l86 C. SKOTTSHERG 



livelihood for the majority. This, however, is not the case. The time has come 

 when the old dreams to utilize the land, fostered by well-meaning patriots, are 

 coming true. The statistics tell us that Masatierra is being transformed into a 

 cattle and sheep farm, a new and strange type of National Park. In 1945 the 

 island had 5000 sheep. 600 head of cattle, 500 tame (.') goats and 300 horses, 

 and even if the horses and cows mostly graze the open country with grasses and 

 herbs, mainly introduced weeds, they do not despise the light forest which, and 

 this was easy to observe already in 191 7, suffers. The habits of the sheep and 

 goats are different; wild sheep were observed by Weber in the thirties (p. 116). 

 There are no fences and nothing to prevent these animals to run wild among the 

 crests, where it is difficult to follow them. No palatable plant species is likely to 

 escape these gluttons and in contradistinction to the naturalist, they need no license. 

 It goes without saying that they will take to the mountains when, at the end of 

 the drier season, food becomes scarce. Guzman recommends introducing new kinds 

 of grasses, better adapted to the climate, a measure probably unheard of in combina- 

 tion with the management of a national park. It should not be forgotten that one 

 Mr. Orro Rir.CKiEi., "el gran amigo de las ciencias naturales" as Guzman calls 

 him, celebrated the creation of the national park by introducing 6 pairs of rab- 

 bits (!) which, as everywhere else, will take what the sheep leave; nor that a parti- 

 cularly dangerous weed, the zarzamora [Rubus ulmifolius), a wellknown pest on the 

 mainland, was introduced on purpose to be used as living fences. The success was 

 comj)lete. The thruslies took care of the dispersal of the fruits, invasion is going 

 on everywhere, and I have just been told that the entire Plazoleta del Yunque pre- 

 sents the picture of an impenetrable "living fence". From the same source I have 

 the information that the unlawful cutting of the Chonta has not been stopped — 

 I doubt that anybody tried to stop it — but is going on just as before and with 

 the same method: before a tree is felled a cut with an ax is made near the base 

 in order to know the thickness of the wood cylinder; if it is too thin to be of 

 value the tree is left standing, a potential victim of fungus attacks. 



It remains to be mentioned that 17 colonists settled on Masafuera some 

 years ago (72 {)ersons in all). Their principal occupation is said to be lobster 

 fishing. 



Basing his opinion on his [)crsonal knowledge of the islands and on a wealth 

 of material from various sources, (Guzman discusses the present situation and the 

 {)ossibilities to improve it. There can be no doubt that he is interested in the 

 f)reservation of the nature, but it is also evident that he greatly underrates the 

 dangers jeopardizing the survival of the indigenous flora and fauna. The pros and 

 cons in agriculture and silviculture are set forth in detail. In his appreciation of 

 the fruit r^roduccd he differs cf)nsi(lerably from Johow who did not hold a very 

 high opinion of the (juality, and our impression was not too favourable. Oranges 

 and lemons, not grown in our time, are said to prosper in the valleys — this may 

 be true, but what are the fruits like.' The wheat, of poor quality according to 

 Johow, is excellent, which must mean that new strains have been introduced, A 

 circumstance in favour of agriculture, Guzman says, is that as a national park all 

 the land belongs to the State, and the concessioned farmer needs not worry about 



