CHAP. XXV. TREES AND FRUITS IN ANTICOSTI. 73 



other tree on the island is stunted. In these situations 

 there is oftentimes a low, dense, and almost impenetrable 

 barrier of stunted spruce, of from ten to twenty feet 

 across, and rarely exceeding a hundred feet ; beyond 

 which prevail open woods with comparatively large 

 timber. 



Pine was observed in the valley of the Salmon Eiver, 

 about four miles inland, where ten or twelve trees that 

 were measured gave from twelve to twenty inches in 

 diameter at the base, with height varjdng from sixty to 

 eighty feet. White and yellow birch are common in 

 sizes from a few inches to two feet in diameter at the 

 base, and from twenty to fifty feet high. Balsam fir was 

 seen, but it was small and not abundant. Tamarack was 

 hkewise small and scarce. One of his men, however, 

 who is a hunter on the island, informed Mr. K. he had 

 seen groves of this timber north from Elhs, or Gamache 

 Bay, of which some of the trees were three feet in dia- 

 meter, and over a hundred feet in height. Poplar was met 

 with in groves, close to the beach, on the north side of 

 the island. 



Of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs the mountain-ash or 

 rowan was the largest. It was most abundant in the 

 interior, but appeared to be of the largest size close on 

 the beach, especially on the north side, where it attains 

 the height of forty feet, witli long extending and some- 

 what slender branches, covered with clusters of fruit. 

 The high cranberry ( Vibernum Opulus) produces a large 

 and juicy fruit, and is abundant. A species of goose- 

 berry bush of from two to three feet high is met with in 

 the woods, but appears to thrive best close to the shingle 



