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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.ntr<r!vv':f^.f«7'*'Tnvfi'i>7«rjfUi<^rt«>»<fff<»ld.n^<*4mifii.
The Economic Fishes of British Columbia.
25
ling en-
■ is said
sewing
I am
I Char-
attains
and so
hand.
:apture is
:n struck
le
surface
one for
nd or fog
hich case
:he bomb
might be
' of them
In Eng-
ver, which
indant on
sional fish
.ry greatly
are found
hen com-
lie Island,
and many
salmon are
The rivers
amparativ-
) brooks in
which they have the right to fish, and must depend to a large
extent on the halibut fishery. Starting at night, these hardy
fishermen put to sea, so as to be on the fishing ground (per-
haps out of sight of land) by daybreak. A very few hours
suffice to take all they want, (for an average fish will weigh 50
or 60 lbs.) and they are generally home again by noon.
Rough weather may interfere with their success, but generally
they will have 3 or 4 fish, and I have seen canoes with 1 5 or
16 fish in them, which the men M'ere glad to sell at 50 cents
apiece. The hand lines used are made of lengths of kelp knot-
ted together, and the Indian halibut hook is invariably used.
Although this appears to be a clumsy contrivance, it is deadly,
a fish once taking the bait being hooked to a certainty.
Even the white fishermen prefer them when halibut fishing.
When brought to the surface the halibut is knocked on
the head, and if large the canoe is tilted until the gunwale is
level with the water when it is dragged on board.
Fish that cannot be utilized while fresh, are cut into thin
flakes and dried in the sun. These look well and would, I
believe, find a ready market but, for the certainty that the
greatest disregard for cleanliness has been observed in their
preparation. Were they cured and put up neatly by white
labor I have not the least doubt they would .sell well.
Although not much utilized on this coast, the sturgeon
is of considerable commercial importance in some countries.
The roe, when salted, forms caviare,* and the bladders are
manufactured into isinglass. In the eastern states they are
.sometimes dried and smoked, and are said to be palatable
when thus prepared.
Our sturgeon {Acipencer transmontanus) enters the
Frazer about the end of April at the time of the oolachan
* Caviare is not necessarily Bulted. Fresh caviare, i. e, the siuple
roe of the sttirgeon, commands the highest prices and is almost the only
caviare eaten in Buasia. C. P. W.
t{^t}lfi)fimftfiftttimmsitiiirtntTrist4rrt^ntfi'r"-rr
26 The Economic Fishes of British Columbia.
run. In all probability it spawns very shortly afterwards, as
the ova are fully developed in May. I have never been able
to asc .rtain where or how they spawn, though I have been
informed by the Indians that the lakes and deep holes in the
rivers arc much frequented by them about that period.
They are taken by spearing or by night lines baited
with a piece of salmon ; great numbers are also taken in the
salmon nets.
The largest sturgeon I have seen was said to have
weighed 700 lbs. Occasionaly fish are taken in the smaller
rivers; this autumn I saw two of about 1 50 lbs. each, that
had been taken in the San Juan, on the west coast. The
Indians told me they were constantly taken in a deep pool at
the mouth of the river, but that they never went up stream.
In the Kootenay Lake and river, sturgeon are also found,
but whether they are of the same species as those on the
coast I cannot say, as I have never had the opportunity of
examining one. No doubt they are found in other lakes in
the Province, and I should be glad to receive any information
on this subject
Of the Scorpcenidae, several species are found on the
fishstalls. Sebastichthys rubra, and S. pinniger, both called
red bass, and S. melanops, the black bass, are the largest and
therefore the most important. As food fish they are unsur-
passed by any in our waters, though rather expensive fish to
buy, considering the amount of head and offal you have to
pay for. The red bass are essentially deep sea fish, and par-
ticularly liable to have their stomachs expelled from their
mouths by the sudden expansion of their air bladders on
being brought to the surface. They are often found dead
from this cause in the neighborhood of rapids. All these fish
a»'e ovoviparous; though I have examined many a bulky
UinuHhinu\i''.titHmtim'Ulit^HmuM^^^^
^
rwards, as
been able
lave been
jles in the
)d.
les baited
:en in the
to have
le smaller
sach, that
last. The
ep pool at
stream.
ilso found,
ose on the
rtunity of
r lakes in
1 formation
id on the
oth called
argest and
are unsur-
ive fish to
u have to
I, and par-
from their
ladders on
ound dead
1 these fish
y a bulky
The Economic Pishes of British Columbia. 27
specimen, I have never myself been fortunate enough to find
the young within the fish.
Ophiodon clongatus^ or the cultus cod as it is called by
the fishermen, deserves more than a passing notice, since it is
one of the best food fish we have, and in season almost all
the year round. It is common everywhere on our coast,
generally hiding in eel grass or kelp. It takes spoon or
other bait freely, but when angling for it care must be taken
to bring the fish to the surface quickly; if it once gets its
head down, nothing will prevent it from running into the
weeds, when of course it is a case of good bye spoon at least.
The Indians take this fish by sinking a wooden bait,
shaped like a shuttle cock, at the end of their spear, and
releasing it at the bottom. The fish follows the shuttlecock
to the surface and is speared by the Indians. In this neigh-
borhood it spawns about the end of February, and ranges in
Weight from 2 to 40 lbs.
Another of the same {a.m\\y is (//exaj^rammus ciecajy-raw-
mus,) the kelp trout of our markets. There must be a large
demand for this fish if one may judge by the quantity expos-
ed for sale; for my own part I consider it worthless. It is
sometimes dried and smoked. It feeds on shrimps and other
small Crustacea, and is caught by nets placed within the beds
of kelp. It spawns about the middle of October.
Anap/opoma fimbria., the skil, is not often found in
our market, the adults keeping far out in the Straits in deep
Water; the young however are often taken at E.squimalt, and
are known as mackerel. These fish are abundant on the
west coast of Queen Charlotte Island, where there were, until
recently, several stations established for the purpose of curing
them. The mode generally adopted was that of pickling,
the fish being too fat to dry-salt, and turning rancid
.
28
The Economic Fishes of British Columbia.
when kept a short time. I am sorry to learn that as a com-
mercial venture this fishery has been abandoned, the labor
and expense involved being disproportionate to the returns
when compared with other fisheries. Opinion varies regarding
the qualities of this fish on the table. Those brought to Vic-
toria are dry, and very inferior. I have never had an oppor-
tunity of tasting one from Queen Charlotte Island, but I can
very well believe that there they are excellent. As I remarked
before, there is no comparison between fish of all kinds in
Queen Charlotte Sound, and those taken near Victoria
Of the Gudidie we have .several species, though most
of them are rare about Victoria The common cod, Gadus
inacrocephalus, appears in several of our harbors and inlets,
about January, for the purpose of spawning, but they are small
and not in sufficient quantities to supply more than the local
demand. 1 have never seen one over 8 lbs., and fully one-
third of that weight was the roe. In Behring Sea they attain
a much larger size, and are caught in greater numbers. Fish
of 30 lbs. are there by no means rare.
G. proximus, G. chalcogrammus, the whiting, or tom
cod are not uncommon, and the Hake, Merhicius productus,
though seldom seen in our markets, is common nothward.
In the up country lakes and rivers a fresh water cod,
Lota maculosa, is extremely plentiful. It is, I believe,
identical with the Turbot of Europe.
Several species of flounders or dabs are found on our
coast, the most common of which is the starry flounder,
Pleuronectcs steUatus. You will easily recognize this fish by
its rough tubercles or scales, and b>- 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<row»IBBWiH»iHW«»*M«^'
io
The Ecouoini'c FUha of Bn'ti's/i Columbia.
broad leaves of the kelp in such profusion that the kelp
is entirely hidden. In this state it is eaten leaves and all; for
trade it is scraped from the leaves, and stored in square
cedar boxes.
The oolachan {T/ui/cic/ilhys pacificus), an anadromous
fish of about 9 inches in length, makes its appearance in
the tidal waters of the Frazer about the middle of April, and
in the Nass about the 23rd of March. When fresh is
a delicious little fish, but it deteriorates with carriage, and
is never seen to perfection in the Victoria market. Numbers
of oolachans are put up in pickle in small kits , and .some
are cured and smoked like bloaters.
Oolachan grease is an article much used and appreciated
by the Indians. A large trade is done in this commodity
between the Indians of the Nass river and those of the
interior, in exchange for furs. In appearance and consist-
ency it resembles lard, and is used on dried salmon or hali-
but, much in the same manner as we use butter on bread. A
short account of its manufacture on the northern rivers may
be of interest to you. As I before stated the oolachans arrive
in March when the ice is .still on the river. All the Indians
who have any right to fish in the river, and this priviledge
ii jealously guarded, come from far and near to the fishery,
and erect temporary dwellings along the banks or on the ice.
The fire wood for trying out the oil has to be brought
from a distance, all that in the immediate vicinity of the
fishery having been u.sed long ago. The fish are taken under
the ice with purse nets, and are left in heaps until they are,
to say the lca.st of it, high; partial decomposition a.ssisting the
extraction of the oil. They are then boiled in troughs which
are about 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, and the fat is skimmed
off, and put into square cedar boxes about the size and shape
of a coal oil tin. Originally the grease wc extracted by
filling a wooden trough with water, and heating it with red
tnnnHnnt
inmn>
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</«**<fini.';if!i*TfH^^tt^^f/^ft;»(««fi^<^^WdlI■•;N^^j•
The Economic Fishes of British Columbia,
33
umbili-
h 1 have
\ in the
/V, from
out.
i impor-
ist come
e would
octopus,
t in suffi-
> 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
,<rt»i«i*HT!rii!.tr?Tfr'fjnt
\>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 \ <nes, or upon a wooden block, and holding one
end of the .->'!'' 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<if tiM)|s. certainix seven, have been cut from this piece.
T). (\'lt. fr. liVtton ; light green, deojily grooved on inner side.
(). Celt, origin uncertain, but probal)ly Fraser R. ; sap-green, trans-
lucent, slight groove on outer side.
7. Celt, fr. Kandoops ; very dark green to black, almost opaipie. small
groove on npjx'r side, sharpened at tmth ends.
H. Celt, fr. Victoria; green, with black veitiing, a thick tool with
grooves on inner side. Tliis was dug up in a garden in the centre of the
city.
9. Celt. fr. Alert Bay, Vancouver I.s. ; dark grey green, mottled with
black. This tool has been much re-cut, and shows no grdoving.
1(1. (iclt, fr. Mayne Is.; dark green to black. ap])arently very old. and
much weather worn, found associated with obsidian arrow-heads of the
earliest type, at a considerable dejith.
11. Celt. fr. Mayne Is.; light green to white ; much le-cut no all .sides,
12. Celt, fr. Mayne In.; oijaipie, light brown stone, but ai)i)arently
jade. The butt end of a longer tool which has been sharpened down to
its present size.
i;^ Celt, fr. Mayne Is.; almost black, with deep green and reddish
markings. Like the last this is evidently the worn down butt of a
larger tool.
14. Half (\'lt, la-oken, fr. Mayne Is.; mottled grey-green. This is of
an apparently nephritic stone, but very impure; it has broken transversely.
l."). Celt, lirokeii piece of the sliar]i(Mu d end. from Mayne Is. ; sea-
green, more transhu'init than usual, splintery, laminatid. which has
caused its fracture.
Iti. Half Celt, broken, fr. Mayn(> 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'<let, Cerorhinai Monocerala.
Cassins Auklet, PtycJwramfhm Alcntin<:>.
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, Clan<rnla Hycma/is.
Harlequin Duck, J/istrionicus Ilistrionicus
Pacific Eider, Somatcria v. A7V;v/.
American Scoter, Oidemia Americana.
White-winged Scoter, Oidemia J)eiy/andi.
Surf Scoter, Coot, Oidemia Perspi< illata.
Ruddy Duck, Erismatura Rnhida.
Lesser Snow Goose, Chen Ifvpcrborea:
Ross's Snow Goose, Chen Rossii.
American White-fronted Goose, Anser Albifrons Gamhcli.
Canada Goose, Brant a Canadensis.
Hutchin's Goose, Branta Canadensis Hidchinsii.
White-cheeked Goose, Branta Canadensis Occidentalis.
Cackling Goose, Branta Canadensis Minima.
Black Brant, Branta Nigricans.
Whistling Swan, Olor Colmnhianus.
Trumpeter Swan, Olor Buccinator.
White-faced Glossy Ibis, Ples^adis Guarauna.
American Bittern, Stake Driver, Botaurus Lentiginosus.
Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias
Snowy Heron, Ardea Candidissima.
Birds of British Columbia.
47
Little Brown Crane, C^rus Canadensis. ,
Sandhill Crane, Grus Mexicana.
Virginia Rail, Ralltis Virginianus.
Carolina Rail, Soro, Porzana Carolina.
American Coot, Fnlica Americana.
Red Phalarope, Crymophilus FuUcartus.
Northern Phalarope, Phalarofus Lobatus.
Wilson's Phalarope, Phalarofus Tricolor,
Wilson's Snipe, Gallina^o Delicata.
Long-billed Dowitchcr, Red-breasted Snipe, Macroramfhus
Scolopaccus.
Knot, Robin Snipe, Tringa Canutus.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Tringa Maculata.
Bar -I's Sandpiper, Tringa Bairdii.
I Sandpiper, Tringa MimUiUa.
Ro_ racked Sandpiper, Tringa Alfina Pacifica.
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ereunetes Pusillns.
Western Sandpiper, Ereunetes Ocridentalis.
Sanderling, Calidris Arenaria.
Marbled Godwit, Limosa Fedoa.
Greater Yellow-legs, Totanus Melanoleucus.
Yellow-legs, Totanus Flavifes.
Solitary Sandpiper, Totanus Solitarius.
Cinnamon Solitary Sandpiper, Totanus Solitarius Cinna-
inomcus.
Wandering Tatler, Hctcractitis Incanus.
Bufif-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites Subrujicollis.
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis Macularia.
Long-billed Curlew, Numenius Longirostris.
Hudsonian Curlew, Numenius Hudsonicus.
Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius Squatarola.
/American Golden Plover, Charadrius Dominicus.
KiKdeer Plover, yEgiaUtis Vocifera.
Sem palmated Plover, Mgialitis Semifalmata.
;urf Bird, Afhriza Virgata.
Si
48
Birds of Brilish CoUimlmi.
Turnstone, Arcmiria Interfres.
Black Turnstone, Arenaria Melanocefhala.
Black Oyster-catcher, Hccmatopus Bachmani.
Mountain Partridge, Quail, Oreortyx Pictus.
Californian Partridge, CaUifefla Californica.
Sooty Grouse, Dcndragapus of)scnrus/ulii>inosus.
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<//('()sr()/>/('> 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<s/ri.< Palmiicola.
Rocky Mountain Creeper, Ccrlhia Faiiiiliaris M out ana.
Californian Creeper, Ccrtliia Faiiii/iari^ (JrridcK/aiis.
Slender-billed Nuthatch, Siita Caro/i)icii.<is Aculcaia.
Red-breas*-cd Nuthatch, Sitta Cainidcii^is.
I'ygmy Nuthatch, Sitta P\\iii)iira.
Mountain Chickadee, Parus Gambcli.
Oregon Chickadee, Pants Atricapillus Orridriilaiis.
Long-tai! ::d Chickadee, /*an/> 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<l, or whether the niiniei'ous ice !_;roo\e> 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, <ui(l haxiiit; numerous dermal (laps, sonic
extendin;^; hevodd the spines. 1 )orsal not connected uitli
the caudal.
.\)hil \\\\<, .jO, soft and lli.'shy, llie r.iys foldinL; over on<;
another, free for about half their leiiL^tii. 1 he first ra\' short-
er than the others, the he-t connected. Anal r.ot connectetl
with caudal fm. I cutviil r,iys ^. juijular, lleshy, no spine.
f-'clnri/ r,i_\'s i_j, broad, rays bro.ully branched, llesh)'
lo',\ards bas(.-. (\nnliil rays i.(, rounded, r;i\-- llesh}' and
broadly branched.
( 'olorul icii; two cons'puaious black \\ a\ y line> 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 ' ■-
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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<ir, Rex. j W. \'irtoria.
Tavlor, (".. W.
Tunu r. j. II ■ ■ •
Wade. J , Ml)
Wadditi-loii, J l-
Walker, V (\.
Willeniar, Re\ d. .\a\ ier Cornox.
WilMin, I). X'ietoria.
WOllev, CV.
Ilnf) '»»!i»ii»j-r'
n^t( r
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