buckling were shown not only by the presence of the cave but also by the twisted, tightly folded and compressed ice which was present at the top and bottom of the side wall which held up the roof. The contortions produced by the flow and the resistance to it were very clearly shown in these two areas. This pre- *See Yosemite Nature Notes, Sept., 1947, Vol. XXVI, No. 9, 101.

vented the pressure of the ice above from simply forcing the glacier to flow down and fill in the open space, and held the roof strongly enough so that crevasses did not develop and allow the roof to drop in.

FISH PLANTING—FINGERLINGS OR LEGAL FISH IN NATIONAL PARKS?

By Duane Jacobs, Assistant Chief Ranger

Trout were first introduced in the high country of what is now Yosemite National Park in 1878, at which time plants were made in Kibbie, Eleanor, Vernon and Laurel Lakes. By wise selection, or more likely due to being the only species available, these first plants were native McCloud river rainbow.

In 1930 Fred J. Foster, Fish Culturist for the Bureau of Fisheries, wrote: "Lake Eleanor contains rainbow trout as the only species and these are robust fish of beautiful coloring. By all means, no other species should be introduced."

1879 is the oldest record found of trout planting in Yosemite Valley, then a State park. In the Grand Register of the Cosmopolitan House, M. A. Blade of Union City, Pa., wrote on April 1, "Came in with the Yosemite Fish Commissioners with twenty thousand young trout for the different streams of the Valley."

Prior to these early dates there were only two known fish in the area now embraced by Yosemite National Park. These were the native rainbow and the western sucker. Both were found only in the Merced River.

During the early nineties a vigorous program of fish planting was begun with the State Fish and Game Commission furnishing the fry and fingerlings and Army troops planting them in park waters.

As the Service policy was formulated and strengthened from time to time, stocking of park waters was narrowed to a planned program of only three main species. Of these the rainbow make up by far the largest part of the plant each year. Eastern brook and brown trout continue to be planted in waters already occupied by them and in which they do well. Golden trout have been introduced in several streams and lakes of the higher elevations and are successfully reproducing themselves.

From the earliest official fish planting in Yosemite down through the years to the present time, a close cooperative agreement has existed between the California Fish and Game Commission and the National Park Service. They have furnished the eggs and fry, reared them to planting size, and we have done the planting. Throughout all this period this agreement has been a successful one. Now, as in the past, we enjoy a close and cooperative spirit of helpfulness on the part of these State men.

I believe that few can deny that this has been a successful program if they take into consideration these two factors:

1. The intent has been to provide a medium of sport and recreation for those desiring to fish under conditions as nearly natural as possible while enjoying the other natural features and wonders of a national park.

2. In spite of extensive use by many thousands of anglers yearly, it still offers one of the best fishing areas of size and magnitude in the entire State of California. This is not *Extracts from a paper read at the Regional Naturalists Conference, Region Four, National Park Service, held in Yosemite April 14-17, 1948.

a personal opinion alone but has been wrung in many cases from some of our most severe critics—"the meat fishermen."

The discussion usually starts in the form of a challenge: "When are you going to do something about fishing? The fish are getting smaller each year and harder to catch. I have been fishing here for twenty years, etc." This fellow, under pressure, will reluctantly admit that the reason he has fished here so many years is because there's better trout fishing to be had here than other places he's tried.

"But we must do something about it." And here comes the argument for planting legal size fish, embellished with all sorts of high sounding promises for better fishing. Yes, better fishing for the fellow who is content to follow behind the fish truck and take a limit of liver-fed, anemic trout that will rise to anything.

There is no intent to argue here that a given number of legal trout released during or shortly before open season so that they can be caught out before succumbing to nature's rigors, will not produce a greater yield than a like number of fingerlings eventually would. However, even proponents of large trout plantings now try to avoid such plantings in the fall after the season is closed, since few of them apparently survive the winter to add to next season's catch. It is believed that this type of trout propagation boils down to a business involving dollars and pounds of trout, and surely a national park should be the last place to establish an "open air fish market."

In this connection I wish to quote from an article appearing in the September-October, 1944 issue of "Outdoor America," entitled, "Wild Trout Fishing Endangered in National Parks." This article was written by Dr. Albert S. Hazzard, Director of the Institute for Fisheries Research for the Michigan Department of Conservation. Dr. Hazzard is in the business of raising legal trout for the lakes and streams of Michigan, yet he takes time out and properly chastises us for giving in to pressure for planting large trout.

"The National Parks were established by Congress to preserve for all time outstanding national and his-

toric areas. The woods, waters and wild-life are to be kept as primitive and undisturbed as possible. Wild birds and game animals are to be seen but not hunted. Trees spring up where they will, grow old and die, without thought of the lumberman's interest. Waterfalls unharnessed for irrigation and power pursue their natural courses. Wildflowers are to be enjoyed but not picked. Only the fish may be harvested by the visitor. Fortunate it is that the founders of the parks did not forbid fishing, because these areas provide exceptional recreation to the trout fisherman in settings unsurpassed for wildness and beauty. The wild character of the surroundings and the appearance and fighting ability of wild fish should be preserved, if anywhere, in the National Parks.

"Planting trout ready to catch can not be justified and should not be tolerated in National Park waters. The best fish culturist living is unable to consistently produce large trout which have the appearance and fighting ability of native fish. In spite of efforts to control, disease and parasites find their way into the hatcheries and rearing stations and may be transmitted to wild stocks."

"The principal objection to such planting, however, is that it cheapens and renders artificial the sport of trout fishing by making it possible for any dub to catch his limit if he happens to be where a planting has recently been made and when conditions are right for fish feeding. Meat fishing, not recreation, is encouraged by planting large fish."

In this connection I hope you will find time to read and think over these two articles: "Survival of Hatchery Trout in Streams and Possible Methods of Improving the Quality of Hatchery Trout" by H. A. Schuck of the Fish and Wildlife Service in "The Progressive Fish Culturist," January 1948. The other article is, "Producing Meat and Producing Sport Are Different" by Kenneth A. Reid, which appeared in the December-January, 1942-1943 issue of "Outdoor America."

The Merced River in Yosemite Valley has been used as the ideal example of what legal fish planting would mean to the thousands who fish it each summer. The fishing use is now so heavy that paths are literally worn up and down both sides of the river. Yet it is proposed to multiply this use by no one knows how many times, by artificial fishing. What an attraction this would be! Hordes of campers swarming after the fish truck. It would surely rival the late "bear shows" and perhaps even overshadow them. The Service Policy states that "In cases where a lake or stream is of greater value without the presence of fishermen, there should be no stocking of such waters."

One proponent of large fish planting wrote rather recently that: "It should be noted that in the cold waters of Yosemite National Park, the 1-inch fish which we plant do not become legal size for at least three years and more likely four to five, dependent upon the altitude." One hears and reads a lot about cold water. Actually, is not cold water the primary reason we have trout in our lakes and streams? Isn't it this same "cold water" that produces our gamey, fighting trout that makes the sport worthwhile?

The smallest fingerlings we plant usually run from 1½ to 2¼ inches in length, and these are the fish packed into the back country. As for it taking them at least three years, and in some cases four to five years to reach legal size, we have ample proof to refute such a statement. In any case where it takes this long for fish to reach 6

inches in length, it could only mean that they were planted in waters already overstocked or devoid of food, and should not have been planted in the first place. Admittedly, we have made such mistakes and we have recognized them as such.

There are statements made that only five per cent of our fingerlings planted survive to reach the creel. If these people had ever been able to convince the men whom I have described as carrying this work on through these many years, that their efforts have been mostly wasted, we certainly would not have the lively interest and willingness on their part to continue this work. They know it simply is not so.

To secure favorable survival percentages in planting fingerlings, advantage must be taken of all natural conditions when they are released, e.g., cover for protection against big fish, water currents and food supply. They must be well distributed, especially in stream planting.

The type and condition of the fingerling being planted is of primary importance. Fall spawning rainbow which have been cultivated by the State in their big fish program, are poorly adapted to our needs, especially when they have been heavily fed to induce fast growth. They are pot-bellied and flabby, and are the first to succumb during transportation and after planting. Our need is for hardy, native, gamey fish which after planting will quickly adapt themselves to natural conditions. Our native rainbow spawn in some cases from February through June when the water is high, and not in the fall when it is low.

We have an excellent example of this in the records. During late October of 1946, after our season was closed, we planted 2,600 of these fall spawners in Siesta Lake adjacent to the new Tioga Road. Tioga Lake is rather small and shallow but abounds with fish food. Never has there been a poor trout taken here. These fish when planted were approximately 4 inches in length and quite heavy, and should have easily reached legal size by the following spring, yet all died during the winter, as far as we could tell. Yet both eastern brook and loch Leven were still being caught, some of these remaining from the original plant in 1932.

We have no quarrel with the State program of cultivating fall spawning rainbows. It is undoubtedly well fitted in their plan of producing large fish in the hatcheries and rearing ponds before releasing them.

We believe the material obtained from the Lake Eleanor egg taking station when it was in operation, was the best possible quality of fish for park stocking purposes. They are native wild fish of pure strain and have successfully thrived and reproduced themselves there for the past seventy years. Operations were discontinued there due to the war, but it is hoped it may be reactivated in the near future.

Unfortunately we cannot give exact figures as to actual fishing use of park waters, nor the exact number of fish taken annually. Limited personnel during the past several years has simply ruled out the possibility. However, some spot checks were made during the past season and after careful study of known use in some areas, we arrived at one hundred thousand fishing days during the 1947 season. By figuring an average of four trout per day of fishing we can reasonably estimate an annual take of 400,000 fish.

This gives us an idea of the great use being made of these waters by fishermen. No wonder they are getting smaller and harder to catch! Yet

when we consider that ca yearly over (if this corresponding time. age of slightly less than 900,000 fish Limits. For the past two years a gerlings have been planted for the current recommendation has been in past eight years, who can say that to lower the limit to ten fish per day our program has not been successand two limits per week. This is an ful? Of course we realize that a sizeobjective that has now been gained. able percentage of fish caught that In areas of high concentration and make up the overall take, comes from use, such as the Merced River in natural reproduction, but this is exYosemite Valley, serious consideraactly what we are working for in tion should be given to a limit of not order to have well rounded trout more than five fish per day. fishing. Bait Fishing. Again we quote from Let's take inventory and find out Mr. Foster's report. "The main obwhat we should have and how to jection to the use of salmon eggs is best keep it in the desired balance. that many undersized fish are The first correct step in such a hooked so deeply that it is impossible program can only be a thorough and to release them without great mortality complete scientific study of all trout. A number of states have passed bearing waters. All lakes and laws prohibiting the use of salmon streams should then be cataloged eggs, and among true fishermen the according to their class, and current practice is looked upon as unsportsmanlike. That it is very destructive up to date records maintained of consider conditions. In the case of Yosemite cannot be questioned and alone this would require the full time ing the numbers of classes of fisher services of an aquatic biologist at men visiting Yosemite Park, it is a least two and probably three years practice which would have a most to get such a program laid out and serious effect in many waters.' under way. He should be assisted by Feeder streams should be carefully a ranger who has aptitude for such studied with the view to closing them work and who will be in a position permanently for reproduction purto carry it on. Surely this is not too poses. Some of these streams are much to ask in return for perpetualdefinitely known to be natural hatching well balanced, natural trout fisheries in themselves and fishing ing in the parks. should never be permitted in them. Then let us look to some of the Avoid publicity concerning good more basic musts of conservation. fishing areas. Great damage has re The length of open season is of resulted in past years to formerly ex primary importance. Ten years ago, cellent trout waters. Such publicity we succeeded in cutting the open brings a deluge of fishermen who, in season, one month in the spring to a few weeks or even days will almost give the rainbow a chance to spawn, completely kill a lake or stream for and two weeks off in the fall to give the rest of the year. the eastern brook the same chance. I quote from a special report to It appears we would be justified in the Commissioner of Fisheries by A. cutting at least another two weeks H. Dinsmore, Superintendent of off in the fall, and there is some Hatcheries, St. Johnsbury, Vermont. thought that we should eventually This report was written January 23, come to a ninety day season that 1924, following an inspection of Yosemite's waters and reads, in part : would match the heavy visitor influx

" If the park waters are to continue where very liberal regulations may productive, wise regulations must be safely maintained. It would seem wise to future. The Yosemite National Park maintain for the immediate close the small tributaries of all im one of the great playgrounds of the portant waters, reserving them as Nation, where congregate a vast natural breeding grounds. transient summer population. To "In the opinion of the writer, the base its fishing privileges on those park waters in the main should not allowed in the State generally must be looked upon as fishing resorts be ruinous in the near future." where the skilled fisherman may In going through early reports come to fill his creel, but the catch dealing with fish cultural activities, should be limited to the requirements there is this constant note of caution of camp use, to the end that these pointing out the need for wise reguwaters may continue for all time to lations to conserve good trout fishing furnish a choice item to the fare of for the future. Even the early day the constantly increasing army of Army men who served as acting camper-tourists. superintendents are on record as "California is a great state with a foreseeing a very real need of pracvast extent of mountain trout waters ticing conservation.

A PREFABRICATED HOUSE

By Daniel Brant, Ranger Naturalist, 1947 Many visitors to Yosemite every In regions like Yosemite in which year notice at least some of the unthere is a long dry summer season, usual growths which occur on the one further type of plant overgrowth trees here. The light green staghorn is quite common--namely the insect lichen (often misnamed moss) which gall. These small, rounded or oval is usually found on the lower growths are most commonly noticed branches of trees probably attracts on the willows, oaks and chinquapin, the greatest amount of attention, but and are often mistaken for fruits or many also notice the mistletoe nuts. To date, no thorough survey (Phoradendron) in the tops of the oak has been made of the galls of Yotrees. Occasionally some people nosemite, but on the basis of studies Like the leafless mistletoe (Arceumade over broader areas it seems thobium) which is fairly common on likely that at least a hundred types the pines and often causes the tree of galls are to be found here. More to produce many closely packed interesting to me than the classificabranches called "witch's broom." tion of these galls is a consideration Others have also noticed that trees of how they are formed. themselves occasionally develop Let us think for a moment of the strange swellings and overgrowths. most common gall to be noticed in The largest and most easily observed Yosemite Valley during the past sea of these growths is the burl, an irregular mass which often grows on one inch long which appeared near the trunks of trees. Actually the reason tips of the branches of the canyon live oaks (Quercus chrysolepis). This that these growths appear is unknown, but the condition is similar to cancer in man, and burls may be particular gall is caused by a type considered to be a sort of plant of wasp which has the tremendous cancer. name Heteroecus dasydactyli.

Actually the complete process by hormone. The developing gall forms which this wasp produces a gall is an ideal home for the growing wasp. not known, but this is approximately The outer portion of this home bewhat occurs. The adult female wasp comes hardened and thus protects makes a small hole in the forming the wasp from its enemies, while the bud of an oak tree in the fall of the central portion of the gall provides a year. In this hole she deposits an plentiful food supply. egg. Early in the spring of the next After the wasp has eaten enough season the egg hatches and the tiny it goes through a resting, or pupa, wasp larva, which looks very much stage and then leaves its home to like a maggot, starts to eat the matelive its adult life as a winged insect rials in the growing bud. At the same Just how some insects "learned" to time, this larva apparently gives off use plants in this way is the subject chemicals which cause the bud to of much speculation, but it can be grow into a gall instead of a leaf. shown that galls always consist of Herein lies the mystery, for as yet tissues which occur naturally some no one has discovered the composition of these chemicals. It is believed merely stimulates the plant to build the right structures in the wrong that at least one of them is a plant place, and presto—a house!

RARE BIRDS

By Harry C. Parker, Associate Park Naturalist On April 8, 1948, two youngsters, were seen in the Valley by Mrs. Enid Bobby Eckart and Larry Morgenson, Michael. (H. C. P.) brought the head of a ring-billed gull

NATURE NOTELET

(Larus delawarensis Ord) to the Museum. They found it about 7 :00 p.m. The Sierra Nevada ground squirrel the evening before. A coyote kept is not a climber. That is, we have jumping and springing, drawing never thought of this rodent as a Bobby's attention to a portion of the climber of trees such as the gray meadow in front of the Tecoya houses squirrels, flying squirrels and chikarees ing section. When young Eckart went. Even the name labels it a out to find out why the animal had ground animal. been springing and jumping at a From time to time, Yosemite ground certain spot, he found the freshly squirrels have been seen breaking severed head of the gull. The body away from their ancestral tradition. was never found, so the head only They have found that they, too can was prepared as a specimen for the climb if they really want to. We have research collection. This species is seen them make difficult ascents on rarely seen in the Park, our only attractively spread feeding tables derecords being for May 13, 1941, and signed for birds. the summer of 1946, both times by On April 8, 1947, we saw a ground Mr. Walter Fitzpatrick. squirrel running the length of the roof Beginning April 29, and for an unof the Museum. Reaching the stone known number of days thereafter at chimney, he scarcely slackened his this writing, a female blue grosbeak pace, but ran down and around the (Guiraca caerulea subsp.) was the chimney and back to the roof peak. frequenting the vicinity of Mr. FitzYour guess is as good as mine as to patrick's home next to the postoffice. what prompted this ground squirrel The only previous record for the park to leave the ground and ascend the was August 8, 1940, when several two story building. (R. H. A.)

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