LOBSTER PLA\Tiya AREAS 127 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



south end. The water from the Nanaimo river passes through this cliannel to some 

 extent so that the region is not so suitable as the shallow water strip to the east of 

 the islands which -extends well outward towards the middle of the channel. The crude 

 oil that gets into the water as well as the refuse from the Canadian Explosives Works, 

 and the gasolene and oil from the numerous power boats cannot be good>for these or 

 other marine forms. 



Only a narrow strip connects the N"ewcastle and Protection area, along the Van- 

 couver island side of Northumberland channel, with Dodds narrows and False narrows 

 where entrance is obtained to the large area of shallow water farther south. Between 

 this strip and Gabriola island there is a wide channel of deeper water ,which is the 

 northern part is 100 fathoms deep in places but farther south seldom more than GO 

 or 70. Along the Gabriola bluff this deep water comes in close to shore, but to the 

 north of this and on to the north end of the island there are several small bays, with 

 points ending in reefs running out between. This is true at the north end of the 

 island as well, particularly so from the northwest where the shallow water runs out 

 past Snake island, a distance of over a mile and a half, and the northeast, where it 

 runs out past Entrance island, about the same distance. 



, Beginning with the north end of Gabriola island and extending in a southeasterly 

 direction, past Valdez, Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna i.slands, there is a very regular 

 coast, with scarcely any small islands except at the entrance of the passes and scarcely 

 a small bay or inlet of any kind. The 30-fathom line is seldom more than half a 

 mile from shore, but the 100-fathom line is from 2 to 3 miles out. With the excep- 

 tion of the portions near the passes, therefore, this coast is not well suited for grow- 

 ing and fishing for lobsters. The passes are shallow and hence are connected with 

 the inside areas, but they may as^ well be considered here. 



At the eastern entrance to Gabriola pass, Breakwater island with the numerous 

 small islands of the Flattop group and the portions of the shores of Gabriola and 

 Valdez islands adjacent, include numerous little bays and channels, points and reefs, 

 and to help matters Gabriola reef extendiiig north and south for a distance of about 

 2J miles outside of these islands, shelters an area that is nowhere more than 30 

 fathoms. Similar conditions exist through the pass itself. On both sides there are 

 numerous small bays separated by rocky points which extend far into the passage as 

 reefs. At Porlier pass (Cowichan gap) the islands on tlie strait side are represented 

 by reefs only. The characteristics of the pass itself are similar to those of Gabriola 

 pass, with the adjacent shores of Valdez and Galiano islands even more ragged than 

 those of Valdez and Gabriola at Gabriola pass. Active pass agrees very well with 

 Porlier pass in the nature of the eastern entrance, but the shores are more regular 

 than either of the others and the channel is deeper. The eastern entrances of all 

 these passes are rather strongly affected by the Eraser river current especially when 

 this river is in flood. Between Mayne and Saturna islands there can scarcely be said 

 to be a regular passage as the islands and reefs so block up the intervening space, 

 from the Belle Chain of reefs half a mile off shore, almost all the way through to the 

 southwest sides of the islands. There are so many tide-rips and overfalls in this 

 area that, however suitable a place it might be for lobsters it might not be very suit- 

 able for fishing. This is somewhat true as well in the neighbourhood of Tumbo 

 island, north of the eastern extremity of Saturna island, although since there are not 

 so many reefs it is not such a dangerous coast. Rounding Saturna island, Haro 

 stfait, running at first south of west and then south to the south end of Vancouver 

 island, provides a distinct obstacle to lobster communication with the San Juan 

 islands, as everywhere in mid-channel it is 100 fathoms deep or verj* little short of it. 



South and west of this chain of islands, lying between them and the coast of 

 Vancouver island and extending from Dodds narrows and False narrows all the way 

 to Victoria is a large area, very little of which is apparently unsuitable for lobster 



