CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 45 



its-.regard. It is only 'fair liere, in deference to McAllister's unfailing, 

 interest in the Yosemite elk herd, to ])ut on record his views in this 

 regard", which everyone, including McAllister himself, hopes will prove 

 to be unfounded. McAllister believes that the move is to be regretted 

 because the elk had a good home in Yosemite where their increase was 

 normal. He thinks that fewer people will see and enjoy them in 

 Owens Valley than in Yosemite and fears the danger of their raiding 

 farms there, citing the examples of the ]\Ionterey and Eden Valley 

 (Mendocino County) introductions, where ranchers are said to have 

 protected themselves against elk depredations to their crops by employ- 

 ing rather drastic means of control. 



Dr. Grinnell had already, in March, provided Wright with his 

 views regarding the transfer, writing that he considers "Owens Valley 

 appoints the best of their own home range." He is enthusiastic over 

 the prospects in Owens Valley for the species, and is glad that the 

 herd has been removed from Yosemite. 



Executive Officer J. L. Farley expressed to Supt. Thomson the 

 California Fish and Game Commission's atttude on the subject on 

 September 8. This was that the Commission approved the transfer 

 but can not undertake to purchase feed, if necessity for same arises, 

 for the elk in their new home. Further, that in so far as it is consistent 

 with its other duties, the Commission will endeavor to protect the herd 

 in Owens Valley. 



All the conditions having been satisfactorily met, Supt. Thomson 

 on September 30, 1933, so informed the Director of the National Park 

 Service and advised him that the transfer date had been set for 

 October 10. 



Meanwhile rather careful and elaborate preliminary work was 

 being done in Yosemite by the Park Service. Specifications for carry- 

 ing crates were secured from Yellowstone National Park, and the 

 requisite number were constructed in Owens Valley at G. W. Dow's 

 expense. Preshipment handling of the animals themselves can best be 

 described by quoting from Chief Ranger F. S. Townsley's report in this 

 regard (see Figs. 9 and 10) : 



For several weeks before the transfer, very definite plans were made to 

 handle the elk with as little difficulty as possible so as not to get them 

 excited. The old deer trap at the upper end of the pasture was rebuilt and 

 a dehorning shoot was made so that it could be used to force the elk into the 

 shipping crates. 



The dehorning was done over a period of several days, by trapping only 

 one or two bulls at a time ; the rest of the herd did not realize that anything 

 unusual was taking place. 



A few days before they were to be crated, all water was shut off except 

 inside the trap, resulting in very little excitement when some of them had to b^ 

 driven through the trap door. 



At the same time, Dow was active on the ' ' receiving end ' ' in 

 Owens Valley. There, bordering Owens River, near Aberdeen, about 

 14 miles from Independence (see Figs. 7 and 14), he constructed a 

 paddock in which the herd was to be held for a week or ten days after 

 arrival and fed hay until they became acclimated. :\Iaterials for the 

 construction of this corral were supplied gratis by the Department 

 of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles and by some enthusi- 

 astic Big Pine and Lone Pine business men. Several employees of 



