318 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



there is reason to believe that this trade may be extended indefinitely, 

 so that the Eussian America may be on the Pacific like Maine on the 

 Atlantic, and. the lumbermen of Sitica may vie with tlieir hardy brethren 

 of the East. 



Here a question occurs. Tliese forests as described seem to afford 

 all that can be desired. The trees are abundant, and they are perfect 

 in size, not unlike — 



The tallest ])ine 



Hewn oil Norwegian hills to IJe the mast 



Of some great Admiral. 



But a doubt arises as to their commercial value. Here we have the 

 inconsistent testimony of Liitke. According to him the pines and firs 

 wliich he calls "magniticent" constitute an untried source of commer- 

 cial wealth. Not only California, but other countries poor in trees, 

 like Mexico, the Sandwich Islands, and even Chile, will need them. 

 And yet he does not conceal an unlavourable judgment of the timber, 

 which as seen in the houses of Sitka, suifering from constant moisture, 

 did not seem to be durable. ("Voyage," Tom. 1, pp. 105, 151.) Sir 

 Edward Belcher differs from the Russian Admiral, for he praises espe- 

 cially the timber of "the higher latitudes, either for spars or plank." 

 ("Voyage," vol. i, p. 300.) Perhaps its durability may depend upon 

 the climate Avhere it is used, so that the timber of this region may be 

 lasting enough when transported to another climate. In the rarity of 

 trees on the islands and mainland of the Pacific the natural supply is 

 in Eussian America. One of the early navigators even imagined that 

 China must look this way, and he expected that "the woods would 

 yield a handsome revenue when the Eussian commerce with China 

 should be established." American commerce with China is established. 

 Perhaps timber may become one of its staples. 



A ijrofitable commerce in timber has begun at Puget Sound. By the 

 official Eeturns of 1866 it appears that it was exported to a long list of 

 foreign countries and places, in which I find Victcnia, Honolulu, Callao, 

 Tahiti, Canton, Valparaiso, Adelaide, Hong Kong, Sydney, Monte Video, 

 London, Melbourne, Shanghae, Peru, Coquimbo, Calcutta, Hilo, Cape 

 Town, Cork, Guaymas, and Siam; and that in this commerce were 

 employed no less than 18 ships, 30 barks, 4 brigs, 28 schooners, and 10 

 steamers. The value of the lumber and spars exported abroad was 

 over half a. million dollars, while more than four times that amount was 

 shipped coastwise. But the coasts of Eussian America aredarker 

 75 with trees than those further south. The pines in wliich they 

 abound do not flourish as low down as Puget Sound. Northward 

 they are numerous and easily accessible. 



In our day the llora of the coast has been explored with care. Kitt- 

 litz, who saw it as a naturalist, portrays it with the entliusiam of an 

 early navigator; but he speaks with knowledge. He, too, dwells on 

 the "surprising power and luxuriance" of the pine forests, describing 

 them with critical skill. The trees which he identifies are the Finns 

 (7awar7e»6-is', distinguished for its delicate foliage; the Firms mertensiana, 

 a new species, rival of the other in height; and Finns palusiris, grow- 

 ing in swampy declivities, and not attaining height. In the clearings 

 or on the outskirts of tiiickets are shrubs, being chiefly a species of 

 RuhuSj with flowers of carmine and a.iomatic fruit. About and over 

 all are mosses and lichens invigorated by tiie constant moisture, while 

 colossal trees, undermined or uprooted, crowd the surface, reminding 

 the scientific observer of the ac(;umulations of tlie coal measures. Two 

 different prints in the London reiiroduction of the work of Kittlitz pre- 

 sent pictures of these vegetable productions grouped for beauty and 



