426 Edson, Birds of the Bellingham Bay Region. [oct^ 



Fraser on the north, a distance of about 125 miles. Nature has, 

 however, kindly crossed this obstruction with three deep valleys 

 which connect the low lands of the south with those of the north. 

 In the more westerly of these valleys lies Lake Samish; in the next, 

 Lake "Whatcom; in the third valley is the South Fork of the Nook- 

 sack River, flowing northward and about thirteen miles distant 

 from Bellingham. 



East of this valley lies the main body of the Cascades in a con- 

 fused tangle of rugged ranges trending to nearly every point of the 

 compass. jNIany of these have an elevation of 6000 feet and more, 

 and their crests are white with perpetual snow. Some of their 

 peaks reach an altitude of SOOO and 9000 feet, and as a centerpiece 

 for this particular section of the Cascades stands INIt. Baker, whose 

 volcanic cone projects skward nearly 11,000 feet. This mountain 

 is thirty miles due east from Bellingham. 



West of Bellingham Bay lie the San Juan Islands. A number of 

 them are of considerable size, the larger ones having an area of 

 two or three townships, while numerous others range downward 

 to mere rocks. Some of these islands are rugged and mountainous, 

 one reaching a height of 2400 feet. The group is interlaced by a 

 network of tide-swept straits and channels, connecting the Gulf 

 of Georgia with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These passages vary 

 in width from several miles to mere "holes in the wall." The 

 waters abound in marine plants and the lower forms of animal 

 life., This is the migration route of immense schools of salmon 

 and lesser fishes. Whales, porpoises, sea lions and seals are com- 

 mon. As may be supposed, these are the haunts of resident 

 waterfowl of many species in summer, and throngs of migrants at 

 other seasons. 



A dense, dark forest originally covered this entire region, and 

 still largely preponderates over the clearings. The timber is chiefly 

 fir and cedar, the trees reaching a height of 200 or 300 feet. There 

 is also a sprinkling of spruce and other conifers, while hemlock 

 and larch are found in the mountains. Alder is the most abundant 

 deciduofls species. It grows rapidly and when not restrained will 

 quickly reforest clearings and slashings. Cottonwood and maple 

 are sparcely distributed in the valleys and low lands. The under- 

 growth comprises A-ine-maple, willow, crab-apple, wild rose, devil's 



