1. The construction of high earth and rock dams requires that investigators obtain exact data on the shear resistance and deformative properties of coarse-fragmental soils. 2. Investigations carried out in recent years here and abroad have made it possible to establish the following: a) The angle of internal friction of coarse-fragmental soils largely depends on the density of packing, soil stresses, and size of the particles composing the soil; b) The angle of internal friction of coarse-fragmental soil can exceed numerically its angle of repose and is within limits up to 54° and sometimes higher; c) Investigations of shear strength can be conducted both by shear instruments and by consolidometers, provided Dinst/dfrac≥5; d) One should try to investigate coarse-fragmental soils of natural granular composition using field instruments. 3. The angle of internal friction of coarse-fragmental materials decreases with an increase of normal stresses and to a greater degree for rock than for gravel in the same range of stresses. 4. Further investigations of the shear strength of coarse-fragmental soils should be aimed at perfecting large devices (preference should be given to consolidometers) and methods of investigation.