PROVINCIAL MUSEUM REPORT 
FOR THE YEAR 1916. 


































In reviewing the activities of the Provincial Museum for the year ending December 31st, 
1916, it is to be noted that considerable progress has been made, and that a number of rare 
specimens have been added to the collection, with valuable data. 
At the beginning of the year the Director was informed that all departments of the Civil 
Service would be expected to exercise the strictest economy and still keep up efficiency. With 
that end in view the work in the Provincial Museum has been carried on throughout the year. 
Only two parties were sent afield for any length of time during the summer months. 
--—s Mr. J. A. Munro was engaged from the middle of April to the end of October to carry 
on the biological investigations commenced last year in the Northern Okanagan and Shuswap 
J Districts. 
Mr. E. M. Anderson, of the Museum staff, was stationed in the Lillooet District from the 
_ beginning of May to the end of July, headquarters being established at the Provincial Government 
Hatchery, at Seton Lake, by kind permission of Mr. J. P. Babcock, Assistant to the Commissioner 
of Fisheries. Mr. Anderson made trips to Blackwater Lake, and also ascended Mount McLean, 
where some good material was secured, of which no detailed reports have been received. 
The Director, accompanied by Dr. C. F. Newcombe, also visited this district, and secured 
‘some very interesting specimens for the Herbarium, also for the anthropological sections. 
of The matter of obtaining Bare Island for a permanent bird sanctury has not made any further 
advancement. However, the Director made special arrangements again with the Indian Depart- 
- tent for this Department to place a guard on the island during the nesting season to look after 
the preservation of bird-life. This arrangement has done away with the proposed matter of 
arbitration for the present, and is very satisfactory, as it does not prevent the Indians from 
- camping there while gathering “ camas,” which is used extensively by them for food. 
It will be noticed by the following lists that the field collectors have collected a vast amount 
of material other than their special line of birds and mammals, more particularly in collecting 
_ the plants of the district where they were located, which means a great deal of labour and 
time in addition to their other duties. Nearly all the betanical specimens have been identified 
by Mr. J. M. Macoun, of Ottawa, who has always shown a great interest in the Herbarium 
of the Provincial Museum. 
Mr. W. R. Carter, of Alberni, has also taken a keen interest in the botanical branch, and 
_ has secured some very rare and interesting specimens for this Department. 
The Director is also pleased to report that to the collection of fishes has been added several 
Species new to British Columbia, namely: Sunfish (Mola mola), giant black bass (Erilepis 
sonifer), also a species of frostfish (Benthodesmus atlanticus), of which there is only one other 
_ known specimen. 
The entomological collection has been greatly enriched by several new species, and others 
that are new to the Province. 
Several good additions have been made to the anthropological collection. Three stone 
hammers were presented to the Director for the Museum while on a trip to Seton Lake, and 
although the Indian reservations were visited by the Director and Dr. C. F. Newcombe, little 
or no information could be secured concerning them, the present generation not appearing to 
know for what use they had been intended. 
Information was received later from Lieutenant F. C. Swannell, B.C.L.S., of this city, who 
has one of these hammers in his possession, who states that he had received the information 
from the chief of the Lillooet Indians, which confirms our theory that these implements were 
used as pile-drivers. One of these specimens is figured in this report. 
One of the most interesting specimens that has been added to the collection of fossils is the 
molar tooth of an extinct Sirenian species (Desmostylus hesperus), which is a close relation 
to the recently extinct mammal, the arctic sea-cow of the North Pacific, that was practically 
exterminated about the year 1780. 
