TexascaveRthe Volume23, No.5, 1978

CONTENTS The CAVER is a bimonthly publication ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF TROGLOBITIC of the Texas Speleological Association (TSAJ PAELOMONIDS, Ned Strenth ..•••.••• . . 67 an internal organi2ation of the National ' INFO ON RISTO WANTED, W.R. Elliott .••• 69 Speleological Society (NSS) and is published THE GALVESTON RIG, Bill Farr .....••.•. 70 by James Jasek in Waco, Texas. GROSSER'S SINK REVISITED, D.J. McAdoo.71 SUBSCRIPTIONS GROSSER-SAUR SYSTEM MAP ...... •.•.. 72 are $5.00 per year. Persons THE BERMUDA DEPTHS, Tom Iliffe •..•.... 74 subscribing after the first o.f the yea1:· UJiU receive all back issues for that year. Sin gl ~ SOUTH OF THE BORDER, ~artha McAdoo •... 7J ON CRAWLING, Bill Farr,,, •••••••••• ,,,78 copies are available at 90¢ each, postpaid. GROSSER'S SINK# 2 MAP •••.••• ,,.,,,, •. 79 GROSSER'S SINK# 2, D.J, McAdoo,,,,,.,80 The TEXAS CAVER openly -tnvites contributor>s to submit: articles, reports, news, car-toons cave maps, caving articles, and photographs': COVER PHOTO - Mike Hughes entering the (any si2e print bl-ack & white or color print} formation room of Grosser-Saur system. Photo by Gary Hughes. .for pub Zication in the TEXAS CAVER. CONTENTS PAGE PHOTO - Dave McAdoo climbing Address all SUBSCRIPTIONS and EDITORIAL out of Grosser's sink. Photo by material to the editor: James Jasek, lOZ9 Martha McAdoo Melrose Dr., Waco, Texas ?6?l0. BACK COVER PHOTO - Sam Galbraith entering IWhen sending in a change of address, pls:-.ase Grosser's sink. Photo by Dave McAdoo include your old address. Persons interested in EXCHANGES or FORE IGN subscription.q should direct correspondenc€ ta This issue edited by: Dave McAdoo Assisted by: Martha McAdoo, Chris Price, the editor. Robyn Mellon, Emily Preslar Copyright The Texas Caver 1978 ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NORTH AMERICAN TROGLOBITIC PALAEMONIDS (CRUSTACEA, )

Ned E. Strenth Department of Biology Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas 76901

Tbe aim of this short report is to fa­ more temperate regions. Wide-spread mili;;.rize the average caver with the bio­ distribution within a group of organisms logL:al importance and current status of is often a desired characteristic when a se 1.ect group of natant (swimming) deca­ undertaking investigations of a zoogeo­ pod :~ rustaceans which have troglobitic graphical nature. Morphological char­ repr-o: sentatives in both Texas and Hexico. acters which are found to be present in It ~r:i.ll also provide a review of rather epigean or troglobitic species of recut literature pertaining to this grou{: or Macrobrachium in Texas as "·dl as give a feel for the or Mexico may be compared to those of pote. :1tial biological significance of a specimens from Australia, Africa, China, sinf;, i.e collected specimen. South America or the Mediterranean area. 1.te common name "" is often ap­ The current distributional patterns of plk.: to a variety of different crus­ both epigean and troglobitic species tacr: m orders including the Isopoda, combined with a study of select morpho­ Amp]· :. poda, Mysidacea, and Decapoda. Each logical characte~s may well provide the of t ·~ e above groups have members repre­ answer to past evolutionary and dispersal sent ·-~ d in the subterranean fauna of North patterns of this group. Both genera have Ame: Lea. This report will specifically epigean as well as troglobitic species con: ~ rn only three genera of a single in North America; more importantly Texas fam ly, the , within the Order and Mexico are home for all the currently De c. ~1oda. The three genera discussed known North American troglobi tic species in i his report represent only a small except f or Palaemonetes cumminigi of north­ por : ion of the troglobi tic decapods which ern Florida. The genus Troglocubanus are at present the subject of multiple differs from Palaemonetes and bio ·ogical investigations. The serious Macrobrachium in that all described species stu ent should become familiar with the are troglobitic, exhibit limited distri­ rec .nt publication "A Review of the butions, and are currently known only Trc .lobitic Decapod of the from the New World. Only six species Amc. icas" by Hobbs, Hobbs and Daniel are currently known, four from Cuba, one (lS., 7) • This review will serve as an from Jamaica, and one from Mexico. In im ,.luable reference to anyone interested addition to the above mentioned character­ in ·iospeleology and more specifically istics, all three genera have received in .roglobitic invertebrates. It lists considerable additions in recent years. 55 >pecies and subspecies belonging to Since Holthuis' (1952) "A General Revision 18 .lifferent genera of decapods. The of the Palaemonidae of the Americas," cm .:ent report will deal with only three ten additional species have been added of :hese genera: Palaemonetes, to the faunal listings of the U.S., Mexico, Mar.~ obrachium, and Troglocubanus. It and Jamaica. More than half of these is ·: his group which I feel provides a have been troglobitic species. In addi­ grLtt potential for solution of a variety tion to these, Hobbs (1973) has also of zoogeographical and biospeleological added the new genus Neopalaemon from quE:s tions. Oaxaca and Holthuis (1974) the new fhe above three genera of Palaemonids genus Bithynops from Chiapas to the aPT,~ar particularly inviting to bio­ Family Palaemonidae. Both Neopalaemon lo;ical investigations for a variety of and Bithynops are troglobitic and each different reasons. Species of contain a single species. Pal aemonetes and Macrobrachium are found The imp9rtance to students of zoogeo­ in most of the warmer parts of the world. graphy of a single collected specimen The genus Macrobrachium exhibits pri­ is exemplified by the somewhat recent mar ily a tropical distribution while discovery of Troglocubanus Sp t! cies of Palaemonetes are found in perezfarfanteae in Sotano de la Ti naja 67 near Valles, San Luis Potosi, Hexico The subgenus Alaocaris which had been by a member of the Association for ~fexican erected by Holthuis (1949) to receive Cave Studies. Prior to the formal de­ the then only known subterranean and scription of this species by Villalobos most aberrant species of the genus, (1974), the exclusively troglobitic Palaemonetes antrorum, was also synony­ genus Troglocubanus was thought to date mized. Discoveries of additional epi­ from no earlier than the Hiocene (approxi­ gean and subterranean species of mately 25 million years ago) time period Palaemonetes since 1949 provide the (Chace and Hobbs, 1969). The presence primary data upon which the synonomy of four species in Cuba and one in Jamaica was based. was also seen as supporting a zoogeo­ Palaemonetes antrorum, which was graphical relationship between the two described from the artesian well at ~slands (Holthuis, 1963). San Marcos in 1896, was long thought The full impact of the discovery to have a distribution restricted to of !· perezfarfanteae on the continental the subterranean waters of San Harcos mainland of North America remains diffi­ in Hays County. Recently Hobbs, Hobbs cult to assess at this early date. and Daniel (1977) reported this species Villalobos (1974), however, feels that from Carson Cave near Mantell in Uvalde the origin of the genus may date from County. This was followed by a paper as early as the Upper Creataceous (approxi­ presented at the 1978 meeting of the mately 65 million years ago), more than Texas Academy of Science in \-lhich Karnei twice as old as previously thought. and Longley (1978) reported !· antrorum Should the genus prove to be as old to be present in collections from ar­ as proposed by Villalobos, students tesian wells near San Antonio. The of zoogeography must critically review exact nature of the presence of this current theories as to the origin and species in these three widespread lo­ dispersal capabilities of the ancestral cations is difficult to determine at Troglocubanus stock. It certainly appears this time. They may represent geneti­ possible that dispersal of the ancestral cally isolated populations or may be group may have taken place under con­ indicative of a single widespread popu-­ ditions when the land nasses currently lation. Only additional collecting comprising Cuba. Jamaica, and Mexico and comparison of specimens from the were contiguous. Schuchert (1935, plates different known localities will answer 7 and 8) proposed such a connection this question. from the Upper Cretaceous through part One quickly realizes that while our of the Eocene - the same time period knowledge of troglobitic species of that Villalobos (1974) tentatively dates Palaemonetes, ~facrobrachium, and the genus Troglocubanus. The timing Troglocubanus_ is substantial and incrF~ - ~ s-• of the subsequent colonization of sub­ ing, it is impossible for biologists terranean habitats still remains unsolved. to locate and collect the unlimited The statement of Chace and Hobbs (1969;22) numbers of suitable subterranean aquaL.e that "the supposed epigean derivatives habitats present in the countless cave: from the original stock were unsuccessful in both Texas and Hexico. It is in and became extinct, leaving albinistic this area of science that the average relicts as the only evidence of their caver can make significant and worth­ existence" still appears today as the while contributions. There are, how­ best estimation of the past history ever, several considerations which sho. cd of this rather uni que group of subterranean be kept in mind should one decide to shrimp. Future finds , similar to that undertake the collection of subterrane. 1 of !· perezfarfanteae, are needed to specimens. The unnecessary taking of supply the information required to answer specimens as well as overcolecting is this unsolved question. pointless. Specimens which are collecc. ~ d Texas has also been the site of several and preserved but never placed in the interesting discoveries in the last hands of competent biologists would couple of years. A second and somewhat better have remained uncollected. Spe l­ unusual species of Palaemonetes, P. mens without proper location data and holthuisi, was described from Ezell's dates are essentially worthless. Cave (Strenth, 1976) in San Harcos.

68 LITERATURE CITED INFORMATION WANTED ON HISTOPLASMOSIS CASES chace, F. A., Jr., andR. H. Hobbs, . Jr. 1969. The freshwater and terrestr1al A mild, diagnosed case of histo­ decapod crustacea of the \\Test Indies plasmosis has occurred in an NSS member with special reference to Dominica. who attended the 1978 convention in New u.s. MU:s. Bull., 292: 258 pages. Braunfels, Texas. This out-of-state caver visited several Texas bat caves during Hobbs, H. H., Jr. 1973. Three new the convention. Although it is not un­ troi•lobitic decapod crustaceans from common for "snowbirds" (Yankees) and oax~ca, Mexico. Pages 25-38 in R. W. European cavers to come down with this Mit.:hell and J. R. Reddell, editors, respiratory affliction after a caving trip Str.dies on the cavernicole fauna of to Mexico, this is the first case I know Me,J.co and adjacent regions. Austin: of after a Texas trip. Out of curiosity, The Speleo Press, 201 pages. I solicit information from 1978 convention­ goers who had confirmed or suspected (by Hohs , H. H. Jr., H. H. Hobbs, III, a physician) cases of histoplasmosis after an• ' N. A. Daniel. 1977. A review of the convention. Please send your name, tht· troglobitic decapod crustaceans address, medical details, caves visited of ::he Americas. Smithsonian Contributions (including Mexico, etc.), and other to ~oology, 244: 183 pages. pertinent information. I hope this was a unique case, but if others contracted Ho ·. thuis, L. B. 1949. Note on the "histo" I may devise a questionnaire and sp cies of Palaemonetes (Crustacea, do a little study. There is no cause for De apoda) found in the United States alarm, but if you have had symptoms such of t\merica. Proceedings, Koninklijke as fatigue, fever and cough it would be Ne. :erlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, wise to consult a physician. Histo­ Se ·ies C, 52: 87-95. plasmosis can be serious but it is treatable. I am not a physician so I 1-lc ·. thuis, L. B. 1952. The Subfamily cannot diagnose it for you. Your name Pc: ·aemonidae. A general revision of will be kept confidential unless you wish tl :. Palaemonidae (Crustacea Decapoda otherwise. Write to: Ne :antia) of the Americas, II. Allan He tcock Foundation Occasional Papers, Dr. William R. Elliott 1: : 396 pages. Texas Tech Univ. School of Medicine Epidemiologic Studies Program He Lthuis, L. B. 1963. Two new species (Pes t _icides) oJ. fresh-water shrimp (Crustacea Decapoda) 152 E. Stenger fi ,,m the West Indies. Proceedings, San Benito, Texas 78586 !{( ·tinklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wt .:enschappen, Series C, 66: 61-69.

Hd thuis, L. B. 1974. Bithynops luscus, a :~ew genus and species of cavernicolous s \: ::-imp from Mexico (Crustacea Decapoda, Pdaemonidae). Quaderni Accademia th N E 1976. A review of the N,_ z:ionale dei Lincei, 171: 135-142. Stren , • • systematics and zoogeography of the K:: :-nei, H., Jr., and G. Longley. 1978. freshwater species of Palaemonetes Heller of North America (Crustacea: s~ · rvey of the subterranean fauna of Be-xar County, Texas. Presented at the Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 228, 27 pages. 81.st Annual Heeting of the Texas Academy ot Science at Lubbock, Texas. Villalobos, A. 1974. Una nueva especie Schuchert, c. 1935. Historical Geology de Troglocubanus (Crustacea, Decapoda, or the Antillean-Caribbean Region of Palaemonidae), de San Luis Potosi, Mexico. the Lands Bordering the Gulf of Mexico Anales del Instituto de Biologia, and the Caribbean Sea. New York: John Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Wi ley and Sons, Inc. Serie Ciencias del ~far y Limnologia, 42: 1-6. 69 THE GALVESTON RIG

Bill Farr Herein is described the as~ent rig used by most beginners in going over a lip by the majority of the Galveston cavers is largely overcome when one applies and generally enjoyed by all who have the technique of pulling the Gibbs foot opportunity to use it -- the Galveston up as high as possible and standing, Rig. Developed in its original form thus forcing ones body away from the in Galveston, iL is a hybrid rig con­ rock. This works on even the most sisting of a Gibbs on one foot, a Gibbs severe ledges. Of course, the advantage on a seat sling, and a jumar on a sling gained in climbing long free sections running through an ascender box for is still maintained. Some Galvestonians the other foot. Many say they dislike have arranged the foot loop attached or distrust hybrid rigs. Let us look to the j umar so that it makes one loop closely at this rig, however, to exanine under the instep and a second loop around its merits. the ankle to provide a bulletin "chicken First of all as to the devices used, loop" (see figure). the jumar is a good all-around ascent Additionally, the components of this device. It is self-catching, ·convenient rig can be re-arranged to form a simpler as a handhold in some climbing situations, rig if desired. For instance, simply and it has other uses as well such as using only the seat Gibbs and the foot a safety clamp to place on the rope jumar results in a modified Texas rig. when doing a long or unknown rappel. Thus, the Galveston Rig is an intelli ­ It also has its disadvancages. It can gent all-around method of ascent . Try jam with mud and not operate, it will it sometime if you have the opportunity. slip on a very muddy or icy rope, and it is not as strong as a Gibbs, being Editor's note: The Galveston rig is prone to breakage along the handle, rather expensive in terms of hardware, especially if improperly cared for. and can be cumbersome to transport throv.gh The Gibbs nicely compliments these points. low, muddy crawls. Though it is not self-catching, its grip is immense, and it is a simple unit that will continue to \\fork even ' if so coated with mud that its individual parts are barely discernable. The as­ cender box adds greatly to the overall efficiency of the rig, keeping the climber vertical, especially important on long free climbs, though some mobility is lost over ledges and through tight cracks. The actual arrangement of this hard­ ware to form the Galveston Rig has its advantages too. The foot Gibbs eliminates having to reach down to pull up a knee level jumar and by mounting it at a 45° angle it can be made virtually self­ catching, or in the worst case it can be made to catch by a backwards kicking motion, much more natural than the more usual sideways motion required. The seat Gibbs provides both an important third point of contact to the rope and also allows resting in a sitting position with the strain off of the legs. The self-catching ability of the jumar allows it to make a nice handhold, something to grab onto in tight spots. The disad­ vantage of the ascender box experienced

70 GROSSER'S SI~~ REVISITED

David J. HcAdoo

A map and short description of Grosser's formerly ended after about a 7 meter sink was previously published in the July, crawl. However, while exploring the crawl, 19 76 issue of the Texas Caver. However, some of the floor started disappearing that map did not include most of the known under me, and a crack leading down to a cave , and though there were rumors of other very muddy, water-filled passage opened up. maps , none could be located. Therefore, The water passage leads to a 20 meter high ths Galveston Grotto undertook to make a dome which appears to have leads from its coJ·lplete map of the cave. The accompanying top. ma;-' , which includes all the accessible The right hand passage quickly changes po :·tions of the cave, resulted. In the from a stoopway to a narrow crawl. The pr"cess, Grosser's sink was connected to crawl enters a room about 10 meters wide an ,·ther sink, Saur's sink, about 100 yards and 6 meters across. Directly across the to the northwest. room a passage leads about 3 meters from The trip between Grosser's and Saur's the top of the room to a narrow crack si ks is most readily made starting from which rises almost to the surface. A large Sa.cr 's sink. The entrance to Saur's sink walking passage leads to the left from the is about 10 by 20 feet in diamete~ and bottom of the room down a series of short ab1ut 55 feet deep. The main passage leads drops. This passage was entirely filled fr : 1m the bottom of the entrance shaft to with water in March, 1976. After about tL northwest. There is a debris filled 35 meters, the walking passage narrows to p2 :sage to the southwest. There is con- a wet, muddy crawl into a high dome. Low, si ler able trash in the bottom of the sink wet, muddy passage leads to the right ~ Lch has been strewn by flood waters (southeast). After about 60 meters, a low a.: ·lost to a large room near the Grosser's passage branches to the right. Walking er ·:ranee. About 20 meters from the passage continues straight ahead past a e1 ~ ranee a short, tight squeeze leads into fissure and through a short, narrow, low a ~assage leading northeast. A squeeze in crawl to a room with a steeply rising f: is passage leads into a formation area mud floor. A fissure leads left and right C •JVer photo). The passage from the from the top of the mud slope. f ;:·mation room turns east. About 50 The passage to the right undergoes m, ters from the formation room a short several turns and enlarges steadily. s :. -r etch of wet, muddy crawl is encountered. After about 50 meters, a 10 meter drop T:e passage follows a fissure to the right with a small waterfall into a solution­ (: :outh) from the end of the wet stretch. widened fissure is encountered. Promising A. ter about 40 meters the fissure narrows leads in the wall to the right of the t• less than 10 inches in width and its waterfall and in the ceiling upstream from f '.oor drops steeply down. The fissure the waterfall have not been explored. A L en opens into one arm of a large room low water passage which siphons after a f~ rmed by the intersection of two few feet goes right from the bottom of p1 ssages. Across the room and over some the waterfall. To the left a mud slope ltrge mud-covered breakdown blocks, a 10 rises steeply to an unexplored lead. f:1 ot squeeze leads to a short passage and Grosser's sink is of biological a 12 foot climb from the top of which a significance as it contains the aquatic 1 ) foot passage enters the entrance shaft cave salamander Eurycea tridentifera of Grosser's sink. Before attempting the (Sweet, The Texas Caver, April, 1976). t;:ip from Saur' s sink to Grosser's sink, Crickets and other troglobitic arthro­ one should familiarize themselves with the pods have also been observed. One bat Jocation of the exit from the large room has been encountered in eight trips, and near the Grosser's entrance, and make sure Martha McAdoo once found an eighteen inch t hat they can get through it. rattlesnake curled up on top of her verti­ The passage leading southeast from the cal pack at the bottom of the entrance Grosser's entrance branches left and right shaft to Grosser's sink. after 10 meters. The left hand passage 71 SAUR'S SINK dtbiiS tMJI Ct . Tun clltkd

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73 THE BERMUDA DEPTHS: A LOOK AT MID-OCEAN CAVES AND CAVING

Thomas N. Iliffe Bermuda Biological Station St. George's West Bermuda

1 A discussion of Bermuda's caves must According to Bretz , a large fresh ground logically begin with a short introduction water body, maintained by rainfall, to the unique geology of this mid-ocean occurred on the island during low stands island. The island of Bermuda originated of sea level. Cave formation took place in a volcanic eruption along the Mid­ beneath this elevated fresh ~..rater table. Atlagtic Ridge about 105 million years As post glacial sea levels rose, much ago. As the volcano gradually cooled, of the former extent of the caves ~V"ere the sea began to erode away this new drowned in salt >·Tater as it displaced island. A re-eruption of the volcano the fresh. Collapse of roof rock and 35 million years ago produced enough deposition of secondary dripstone further new material to keep the island above contributed to the isolation of surviving sea level and prevent it from becoming chambers from what was once an extensive , 1 just another submerged sea mount. The integrated cave system. Bretz believed development of coral reefs around the that since the fresh ground water body margins of the volcanic platform pro- has now virtually disappeared from the vided a source of carbonate sand. During island, cave formation has consequently the Pleistocene, changes in sea level ceased. Closely adjacent caves, with of up to 100 m, associated with conti­ no traversable underground connections nental glaciation, alternately submerged 1 4 above sea level, are thus probably and exposed much of Bermuda's land area. ' remnants of one original cavern. During periods of high sea level, coastal Considering their origin, it is thus sand dunes, reaching heights of 260 not surprising to find that many of feet or more, formed along the shore Bermuda's caves have salt water pools lines. Rain and circulating ground which rise and fall >vith the tides. water dissolved calcium carbonate, and Some of these underwater caves are subseuqently recrystalized it around reported to exte~d as deep as 80 feet sand grains, producing a soft eolianite below sea level. Large stalagmites, limestone. Just as these cemented sand stalactites and other speleothems have dunes record interglacial high sea levels, been found, little altered by their red "fossil" soils formed during low long submersion, at least as deep as stands of sea level record continental 75 feet below sea level. In the com­ glaciation. Throughout this time, Bermuda's mercially operated Crystal Cave, cave attachment to the North Atlantic plate divers have descend5d a steeply sloping has resulted in a continual westward passage to 75 feet. At this depth, movement. the passage began to climb just as stee: Disagreement exists over >V"hether ly upwards, opening out into a large the solutional caves of Bermuda formed previously unentered chamber >vith .no during the Pleistocene are of vadose 7 surface connections. Other underwater or phreatic origin. A. C. Swinnerton traverses may ultimately link many of believed that caves were formed above the closely spaced caves on the island the water table "by downward migrating into large systems. rain water along steeply dipping a~d Other underwater caves are located intersecting joints." J. H. Bretz at the base of the outer "boiler" reefs , interpreted the horizontal elongation running parallel to the south shore of the caves as evidence for sub->vater of Bermuda. Most of these caves are table origin. Irrespective of vadose found in water depths from 30 to 50 or phreatic origins, the caves could feet and are relatively short. It is only have formed during periods of low likely, however, that one or more large sea level as evidenced by their consider­ caves will be found in this area. Duri.r:.g able extensions below present sea level.

74 stands of low sea level, two of Bermuda's A number of Bermuda caves have been l arge enclosed inshore basins, Harrington destroyed in recent years by human ac­ Sound and Castle Harbour, v10uld have tivities.2 Bassett's Cave near Somerset received considerable amounts of fresh was said to be the largest cave in Bermuda, wcter runoff. Devil's Hole, the deepest extending for more than a mile. The part of Harrington Sound, is separated U.S. Navy has recently used the cave from the ocean by a quarter mile >lide as a dump for fuel oil, leaving only strip of land. Since no evidence has a manhole to mark the entrance. Tucker's bE:en found for overland runoff draining Is land Cave, >vhich >vas once lighted Ha rrington Sound during periods of low by acetylene Bas and commercially shown sea level, the existence of a cave which by boat,8 was probably destroyed during a:l. lowed seaward escape of ground water construction of the u.s. Naval Annex. from Devil's Hole to the outer edge Cave Island, located in Castle Harbour, of the platform seems likely. A similar was buried during construction of the si t uation may exist for Castle Harbour. airport. A cave, 65 feet long and 45 The highest concentration of caves feet wide, was uncovered by workers i n Bermuda is found along the isthmus digging a cesspit for the Bermuda Telephone St-·par ating Harrington Sound from Castle Company. The cave was incorporated !-!: · rbour. This area contains outcropings as part of the sewage facility since o: the oldest eolianite limestone in it v1as said to "increase the volume B 'rmuda, a formation known as the of the cesspit 20 times." H lsingham. Nine caves in a 2 mile Although the caves of Bermuda have s :ction of the isthmus (Island, Cathedral, been known for over 350 years, few speleo­ A'miral's, Castle Grotto, Wonderland, logical studies have been done in them. C ystal, Walsingham, Leamington and Only a few of the caves have been mapped S ark Hole Caves) were at one time or and this has been done within the last o her commercially shown. All of these 10 years. Many of the caves are unnamed c :.ves have attractive displays of speleo­ or are known by several different names. t .ems, both above and below salt water Cave divers are just beginning to explore p 1ols. Entrances to several of the for possible submarine connections or ctves (Leamington, Admiral's, Wonderland new caves. The marine and terrestrial a td Crystal) are as much as 100 feet biology of the caves have yet to be a Jove sea level. Crystal Cave contains investigated to any degree. Controversy E tidewater pool 200 feet long spanned still exists over the means of formation t .r a pontoon bridge. A large stalagmite, of the caves. Hopefully, studies of J c feet in length and weighing nearly the caves will produce a better under­ ~- 1/2 tons was removed from Admiral's standing of them and appreciation for C ,_ ve in 1819 by Admiral Sir David Hilne their worth. Eld shipped to Scotland for display 3 j 1 the University of Edinburgh Huseum. This paper is Contribution No. 762 of J. )rty-four years later, one of his sons, the Bermuda Biological Station. ~ ir Alexander Milne, obtained measurements < t the amounts of stalagmitic material co ;!posited on the stump. Another son, :·,wid Milne Home, calculated from these I ~ e asurements that the original stalagmite ' 'auld have taken 600,000 years to form, <: 3Suming a constant rate of deposition. Other major caves on the island include f i ve which open on the sea cliffs at GAVB BBSGUB,

:;t . Davids. None of these caves have -CALL COLLECT- ~ dlt water pools and many are blocked i·:ith dripstone. One cave is notable l n that it contains the only known pool (817) 772-0110 of standing fresh water on the island. A series of rimstone dams step down i nto the cave and disappear below the water's surface. 75 REFERENCES

Bretz, J. H. 1960. Bermuda: A 4. Land, L. s., F. T. MacKenzie and partially drowned, late mature, J. J. Gould. 1967. The Pleistocene Pleistocene karst. Bull. Geol. history of Bermuda. Bull. Geol. Soc. An. 71: 1729-1764. Soc. Am. 78: 993-1006.

2. Forney, G. G. 1973. Bermuda's 5. Latham, A. 1977. Crystal Cave, caves and their history. J. Bermuda. Canadian Caver. 9: 34-35. Spelean Iiist. 6: 88-103. 6. Morris, B., J. Barnes, F. Brown 3. Home, D. H. 1866. Notice of a large and J. Harkham. 1977. The Bermuda calcareous stalagmite brought from marine environment. Bermuda Biological the island of Bermuda in the year Station Sp. Publ. No. 15, p. 120. 1819, and now in the College of Edinburgh. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb. 7. Swinnerton, A. c. 1929. Caves 5: 423-428. of Bermuda. Geol. Hag. 66: 79-84.

8. Verrill, A. E. 1907. The caverns of Bermuda. Tropical and Sub Tropical America. 1: 107-111.

I WILKINSON QUARRY 2 ISLAND CAVE • CATH£0RAL CAVE 3 BLUE HOLE 4 WONDERLAND CAVE II 5 CRYSTAL CAVE 8 WALSINGHAW CAVE 1 LEAMINGTON CAVE I GOVERNMENT QUARRY II SHARK HOLE I BERMUDA From ref. 2.

SCALE IN MILES 0 I 2

76 SOUTH OF THE BORDER

,Featuring Ed, Babs

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Oh boy! "'h Troglocubanus · • ere goes another mysteriorW!I.

Why oh wh with b iologists?Y do I eve r go caving

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Are y ou kiddin ? hard work it g . After all \Je • b e back tookto ca t o get up hethere ? Okay • Butch · moon at your' bJuacks t keepand heathed lighton out. of the 11 mp i n an hout: 77 ON CRAWLING

Bill Farr

1:00 an

It seems most cavers hate to crawl, especially for any distance. I for one can't really understand this. After all, caving is primarily sensual, and what better way to tingle the senses than a prolonged belly-crawl through a one foot high passage six inches deep with water? I dream of someday slithering through a thousand yards of hands and knees crawl with generous portions of belly-crawl thrown in through slimy mud, water and sharp gravel to reach a huge system of trunk passages all beautifully decorated. Most cavers would leave out the first part of this dream. Perhaps the reason for this general disdain for crawling is all in the way it is approached. View the narrow hole ahead I'n bleeding to death! not as a thing of contortion and pain, Damn pineapple plants. but as a challenge, an opportunity to Are you sure that wasn't Valles join oneself intimately with the cave. instead of the light of the noon? And when into the thick (or narrow) of it,

1 think not of how tight the place is, but Can t see anything now, anyway. Anybody have a compass? rather how relaxing it is to be so total~J embraced by Mother Earth. Have no fear of getting stuck. Instead be certain oi it, for if you push hard enough, sooner . . ··. .· .· /.·, . · or later you will. Stay calm and take . /' . . -: care to not get permanently stuck. And · ·;·,.· . fr~ , ··~·· ·· ·)for the caver who has the fortune to be .";; 8.::)~ ·· _. .,,< -';/, '· smalle: tha~ most~ after pushing beyond ·. , . ·_(: · ·~£,~ ~: ·.'ff'f. .:! .:r · the th~rd ~~~mposs~ble" squeeze and . -1/'(C~~ ;::,._~ , .. . i ' '.'/ .: ;_~,, looking ahead to the fourth even more ~~ ~7tr.:;fr·r ~-·-~-.~,.,)~,,·;; · -·· ::-"impossible" squeeze, don't think about · ~~ ~ .- . ~-9<'~ 1·~;. . . . ~- the fact that no one can possibly reach ·· ~~ -~. , .· i· you to aide you if you get stuck, push ;;;. ~ · .. , ~*,~~~¥.., :~;-#A : : onward! Again, stay calm and take care lJ~·~~~Jf'l:~-'·.:· %'~~- "PP-:. _ ' .;;.;· . ~~~~ - .{\~-~~~~~- to not get permanently stuck. · ,_.; . ·~~-:' , .. .. · · ~ . .. · , f<{ Crawl along these lines and you will ..,. ,;yp~ o1 ~ ~~ • '.i(,.\ • • / , J r • . 'ki:E:f. : :~'rri!t\;'1::3'1':. ... ·' 7'; f.:· -·· feeding upon its natural energies. En](' ! .: · :fr~- , :"i~·~ .....,, · · •• ·~-!' ,rtyg · T 1·· .• · ,_\-o ·~· :' : ;. ·" · ~·· -~ · •.· . ~/· / · But then perhaps some people simply ~ ,~ .. \! )I" . ~~.;;. :fr-::J ·~·;, . . .. '•'" . ~~ '~... J • ; • • • ' • ... (I},. -0.':.;;:·.,·K.<.1.-. -<$ -.~-:;;.;.£.~r-- iisl~ke to crawl. I love to crawl. (Eds. note: The attitude expressed in Oh God, just get me out of here •.• this article about getting stuck beyond I'll go to church every Sunday ••• ready assistance is not generally condoned by the Galveston Grotto, Satan, you can't have my soul, but especially not its safety chairman.) you sure can have theirs!

78 GROSSER,S SINK =t=%:~ 0 COMAL COUNTY TEXAS ~ SUNTO & TAPE SURVEY J"UL Y IG} 1<=178 5 D. McADOO) L.GRlFFIN M.MeADOO q-- 1-- ,. 3 't

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79 The Texas Caver 1019 Melrose Dr BULK RATE Waco, Texas 7671 0 US. Postage PAID Forwarding Postage Guaranteed Permit No.l423 Waco, Tx. 76710

GROSSER'S SINK# 2

David J. McAdoo

The entrance to Grosser's sink# 2 is several hundred yards south of Grosser's sink in a small clump of bushes. The entrance is a 25 meter vertical shaft. The first 4 to 5 meters can easily be climbed; the remaining 20 meters require SAFE CAVING IS NO a rope. The first 15 meters of the rappe. are down a narrow crack which is covered ACIDENT with sharp projections. About 15 meters down, the first crack intersects a second one which forms a 4 by 10 meter room comprising the bottom of the cave. A small stream flows under the wall at the southeast end of the room and exits after several feet under the northeast wall.