No. 6.] G. M, DAWSON — BRITISH COLUMBIA TREES. 323 



Pseudotsuga Douglasli, Liadl. Douglas spruce, Douglas 

 fir, sometimes commercially named Oregon pine. This is the 

 most important timber tree of British Columbia, and the only 

 one of which the wood has yet bscome an article of export on a 

 large scale. It is found in all parts of Vancouver Island with 

 the exception of the exposed western coast, but does not occur 

 in the Queen Charlotte Islands or coast archipelago to the north 

 of Vancouver. On the mainland, near the forty-ninth parallel, 

 it extends from the sea to the Rocky Mountains, growing at a 

 height of 6000 feet in a stunted form, and occurring even on the 

 eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. In the dry southern 

 portion of the interior of British Columbia it is confined to the 

 higher uplands between the various river valleys. Northward it 

 comes down to the general level of the country. It does not 

 extend into the mountainous and comparatively humid region of 

 Cariboo, and is probably absent from the higher portions of the 

 Selkirk and Gold Ranges generally. Its northern line is singularly 

 irregular. It is found about Fort George, and north-eastward as 

 far as McLeod's Lake, but does not occur on the Parsnip. It 

 extends about half-way up Tacla Lake, and on Babine Lake to 

 the bend or knee. A few specimens occur on the Skeena River. 

 It is common about Fraser and Francois Lakes. It is found 

 from the Fraser to the coast mountains on the line of the Chil- 

 cotin and its tributaries, and occurs on the Nazco and up the 

 Blackwater to the mouth of the Iscultaesli, but is absent from 

 an extensive tract of country bounded by the last-named localities 

 to the south and east and extending northward to Francois Lake. 

 It occurs abundantly on the coast of the mainland as far north 

 as the north end of Vancouver Island, but beyond that point is 

 found only on the shores of the inlets at some distance from the 

 sea. It is found on the upper part of Dean Inlet and on the 

 Salmon River which runs into it, but about forty-five miles from 

 the salt water becomes small and stunted, and as above stated, 

 is not seen in that part of the interior lying to the eastward. 



The extent of its range to the north-eastward, in the Rocky 

 Mountain range, though broadly indicated on the map, is still 

 uncertain. 



The best grown specimens are found near the coast in prox- 

 imity to the waters of the many bays and inlets which indent it. 

 Here the tree frequently surpasses eight feet in diameter, at a 

 •considerable height above the ground, and reaches a height of 



