and-mouth epidemic among the livestock and deer in the State and an unusual forest fire situation, the improved water and financial conditions in the State in 1925 revived interest in touring and reports from various. parts of the State indicate that Yosemite was favored with more than its proportionate share of increase. Inasmuch as there has been a falling off rather than an improvement in railroad facilities to the park, as was to be expected, almost the entire increase in travel was by motor.

The following tables give an analysis of the travel and also a comparison of the figures recorded for the previous year:

FISH AND GAME

While the drought conditions existing during 1924 materially decreased the fish life in the smaller streams of the park and created a condition which it will take many years to bring back to normal in the mountain streams and lakes, the effect does not seem to have been particularly serious in the larger streams and lakes. Reports from the Merced Lake, Washburn Lake, and the Tuolumne River areas indicate that fishing conditions during 1925 have been practically as good as usual. The increased advantage taken of fishing conditions in these areas, however, certainly will soon bring a condition of shortage unless control is undertaken by cutting down the fishing limit and giving closer supervision to fishing in the park, or unless a hatchery to supply additional fish is soon provided.

The extensive killing of the deer outside of the park, in the watershed of the Tuolumne River, in connection with the hoof-and-mouth control measures, has depleted the deer in the northern area of the park to one-half or even less than one-half of their original numbers. Fortunately the epidemic did not get among the deer on the Merced watershed and numbers here were not depleted. It is estimated that even with more than 20,000 deer killed in the Tuolumne watershed in connection with control work during the preceding season more than 50,000 deer ranged within the park boundaries. No infection has been found among the deer since early June and the season closes with a fairly positive assurance that the disease has been completely eradicated among the deer and that further control operations will probably be unnecessary.

OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN 1925

In April the Secretary visited the park and in addition to familiarizing himself with general park affairs gave particular attention to the proposed development program of the Yosemite Park & Curry Co. and approved the construction, on the site selected, of a new hotel installation with the completion of which for the first time there will be adequate hotel facilities in Yosemite Valley throughout the year.

A congressional delegation headed by Hon. Louis C. Cramton of Michigan, chairman of the Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on Interior Department appropriations, and including Mr. J. S. Bailey, Assistant Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and Assistant in Operations and Public Relations Demaray of the National Park Service visited the park in June and gave serious study to the needs of the park.

Declaration of the city and county of San Francisco of their intention to comply immediately with the provisions of the Hetch Hetchy grant under which the city and county is obligated to build certain roads in the Hetch Hetchy area will mean that for the first time since the beginning of the city and county's activities in the park the northern part of the park, involving the entire lower watershed of the Tuolumne River, will shortly be accessible to park visitors.

The decision of the director, on the occasion of his visit in July, to build only high-standard roads in the park has met with wide approval, and while the ultimate cost of the park road system on these standards will be very materially higher than was anticipated under the original program of modification of existing roads, the benefits accruing in the way of greater ease of negotiation and safety more than offset the increased cost.

On May 19, during the convention of the California Medical Association in the park, that association unveiled a tablet in memory of Dr. L. H. Bunnell, the first white man to make known to the world the wonders of Yosemite Valley.

On May 30 the California Conference of Social Workers unveiled a tablet in memory of John Muir and marking therewith the location of the site of John Muir's sawmill and cabin which he occupied for a number of years during his early studies of the natural history of Yosemite National Park on which many of his later writings were based.

The placing of this and the Bunnell tablet is of interest and importance, in addition to commemorating men who were prominent in making Yosemite known to the world, in that this is the first time that any of the points of historic interest have been permanently marked. The placing of these two tablets will do much to stimulate public interest in historical points and activities in the park area.

The establishment of the Yosemite News Service, cooperatively by the Government and the Yosemite Park and Curry Co., has enabled the park for the first time to disseminate unprejudiced and impartial publicity on the park and its activities. The demand for publicity, news, and articles from newspapers, magazines, and periodicals from all over the country, proves in a measure the success of this news service in disseminating Yosemite information. It has also established a more helpful association with the press than the park has hitherto experienced.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

JOHN R. WHITE, Superintendent, Giant Forest, Calif.

Steady progress was made despite small appropriations in development of park headquarters at Alder Creek, which is now linked by an excellent park road with the State highway. Considering that a total of only $29,298 has been expended on construction of buildings, water and sewer systems, etc., at Alder Creek, the Government has secured an administrative plant at min.mum cost. The administrative personnel is now 3 permanent and 5 temporary employees.

PROTECTION-PARK RANGER FORCE

The force is now a chief ranger, 1 permanent ranger, and 15 rangers when actually employed, of whom about 5 are employed all year.

There were no complaints against the ranger force; on the contrary, many verbal and written compliments have been received on the courtesy and attention to duty not only of the ranger but of all park employees.

There were 6 complaints filed before U. S. Commissioner Walter Fry. Sentences were imposed in 5 cases, with a total in fines of $80.

It may be considered that poaching has almost ceased while other violations are few and largely due to ignorance.

GRAZING

A total of 730 cattle were grazed by 7 permittees, a reduction of 356 head from 1924. Steady progress is being made in reducing of number of cattle and grazing areas, the general policy being to reduce and abolish grazing as fast as areas are needed for accommodating visitors.

FOREST FIRES

No man-caused fire was reported and this is due to our system of warning signs, of restricted camping, and to prohibition of smoking except in camps or at stations during the dry season. There were 27 fires caused by lightning which burned over 109 acres.

TRAVEL

A total of 14,273 autos and 46,677 visitors entered the park, being 35 per cent increase in visitors over 1924 and 55 per cent increase over 1923. Analysis of origin of travel by automobile registration shows the following percentages:

Of course many visitors from other States travel in cars registered in California while many more come in as guests of local people; while practically all the stage travel of 990 is of visitors from outside California.

It must be remembered that the park has had over 200 per cent increase in travel during the past five years, and this without advertising and despite poor roads. Now that the new entrance road is certain for 1926 travel and reorganization of the hotel insures accommodations and advertising, we must look forward to a big travel increase.

Public auto camps.-The camps at Giant Forest were improved by the fiscal year 1924-25 appropriation of $40,000 for sewer system and will now accommodate about 2,000 campers. Additional funds are badly needed, so that construction in the spring of 1926 may keep pace with the increased number of visitors coming in over the new road. As fast as funds are available improvements are made in the camps; seats, benches, tables, and fireplaces are needed both for the campers' convenience and to avoid indiscriminate camping and damage to vegetation. For the sum of about $10 a camp may be furnished with the essential conveniences wh.ch a motorist does not ord.narily carry with him. As private, municipal, county, and State auto camps outside the parks are becoming equipped with the conveniences, it is proper that we should keep pace in the national parks.

NATURAL FEATURES AND WILD LIFE

The big trees and forests. Further protection was given the most visited sequoias. Signs were framed and placed at General Sherman and other trees. A beginning has been made at Giant Forest in reforestation not only by planting trees but by blocking off denuded areas so that flowers, ferns, and shrubs may be sown or planted.

Fish. Contrary to expectation the severe drought of 1924 did not seriously diminish fish. Good sport was available in many park streams and lakes. Owing to an accident at the Hammond Hatchery we received only 140,00C trout fry, but these were raised by hand feeding at Giant Forest and will be planted in the fall, so that we expect to get better results than by planting as fry. The limit for streams adjacent to Giant Forest was reduced from State limit of 25 to 10 with good results.

Wild life. Twenty-four bears were counted at the incinerator and thousands of visitors enjoyed their feeding hour. Deer are abundant and show no sign of disease. Only one or two mountain lion visited the park, and hunting was stopped until they become a serious nuisance again. Mountain beaver are at work at Giant Forest; weasels became so numerous that several were shot; opossums have invaded the Middle Fork region and were reported at Alder Creek. All wild life has been protected and is flourishing.

Museum and nature guide work.-Under Judge Fry steady progress was made in collections; there are now 355 flower and tree specimens; 5 mainmals and 54 miscellaneous. The administrative building at Giant Forest was used as a museum but is congested. A fireproof building is a necessity.

Nature guide walks conducted by Messrs. Kobs and Sisson and Prof. W. Scott Lewis were well attended, a total of 999 visitors benefiting by the service. There were 36 lectures given by Judge Fry and others at camp fires and 10,446 persons attended. Talks on park policies, regulations, and general subjects of interest were given by various park officers.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE TO PUBLIC

Library. The Tulare County Library again maintained a branch at Giant Forest, and Miss Gretchen Flower reports that 540 books were in the library and the circulation was 1,868.

Religious services.—Visiting clergymen officiated at Giant Forest center throughout the season, and Mr. George Hume, Mrs. Caro Bennett, and Miss Ella Evans managed the services and the outdoor church.

Entertainments. Both at Giant Forest center and the Giant Forest lodge camp fire entertainments were held every night, those at the center being organized by campers. There was noticeable an improved spirit at the lodge.

PUBLIC OPERATORS AND UTILITIES

The only change in management of the public utilities was that the Kings River Parks Co. leased properties were successfully managed by H. H. Hunkins. Other utilities were also successively conducted.

The Sequoia National Park Stage Co. carried 990 passengers, as compared with 587 in 1924. Of these, 180 were Sierra Club members on annual outing.

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

Sewer system. This system at Giant Forest was completed during the past summer under our allotment of $39,500 for the 1924-25 fiscal year; 5 large

comfort stations and 5 small were installed, the large ones having showers for men and women as well as flush closets. These stations which have a total of 34 bowls now serve an average of 1,500 campers daily during summer months with a peak load of from 3,000 to 4,000. Sanitary engineers estimate 1 bowl to carry 30 people. It is plain that we already need additional stations and that when the influx of 1926 over the new road is upon us we shall be very short of toilet accommodations.

Garbage incinerator.-This incinerator of new design by H. B. Hommon, sanitary engineer, United States Public Health Service, has proved an entire success, not only as a means of garbage disposal, but as an attraction to bears. It is so located as to afford good views of these animals and scores of visitors are seen there every afternoon.

Water system.-Several breaks occurred in the 6-inch main line to Wolverton, but were promptly repaired. We have an adequate water supply but need funds for extension.

Dormitory building.-The dormitory at park headquarters was completed. It was intended to house unmarried employees and rangers but the road construction and other development have brought in so many transients that the dormitory has virtually been a hotel and another building will be needed for single men and clubhouse.

Road construction.-"The Generals' Highway" was finally linked up on July 25, 1925, but a vast amount of widening and improvement work remains to be done, particularly on the section of 7 miles between Hospital Rock and Deer Ridge built before arrival of Resident Engineer W. M. Austin. The ap propriation of $39,000 for the fiscal year 1925 carried the road barely to Deer Ridge, leaving nearly 2 miles of the heaviest rock excavation to be undertaken from road budget funds. Fiscal year 1925-26 funds of $255,500 should be nearly sufficient to widen and surface the road to standard now adopted from park boundary to Giant Forest.

Sanitary engineering division. Mr. H. B. Hommon of the United States Public Health Service has continued to assist us with valuable advice and has always promptly responded to our requests.

Landscape engineering division.-The occasional short visits of Mr. D. R. Hull have been valuable in adjusting our perspective; but an intensive study of immediate and future development problems is needed. We are making some progress in restoring denuded areas at Giant Forest and in protecting natural beauties from the ever-increasing crowds. It is hoped to assign a ranger definitely to this work and he should have more frequent advice and guidance from the landscape engineering division.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is pleasurable to reflect on the progress made during the past year. We are proud that the park has a good reputation for courtesy and service to the public and we intend to strive to maintain that reputation by our work through the coming year.