VALLEY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 219 



in the eastern states. Fort Vancouver being upwards of 

 forty miles from the coast in a direct line, its climate 

 cannot be called maritime, and its temperatures may be 

 conveniently contrasted with those of Montreal, which is 

 also situated on the banks of a first-rate river, and not 

 under the influence of sea-breezes. 



There is very little difference in the latitudes of the two 

 places, or in their altitudes above the sea ; but the direct 

 distance between them exceeds 2,200 geographical miles. 

 The difference of their mean annual temperatures is, at 

 least, eight degrees of Fahrenheit in favour of the Pacific 

 coast, and is equal to what would be produced by a dimi- 

 nution of four or five degrees of latitude on the same 

 meridian. The greater mean heat of the Pacific side of 

 the continent has been long known, and a reference to 

 the table will show that it is mainly due to the milder 

 winters ; the mean difference between the summer and 

 winter temperatures being twice as great at Montreal as 

 on the Oregon. On the other hand, the summers are 

 sensibly warmer at Montreal. The notices of the progress 

 of the seasons on the two sides of the continent will illus- 

 trate these facts equally well. The early spring at Van- 

 couver, with the two inches of snow and a rainy winter, 

 contrasts strongly with the long dry winter and three feet 

 of snow at Penetanguishene, where the ice does not dis- 

 appear from the lake till past the middle of April. 



Columns 1. and 2. of the same table refer to places 

 immediately on the coast, and Franklin Malone is at an 

 altitude above Fort Vancouver, which is considered to be 

 equivalent to two degrees of mean annual temperature. 

 If we compare these columns with column 4., Ave perceive 

 that with little change of mean annual temperature, places 

 on the coast have a more equable climate, the three winter 



