igoi] Ami — The late George M. Dawson. 49 



are noted in the Reports of Progress of the Geological Survey of 



i[' Canada for 1873-74, for 1874-75. These include reports on the 

 " hematite deposits of Pictou County, Nova Scotia ; on the limo- 

 nites of the same county and on the spathic ore deposits of the 

 K Sutherland's River, N.S.; also on the clay-iron stones of the 

 Tertiary, along the 49tL parallel, and the limestones of the Creta- 

 K ceous of the Swan River and Thunder Hill in Manitoba ; together 



■ with the results of his botanical researches along the 49th parallel. 



■ In the Report of Progress for 1875-76 comes his report on 

 Chilco and Nazco rivers and trail to P'ort George, B.C., and in 

 the next year's report his results in the basins of the Blackwater, 

 Salmon and Necchacco rivers and of Fran<;:ois Lake, B.C., along 

 with a reconnaissance report of Leech River and vicinity on Van- 

 couver Island. This report includes a statement of the condition 

 ot mines and mining in British Columbia at this early period. 

 Coals and lignites and many minerals of economic importance 

 were obtained by him along ihe route and analyses made by the 

 department which have helped to lay down the foundation of the 

 mineral wealth of that once remote province, hut one whose re- 

 sources, thanks to Dr. Dawson's work, is to-day well known and 

 appreciated. 



In 1S77 and 1878 Dr. Dawson's field of explorations was in 

 the Queen Charlotte Islands. It would suffice to obtain an estimate 

 of the subject of this sketch to peruse the most interesting report 

 on the resources and possibilities of these hitherto unknown islands 

 from his pen. It was a practically virgin district tor him and the 

 excellent maps which he prepared that were published by the 

 Department reflect greatly to his credit however young he was at 

 that time. Not only as a geologist did he excel in this report, but 

 he distinguished himself also as an ethnologist of repute. He 

 shewed the world of science what an abundant field for research 

 and enquiry there was open on that west coast. Even with the 

 languages and vocabularies of the different tribes of the 

 aborigines which he visited and examined, he made himself 

 familiar, and has contributed much of value to the Philology of 

 the western tribes of British Columbia. 



Dr. Dawson's reports are usually accompanied by an exten- 

 sive series ot Appendices. He was a most prolific collector of 



