PROVINCIAL MUSEUM REPORT 
FOR THE YEAR 1913. 

Provincia, Museum, 
Vicrorta, B.C., December 31st, 1913. 
The Honourable H. E. Young, M.D., 
Provincial Secretary, Victoria, B.C. 
Str,—The work of the Provincial Museum of Natural History during the past year has 
been more extensive in its scope, and, I believe, more productive in results which are calculated 
to advance and serve the purposes of popular instruction, than in any preceding year. It is 
gratifying to note that the earnest and persistent efforts made during the past years have won 
the generous and appreciative recognition not only of scientific men, but of the general public, 
and that our institution as a Museum of Provincial Natural History and Anthropology is 
recognized as one of the foremost of its kind. 
There is no way of accurately recording the attendance, but a glance at the visitors’ 
register shows the names of people from all parts of the world. Only a very small proportion 
of persons visiting the Museum utilize the register, 33,896 only having recorded during 1913. 
Several classes from the public schools under the direction of their teachers have visited the 
Museum, and I think that, if other teachers would take an opportunity of bringing their 
classes to visit the Museum, it would be of great benefit to the students in their nature-studies. 
It has been the endeavour of the Director to make every dollar of expenditure tell in the 
direction of increasing the extent and value of the possessions of the Museum, 
Considerable scientific research has been carried on in the field during the year, and the 
Director proposes to continue this work and have parties in the field each year until every 
portion of the Province has been covered ; the country offering almost unlimited opportunities 
for the enthusiastic collector. 
On April 7th, E. M. Anderson, of the Museum staff, accompanied by an assistant, C. B. 
Garrett, were sent afield to make a general collection of zoological specimens in the Okanagan 
Valley from the south end of Okanagan Lake to the United States boundary. Many valuable 
specimens were added to the Museum, several species being new to the collection. During the 
three months’ trip there were collected : 306 birds, 580 oological specimens (comprising 114 
sets of eggs with nests), 278 mammals, 36 batrachins and reptiles, 11 fishes, and over 4,000 
entomological specimens. 
Special attention was given during the year to our collection of fishes. An interesting 
and beautiful series of casts has now been arranged in eight cases on the upper floor in the 
north section of the Museum. These casts, carefully coloured, represent the salmon family in 
both salt-water and spawning forms, and other fishes indigenous to the waters of the Province. 
In addition to the above, many new specimens have been preserved in alcohol, and the whole 
collection of fishes rearranged. 
During the months of May and June the Director, accompanied by an official of the Pro- 
vincial Secretary's Department, made several week-end trips to Bare and Saturna Islands, and 
secured some very interesting material. 
The Director has this year taken up with more activity the question of the preservation 
of wild life, and having the permission of the Honourable H. E. Young, M.D., Provincial 
Secretary and Minister of the Department, invited the Royal Commission on Indian Affairs 
for the Province of British Columbia to visit Bare Island, an Indian reserve, which has been 
proposed as a bird sanctuary. The invitation was accepted, the launch “Gunhild” chartered, 
and the trip taken on July 4th. The Commission was greatly impressed with what they saw 
of the bird-life on this island, and negotiations are now in progress with the Department of 
Indian Affairs at Ottawa to have Bare Island made a permanent bird sanctuary for the 
preservation of wild life. 
