The red fungus coloration referred to above is discussed in my report of February 15, which I now resubmit.

Report on red snow in the Rocky Mountain National Park.-"I feel that red snow can be considered as one of the notable phenomena of this national park. A party of tourists who visited Hallett's Glacier the same day after the discovery of red snow was made took as much interest in it, after its nature had been explained to them, as they did in the purely scenic features of the glacier. Certainly no one could fail to be impressed with this great mass of color, knowing that it is composed of countless billions of tiny living creatures which have the power of movement, growth, and reproduction, and this in å medium generally considered devoid of life.

"The general appearance is that of a well-defined pink band, extending along Hallett's Glacier along the lower edge where the surface becomes nearly level. This band, I should say, is about 100 feet wide, its upper edge being very even and about as long as the glacier-that is, about one-half mile. A closer inspection discloses the fact that the color is concentrated in the hollows of the furrowed surface of the snow and reaches its maximum density about one-quarter inch below the surface. A slight scraping will produce in some places streaks of an almost blood red. A handful of the snow taken up and allowed to melt away will leave a powdery red stain.

"This phenomenon was first discovered in the northern part of the American continent in comparatively recent times. Various explanations were offered, some of them almost as absurd as that of the natives of the Caucasus Mountains, who regard the same appearance there as a manifestation of the blood of saints. It is now known that the color is due to the presence of countless numbers of a minute organism (protococcus) related to the alga. It is called by some Spirella nivalis, but I am not sure that this is the name finally agreed upon by men of science. Like many other low microscopic forms of life, this one has characteristics of both the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and belongs, strictly speaking, to neither. In the early stages of its development it has a tail and seems to possess the power of motion. Later it seems to possess a purely vegetable nature. The species is believed to reproduce itself like the amoeba and other unicellar organisms by simple division. This species has introduced itself into the United States within the past 10 years. For instance, it was not formerly known in Glacier National Park, but is now found there on all the glaciers. It has been noted in Mount Rainier National Park and in other northerly locations. Essentially an arctic species, it seems to be extending southward in the mountains, finding a habitat on the large permanent ice sheets. So far as I know it has not been reported elsewhere in Colorado. I am confident that it does not occur as yet in the Rocky Mountain National Park except on Hallett's Glacier. It is possible that this is the first official report of this phenomenon at this latiude.

Several interesting questions present themselves. Will this protococcus become established still further south on ice masses, such as the Arapahoe Glacier? Will the area covered on Hallett's Glacier increase, diminish, or remain the same? Only time and further investigation will answer these questions. Also, it is somewhat of a mystery how the spore is carried over such great distances. Possibly it is borne on the Chinook winds."

RANGER FORCE.

The ranger force is entirely inadequate. It is impossible for three rangers to satisfactorily patrol the 400 square miles of territory embraced in this park, composing, as it does, some of the wildest, roughest country in the United States. They can not even adequately protect the park from fires resulting from natural causes. Add to this the hundreds of campers in the wild sections of the park, many of them careless with their camp fires, and the situation is appalling. For police protection alone there should be at least seven permanent rangers throughout the year and five temporary rangers from May 15 to October 1 to protect from accidents the thousands of people using this park, by regulating the speed limit of automobiles, protection of streams, protection of game fish, and general field administration work.

WILD ANIMALS.

The general assembly of the State of Colorado recently passed an act (S. B. No. 66) creating and establishing the Colorado State Game Refuge, which embraces a section of the Colorado National Forest adjoining that part of the Rocky Mountain National Park lying east of the Continental Divide, thus affording much needed protection to game that stray beyond the National Park boundaries during the winter months, also game located within the game refuge the year long. This step will add greatly to the number of game, which the people realize is a great asset to Colorado. State Game and Fish Commissioner Parvin and his representatives are cooperating with us in every possible way for the protection of game in this section. The increase in game and their condition this season is very satisfactory. Due to extreme dryness, game animals have not been as numerous in low altitudes during July and August this year as last. During the spring months, however, the increase was apparent. While on an inspection trip in early June I counted 127 deer, 24 mountain sheep, and 33 elk along one road. There is no question but that the protection afforded by the State game refuge adjoining the national park will add to the increase of game in this section.

Elk are native to this section, but were exterminated by hunters years ago. A herd shipped in from the Yellowstone National Park formed the nucleus of our present herds, which now number five. We have no authentic data on the increase this year over last, though many calves have been reported by local residents. All animals seen have been in excellent condition. It is estimated that there are about 80 elk in the park.

Mountain sheep show a remarkable increase this year. It is disappointing that but few herds have been seen along the roads in low altitudes this season, due, I believe, to extreme dryness and the unusual number of flies. Mountain sheep have been seen in large bands by every party that has gone to the crater on Specimen Mountain this season, one party counting 225 animals, while numerous large bands have been seen by tourists on other high ranges. Once seen by any person among the crags and rocks of the wild country, the picture is well worth the effort necessary and is one never forgotten. One ram reported dead from old age had a horn spread of 3 feet 4 inches and 11 inches circumference. Persistent reports have come in of scabies among our mountain sheep, but we have not been able to verify these reports.

Deer. This beautiful and graceful animal is now more plentiful in the park than any other animal. Large herds, numbering from 10 to 100, are commonly seen during the winter and carly spring and as late as June 15, when the herds break up and go to higher altitudes within the park, where they are seen daily by parties traveling over the trails, usually in herds of from two to six, and are occasionally seen along the valley roads. They are more shy than the mountain sheep, due, no doubt, to the fact that they have not been protected for so long a period. Judging from an occasional encounter with them, I feel that within a few years, with adequate protection, they will be seen daily in farge herds along the valley roads as well as in the wilder country. There have been no It has not been possible to get an accurate estimate of the increase, but, judging from the number of fawns seen, the increase must have been large. reports this year of deer in anything but first-class condition.

Beaver.-Colonies are very numerous and on the increase in the national park. Their In several cases workings line the streams, and can be seen in many places within 20 feet of the road, affording a wonderful opportunity to study these interesting animals.

of colonies on private lands they have become so numerous that owners have found it necessary to secure permits from State officials to trap them to prevent destruction of Since they are land by flooding and destruction of aspen groves. Trapping on national park lands is not permitted, and very little damage is done to park lands by beaver.

not molested on park lands, it is now possible in certain localities to see beaver working Three silver tips, three brown, in daylight, also to secure pictures.

Bear, while native to this section, are seldom seen.

and six black bears were reported in the park this season, five being seen crossing main roads in low altitudes.

Predatory animals.-We have found the remains of five deer and six sheep killed by Reports of lions seen have been more numerous this predatory animals this year. year, and they are undoubtedly on the increase in this park. Fifteen coyotes and seven bobcats have been killed by park officers.

FISH.

Fishing conditions during the State open season were very good and afforded excellent Through cooperation with the Colorado State hatcheries, located sport to anglers. within the park boundaries, the following streams and lakes have been stocked during the past year:

Big Thompson.

Fall River.

Glacier Creek.

Name.

Number.

Species.

Plans are being perfected to establish breeding ponds along streams and lakes within the park, this method being necessary to get the best results from the planting of fry, the loss under the present method being so great that it is impossible to raise enough fish to supply the demands of the thousands of travelers within the National Park who enjoy Fish fries held in the open are very popular, those given Several of the the sport of trout fishing. by Howard James, of the Elkhorn Lodge, being particularly famous. guests from the hotels pool their catches, invite from 50 to 100 friends and acquaintances, and have their picnics in the shade of pines or aspens along one of the many streams within the boundaries of the National Park.

FOREST FIRES.

The season has been especially trying from the forest-fire standpoint, due to extreme We have, however, succeeded in preventing dryness and lack of adequate patrol force. We have extinguished 17 fires this any serious fires in the park by being constantly on the alert and responding to fire calls instantly, thus preventing them from spreading.

season, the largest covering approximately 2 acres, with little or no loss to natural conditions. We have received the heartiest cooperation from the Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. and from local people, without whose assistance our loss would have been great.

WINTER SPORTS.

In addition to the annual winter sports outing of the Colorado Mountain Club, several other parties enjoyed snowshoeing, skiing, and tobogganing at the Fern Lake run during This form of outing has an ever-increasing number of enthusiasts February and March. Those who were fortunate enough and is becoming deservedly popular. The number of participants would have been double this year had the accommodations been available. to see the hills in their winter covering of snow became converts who look forward to the next outing.

ACCIDENTS.

Miss I regret to report two fatal accidents in the park in August of 1918. On August 2, 1918, Miss F. E. Frost, aged 19, of Sterling, Colo., in company with Before they could Mr. Homer Thomson, attempted to cross a snow bank above the Fall River Road. Approximately 500 feet from Frost lost her footing and in falling pulled Mr. Thomson off his feet. Miss Frost struck this rock, recover, they were sliding head foremost down the bank. the start of the slide a large rock protruded above the snow. and continued to roll for a distance of approximately 100 feet, finally falling over a In some manner, a rock weighing in the She also received ledge and lodging in a snow bank at the base. neighborhood of 400 pounds, fell on Miss Frost, killing her instantly. Mr. Thomson continued to slide approximately 500 a death-dealing wound on the head. feet, lodging in the trees at the base of the snow bank and receiving 50 slight wounds,

from which he recovered. The slope is at least 60 degrees, and Mr. Thomson stated that he did not think he had slid 50 feet before be lost consciousness.

On August 22, 1918, Rev. E. F. Kimmelshuhe, of Monmouth, Ill., was driving up the Fall River Road. In the party were Mrs. Kimmelshuhe and two sons, aged 11 and 17, and Mrs. C. W. Woods, also of Monmouth, III. At a point approximately one-half mile above the 13-mile post the automobile driven by Mr. Kimmelshuhe pitched over the bank, and landed bottom side up on the road below, about half way on the switchback, Mr. Kimmelshuhe being the only member of the party to escape death. The point where the machine left the road was not considered dangerous by experienced drivers.

Twenty-two minor accidents occurred within the park, all due to violation of automobile regulations, the majority of cases being collisions between saddle horses and autos, resulting in minor injuries to horses and riders. These accidents were unavoidable with the limited ranger force available.

LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK.

GEORGE B. DORR, Superintendent, Bar Harbor, Me.

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The principal fact which stands out above all others in the history of the Lafayette National Park during the year just past is its birth, the Sieur de Monts National Monument having become the Lafayette National Park by the President's signing the bill creating it on February 26, 1919.

This establishes the first national park to the east of the Mississippi River and marks an important new departure in park policy by the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service. The bill was passed unanimously by both House and Senate, and the action of the administration in this new departure has been warmly approved upon every side. This is not only the first national park in the eastern States, but the first in the country actually bordering upon the sea and adding its refreshment and appeal to those of a forested and mountainous land. The new departure is important also as opening the way toward the preservation under Government control of other areas of exceptional interest and beauty in the eastern and central portions of the continent. Such areas in these long occupied and settled States need a different policy and treatment from the extensive western tracts of mountain, plain, and forest. Hence the work of the National Park Service in the Lafayette National Park is creative in an important sense, dealing with new conditions and involving the solution of new problems. It is concerned with the intensive development of a relatively limited but singularly interesting area in a peopled region where human associations replace in a measure the appeal of far-extending wildness made in other parks. In it, however, one great element of wildness that must endure forever enters in uniquely-that of contact with the ocean and the sight from mountainous heights of its great plain of waters stretching boundlessly away till hidden by the curvature of the earth.

A great human association has been established with that ocean since the creation of this park began. The youth and manhood of the Nation have streamed across it in a great crusading movement and, with their end achieved, have returned-in lessened numbers. The wave of generous feeling that flooded the whole country during this period has recorded itself in the name the park was given, made doubly appropriate by the early ownership by France of the Acadian region within whose bounds it lies, and by its broad outlook on that dangerous highway which brought our aid to France, as it once had brought her aid to us.

EXTENSION OF THE PARK.

The Lafayette National Park is still in process of creation in regard to lands. Formed by gift to the National Government, its bounds are growing steadily through further gift. This involves a constant complicated study of old deeds and titles, whose defects must be searched out and cleared before the Government, with its high standard of requirement, can accept them. This has been one of the principal works undertaken during the past year by the park administration. Each tract of land whose ownership is offered to the park or sought for it means a separate-and often long-study in the county records.

OLD DEEDS AND TITLES.

All deeds and titles on the island go back ultimately to three sources: First, a gift of its western half by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made shortly after the foundation of the country, to John Bernard, son of the last colonial governor of Massachusetts to whom the whole island had been originally granted by that Province; second, a gift of its eastern half to the granddaughter of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a soldier of Acadia, to whom it had been granted a century before by the Province of Quebec and the Court of France; and, third, to early settlers' rights accepted by the General Court of Massachu setts when it made these grants. Two maps prepared by order of the Massachusetts court to show these accepted rights are still extant, though barely rescued from destruction: The Peters plan, so called, of the eastern half of the island, prepared by an ancestor of the region's present Representative in Congress, Hon. John A. Peters; and the Salem Town plan of the western half, made by a bearer of that singular name. These maps are being photographed for the park to preserve their record and to show the island as it was at the beginning of its present occupation; and all the studies that are being made of deeds and titles are being placed on record, also, in bound volumes.

ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE AND RANGER FORCE.

The next important fact connected with the Lafayette National Park during the past year has been the establishment of its office and administration, the appointment of an assistant superintendent of rangers, and of a clerk-stenographer. This last office is one of peculiar importance in the Lafayette National Park, as it involves not only the performance of the usual clerical duties of such a position, but the intelligent answering, in the superintendent's stead, of a constant stream of letters and inquiries, the tactful and friendly reception of visitors to the office in a place of great resort, and the gaining of a familiarity not readily acquired with local conditions in a long-settled region. All