N 12 PROVINCIAL MusEeuM REPORT. 1916 


the natural surroundings which they inhabit, but this has been postponed indefinitely until 
more space is acquired, as it takes considerable space to do this class of work. The Depart- 
ment already has in storage a large number of mammals for this work, namely: Moose (Alce 
americanus), three species of caribou (Rangifer montanus, osborni, and dazwsoni), mule-deer 
(Odocoileus hemionus), white-tail deer (Odocoileus virgultus), panthers (felis oregonensis), wild- 
cats (Lynx fasciatus), grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis), gray wolves (Canis occidentalis), sea-lions 
(Lumetopias stelleri), and many others. The Department was also successful in securing 
another specimen of the white bear (Ursiws kermodei), a male in perfect fall pelage, killed on 
Gribble Island in L. 53, 129 W.L. A large collection of small mammals is being studied at 
present, and a number of specimens representing many species are being prepared for exhibition. 
This latter branch has not been very well represented until recently ; it is difficult with a 
small staff to pay particular attention to all branches of museum-work, and the public does 
not take as keen an interest in small mammals as in the display of big game. 
The Director had a very fine collection of heads of the big game of the Province mounted 
for exhibition in the offices of the Agent-General in the British Columbia Building, Regent 
Street, London, England. 
INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED DISEASE IN THE BLACK-TAIL OR COLUMBIAW 
Coast DEER (Odocoileus columbianus). 
For a number of years the deer of Texada Island have been reported by settlers and 
others in the vicinity of Vananda to be infested with some disease. The Director, accompanied 
by Drs. 8. A. K. White and Ansen Knight, Veterinary Surgeons of the Live Stock Branch, 
Department of Agriculture, undertook to carry on an investigation in regard to this reported 
disease. In November, 1915, a trip was taken to Vananda, Texada Island, were three deer 
were secured for examination. Upon being dissected, two of these animals were found to be 
in a healthy condition; in the third, however, the liver was found to be badly affected by a 
fluke-worm. Settlers of this Island report that about every third deer is affected in this 
manner with what they term “hard or black livers.” This term comes, of course, from the 
black fluid that is found in the parts affected by the fluke. They also advise that numbers of 
deer are killed and never taken from the bush, being considered unfit for food. Later, on 
November 22nd, the Director received from Mr. W. A. Embleton, of Vananda, another liver 
which was in a very bad condition ; this was taken from a smaller deer than the one which 
we had dissected while there. This liver was forwarded to Dr. 8S. H. Hadwen, D.V.Sc., 
Dominion Pathologist at Agassiz, for examination. Dr. Hadwen reported on December 2nd 
that he had taken from this liver eighteen large flukes which he identified as Fasciola magna, 
two of which he sent to Dr. Ransom, of Washington, for further determination. This appears 
to be the first actual record of this parasite having been discovered in the Coast deer; the 
particular fluke being known in sheep raised on the Fraser River as Vasciola hepatica. Later, 
in January, 1916, another trip was arranged to Texada for further knowledge regarding this 
fluke. Drs. White, Hadwen, and Mr. Whittaker, of the Museum, composed the party which 
was taken to the island by the launch “R. V. Skinner,” kindly loaned for the occasion by the 
Forestry Department. On this trip only one deer was secured, and this was found to be in a 
healthy condition, with the exception of three tapeworms. (These resembled Cestoidea tenui- 
collis. Dr. Hadwen is having this verified.) 
It is impossible at the present time, until further investigation is carried on, to make any 
suggestions as to how to get rid of these parasites. 
DestTRUCTION oF SEA-LION (Lumetopias stelleri). 
On April 8th, 1915, the attention of this Department was called to the fact that the 
Fisheries Department of the Federal Government at Ottawa had set aside the amount of 
$6,500 for bounties of $2 each to be paid on the lips of sea-lions killed along the Coast of 
British Columbia. The Director of this Department immediately took the matter up with the 
Honourable J. D. Hazen, Minister of Fisheries at Ottawa, asking that the payment of bounties 
for the killing of sea-lions on this Coast be suspended, and suggested that, as there was a 
diversity of opinion on this matter, a thorough investigation be made in regard to the life- 
history of this mammal by the Ottawa Fisheries Department, not only having fisheries experts 
on the Board, but other biologists. Later Mr. F. J. Desbarat, Deputy Minister of Naval Service 
at Ottawa, wrote that it had been arranged to have the Biological Board of Canada investigate 
