34 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



6 GEORGE V, A. 1916 



about 25 miles square, and contains numerous small islands. The shores of these are 

 sheer for the most part, and a suitable rocky bottom for kelp growth is rare. Tlie 

 south side of the sound was more especially examined. There is a patch of Macro- 

 cystis some acres in extent inside Banfield creek, and a fringe of NereoCystis outside. 

 There is a similar. distribution at Dodger cove, while the neck of Useless inlet is 

 almost filled with Macrocystis, and farther out are a few plants of Nereocystis. As. 

 far as I could judge this distribution was determined by water-movements, the Macro- 

 cystis growing where the tidal current was stronger. Theje ia little other kelp worth 

 mentioning on the south side of the sound, and no kelp in the neighbourhood of 

 Sechart. Most of the inlets contribute fresh water and contain no kelp. The salinity 

 of the whole sound is distinctly below ocean values, though high enough for the 

 growth of Macrocystis (average density 1-0195 where Macrocystis was ionnd growing). 

 The kelp in the sound would not repay collection. I am told that there is a similar 

 distribution in Clayoquot sound, farther north, and that in Nootka sound, still farther 

 north, the amounts are larger. I do not think that the west coast of Vancouver island 

 need be examined further at present. 



District G (From the north of Banks IslcOnd to Prince Rupert and Hodgson'^ 

 Reefs). — This district was only seen in small part, on dates between July 28 and 

 August 6. Throughout this period the weather conditions were unfavourable. 



White Rochs, Banks Island. — The coast line here was examined for some miles. 

 It consists of a vast network of narrow passages between small islands and Banks 

 island itself. These passages are all fairly well filled with kelp. In the inside pass- 

 ages, where the tidal currents are stronger, Macrocystis predominates. Outside, where 

 there is more wave motion but less current, Nereocystis is present in thick fringes 

 25 to 50 yards wide. I was informed that there is a similar thick distribution of 

 kelp along the west coast of Banks island and the islands to the south of it (Estevan, 

 Aristazable, etc.). The amounts of kelp present per mile of coast-line are at least of 

 the order found for district 0, and probably higher. Macrocystis plants run about 

 30 feet in length. Nereooystis plants are of medium size, about 10 to 15 pounds 

 weight. 



Kithatlah Inlet. — There are thick fringes of kelp everywhere. 



Freeman Passage, Porcher Island. — On the south side of the passage there is a 

 bed of Nereocystis about 2 miles by half a mile in extent. On the north side there is 

 a smaller bed. 



Spire Reef, near Prince Rupert. — There is a bed of Nereocystis here several acres 

 in extent. 



Metlahatla Bay. — There are two beds here, one 1 by | mile, the other f by i mile, 

 both consisting of medium-sized^N ereocystis plants. 



Tugwell Islands. — Thick fringes of Nereocystis are present, and a large bed ofT 

 the northeast point. 



Hodgson Reefs. — There is here a bed about a mile square, of medium-sized plant^-. 



All the above beds are thick. 



Lucy Island. — Several small patches of Nereocystis are present. 



Qlawdzeet Anchorage, Stephen Island. — Thick fringes of kelp, about 50 yards 

 wide, surround the whole shoreline. Both Nereocystis and Macrocystis are present. 



Tree-noh Group. — The islands, as far as seen, were all surrounded by wide fringes 

 of Nereocystis. The plants were not very heavy. I was informed that there was a 

 siiriilar thick distribution north to the Dundas islands. 



District H (the Queen Charlotte Islands). — As previously mentioned, an attempt 

 to examine the kelp beds off these islands was prevented by the outbreak of the war. 



