Notes and Correspondence. 127 



Extracts from Report of Superintendent of the Yosemite 

 National Park, 1908. 



Fish. — The fish hatchery at Wawona was, as usual, operated 

 this year by the California Fish Commission. About 300,000 fry 

 were hatched and distributed in the waters of the park, the troops 

 distributing about 100,000. In addition to this there were netted 

 from some of the smaller streams, which were dry during the 

 summer, a number of fish, which were then placed in streams that 

 had not been previously stocked. Some of the streams and lakes 

 which were stocked about ten years ago have now become so full 

 of fish that it is impossible to make a cast without having half a 

 dozen immediately rise to the flies, resulting in a double or treble 

 catch. No better fishing ground than the mountain streams of 

 the Yosemite National Park exists anywhere. 



Patented Lands. — I can but repeat what I said in my last annual 

 report with regard to the patented lands lying within the limits 

 of the park, and urge even more strenuously that action be taken 

 looking toward the acquisition by the Government of these patent- 

 ed lands. 



Roads, Trails, and Bridges. — The condition of the roads in and 

 about the Yosemite Valley is deplorable. The one great drawback 

 to the visitor's pleasure is the fact that he is driven over rough 

 roads so dusty that when he arrives at his destination his dearest 

 friend could not recognize him. Nearly every visitor states, "I 

 cannot see why something is not done to the roads." Many add, 

 "We have just come from the Yellowstone, where all the roads 

 are watered, and we understood that such was the case here; 

 had we known it was so dreadful we never would have come." 

 It would be useless to attempt to put in a water system by which 

 the roads could be sprinkled until the roads themselves are prop- 

 erly constructed, as the entire pipe line would be destroyed in 

 the work necessary to properly build the roads. The roads should 

 be widened, macadamized, and watered. No macadamized road 

 can be prevented from raveling unless it is watered occasionally, 

 either by natural rains or artificially by sprinkling. In this climate 

 where there is often a period of four or five months in which no 

 rain falls, the use of sprinkling carts on the roads is absolutely 

 essential, both to keep down the dust and to prevent the road 

 from breaking up. The location of the main road from the 

 terminus of the Yosemite Valley Railroad to the Sentinel Hotel 

 is definitely fixed, and consequently the work on this road can be 

 proceeded with when there are funds available for the purpose. 

 The other roads should be carefully laid out with the view to 

 having them placed in the best location for artistic effects and 



