t>. ^>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ /. :A f/j :/. 1.0 !fi I.I 12.5 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 < 6" - ► m e A M ^ ^\ 23 W£ST i-\A\'M STREET WEBSTER, NY 145 BO (716) 872-^.03 o^ f/j <^. r^^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notca/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. 0 Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicul6e I I Cover title missing/ D D n Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ D Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) r~7l Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas it6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: L'Institut a microfiimd le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibllographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur n Pages damaged/ Pages endommag6es I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ D D Pages restauries et/ou peilicuides Pages discoloured, stained or foxec Pages d6color6es, tachet6es ou piqudes Pages detached/ Pages ddtach^as I — I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ □ Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale de I'impression I I Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuiilet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmies A nouveau de fa^on A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Tl to Tl P< o\ fil 0 bi th si 01 fil si oi Tl si Tl w M di er b4 "( rci This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X v/ 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAca A la ginirositA de: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont M reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet* de l'exemplaire filmA, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat da filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmds en commengant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la darnidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commen^ant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END "), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — •► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est U\m6 A partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent In mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 (3) mssBsmasmmmBammm MuMMMmmmimmimumimii I itmim 'PnttBBS Uiili OR PAPERS AND COMMUNICATIONS READ BEFORE THE Kaluial Pisloig SociGly OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. VOL. I.— No. I. PUBLISHING COMMITTEES A8HD0WN GREEN, O. C. HASTINGS, REV. J, WASTIE REV. A. BEANLANDS. 0. P. WOLLEY, GREEN. VICTORIA, B. C: JAa A. OOHBN, PBINTKW, 38 FOBT STRHET. 1891. mMiliiMuMlimimmusmmiumim m»m!!Bmm!B,rnr!n!!m^:mm!ii!m!m. ^VNNUAlf^PORT. To the Menbcrs of the Natural Ilistury Society of B. C: Your Committee, elected twelve months ago, beg to lay before you a report of the transactions during the first year of the Society's existence. At a meeting, notice of which was sent to gentlemen known to be interested in the study of Natural History, held in the office of the Provincial Museum, on March 26th, 1890, it was decided that a Society should be organised bearing the title of the Natural History Society of British Columbia, and that the object of this Society should be to acquire and promote a more extended knov ^edge of the natural history of the Province, and to act as an independent auxiliary to the Provincial Museum. Rules and by-laws were adopted at the sane meeting, and the following officers appointed :— President, Ashdown Green, C. E.; Vice-Presidents, M. Lopatecki and Dr. Hiisell; Secretary, Dr. C. F. Newcombe; Treasurer, J. K. Worsfold; Curator and Librarian, John Fannin; Committee, J Deans, J. Fielding, Capt Devereux, H. Wootton. More than forty gentlemen signified their wish to join the Society. At Mr. Fannin's suggestion, a committee, consisting of Mr. A. Green, Dr. Hasell and Dr. Newcombe, was appointed to wait upon the Provincial Secretary, to ask permission for the Society to hold fortnightly meetings in one of the rooms 2026j9 wmmMmmmmimiimmiiimm 4 Annuai He fort. attached to the Provincial Museum. This Committee reported at the next meeting, on March 31st, that they had a very favorable reception, and that their request was at once granted. The first regular meeting of the Society, thus sucessfully started, was held on April 14th, when our President deliv- ered his inaugural address and then read the first instalment of a paper on the Salmonidae of British Columbia. The following are the Titles of the remainder of the papers read during the the year: Monday, April 28th,— "The Study of Entomology." Monday, May 12th, — Mr. A. Green, " Salmonida; of B. C. (concluded.) May, 20th,— Dr. Hasell, " Birds, What They Are." June 9th, — Mr. J. Deans, — "The Preservation of the Indian Remains of B. C." June 30th, — Rev'd P. Jenns, "Leaves." /July, 14th, — Rev'd A. Beanlands, "The Jade Imple- ments of B. C." July 28th,— Mr. J. Fannin, "The Birds of B. C. and their Distribution." Aug. 25th, — Dr. Boas, "The Skulls of the Indian Tribes of B. C." Sept. 8th,— Mr. J. Deans, " The Haidah Legend of the Mountain Goat." October,— Dr. Newcombe, "The Crabs of B. C." Nov. 3rd. — Mr. J. Deans, "Certain Myths of the Queen Charlotte Islanders. Nov. 17th, — Dr. Hasell, "Account of a Recent Visit to Provincial Museums in England." Dec. 1st, — Dr. Hasell, "Lowest Forms of Animal and Vegetable Life." Dec. 29th, — Mr. J. Deans, " Topography and Resources of the Queen Charlotte Islands." immnn iiMmmmuimittmmm. rSI^Uffffjyj^HW" mmsmaaffmBn Annual Report. 5 Jan. I2th, 1891,— Mr. C. W Wollcy "Hears." •^an. 26th,— Mr. A. Green, "The Economic Fishes of B. C. ^'Feb 9th,— Mr. Danby, " The Study of Entomology." Mar. 9th, Mr. J. Fannin, " The Deer of B. C. Mar. 23rd,— Mr. A. L. Poudrier. "The Mineral Re- sources of the Chilcotin Country. During the spring and .summer months the following field excursions took place: On April 12th to Cadboro Bay; April 26th to McCaulay's Point; May loth, Gold- stream; June nth, Cadboro Bay; June 28th, Aldermere. where the Club enjoyed the hospitality of Dr. and Mrs. Hanington; July 13th, Shawnigan Lake; Aug. 9th, a dredging excursion off Victoria, Trial Islands and Esqui- malt; Aug. 23rd, Beaver Lakes; September 6th, dredging excursion off Sidney and James Islands; Sept 20th, Lagoon, Esquimalt. ^imumnMimimuummmiummvm y li^imiMmmfiiiii^miii^-Umnimimfm imsf IM jBammmm THE SAUMONIU.^ ■ lyp'- British Columbia. nF" the 13 genera of the Salmonida; known in North v^ America, nine are represented within the limits of this Province. These embrace the capelin, oolachan, smelt, surf-smelt, salmoi., L.out, charr, grayling, and white- fish. Beyond rv "ng the fact that the first four belong to the Salmonida: of our waters, I do not again propose to refer to them, but will commence with a description of our salmon, the largest and .most valuable from an economic point of view, of the family. The generic name of our salmon is Oncorhync/ms, or hook-nose. Why this personal reference to his nose should have been made I do not know, seeing that the same prominence of feature is shared by the male of the eastern salmon and trout during the breeding season, though perhaps, in a less marked degree. This gei.no may be readily distinguished from that of Sahno by the length of the anal fin, the rays of which number from 13-16 rays, whereas the Salmo, that is the trout, and charr, have but 9-1 1. It is rather a curious fact that a Russian, named Stellar, who first wrote about these fish some 150 years ago, should have named and described the five species of the genus exactly as they are now known. Since his time no less than thirty-five species have been named by modern writers, their descriptions, correct perhaps as far as they went, being of the same fish in different stages of age, sex, or sexual development. 8 The Saimonkice of Bn'thh Columbia. There are five species of Pacific salmon : — O. cjijuicha — Quinnet, spring salmon, tyhee. O. ncrkc — the sockeye, O. khutch — cohoe, silver salmon. Q. keta — dog-salmon. * (). gvi'biiscka — humpback All these are found in B. C, though all do not frequent the same streams; for instance, there are no sockeyes on the eastern shore of V::ncouver Island e.xcept in the Nimpki.sh river, and the small streams to the north of it. There are no humpbacks in the Cowichan, while they abound in the Chemainus river. The tyhee salmon only fre- quents the larger streams; the cohoe and dogsalmon, every little brook. The time of arrival of the same species, varies in different rivers. Broadly speaking, the tyhee salmon is taken in the late autumn and spring, the sockeye, in the sum- mer, and the cohoe, dogsalmon, and humpback in the autumn. The tyhee salmon, O. chouicha is the largest of the family. Fish of 50 lbs. are by no means rare, and in Rivers' Inlet individuals have been taken over 80 lbs. in weight In the Columbia this species only is used by the best canneries; in B. C. it is more valued as a table fish than for canning purposes, as the color of its flesh cannot always be depended on. I have seen fish red at one end and white at the other, the intermediate part being streaked with red. What causes this difference I cannot say, neither sex nor condition has apparently anything to do with it There is no external difference between the red and the white meated fish, and many people prefer a white salmon for their own use, believing it to be richer than the colored ones. However, canned salmon must be salmon colored, hence the waste of fish at those canneries remote from the fishmongers. The time of arrival of the species varies slightly in different mmvmimmmmm^mxmismnmm The SahnonidcR of British Columbia. tyhee. >t frequent ^es on the Nimpkish vhile they 1 only fre- lon, every ;ies, varies salmon is n the sum- be autumn. jest of the 1 in Rivers' weight In canneries; jr canning : depended the other, /hat causes ndition has ;re is no ite meated 1 for their lored ones. hence the ishmongers. in different rivers. At Nanaimo they are taken in the harbor from the middlo of November until February, by which time they have left the sa.lt water, and ascended the rivers. In the Nimpkish, I am assured, they arrive in August and spawn the same year. In the larger rivers the early fish proceed upstream to the high- est points and spawn in the following autumn. These find their way to the head waters of the Frazer and Columbia, 1200 miles from the sea. Those that ascend later in the spring are supposed to spawn in the lower branches of the rivers. Unlike the other four species, the chotiicha travels singly and is never found in shoals. O. ncrkc, the sockeye, is a small unspotted fish, ranging from 4 lbs. in the Nimpkish to 8 lbs. in the Skeena river. Owing to its rich color it is much used by the cannery men, the bulk of the salmon exported being of this species; as a table fish it is dry, and anything but a delicacy. Dr. Bean states that the sockeyes spawn in lakes, and only run up those rivers which flow from such a source. They appear to travel quickly and to great distances inland. I have seen them in quantities at Quesnelle as bright as the day they left the sea, and as red in the flesh. This fish, according to Dr. Jordan, is sometimes land-locked, and I believe the mameet found in many of the rivers and lakes of B. C. (even though not land-locked) are of this species. Specimens for identification would be most acceptable, especially from Lac la Hache, or any of the interior waters. O. kisutch, the cohoe or silver salmon, may be caught throughout the summer by trolling in Fuca Straits. It ascends the rivers in October, and if used extensively in the canner- ies. These and the dogsalmon are the most evenly distributed species, being found at the mouti of every little creek. Though not so rich in flavor as the tyhee salmon, it is, when caught in salt water, infinitely superior to the sockeye. mm ^^sanvHB 10 The Sahnonidcp of British Columbia. O. kcta, the dogsalmon, is a fish of lO or 12 lbs., worth- less for either cannery or table use, as it never enters thr river until it is ready to spawn. It is however the staple food of the Indians on the coast, who dry large quantities of it, being lean it dries well and does not turn rancid. It must however be noted that neither the dogsalmon, cohoe, or humpback go far inland, so that the Indians of the interior are dependent altogether on those tyhee salmon, or sockeyes, that escape the cannery men. O. gorbuscha, the humpback is a bright colored fish of from 2 to 5 lbs. It never ascends the streams to any great distance, but generally runs in large shoals a little above the head of tidal water. The female is a shapely little fish, the exaggerated hump and grotesque snout being peculiar to the males. Quantities of these fish are dried by the Indians for food, but they are seldom used by white men either for can- ning or otherwise. The first fish to enter the rivers in the spring arc the chouicha, or tyhee salmon. These have a long way to go, and a hard road to travel. To say nothing of the dangers from seals and sturgeon, while they are in tidal waters, there are miles upon miles of nets extending around ^ of the river from either side, while a third net drifts down the centre. But for the numerous snags and drift timber which in .some places impede the nets, one would wonder how any salmon escape, for it must be remembered that they do not travel straight up the river, but run up and down with the tide for some days previously. However we know that a great many do escape, and that they push up the stream through the canon of the fraser, until towards the end of August they arrive at their destination, a different fish altogether from those we saw in tidal watciL, their bodies blotched with red and black, their fins and tails frayed from friction with the rocks, while their heads have become long, their noses hooked and their t'f^''^tmm:^i':i;'iHHH*h^nnnwnm!mwmift::;mHimfh vvorth- ;ers thr staple titles of It must hoe, or interior ockeyes, fish of ny great 30ve the fish, the ir to the dians for r for can- y are the ly to go, 2 dangers srs, there ■ the river le centre, in some y salmon lot travel ; tide for eat many the canon arrive at ;e we saw id black, :ks, while and their T/ie SahnonidiB of British Columbia. II teeth developed into formidable fangs. Even here they are not free from danger. Weakened by their journey and the buffeting they have encountered in the rapids, they fall an easy prey to the Indian who ruthlessly spears or gaffs them, or corrals them in traps made of split cedar, which extend across the stream. Lampreys fa.sten on to their sides, and feed on them while living, bears are watching the shallow ripples to intercept their passage, and the bald headed eagle gorges himself until he is almost unable to fly, but sits with droop- ing wings on the branch of some dead tree overlooking the river awaiting a fresh appetite. But so great is the number of fish, that in spite of all these obstacles thousands survive, and each pair having selected a suitable place for its nest, and forced back any intruders, proceeds to deposit the eggs. For this purpose the male excavates a shallow trench in some gravelly beach where the water is not too swift, and here the eggs are deposited, the female rubbing her sides against the gravel during the operation. The male mean- while mounts guard, makes furious attacks on enemies, or if these be absent on immaginary ones, returning to the female at short intervals, say of half a minute, to exude his milt on the eggs. The action of the water and of the fish are enough to cover the impregnated eggs or to carry them downstream, until they lodge between some convenient stone, and the object for which the salmon has undergone so much is accomplished. Such is the proceeding in the upper waters of the Fraser or Columbia river where the fish are comparatively undis. turbed, but in the small streams on the coast, where thousands of dogsalmon and humpbacks are massed together, the scene is very different; here all is activity and turmoil. The males seem to have no time for anything but fighting, and there appears little sign of pairing, in fact it is unaccountable how the progeny or this mass of fish can be anything but hybrids. Perhaps towards the upper or lower end of the pool, a pair WMmmmH^mmHrnimmimmm' 12 T/ie Salnionidce of British Columbia. may be seen sedately at work, but only for a few minutes, a sudden panic seems to take possession of the shoal of fish, they rush up or down stream as the case may be, completely upsetting the sedate pair, who may perhaps come together again or may find new partners and commence anew. Here you may see fish floating downstream with their dorsal fins out of water, rolling over when they come to a shallow ripple, without strength enough to keep their heads upstream, others at their last gasp, decomposed even before death, floundering on the edges of the stream, while the trout are busy stealing the eggs as fast as they are laid. Lower downstream a flock of ducks is devouring the spawn, or perhaps wallowing in the dead salmon. The more putrid it is, the more it seems to be appreciated. An oily scum floats on the water, which is so impregnated with particles of the rotting fish that it is a wonder how anything can exist in it for even a minute, and yet I have every reason to believe that some individuals do survive and even recuperate in the fresh water before return- ing to the sea I have taken spent salmon in the North Thompson that were strong enough to make a good fight, and I could see nothing to prevent those from returning. At one time it was supposed that no salmon ever did so, but of late this opinion seems to be much modified, c.pecially with regard to the tyhee salmon. Unlike all the other species, which are almost always an uniform size, these fish are found in the rivers ranging from 2 to 70 lbs. with milt fully devel- oped. How is this ? They cannot very well be of the same age, either the 70 lb. fish has returned froin one or more trips in the river, or he has remained in the sea for some years, although we see that he was perfcctlj' able to breed when he was two pounds in weight. Dr. Jordan states that at the hatchery on Rogue River the fish are stripped, marked, and .set free, and every year since the hatching has been in operation, some of the marked muHmMmimhHH'jU'ruwnmmmmuhimmffm.. The Sahnonhhe of British Cotnmhia. 13 lutcs, a of fish, npletcly together Here rsal fins N ripple, 1, others mdering stealing a flock ig in the ms to be ch is so it is a utc, and duals do e return - le North fight, and At one t of late illy with species, ,re found ly devel- the same lore trips ne years, when he ue River ery year t marked fish have been recaptured, Mr. Mowat, our Inspector of fisheries, also reports the same of the sockcye salmon. Al- though we know that some species oi salmon will take a fly or other bait in the rivers and lakes, it is a generally received opinion that they cease to feed when they enter fresh water, and exist entirely on the fat they have accumulated during their stay in the sea. Po.ssibly this theory may arise from the fact that on entering the freshwater the stomach of a salmon contracts, and instead of being a membranous sac capable of containing two or three herrings, its walls are thickened and it becomes no larger than the stem of a tabacco pipe. It is certain that food is seldom found in their stomach, and many theories have been advanced to account for thi.s. Some have sup- po.sed that the digestive powers of a salmon are so strong that the food is absorbed at once, while others maintain that the contents of the stomach are ejected when a fish is caught. Against the latter theory is the fact that food is generally found in a salmon taken by trolling in the .sea; if it unvariably ejects food in fresh water, why does it not do .so in salt ? That some of our salmon feed in the rivers I have not the least doubt. La.st spring (April) I took a gril.sc {O. rhouicha) of 6 lbs. in the Cowichan river about 14 miles from the sea, that had, as nearly as I could ascertain, 15 small salmon fry, in all stages of digestion, in its .stomach. Now this fish mu.st have taken the fry in fresh water, becau.se there are none in the sea. It was a female, in splendid condition; the ova were but slightly developed, and 1 noticed there was not as much internal fat as is usual in a fresh run fish. Perhaps but for one circum- stance this fish might have ejected its food. It was hooked at the head of a bad rapid which I was particu- larly anxious to avoid running. Of course, I could not at first tell the size of my fish, but I determined to give it all the strain I could to prevent it going down stream, mmmmm . aTnuunTTi umfimmtmmmmm^ 14 yVie Saimonidie of Brit hh Coliinihla. and this I did until it was landed. The consequence U'as the fish always had its head upstream in a rapid current, and could not possibly vomit, even were it desirous of doing so. I am of opinion that much depends on the sexual con- dition of the fish. If the eggs be fully developed I do not think they feed, but should the ova (or milt) be immature) or the fish have already spawned, I believe they may be taken with fly or by trolling as well here as elsewhere. We know that the spring salmon, O. c/wuic/ia, enters the river in the winter, and docs not spawn until the following autumn; its eggs therefore must be immature, and if my theory be correct, they should feed in the rivers in spring, and in the lakes during the summer. Very little is known about salmon fishing (angling; in British Columbia. I believe the Cowichan river is the only one that has been tried in March or April, and it has invar- iably been with succes.s. Later in the .season, say June or July, the fish have left the river on account of low water, and have reached the lake at its head; at that time, I am informed, they are constantly taken by trolling. A good deal of light might be thrown on the subject by examining each fish caught and noting first the species, and date of capture; 2nd the contents of the stomach; 3rd the development of the eggs or milt, or whether spent; and 4th the amount of internal fat. These remarks apply only to the spring salmon (O. chou- icha), but with reference to the summer salmon, O. ncrka, the sockeye, I am informed that two gentlemen took about 40 of them last summer at the outlet of the Cowichan Lake. They were all taken with fly, and averaged about 4 lbs., the two largest being 8 lbs. each. As the.se fish have only recently been introduced into the Cowichan, very little is known about their sporting qualities, and I should be glad of detailed well authenticated notes. f sea anc In bri tho apf fim mms^Bssmmsm , „„„„ equence a rapid were it ual con- do not nmature> ey may sewhere. iters the bllowing nd if my n spring, iglingj in the only las invar- June or /ater, and informed, il of light each fish ture; 2nd f the eggs ternal fat. {O. chou- O. iicrka, lok about lan Lake. . lbs., the y recently )wn about liled well The Sahiionhiie of British Cohinibia. \^ O. kistitch^ the cohoc, an autumn fish, will take a fly freely in the tidal waters when it first enters the rivers. I once caught five in about two hours at the mouth of the Na- naimo river. In all probability my theory will be found correct here, for I must have cast over 500 fish for every one I ro.se, and all I took were fresh run and clean fish, that had not been in tidal water long, therefore the eggs could not have been very well developed. As far as I am aware there are but two species of trout in British Columbia, viz : Sahno purpuratus., the red throated trout, and Sa/i//(> i>(/ird//t'r/i, the steel head, or " Sow cum " of the Cowichan Indians. The former is the common trout of the country, found in almost every stream and lake from Oregon to Alaska, and from Utah to the Pacific. In all species having such a wide geographical distri- bution, there is naturally a tendency to variation in form, size, or color, in different localities. Other changes are caused by difference of age, feed, condition, temperature of water, the nature of the bottoms of streams or lakes, the size of the bodies of water, the different stages of sexual develop- ment or by a tempory residence in the .sea. Specimens taken in a lake on the same day will vary from one or another of the above causes; some will be dark colored and thickly spotted, others silvery and almost immaculate. In some the scales will appear larger than in others; some will be short and deep with small heads, others long, lean and lantern jawed. In the rivers it is the same; those taken in the rapids will be bright colored, those in the backwaters will be foul fish, while those fresh run from the .sea will be bright colored and apparently unspotted. Size is dependent principally on the quality and quan- muUiiJMUuiu^iMini^kiiuiiiM:^^ ftt»»»>Ttf«»W» - i6 The Sahuoiilihc of British Columbia. tity of feed, and the larger the lake or river, the larger as a rule the fish will be. Mr. Baillie Grohman's land locked salmon (which is merely an overgrown trout) attains a weight of 20 lbs, in Kootenay Lake. Those that have access to the sea, arc generally larger than those taken from lakes; there are exceptions to this in some few lowland lakes, where fi.sh being few and food plenti- ful, you will find them of 3 or 4 lbs. Some breeds (not species) of trout are larger than others; in the higher mountain streams, fully developed trout 2)/^ inches in length may be found, with the parr marks still on them, half starved little fellows who hardly ever see a fly in their lives, unless it be the ubiquitous mosquito. Few trout appear to stay in the streams during the winter, preferring to run down to the sea, or to ascend to some lake where the temperature of the water is milder, and food more plentiful. The spawning season of these fish is from November to April according to locality. In the small mountain .streams they appear to spawn later than in the lakes, and it is not unusual to take an occasional trout with eggs fully ripe at any time of year. S. ftirfuratus may be distinguished from S. i>-alrdnc7'n by the smaller scales, the red patches on the outer edges of the lower jaw, and by the caudal fin which is slightly forked, whereas in the latter it is truncate. The wrist of the tail is much more slender than that of S. gairdncril. Both species are black spotted. Salmo galrdvcrll is a large anadromous trout that ascends the rivers in the early spring, spawns about the beginning of April, and after recuperating in the rivers, and f»«ifi m\hhmm^Mi\immmmvi^mmmms The Salmonidce of liriti&h Columbia. 17 \cr as a 1 locked a weight y larger ) this in d plcnti- n others; rout 2)4 , still on a flv in 4ring the iscend to Ider, and •ember to 1 streams it is not / ripe at mirdncrii edges of y forked, be tail is th species •out that ibout the vers, and doing all the mischief he can with the salmon fry returns to the sea about the end of August. When fresh run from the sea it is a handsome fish attaining a weight of 25 lbs., but becomes discolored when spawning; like the salmon many die from exhaustion during this operation. The bones of this species are much coarser and more solid than any of the other salmonida;, the flesh is a pale yellow. Very little is known of the time when this fish first goes to the sea, as the young in the smolt stage are seldom taken. I do not think I have ever seen more than half a dozen, though they are easily recognized by the size of their scales, which are fully half as large again as those of S. furpuratns In the parr stage they would not be so easy to indentify. so that in all probability they assume the smolt dress and des- cend to the sea during the late autumn when no fly-fishermen are at work. This species has a large distribution being found from California to Kamschatka in almo.st all the larger -treams. I am informed it is also taken in the spring in IJ.ibine Lake, where they run as large as 30 lbs. Whether this fish will take a bait or fly on entering the rivers I do not know, as it is the close season when they arrive. As mended kelts they are very voracious and take fly or minnow freely; it has not, however, the dash of a salmon, but plays sluggishly, and it is merely a matter of brute strength to bring it to land. Although I have never found it in B. C, I should not be surprised to hear that the rainbow trout, S. irideus, is a native of the streams flowing into the Columbia river. Dr. Jordan has doubts whether this species is not a breed of S jrat'rdnerti debarred from access to the sea, as he can find no .specific difierence between the two. The two charr indigenous to B. C. are Salvelinus malma the Doily Varden trout, and Salvelinus namaycush the great lake or Mackinaw trout wmv ^\\V\\yM^-:K<- Hmmim'HmmmmmHMmimmummum' 18 T/ie Sahnonidic of British Columbia. The first named is distributed almost as widely as the common trout; it is found from California to Kamschatka, and extends e\cn across the Rocky mountains. I have taken it in the Athabasca, which flows into the Arctic Ocean, and also in the Saskatchewan, one of the higher tributaries of the Hudson liay. It is singular that it is so seldom found on Vancouver Island, the only rivers that I know it frequents being those on the eastern shore north of Comox. Near Masset on Queen Charlotte Island it is very plentiful, and there I caught it in the seapools in conjunction with S. fxir- pnratus taking sometimes one of each on the same cast. It is common in almost all the waters of British Columbia, and appears to be wonderfully able to adapt itself to circumstan- ces, whether in the sea, the lakes, the rivers, or the milky glacial stream.s. I have never taken one over five pounds in weight, but it is probable they attain a much larger s'ze in the large lakes of the mainland. This is the mo.st gaudy of our .salmonid;e, the back is olive green, with spots of a lighter shade; below the median line, it is golden with nale .salmon colored spots; the lower fins are grey edged with a narrow band of yellow. It can hardly be considered a game fish, as it usually prefers a piece of bacon to a fly; it is however, when camping, an acceptable addition to the pot, many per- sons considering it superior to the trout. ate Stua of th nortl in J Had knov upco so m knov in th teres their Mus Of the grayling, Thymalhis signifcr, I can tell you but little, as I have never taken it in British Columbia It appears to be common in the Cassiar country, and is known there as the Arctic trout. Two specimens sent me by Mr. James Porter from Dease Lake were too delapidated to be of much use; I noticed however, that the dorsal fin resembled that of the variety tricolor more than signifer. The local name of grayling is applied to some of the upcountry Corcgoni, specimens of which are badly wanted in the Provin- cial Museum for identification. ^itHjmMUirHriiimmHHiinmpftmmnwmuumimU'sn. The Sahnoniihe of Brithh Columbia. 19 Sienodtis Mackcnzii the Inconnu, a large fish intermedi- ate between the salmon and whitefish, is said to be found in Stuarts river. Dr. Dawson found it in the upper tributaries of the Yukon, and in all probability it is common in the northern parts of the province. Little is known of the range of the whitefish {Coregoni) in British Columbia One species is found in Lac la Hache, and another, that I believe to be C. Wt'/liamsoni, is known as the Round fish, and is common in many of the upcountry streams and rivers. In conclusion I would say that this paper is written not so much to impart information as to shew how little we really know about the most valuable fishes of our Province, and also in the hopes that some of our upcountry members will be in- terested enough to collect notes on the habits of the fish in their several localities, and forward them to the Provincial Museum. HmHimmmmmiimmmumviuimtH XHK BCOMONIC FISHES OP*- British Columbia. "1* ROM the earliest times of which we have any record ^1 the salmon has occupied the first place among the ecomonic fishes of this coast. Appearing each year on the seaboard, and proceeding up the rivers far into the interior, it has furnished with the regularity of a harvest, the winter supplies of thousands of Indians. Unlike the Indians of the plains whose lives depended on their exertions, and who had to roam over a vast extent of country to obtain meat enough to put up for winter use, the fish eating Indians could count securely upon their winter supplies coming to their very doors. But all this has changed within the last few years; except in remote districts salmon is no longer the staple food of the Indians; flour, tea, tobacco and clothes, formerly lux- uries to them, are now necessaries. To obtain these they must work, and what employment could be more congenial to them than salmon fishing; hence it will be found that most of the salmon canned in B. C. are taken by Indians. Twenty years ago there was not a salmon cannery in the country, and few people could have foretold the rapid growth of this industry. To-day there are 34 canneries, and B. C salmon can be bought in almost every country on the globe. nir^trtitHiuutiti'iHmH^iii'umrUliinitmt'iimi-UHmUUii The Economic Fhha of British Columbia. 21 Through the kindness of Mr. Trotter Johnston, I am able to give the total pack for the past fifteen years: s y record long the ach year into the fvest, the e Indians >, and who tain meat ians could : to their :w years; taple food lerly lux- hese they congenial that most lery in the )id growth and B. C he globe. CASES. CASES 1876. • • • 9.847 1884... . 141,242 1877- ... 67,387 1885... .108,517 1878. . .. 113,601 1886... . 161,264 1879- . .. 61,093 1887... . 204,083 1880. . .. 61,849 1888... . I 84,040 I88I . ...177,276 1889... .414,294 1882. ...255,061 I 890 . . . . 409,464 1883. . . . 196,292 Assuming $5 to be the average value of a case, these figures shew that over $2,000,000 were last year circulated through the province by this industry alone, every article used in which, with the exception of tho tin for cans, being the produce of the country. I am unable to {.; . c the number of people directly em- ployed in this business, but they are principally Indian fish- ermen, and Chinese packers. Indirectly employment is given to boat builders, net makers, saw mill hands, shippers, freight handlers, store keepers and farmers; in fact there are few people residing on the coast who do not benefit in some way by the salmon canning trade. Of the five species of salmon frequenting our water three only are used for canning. These are the sockeyes, {Oncorhynchus ncrke) the spring salmon, {O. chouicha) and the cohoe, [O. kitstich). The first having the richest color, is most in demand, the second is the best in flavor, but owing to want of color in many of the hsh, it does iiot seem to be a favorite with the cannery men. The third coming late in the fall, is used to make up the pack of each cannery, should the run of sockeyes prove a bad one-. umnimimnnmimm^ ilf^illUliU! 22 The Economic Pishes of British Columbia. I believe that owing to the unprecedented run of sockeyes in the Frazer, no echoes were used last season. The sockeyes make their appearance in the rivers about the first week in July; the cohoes about the middle of September. The spring salmon is plentiful on the coast from November tu April, but does not run up the rivers in dense shoals like the other two species. In addition to those consumed in the cannery business, great numbers are salted or frozen for export, while there is always a demand in the local markets for kippered salmon. As for fresh fish they can be found on the fish stalls almost every day in the year, and the consumption must be very great, though of course there are no means of obtaining any data as to the quantity consumed. Although not used to the same extent as formerly, thousands upon thousands of fish are still dried by the Indians. When thus prepared, the salmon is both light to carry and very nutritious. An Indian going on a journey will wrap a few fish in his blanket and be prov- isioned for a week. In spite of the enormous quantity of salmon consumed and destroyed each year, their numbers in this Province do not seem to have diminished. This, no doubt, is owing to wise legislation which forbids all net fishing above tidal water. In the Columbia river it is different; there fishing is, or was, permitted everywhere. Travelling by the N. P. Railroad, some of you may have noticed water wheels placed on the points most frequented by salmon. The floats (if they may be so called) are scoop nets which catch any passing fish and lift it into a trough down which it slides into a receptacle placed to receive it These wheels are very destructive. In 1 87 1, when at the head waters of the Columbia, I saw thousands of large salmon (chouicha) at the outlet of i*ijt)in&,iviU'mii>hhHiH'Mi'u sockeyes ers about liddle of the coast rivers in business, there is i salmon. Is almost : be very ining any ised to the of fish are le salmon lian going d be prov- consumed 'ovince do owing to idal water. s, or was, Railroad, ced on the they may ig fish and receptacle ctive. olumbia, I outlet of The Economic Fhhcs of British Columbia. 2 3 Columbia Lake. In 1887, at the same place, I saw but one pair, and the Indians informed me that the previous year they had only taken five fish. Whether the injury to the river is permanent or not remains to be seen; the salmon runs vary so much each year that possibly these two years may have been bad ones, and but few fish reached the higher waters. Next in importance to the salmon, from an economic point of view, is the dogfish, of which two species exist in large numbers on our coast, viz.: Squalus acanthias, the spiked dogfish, and Galeorhinus galeus, the tope shark. The former may be easily distinguished by the long spike in front of each dorsal fin, the latter by the absence of the spikes, and the notch on the upper lobe of the caudal fin. At Skidegate, on Queen Charlotte Island, and at Ecole, in Barclay Sound, are large factories for the reduction of il from these fish. The livers are first taken out and rendered separately, thus obtaining a pure oil. The bodies are steamed in large retorts, and from them a much inferior oil is obtained, containing a large amount of gelatine from the cartilage of the fish. Tl.is makes the oil unfit for machinery, as it gums, but it is useful for a number of other purposes. It is almost wholly consumed within the province. Large quantities of dogfish oil are also made by the Indians; some villages producing as much as 9000 gallons. On the West coast, during the autumn, I found it difficult to engage Indians even at $40 a month and board, as they could, if they liked, make double that it dogfishing In addition to the dogfish there are .several oil bearing fish in our waters, which may at some time be utilized. Chimcera collim, the rabbit fish, is sometimes very abundant, as many as 300 having been taken at one haul of a net in Esquimau harbor. The crest of the male is a source of much '^ySfHUiU^.^iliiHiU^imi{i4iPPP^Wmn}pmvnmf*iu'tutr^ 24 T/ie Economic Fishes of British Columbia. annoyance to the fishermen on account of its becoming en- tangled in the nets. The oil procured from the liver is said to be very fine and is used for watches, gun locks, sewing machines or any other small machinery. Cetorhinus maximus^ the basking shark, is, I am informed by Indians and whalers, plentiful in Queen Char- lotte Sound during the summer months. This shark attains a length of 30 ♦"eet or more; it is perfectly harmless and so tame while basking that it may be toU'",hed with the hand. Like the whale it is taken with the harpoon, but its capture is more difficult and dangerous, for the reason that when struck it dives to the bottom and cannot be brought to the surface to be killed. Sometimes a boat may be attached to one for 24 hours before it is exhausted; in the meantime, wind or fog may arise, or the position of the vessel lost, in which case the boat's crew is exposed to great risks. Perhaps the bomb lance used on this coast a few years ago for whales might be used with advantage on this fish. I have only heat ' of them being killed occasionally by Indians on our coast. In Eng- land, I 50 gallons of oil is the average yield of the liver, which alone is rendered. Halibut {Hippoglosses vulgaris) are most abundant on the west coast of Vancouver Island, though occasional fish are takeii on the eastern •'>hore. They appear to vary greatly in quality and size, according to the locality, they are found in. Those brought to Victoria are very inferior when com- pared with specimens from the northern end of the Island, and the same remark applies to the sea bass, skill, and many other fish. Halibut are to the westcoast Indian what the salmon are to those residing on the east coast or mainland. The rivers on the west coast are generally small, and afiford comparativ- ely few salmon. Some tribes have only one or two brooks in ••-tiS.ntr7«rjfUi<^rt«>»- the verticle black bands on its dorsal and anal fins. Dr. Jordan states that it reaches a weight of i 5 to 20 lbs. ; I have never seen a specimen over 6 or 7 lbs. This flounder is peculiar in that it is not, as is The Economic Fishes of British Columbia. 29 usual in most flat fish, constantly colored on the same side. The halibut swims with its right side uppermost, the turbot with its left side, but as many right hand as left hand starry flounders are taken. I need not tell you that we have no soles in the Pacific, the plaice, usually so called by our fishermen being the Pleuronectes vetulus. It is a small fish seldom weighing more than a pound, but what it lacks in size it makes up in quality. It may be known by its peculiar pointed head. These two, together with the halibut, form the bulk of flatfish seen at the fishmongers, but specimens of Pleuronectes /)ilineatus, Pleuronicthys cicnosus, Psettichthys nielauostictus, and Citharichthys sordius are also common. There are also occasional specimens of many other species, but they are so seldom seen that they cannot be said to have any economic value. Of small fish, or as our American cousins call them, pan- fish, we find several kinds on our fish stalls. The herring (Cluitea mirabilis) arrives in the early spring for the purpose of spav/ning. Although equal to the English herrings in flavor, they are far inferior in size nevertheless large numbers are consumed both fresh and in the form of bloaters. Indirectly these little fish do us a service, since larger and better fish come inshore to feed on them. Many herring are salted down in bulk as bait for the dogfish and other fisheries, and some time ago there was a factory at Burrard Inlet for the extraction of oil and fish guano from them, and from salmon offal. Unfortunately however this was burnt down and has not been rebuilt. Herring spawn is an article of barter among the Indian^ who consider it a delicacy. It is found attached to the »W '«; ftpffffU^Wr^rrr^T'^TJiy ptBWffigPWHil HillillHWlllH —Ulliiwiwii ■iiiiaiim Km/aaaaaiMiUBS^m The Economic Fhhcs of Brit hh Cotnmhia. 31 hot stones, this mode is now obsolete, the troughs having a sheet iron bottom built over a long and narrow lurnace. The oolachan has more than its fair share of enemies ; sturgeon, salmon and porpoises follow it into the rivers, while bears and the settlers' pigs gorge themselves with the exhausted shotten fish. At Port Hammond I once saw two pigs standing up to their backs in the water, and diving for oola- chans ; they seldom failed to bring one up. Two smelts, Osmcrus thalcichthys, and ffvponicsiis pretiostis, are tolerably plentiful in our market, and are generally confounded with the Athcrine {AUicrinopsis calif or nicnsis) which they somewhat resemble. The latter however may be recognized by its want of the adipose dorsal fin. The Anchovy (S/o/cp/iorus riiigcns) is at time, '"ery plentiful, though months may elapse without its being seen on the fish slab.s. The Capelin [Mallotus villosus) was first observed by me two years ago, when I saw about a bucketful in a John.son street fish store. Last year they were plentiful for about a week in July. Although common in Alaskan waters, they appear to be only occasional visitors to our coast The most abundant skate on our shores is Raia Cooferii, As food it does not appear to be held in much estimation, probably on account of its repulsive appearance, and that until lately the fishmongers did not take the trouble to crimp it It grows to a large size, and according to Dr. Jordan is sometimes taken over 6 feet in length. The empty handbarrow shaped egg cases are often found on the seashore, though it is seldom they are obtained with the young fish in them. One opened by me at the Provincial Museum, con- 32 The Economic Fishes of British Columbia. taincd three perfectly developed youngsters with the umbili- cal sac still attached; this is the only instance in which 1 have known more than one fish to be produced from an egg. A second species, R. rhiiia, is occasionally found in the markets. It does not attain the size of /?. cooper ii, froin which it may be distinguished by its long tapering snout. Although the bait question has not assumed the impor- tance that it has in the older provinces, I"*".! day must come when its value will be appeciated; this paper therefore would not be complete, were the subject wholly ignored. The favorite bait with our fi.shermen is the octopus, common enough on our shores, but difficult to collect in suffi- cient quantities to fill the demand. Herrings at times may be taken by the ton, and when salted are the cheapest bait that can be procured; in fact there is little else to be obtained in the winter. During the summer there is little difficulty in procur- ing all that is wanted, smelt, atherine, anchovy and the different species of Ditrema can then be taken in numbers. The Sand launce, Animodytes persomilus, is very plentiful, and if a dainty bait, and one highly prized by the Dutch fish- ermen, be wished for, there is the river lamprey {Lamfetra tridcnata). These little fish ascend the rivers in thousands, and I do not know of a more curious sight than is to be seen in any of the canons of our larger streams during their mig- ration upward.s. Some few attach themselves to the sides of salmon and save them.sclves an immensity of trouble by doing so, having their pa.ssage free and meals also, but the bulk of them toil upwards, resting sometimes in the swifter parts of the river by holding on to a stone. Should the wat. r become too rapid to stem by .swimming, the lamprey holds on to the rocks at about the water line, and, during the momentary- periods when it is left dry, manages to advance an inch or so by a succession of jumps, holding on whenever the water rises, fe^f»*W*«T may be bait that cd in the w procur- and the numbers, plentiful, utch fish- Aimpetra lousands, ) be seen heir mig- sides of by doing bulk of parts of r become on to the amentary h or so by iter rises, and there is danger from the current. At the Scutz canon in the Cowichan River, where the whole stream is confined to a cleft in the rock only about 9 feet in width, I have seen the lampreys hanging to the perpendicular rocks so thickly, that a landing r>et would take a dozen or more at a time. No difficulty seems to be experienced as long as the walls of the canon are continuous, but should there be a turn to make the lamprey generally comes to grief and is swept down by the current to try again. Whelks, cockles, clams and crabs are to be had in large quantites, both in the winter and summer months, and are largely used by the Indian fishermen, who prefer the clam as a bait when trolling for salmon. From the foregoing pages it will be seen there is no scarcity of good fish on our shores, and yet for some cause less is used in Victoria than in any seaside town I know of. The reason is not hard to find. In the first place, fish is much dearer than butchers' meat. Even the inferior kinds caught in our harbor, such as the CMridcB, and flounders, sell for 1 5 cts. a pound, ofifal included. The fishing boats used are small, and have no room for .ice, nor do the fishermen appear to think it necessary to use it, consequently the better kinds are stale before they are landed, their condition being exceeded only by the price asked for them, both are so high. Again the supply fluctuates; one day the market is glutted, and for several days aften\'ards there are none. I am afraid want of competition is the cause of this; the fishermen are few and perhaps too well off, and consequently have not to go out every day. Last week I heard of a man who took a ton of halibut in one night (no unlikely catch), brought them into Victoria and sold them at 5 cts. a pound, making $100 for his day's work; no doubt this was an exceptional case, but a fish- erman who can do this need not go out in bad weather, and provided he has facilities for cold storage, could keep the town supplied with regularity, and at a reduced price, with but little hard work, and no risk to himself or boat. 34 Notes upon the Manufacture of ^ N OTKS UPON THK Manufacture of Jade Implements IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THEIR ETHNOLOGIOAL 8IGN1FICAN0E. I was unaware when I proposed dealing with this subject, of an interesting paper contributed by Dr. Dawson some three years ago to the Canadian Record of Science upon "The Occurrence of Jade in British Columbia." I am afraid the existence of this paper will deprive the few remarks I am able to make of any claim to originality, Dr. Dawson having already explained the method adopted by the natives in manufacturing their implements, which so far as I am aware has not hitherto been correctly described, though Sir John Lubbock in " Prehistoric Man " has evident- ly alluded to the same process when describing the making of stone axes. (p. p. 96, 97. ) Jade, Nephrite and Jadeite are minerals which possess similar properties, and have been used iiidifrerently for the same purpose. The two former are Magnesium or Calcium Silicates, the latter is an Aluminium SodiuT- Silicate. Their usual appearance is well known, it is that of a somewhat attractive stone of varied color, white, green, brown to almost black, with sometimes streaks of yellow and red. When pure it is probably like a form of the Chinese jade, milky white, and the other colors are due to the presence of foreign matter. So too it should be translucent, but is found almost opaque from the admixture of less vitri- 'Jade Implements in British Columbia. 35 fied minerals. The commonest prevailing color is green, in- deed to everyone who is unfamiliar with the Chinese variety, it is known as a green stone, and implements of greenish trap slate, or serpentine are frequently said to be of jade. It is by no means of common occurrence, and would seem to have been more generally discovered in the form of stream boulders and pebbles than in its matrix. To the touch it is agreeably smooth and somewhat silky, pieces struck together clank with a certain resonance which is said to be much admired by the Chinese, and it is capable of being ground to a cutting edge, which though not very sharp retains an excellent temper Indeed it has been pointed out, its value consists not so much in its hardness as in this property of temper, in whicii it may be said to be the best stone substitute for steel. This quality is probably due to its fibrous structure, which can often be seen in the fracture of a piece of the rock. But the peculiar interest of this otherwise obscure mineral, is due to the high esteem in which it has been held among prehistoric and savage races in widely separated parts of the world. Among the lake dwellings of Switzerland, in parts of Germany, in Southern Italy, in Brittany, in Crete, on the earliest or nearly the earliest site of Ancient Troy, in Siberia, China, India, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, British Columbia, Mexico, Central America and Peru, men have left testimony of their recognition and esteem for jade. Now, if it had been of fairly common occurrence in these countries, there would have been nothing wonderful in a mineral the economic properties of which were evident, com- mending itself to the notice of those who depended upon stones for all their tools. But nowhere can jade be called a common substance. Even in those countries as China and New Zealand, where there is any degree of abundance, it is very local in its occurrence, while in by far the greater num- 36 JVotes upon the Manufacture of hzx of the places where articles of its manufacture have been discovered, no native mineral is now known to exist. Again, it has been pointed out that except in China, there is no evidence of a continuous recognition of its value from prehistoric times. The Greek, the Roman and the Teuton hardly knew of such a substance except from the few specimens they might find and treasure as curiosities, like ourselves. The Egyptian and Assyrian seem to have set as little store by it The Hindoos re-discovered its value in the time of the Moguls. The Spaniard learnt to prize it from the Mexicans, -^nd called it " piedra de ijada," or groin stone, because of its supposed efficacy in disease of the kidneys, (of Nephrite, Kidneystone, fr. nephrot, Gk., Kidneys.) No ancient language, except Chinese, as far as we know, has a name for it, no modern tongue calls it by any word that is not merely epithetical. It would seem to have dropped out of notice at some very early period, only to be re-discovercd in a manufactured form, and reverenced cis the relic of a long forgotten or perhaps divine race. It will be readily seen what a fascinating proMem all this presents to archyeologists, what a delightful opportunity for speculation ; and it is one they have not failed to seize upon. It has been supposed that one source, an Asiatic one, has provided the jade implement;^ discovered in all these widely separated countries, except perhaps New Zealand and the islands of the Pacific ; and that along the course of their deposit from Turkestan to Brittany, from China to Peru, you may trace the emigration march of the earliest inhabitants of the globe. In support of this theory, the jade ornaments of Cen- tral and Southern America have been cited — coupled with our own implements and those of Alaska and Siberia, plainly as it was alleged witnessing to the stream of migra- tion from China through Siberia, the Alaskan peninsula, down ,x-.U-Uiu:i^- ^adc Implements in British Columbia. 37 been the west coast of America to and beyond the Isthmus of Panama. Unfortunately this fascinating theory, in so far as it made Asia the home of American jade, may be said to have been conclusively disproved by the discovery of the half worked jade boulders of Alaska and of British Columbia. Ever since the first gold excitement upon the Fraiser, celts of this material have been met with in the placer diggings, and occasionally associated with them, small boulders have been found with one or more long grooves cut in them. These were generally supposed to be hammers or pestles, and the grooves were thought to have been made to secure a good grip. As they were clumsy looking object , and frequently of very poor material, they do not seem to have attracted much attention, or to have been preserved like the more beautiful and portable celts, but there can be no doubt they establish the locality whence these implements were derived. For they are examples of the original pebbles out of which the celt was cut, and have either been lost, or perhaps in some cases aban- doned as unsatisfactory by their possessors. Subsequently similar specimens have been obtained from the sites of old Indian villrges and burying grounds in the same district, and it may be considered as an established fact that here alone jade has been found in sufficient quantities to provide all the manufactured in\plements met with among the Indians. Its occurrence has probably always been very local, confined to the beds of some few streams, but where it has been discovered there is evidence to show that it has been seized upon with avidity and transformed into the tools we now find. In the small collection before you, which I have been enabled to make during my six years residence in B. C, chiefly through the kindness of generous friends, you will see every stage through which the mineral passes from the water 5^ Notes upon the Manufacture of worn pebble to the perfect celt. These specimens are mainly from the Fraser and Thompson rivers or their streams, which I conceive in the absence of any contrary evidence to have been the sole sources of the B. C. jade. There are no signs of its occurrence among the islands of the coast, except as a manufactured article, though I had imagined a certain inferior brown variety which I obtained from Alert Bay, and further specimens of which will be seen in the Museum collection as coming from Saanich, might have had an independent origin. It is certain that the Coast Indians valued the material highly and would avail them- selves of anything like a local deposit that they could meet with. Another reason for confining the source of jade to the above localities, and one which I think is well worth con- sidering in its bearing on the wid^- question of its general dis- tribution is the diminution in size of the pieces the farther off they are discovered from these regions. This fact struck me as being very noticeable, the coast pieces are all smaller than those of the interior, and so far as I know none of the half worked boulders have been disccered at any distance from the supposed site of the deposit Now Lieut. Emmons of the U. S. Navy, who has made very careful investigation into the occurrence of jade in Alaska, has also obtained one or more large half worked boulders there. This would be quite in accordance with the theory that the size of the implement enables one in some degree to form an estimate of its proximity to the home of the mineral, since there is every reason to believe that the source of Alaskan jade is within that territory, and indepen- dent from our own. Of course small articles may be met with near the nlace of their manufacture, for the material was too valuable for small chips of a good piece to be thrown away, it is not therefore the presence of small implements, so much as the "Jade Implements in British Columbia. 39 absence of large onss that may be relied upon as an indica- tion o!" remoteness from the source of original discovery. And I think this view will be borne out by an examina tion of such objects as have been discovered among pre- historic remains in Europe. Those which Dr. Schliemann unearthed upon the site of Troy are quite insignificant in size from a British Columbian point of view. It is very reasonable to suppose that the persons who discovered jade and worked it, should retain the finest tools, as there never seems to have been a sufficient quantity to re- duce i' tc a mere article of commerce, and that the smaller ar '.i • > rtable pieces would be coveted by, and bartered to neigh oouring tribes, becoming more rare and precious the farther they were taken from home, until at last by the re- duction of constant use, and by fresh subdivision due to breakage, by accident or on purpose, the chisel would be- come too small for anything but an ornament or charm, yet" retaining a distinctly celt-like shape. I believe it will also be found in support of the same view, that the smaller articles, those which are presumably remote from the locality in which they were first made, show most evidence of care and finish in their manufacture, as if they had 1 >;'3r' constantly re-cut and polished up by sor. nents made of nephrite upon this coast, x\t were chisels or celts. The method I -.cicture was very ingenious and is well The first discoverer of a large pebble or boulder, set to work to cut a groove across it parallel to its longest axis, as in No. 2. To this end he employed a thong of deer hide and some wet sand, placing the stone upon hi.s \ '!'' 2[ in each nand. The :,trlv..V— s cut by the sand can be readily detected in the grooves. \n alternative method has been suggested of their fortunate pos"~ The c. ' ' ■ in*"' so far as I am adopted in the : ' worth describing. 40 JVofes upon the Manufacture of using a piece of pointed wood instead of a thong, but in the specimens which I have myself examined all the grooves are deepest towards their ends, which is indicative of the action of a taut string, whereas a wooden pointer would produce the contrary effect, a hollowing down in the centre of the groove, midway between its ends. Both processes, however, may well have been applied to suit circumstances. Having cut two of tl 'r ■grooves parallel to one another a ridge of jade wou'd projc< ween them which was then broken off by a smart blow fr»j a hammer. No. 2 appears to have been abandoned for some reason after one groove had been cut, and that to an insufficient depth. No. 3, which is of material that would have made a very beautiful tool seems to have been lost just before ready for detaching a flake, and No. 4, which must have once been a splendid possession to its owner has had at least six slabs cut off it. The polishing and sharpening of the tool would not appear a very difficult matter after the fragment was once successfully detached. No. 6, thoug'i of impure material, is a good specimen of a roughly finished piece, showing as it does the convex curvature left by the grooving process. The original maker of the tool so long as he got a good cutting edge, would not trouble much about polishing the sides as the reduction in size con.sequent on taking off the fractured portions and groovings would be considerable, and his object would be to have as broad an edge and as substan- tial a handle as possible. It is noteworthy that unless the chisel be double edged, a rare form, there i . little or nothing done to the blunt end in the way of polish, beyond occasionally grinding a small facet for striking with a mallet, no doubt for fear of unnecessarily reducing the size of the instrument. " '\m^mmmmmmmmmmw\'^ismi ism ■:imi-^^S-±^i: in the /es are I action Kc the rroovt, Ih'ed to y^c/e Iniplcniculs in Ih'i//s/i Columbia. 41 Now what inferences may we fairly draw at the present very limited stage of investigation from the presence r/ these implements. First — It may be, I think, considered as good as proved- that they were not imported from Asia. It would be contrary to all experience for savage nations to import raw materials, such as these boulders, or even little pebbles like No. i, and if they had done so, the half worked article would have been found on the coast, and the highly finished tool in the interior. Secondly — Tt has not yet been, so far as I know, satis- factorily established where the Mexican or Southern Ameri- can Jade came from, and until it is discovered on the spot in as rough a .state as this, the inference would be far more fair that it came from here, than that it cro.s.scd the sea from China. But we must remember before l.a-tily adopting this con elusion, that the presence of similar gv^ological conditions down the western coa.st of America, makes it highly probable that jade would be met with occasionally throughout that region. On the other hand, so far as I am aware, the Indians of Oregon and California have not preserved any traces of such di.scovery. But whether or no southern jade was derived from a northern source, the puzzle remains ; why do we find so wide- spread an admiration for so scarce a material ? Is it rea.;onable to suppose that it commended itself to numerous independent tribes, and that its adoption by these was quite uninfluenced by connection of race? Could so ob.scure a mineral, according to the ordinary law of chances, be calculated to present itself for trial to the primitive inhabitants of many distant countries? Is it not more probable that some previous experience of its qualities, accompanied the earliest emigrants to this iJUmtlmHimimRiPi a Hf mvmntff^' 42 Ao^cs upon the j\[auufacturc of coast, and that they soon recognized pebbles of a sunihir character. The religious or quasi-religious and ,-esthetic repute of jade has been left unnoticed. As regards the former, it is worthy of remark that it seems to have increased in inverse ratio to the use of the material fc^- implements. No doubt a recollection of its value would survive the time of its use, and this remote tradition would be sufficient, coupled with its somewhat unusual appearance to invest it with supernatural attributes. Its religious repute is then, 1 take it, more an indication of its antiquity and scarcity than of anything else. Aesthetically, it has been held in iiigher esteem by the Chinese than any other race. 1 hey have had access to the greatest supply, and that of the choicest quality. They too, are, and have ever been noted for their reverence f)f antiquity, and it is cjuite in accord with their art principles that they should enlarge extravagantly upon the beauties of a substance which, for perhaps, some othci reason, their ancestors had \alued. Of course these theories are merely thecM'ies, anil perhaps in the present limited state of our knowledge, it wcuild be better not to advance them, but unless public attention be drawn hy theorising, to the extraordinary interest of this subject, it is to be feared that all data for founding safer con- clusions will be dissipated and lost. We cannot afford to surrender a single piece of jade from this Province, and I hope all who are interested in the country one of its most curious w ill do their best to preserve thi> antiquities, .mmni\vsiW^Mkl U>ili!i:iiil ^mmmmimi wmmmmmmmmmmmmf!f!fmmFmmm: ,-?f,. ';«>f»V^-.' o m- , ) •^ r t-i-.i..*.=Ta,.>' ^(--SirJ.^-.r^r-*'. ■, '^'i' ■, ttmjfifmmmm. iHmmimmmn-,m- '•«»<«&*»*&#*#'*• •Jf/l'(H»l"f»l"l' yadr / III puDW Ills oj liiili>li Coliiiii/uii. 4.^ JADE IMPLEMENTS FOUND IN H. C. 1. Jade i)obbl(', kept as a charm by Thompson R. chief; blue-greeu tnottled. 2. Jade boulder, fr. vicinity of Lytton ; (nt junction of Fraser R. and Thomi)son R. ) dark ^'rey green, 15. Jade bouhler, fr. Fraeer R. above Yale ; white, witli green veins and {locks. There is a corresponding groove on the under side, leaving a ridge 'o inch diam. to be bnjken. 4. Jade lK>ulder, fr. Fraser R. al»ove Yale, found in a i)lacer claim 12 f(>et below the surface ; dark emerald green, very transjuceut. A large iiunibcr Is.; greenish grey, sharp ridges betwetMi double groovings on l)oth sides. Has apparently been burnt. 17. Speai'-head, broken, fr, Mayne Is, ; dark green, with lighter streaks. I'Aidently this was made by a (lint-worker ; it was found with No. lU. and is the only one that has come to my notice. 18. Since th(> foregoing ]>ai)er was written, I have obtained a very large boulder, found with a deposit of stom> implements, including stone vessels i(f a st(>atite or soap-stone, near the confluence of the Fraser and I'hompson Rivers. It is too large to have been carried far. and no doubt had been treasured for the jairpose of cutting into tools. It is of a pale green nephrite, and weighs 2iJ i)onnd«. mmm\\!Ai\mm imnmMi^iii^i'iiii itmHtmHrttfltn 44 Hini$ of fin'tif/i Colnnibui. BIRDS —OP- F^riti«h Columbia. I here present a list of the birds of the Province, which is complete so far as the information at hand can mike it. It is more than probable, however, that future observa- tions will add to its numbers, as the extreme northern and north-eastern portions of the Province still remain unexplored, and some species which cross the continent from Hudson's Hay, may be claimed as accidental visitants her?, and also a few which are now ascribed entirely to Alaska, may be found- to extend their range into this Province, in fact one of these, the Ivory CluU, h;is already been taken here. JOHN FANNIN, Curator Provincial Museum. Western Grebe, /Echmophorus Occidental^. Clark's Grebe, ^'EchinopJiorus Clarkii. Holboell's Grebe, or Red-necked Grebe, Colymhus Holhoelii. Horned Grebe, Colymlm^ Auritus. American Eared Grebe, Co/ymbus Algricollis Califoniicus. F'ied-billed Grebe, I^odilymbtis, Podiceps. Loon, Great Northern Diver, Urituitor Inibcr. Black-throated Loon, Urinator Arhctis. Pacific Loon, Urinator Pacifictis. Red-throated Loon, Urinator Lumme. Tufted Puffin, Lunda Cirrhata. Birds of Brithh Columhia. 45 Rhinoceros Au'. Ancient Murrelet, Synthlihommphus Auti(/uus. Marbled Murrelet, Brachymmphus Murmoralus. Pigeon Guillemot, Ceffhm Cohimba. California Murrc, Uria Troilc Cali/ornica. Ivorv Gull, Gaviu Alba. Pacific Kittiwakc, Rhsa Tndadyhi PoWcarn. Glaucus-winged Gull, Larm Glauccsrcns. Western Gull, Luriis Occidcnhilh. American Herring Gull, Larm Ar^^aitatns Smithsomanm. Pallas's Gull, Larus Cdc/u'nmn/s. California Gull, Ltims Cali/oniinis. Ring Billed Gull, Larus Dclu-u'uroish. Short-billed Gull (Mew Gull), Larus Brachyrhynrus. Heerman's Gull, Larus Hecrmauii. Franklin's Gull, Larus FrauMinii. Bonaparte's Gull, Larus PhUadclfhia. Arctic Tern, Sterna Paradistca. American Black Tern, HydrochcUdon M^ra Surnmmcws. Black-footed Albatross, Diomedca Mii^ripes. Short-tailed Albatross, Diomedca AJhatrus. Pacific Fulmar, Fulmarus Glacialis Glufischa. Fork-tailed Petrel, Occanodroma Fnrcata. Leach's Petrel, Occanodroma Leucorhoa. ^N\:^^.c.cx^s\^^^oxmox^x^\.,PhaIacrocoraxI)iloplmsCincinatus. Violet-green Cormorant, PJudacrocorax Pelagicus Robustus. American White Pelican, Pckcanus Erythrorhynchos. California Brown Pelican, Pckcanus Californicus. American Merganser, Merganser Amcricanus. Red-breasted Merganser, Afcrganser Scrrator. Hooded Merganser, Lophodytcs Cucullatus. Mallard, Anas Boschas. Blue-winged Teal, Anas Discors. Cinnamon Teal, Anas Cyanoptera. 46 Birih of British Columbia. Grecn-wingcd Teal, Ana^. Carol incnsis. Gadwall, Ana$ Strepera. American Widgeon, Amis, Americana. Shoveller, Broad-bill, Sfaiula Clypcata. Pintail, Sprigtail, Dajila Acuta. Wood Duck, Aix Sponsa. Pochard, Red-head, Ayt/tya Americana. Canvas-back, Ayt/iya Vallisneria. American Scaup, Blue Hill, Aythya Marila Xeurctica. Lesser Scaup, Avt/iva AJiiiis. Ring-neck, Ayl/iya Coi/aris. American Golden-eye, GhmcioneUa Clano'ula Americana. Barrow's Golden-eye, Glaucionetta hlandica. Buffle-head, Butter-ball, Charitonetta Albeola. Long-tailed Duck, Old Sqavv, Claninosus. Richardson's Grouse, Uendragapus Richardsonii. Franklin's Grouse, Dcndragapus Franklinii. Canadian Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa UmbcUus Tog-ata. Gray Ruffed Grouse, Bouam Umbcl.'us UmhcUoidci. Oregon Ruffed Grouse, Willow Grouse, Bonasa UmbcUus Sabina. Willow Ptarmigan, Lagofus Lagopus. Rock Ptarmigan, Lag-opus Rupcslr,^. White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus Leucurus. Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pcdiococtes PhasiancUns Col- umbiamis. Sage Grouse, Centroccrcus Uropbasiantis. Band Tailed Pigeon, Columba Pasciata. Mourning Dove, Zejiaidura, Macroura. California Vulture, Pseudogryp/ius Californianus. Turkey Vulture, Cathartes Aura. Marsh Hawk, Circus Ihidsonius. Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipitcr VcJox, Cooper's Hawk, Accipitcr Cooperi. Western Goshawk, Accipitcr Atricapillus Striatulus. Western Red tailed Hawk, Buteo Borealis Ca/urus. Red-breasted Hawk, Butco Lineatus E/egans. i^S'wai nson's Hawk, Butco Szvaiusoni. American Rough-legged Hawk. Archibutco Lagvpus Sancti- 'Johannis. Golden Eagle, Aquila C/irysactos. , / Bald Eagle, Ilaliactus Lcucoccpludus. Prairie P'alcon, Falco Mcxu-anus. ', ; Duck Hawk, Falco Pcrcurinus Anatum. • . • Birds of British Columbia. 49 I / Peale's Falcon, Falco Peregrinus Pealei. Pigeon Hawk, Palco Columharius. Black Merlin, -Falco Columharius Suckleyi. Richardson's Merlin, Falco Richardsonii. American Sparrovvhawk, Falco S-parverius. American Osprey, Pandion Haliaetus Carolinensis. American Long-eared Owl, Asio Wilsoiiianus. Short-eared Owl, Asw Accipifrinus. Great Gray Owl, Scotiaptex Cinereum. Saw Whet Owl, Nyctala Acadica. Kennicott's Screech Owl, Mcgascops Asio Kcnnicotii. Western Horned Owl, Bubo Virginianus Subarcticus. Dusky Horned Owl, Bubo Virginianus Saturatus. Snowy Owl, Ayclca A\'ctea. American Hawk Owl, Surnia Ulula Caparoch. Burrowing Owl, Speoiio Cunicularia Hypogcpu. Pygiiiy Owl, Glaucidiiim Gnoma. California Ctickoo, Coccyzua Americanus Occidentalis. Belted Kingfisher, Ccrvle Alcyo/i. Northern Hairy Woodpecker, Itryobates Villosus Leucomelus. Harris's Woodpecker, Dryohatcs Villosus Harrisii. Downy Woodpecker, Dryobates Puhescens. Gairdner's Woodpecker, Dryobates Pubescciis Gairdnerii. Batchelder's Woodpecker, Dryobates Pubesccns Oroecus. White-headed Woodpecker, A'cnopicus Albolarvatus. Artie Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides Arcticus. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides Amercanus Dor sal ii. Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus Varius Nuchalis. Red-breasted Sap-sucker, Sphyrapicus Ruber. Williamson's Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus Thyroideus, Pileatcd Woodpecker, Ccophheus Pileatus. Lewis's Woodpecker, Mclanerpcs Torquatus. Flicker, High-holder, Colaptes Atiratus. Red-shafted Flicker, Colaptes Cafer. ifUUUUlM ;-5P Birds of llrilish Columbia. Northwestern Flicker, Colaptes Cafer Saturatior. Nighthawk, Chordeiles Virgimanus. Western Nighthawk, Mosquito Hawk, Chordeiles Virgini- anns Henryi, Black Swift, Cypseloides niger. Vaux's Swift, Cheetnra Vauxii. Black-chinned Hummingbird, Trochilus Alexandri. Rufous Hummingbird, Trochilus Rufus. Allan's Hummingbird, Trochilus Allcni. Calliope Hummingbird, Trochilus Callio-pe. King Bird, Tyrannus Tyramms. Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus Dominiccnsis. Arkansas Kingbird, Tyrannus Verticalis. Say's Phtebe, Sayornis Saya. Olive-sided Flycatcher. Contofus Borcalis. Western Wood Pewee, Contopus Richardsonii. Baird's Flycatcher, Emptdonax liairdii. Western Flycatcher, Empidonax Difficilis. Little Flycatcher, Empidonax Pusillus. Traill's Flycatche., Empidonax Pusillus Trailli. Hammond's Flycatcher, Empidonax Hammond/. Pallid Horned Lark, Otocoris Alpestris Lcucohema. Streaked Horned Lark, Otocoris Alpestris Strigata. Dusky Horned Lark, Otocoris, Alpestris Afernllii. American Magpie, Pica Pica Hudsonica. Steller's Jay, Cyanocitta Stelleri. Black Headed Jay, Cyanocitta Stelleri Annccten. Oregon Jay, Perisoreus Obscurus. Northern Raven, Corvns Cor ax Principalis. California Crow, Corvns Americanus Hespcris. Northwest Crow, Corvns Caurinus. Clarke's Nutcracker, Picicorvus Columhianus. Cowbird, Melothrus Ater. Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus, Rcd-wingcd lilackbird, Agclaus Phieniccus. Birds of British Columbia. 51 rg-int- Western Meadow Lark, Sturnella Magna Neglecta. Bullock's Oriole, Icterus Bullocki, Brewer's Blackbird, Scolecophagus Cyanocephalus, Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraiistes Vespertinus. Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola Enticleator Canadensis, California Purple Finch, C^rpodacus Pw pureusCalifornicus, Cassin's Purple Finch, Carpodacus Cassmi. American Crossbill, Loxia Curvirostra Minor. W'lite-winged Crossbill, Loxia Leucoptera. Gray-crowned Leucosticte, Leiicosticte Tephrocotis Hepburn's Leucosticte, Gray-crowned Finch, Leucosticte Tephrocotis Littoral is. Redpole, Acanthi s Linaria. American Goldfinch, Spinus Tristis. Pine Siskin, Pine Linnet, Spinus Pinus. Snowflake, Plectrophenox Nivalis, Lapland Longspur, Calcarius Lapponicus. Macown's Longspur, Rhynchophanes Macoumi. Vesper Sparrow, Pooccetes Gramineus. Western Vesper Sparrow, Bay-winged Bunting, Pooccetc Gramineus Conjinis. Sandwich Sparrow, Ammodramus Sandzvichensis. Western Savannah Sparrow, Ammondramus Sandzvichensis Alandinus. Intermediate Sparrow, Zonotrichia Intermedia. Gambel's Sparrow, Zonotrichia Gambeli. Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia Coronata. Western Tree Sparrow, Spizella Monticola Ochracea, Western Chipping Sparrow, Spizella Socialis Arizonce. Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella B reiver i. Slate-colored Junco, yunco Hyemalis. Oregon Junco (Snow-bird), yunco Hyemalis Oregonus. Rocky Mountain Junco, yunco Hyemalis Schufeldtii. Rusty Song Sparrow, Melospiza Fasciata Guttata. Sooty Song Sparrow, Melospiza Fasciata Rufina. mmrnmrnf^msmBsmm mmam 52 Birds of British Columbia. Lincoln's Sparrow, McJosfiza Lincoluii. Forbush's Finch, Mclospiza Lincoluii Striata. Townsend's Sparrow, Passerd/a Iliaca Unalaschccn.'.i: Spurred Towhee, Pipilo .Maculatus Afci>ali nyx. Oregon Towhee, Pipilo Maculatus Ores^ouus. l^lack-headed Grosbeak, Habia .}fclanoccp/iala. Lazuli Bunting, Passer iiia .iuuciia. Louisiana Tanager, Piraiiiia Ludoviciana. Purple Martin, Pro^-iic Suhis. Cliff Swallow, Pctror/icliiioii Lttnifrous. Barn Swallow, C/iclition Eryt//roi>'astcr. Tree Swallow, White-bellied Swallow, Tacli\ciucta Bicolor. Violet-green Swallow, Tachycincta Thalassiiia. Rough-winged Swallow, Stcl>>'i(loptcr\:\ Scrripoiiiis. Bohemian Waxwing, .\uipclis Garrulus. Cedar Bird, Ampclis Ccdrorum. Northern Shrike, Butcher-bird, Laniiis Boreal is. White-rumped Shrike, Lanins Lndovicianus E.xcitbitorides. Red-eyed Vireo, Virco Oliiaccus. Western Warbling Vireo, J Ireo Glivns Szcaiiisonii. • Warbling Vireo, Mrco Gilvns. Cassin's Vireo, lirco Solit arias Casstiii. Plumbeous Virco, \'irco Sol it a r ins Pltimbciis. Orange-crowned Warbler, llchninthophila ( \-lata. Lutescent Warbler, Jlclnuuthophila C chit a J^nhsccns. Yellow Warbler, Dcndroica ^'Estiva. Western Yellow Warbler, Dcndroica .Estiva Morcomii. Myrtle Warbler, Dcndroica Coronata. Audubons Warbler, Dcndroica Anduboni. Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dcndroica JSlgrescens. Townsend's Warbler, Dcndroica Tozvnscndii. Hermit Warbler, Western Warbler, Dcndroica Occidcntalis. Grinnell's Water-thrush, Sciurus iVoirboraccnsis A'otabil/s. MacGillivray's Warbler, Gcothlypis Maci>illivrayi. Western Yellow-throat, Gcothlypis Trichas Occidcntalis. iMwmsmm»mimmmmm ••JJH» m wi '•''^'•'^''•narwaatHtfMtfmfSlOimHmfmBttimtimni Birch of Jhi/is/i Coliiinhia. 53 Long-tailed Chat, Ictcria Vircus J.onn-icamia. Pilcolatcd Warbler, Sy/vaiiia Pusilla Pilcolata. American Redstart, Sctop/ia^-a il'ticilla. American Pipit, Aiit/iu<. PcHni/iiniirui^. American Dipper, ('/'iic/un McxiraiiKS. Catbird, (r/('> Carc/iiinisis. Rock Wren, Sal pi net cf O/i^o/c/ii:-. Vigor's Wren, T/iryot/ionis /ycz^'ir/^-ii Spi/iini<. Farkman's Wren, yyoi-'/tHhtcs Acdoii Parlanaitii. Wesc^.ii Winter Wren, Troi^iodyti'f ilicniitlis /\iciprii>. Long billed Marsh Wren, Cistol/Kirus /\i///s/ri\ Tule Wren, (.'is/o/Z/on/s /'a/i Atrirapillns Scptoitrioiiali^. Chesnut-backed Chickadee, Parns NiiJcscchs. Bush Tit, PMiItripanis A/iiiiimt^. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet, P(\!^/t//ts Sa/nipa Oli- vareiis. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ri\<>ulu$ Calemiula. Townscnd's Solitaire, Mxodatcs Toivtiscndii. W'illow Thrush, Tunius Fffsrcscrus Saliciro/us. Russet-backed Thrush, Turdns Ihtulatus. Dwarf Hermit Thrush, Turdiis Aonahiscidir. Western Robin, Mcrula Afi^ratoria Propiutjua. Varied Thrush, Swamp Robin, / /emperor ic/i/a JWpvia. Western Bluebird, Sialia Mcxicami. Mountain Bluebird, Sialia Arrtica Ai. l.U..'..^t....t,^i^i^*uuuilUU, wm* 54 Lc<^rnd nf llic Cozi'i/r/iaii /ml fans. I^ e: C. K N L) -OF THE Cowntclian Indiana. I 1 I F. suhjoincd K'i_;riKl of the < 'iiwitrlian Indi.ins, calktl 1)\- tlicinscKx's tlu' W'luill c-iniKKii or dwi'llcrs h\- Tuj^ct SouikI, seems to me \^orth jireseiA in^. I i;i\'e it as I heard it from tlie Indians in iSSi : " There was a time \cry Imi!^ ai;o, our fathers tell us, when the W'hull-e-mooch li\ed a lont; wa)' further south than we, their children, do now. Northward the whole country. from tlie sea to the farthest mountains, wa; covered with snow and ice, so deep that the heat of summer failed to inelt it. The old folk tell us that tlieir fathers chd not like the land tlu>' li\ed in and wished to mo\e awav, hut were at a loss where to _l;o to. .Southwartl li\ed a people whom the}' feared because the\' were stronijer than they, our fathers, were ; iiorthw.ird the snow and ice prevented them moving. While the\- were discussin;j; whac to do, the ' spaul ' ira\en) came sucUlenly aniont^st them. After listening:^ to their t^rievanccs, he said ' 1 v\ill soon settle that difficulty.' So sayini^, he turned all the snow and ice into ' I'e kulkun, or mountain [^oats, and sent them to make their home in the fastness of the highest mountains, where there would be fofxl for them, while their wool would m.ike clothing for the ' Whull-c-mooch ' for ever. After this transformation of snow into goats, the climate became warmer, and the country dryer, which enabled tlie Whull-c-mooch to move northward m^jHmwmmmnmutmmmiHimmnmmniUi.ii- . ; r Lct^inl ('/ the ( '<>; ■itclunt Jiul/(t)is. ^3 to where we, their chiKh'i'n, now H\e ;uul ha\ e !i\r(i e\''r since." This !ei;en(l i-^ the xwow remarkable as the rniL^ratioiH sjjoken (if seem to haw taken pkiee in or al)out the ^kiciai period. Whether th(,'se mi'^ratio!i-> actually took i)hiee :i-> ai)o\i' mentione and scratches which e\ cryv.here alxuiiid on tins portion of \ an- eou\er Island, ha\(' !.;i\en the 'latiNes a!i idea that at ,i \ er_\ remote jieriod the wlxde land was lull ot snow and ic, is not api);irent. 'I'akin;^ tlie lej^end in it-- -simplicity, the mlereiice perh;ips is that this ])arl of the N. A. Continent wa> inhabiti'd at a time when an arctic climate ])re\ ailed much further South tiian at pre■^ent, tliat the lndian> belies e the chant^c in climate to ha\e been wroui^ht for their beiuMlt b\' "sp.uil, the ra\en. in whosi' intake the^e peo])le believe that tlu' Almis^ht) is in the habit of appeariir^; to UK'n. Wild i^oats still abound on the tnountain slopes of the coast ran.ne. Jamk.s Dkans Cli i r< )h)pl 1 ii^s 1 *< )1 N'f iclocepl JciUi>^. A specimen of this blenny was sent me from .\lert \\;\.\ in XovemlxT last ; it has not previousl)- been recorded south of Alaska, antl no full description of it havini; e\ it been ])ublislied, I sent the followin;^ to 1 )r. Jordan, the well known authorit)' on American fishes. Body cloiif^'ate, compressed, I4j{' inches loni;. E)X's api>roxim,ite ; no lateral line. Scales deeply iiribeddeti. 'Mmji\mi\WMWMfiMM^'^^**^^^-'-' "»"'M«^ WlfmWW^mmm^ ;(> ( ' liiri>l'ipht;> l\i!xiii'l:icc fluilu^ ;i|)|)c,irinL; I'ki' pit-, iSm in Irn;_;lli. ;.) troin hack to l)c(!_\ . Mraiichial rays ;. (li!l iiuinliraiu- idiilimic.u--, iVrc tVoin i-thinu-. Skill (in 111]) d' he, id and iirc k Kios^; nnnurnii^ dtiinal llaps and lirri. I an,;c superciliary ..irrus with lln\'i- inam hr.iiukR'-. N inncrous iniKdus pores on simnl. Mdiitli and li])s ilrsli)-; a sinL;lr xuw u\ (k'lii.ah ly fine coinhdikc teeth on uppiTand lower iav , elosily -,(-t. Two ]iatt'1ies of IIik; teeth on n[iper part ot uuilet. No teeth on xonier or pakatnie--. Ddrfal I.XIII. lli'^-h) , the >harp jxaiits of spines projec tiiv._; sh^^htl}" lieyond the nienil)rane>. Ih.e S anterii^r spiiuvs stronger and more hhnit than the remainder, covered \^ ith loose skin, behind operele. and in front of pectorals. (ic.'iieral color ot bod)' ^re>' with numerous ru'^t)' colored !)lotches on botl\', dorsal and anal, about the -i/e of p(.as or small kicuis. In a second spei_imen from the same ]»lace, the fm for inula was 1 ). I..\i; A. .j-S; \'. ;; 1'. 15; (', 1,1; the int(;ror bital crest branched elo-e to the head, both branches beiiiL; of the same si/e, and the dermal tlaps on dorsal tin and neck were more numerous and longer. A'sjiixiwN 1 [. (1ri:i;\. :};M--t' W' . jmrnmnmifimmimmnmH^^ : fin for ■ intcmr bciiiL; ot md neck Hu(\r^^mb^'^nmnm^m\mnfmmmnminfv HMI waoommm £ ntomoloi>;y. 57 KNTOMOLOOY. Ki LTHOUGH Vancouver Island is an excellent field for Kntomology, very little collecting was done herein 1 890. It is hoped that more will be done this year. On April 3rd the first eight captures at an electric light, be- longed to as many different species. This gives some idea of the number of varieties likely to reward diligent search. From the advent of Fcralia Jocosa, one of our earliest in- sects to the appearance of C. Dniceata and //. Dcfoliaria, in December, the Victorian entomologist need never have an idle day. I'. Antiopa and /''. Alulanta awake from their winter sleep and sail about our streets in the first sunny days of January. In May, fritill.aries swarm upon Beacon Hill, while C. Gii^'iii may easily be caught on the mountains, a few miles to the North. Blues abound upon the coast and the lovely Argynnidi are sufficiently common. Good work has been done by the Society's members in entomology this past year, notably the completion of the Life History of the Vancouver Island Oak-tree looper, {Ellopiu Soninian'd, HuLst) in conjunction with Prof James Fletcher, Government Entomologist at the experimental farm, Ottawa, who has thought the matter of sufficient importance to devote a lengthy article to it in his annual report, wherein he gives sound advice as to the most effective remedies for destroying this pest. It is sincerely hoped that the Park Com- missioners will see the necessity of using every effort to save our shade trees in the Park, and not allow such desolation to happen as was caused last summer, when the Oak-trees were completely defoliated by this insect. ^'' '' m:^xm,i^wMmMimmmk\iii_ 58 Entonwloi(y. Appended is a list of diurnal lepidoptera taken during 1890 in Victoria. I. Papilio eurymcdon. 2. do. an'zonoisis. 3- Pdrnassius clodins. 4- JVeofhasia nienupia. 5- P ten's fallida. 6. do. vciiosa. 7- A ulhocharh ansonides. 8. do. Stella. 9- Colitis ar indue. 10. T/iccla melimis. 1 1. Ch rysophunus hclloides 12. Lyccena antiacis. 13- do. neglccta. 14. do. scBpiolus. 15- Argynnis bremncrii. 16. do. epithorc. 17- do. zerene. 18. MclittBU taylori. 19. Grapia satyrus. 20. Vanessa antiopa. 21. do. calif or nica.'^ 22. do. milberti. 23- Pyrameis atalanta. 24. do. cardtii. 25. do. carye. 26. Limenitis lorquini. 27. Coenonympha ampclos. 28. Pamphila agricola. 29. Nisoniades properttus. ♦First reported capture of this iaaeot on Vancouver Island, and possibly the first in Canada. liiiiHiiiii Rhamphocottus Richardsoni. — The Scorpiou- 59 RHAMHHOCOnrruS RICHAROSONI, This little fish, until recently considered a rarity, is now fourd to be common in Victoria and Esquimalt Harbors. The description of it in Jordan arJ Gilb?rt"s "Synopsis oi Fishes of North America" is a good one; though to make it more perfect, I would add that a narrow oblique black band runs from the centre of the anal fin to the upper base of caudal, behind which band both the tail and th*" caudal fin arc of a vivid orange color, as are all the rest of the fins. A. H. G. THIi SCORI^ION. In October last a small Scorpion was received from Mr. Bullock Webster, who found it at Keremeus, on the Similka- meen river. I believe this to be the first one recorded in British Columbia, and indeed in Canada, though I am informed that they have been occasionally found on the .Sirnilkameen. The length of the pccimen is i ^ inches; the species awaits identification. A. H. G. mt 6o Donations to Provincial Museum. D O N A "I^ I O N S Xo Provincial Museum BY MEVIBERS OF THE SOCIETY. Mr. Hasell -.—Gairdner's Woodpecker, North Western Flicker, Oregon Towhee, Audubons Warbler, Ruby crowned Kinglet, Orange crowned Warbler, Oregon Junco, Harriss Woodpecker, Gold-winged Flicker. Mr. Dan BY: — Various insects. Mr, Merrill: — Gebia Pugettensis. Mr. Deans: — Fo.ssil Astroea from Skidegate, 2 specimens of Nautilus, Trigonia &c. from Q. C. I., skull of Haidah woman, skull found on Euclataw Plains, eight spear-heads and a jade hatchet from Shell Mounds, Cadboro Bay, stone hammer from Comox. Mr AshdoWN Green: — Cyclopterus spinosus, Sebastodes paucispinus. Jade Chisel, Cancer Magister, Cancer Productus. Mr. C. p. WOLLEY:-~Black Bear. Dr. Newcombe: — Mya truncta, .saxidomus squalidus, Saxi- cava rugosa from raised beach near Ross Bay, and fossil nautilus from Cobble Hill, Mopalia ciliata, Mopalia lignosa, Pinnixafaba, Porcellana rupicola, Cancer productus, Heterograpsus nudus, Cancer magister. Fresh water shells from peat layer over Raised Beach, Trichocera Oregonensis, Mytilimeria Nuttalli. Mr. De Blois Green: — A collection of Butterflies from Enderby and Sicamous. Donations to Provincial Museum. 6i Mr. a. C. Houghton:— Oregon Jay, Gairdner's Wood- pecker, Virginan Rail. Mr. Spencer, Alert Bay:— Cheirolophis polyactocephalus. The following were obtained in Dredging Expeditions by the Society: — 1 6 Large Star fishes, five undetermined species:— 2 Sea Pens. PuncUircUa galcata. PuncturcUa cucuUata. •J 2 Pectcn hastaus and P. nuJidus. I Sokn stearins. 6 Galerus/astigiatus. J Crepidala navicelloidcs. j6 Terebrattihi transversa. 1 Natica claiisa. i6 Priene oregonensis. J Cerostoma foliatumn. 4. Purpura dispata. J Kennerlia grandis. Placuanomia macroschisnia. 2 Psammohia rubroradiata. 6 Trichotropis canceUata. 1 Myatruneata, dead. 2 Trophon orphens. I Ghcinieris generosa, dead. Lacuna vincta. Venus kennerleyi. Psephis Lordi. Angulus modest us. Macoma secta. Macoma Nasuta. Macoma inquinata. Macoma inconspicua. Beaver Lake. Ancylus, Limnca, Planorbis, Anodon. msmmi m^mmmmfmmmm vJi'PMmmmmmi 62 0//frcr> tiud McnifnT^. J^atural Jfistov^ Society of 'British (Solumhia. OFFICICRiS. President, Ashdown Green, 'J.V.. \ ice- 1 residents ^ j., ji.^^^.n_ M.R.C.S.. Kn-. Treasurer, J- K- Worsfold. Curator J- l-annin. Secretary, C. F. Xewcombe, M.D., A!)erdecn. Libra.ian, V- Hasell, M.R.C.S., Vav^. O. C. coMMrrPBi:. llHstinL;s, C. P. \Voolle>-, Rev. A. Heanland^^ (.". Lowcnbcrg. MICMIJBHW. Anderson, W, H Comox. Bailey. J Vict<.ria, Bailey, J. S Bcanlands, Re\ . A Be^bie, Sir M. B B()[4^^s, B Bordc, H Brownlee, J. 11 Brown, J. ( Brady, J ^' Campbell, 1). K Carinichacl, 11 Cowper, W. H r.iiiti ^tfrtft: nttinfffaifj '^f^^mutfi fymimWMmi imus'M *«»/«!(^•f«. : trniHrniauthMiiHihuMtutit Mciithrrx '^3 Dupont, Major \icl(M-ia Danln-, W. II Deans, J Dcvcvcux, J DuinV)lcton, II l-:bcrts, I). M l-'anniti, J iMi'lclin;.;, J V'rrncli, J. G Green, Ashddwn Green, V"\. W Green, DeHlois l-.nacrl.y, W ( Gregory, J. H Victoria. Hall, Lewis Maninaton, K. B. C, M. D. McGill Halhcd, R. H Shauni-an l.akc Hasell. K. S Victoria Hastings, O. C Harris, K. A Houghton, J. K Shawn.gan Lake Houghton, A. C Jenns, Revd. V Victoria Jackson, R. \'. )ones, ('. r Keary, W. Ik ^'^^^^' Westminster. Kingham. Revd. H Victoria Knight, J. W. Keen, Revd. J. H. Massett, O C. I Lowenberg, C Victoria. Lopatecki, M California. Lewis, H, H Vancouver Matthew.s, KW. Victoria. Maynard, A. II Merrill. J Milne. G. L., M. 1) ft^'f^tf^Hmfffil mf?iiiii»»«n(;r.:'t'f''Mn?Tr?rmnn?in:|f«;! 5T."f«fii ' ■- ''MniBKimimmm. Wli'i;iiii}iii 64 .]i(-m/ii'r<. Mcwatt, Thiw Nt-w W r^tiiiiii-K r Mnir. A. M Xutoria M( ra\isli, C. A. McC.rc-or, W. 1 ). Ncucoinhc, ('. 1' Nori^atr, T. 1^ I'imlcr, W. (1. I'ikc;, A. l'oiuiri(-i\ A. I Sci'i\cii, \\\\. Arclukacdii A SpriiiL,', ( . • ■ Skinner, l'". ( 'owii ban. ■l'a\l;f}ffff!f»|?J