Though the laboratories are of special value to the 

 prospector, the small mine operator or company, their 

 work is equally beneficial to the large commercial enter- 

 prise, and, in fact, to all connected with the Canadian 

 mineral industry. The prospector can have his samples 

 identified and, providing he has a promising occurrence of 

 valuable mineral, can, upon application, have simple test 

 work performed to determine the most feasible methods 

 of treatment. The small mine owner can have more 

 extensive laboratory investigation and research conducted 

 to determine a commercial metallurgical process, from 

 which he will receive valuable information and data for 

 the erection of a treatment plant. Large commercial 

 enterprises and established concerns can have experimental 

 test and research work conducted on problems connected 

 with the metallurgical treatment of their ore. 



Investigation of National Moment 



In addition to this work of purely individual impor- 

 tance, investigations of national moment, common to 

 certain phases or parts of the mineral industry, or a par- 

 ticular district, can be carried on, the results of which will 

 contribute materially to the advancement of the industry. 

 The information contained in the reports of the investi- 

 gations and experimental test work will, in their published 

 form, naturally be of considerable interest and of a high 

 valuj to all those connected with the mineral industry. 



The experimental tests conducted in the ore dressing 

 and research laboratories can be divided into main classes, 

 small scale and preliminary investigation tests, and large 

 scale or tonnage check tests. Small scale tests are made on 

 shipments of 100 pounds to 2,000 pounds to determine the 

 process most applicable to the ore in question. Specimens 

 of the ore are examined as to physical characteristics and, 

 if found necessary, polished, and thin sections are prepared 

 and a thorough examination made under the microscope. 

 A series of tests is made on samples of the ore, which are 

 subjected to any or all of the established processes that 

 could be considered applicable. The more feasible 

 methods having been determined, complete tests are 

 conducted covering all phases of treatment. Large 

 scale tests are conducted after the small scale tests have 

 determined the processes most applicable to the ore or 

 product under investigation. They are made to establish 

 the physical behavior of the ore or product under con- 

 ditions more nearly approaching to practice and to verify 

 the results of the preliminary tests on a larger scale under 

 such conditions. Lots of one ton or a carload are used for 

 these tests. Operating tests are sometimes conducted in 

 co-operation with the mining companies, who make 

 provision for the use of an operating mill which is run over 

 a period of time. These tests are conclusive as to the 

 practicability of any process. 



Laboratory tests on Canadian ores are made free of 

 charge subject only to a few simple conditions. All 

 samples must be bagged and delivered to the laboratories 

 free of all transportation and unloading charges. For 

 small scale tests not less than 100 pounds will be accepted 

 and for large scale tests not less than one ton. All testing 

 products become the property of the Mines Branch. 



Salmon Pack of 1922 



After a number of "light" years and de- 

 pressing market conditions the salmon industry 

 of British Columbia promises to come back 

 strong this year and canners are optimistic 

 regarding the market outlook. Prospects for 

 a good salmon catch this year are excellent, 

 and according to reliable reports the catch 

 will total about 700,000 cases, with several 

 districts still to hear from, which is an increase 

 of nearly 100,000 cases as compared with the 

 previous year, when the total pack amounted 

 to 602,000 cases. There has been a slight im- 



provement in the quality of sockeye fish packed 

 this season, providing about 250,000 cases as 

 against 163,000 last year. The pack this year 

 is made up of the following grades and quanti- 

 ties: sockeyes, 248,541; red spring, 31,850; 

 white spring, 3,515; blue backs, 3,629; echoes, 

 20,886; pinks, 359,459; chums, 23,346; steel- 

 heads, 651. 



The growth of the Pacific Coast salmon 

 canning industry has been remarkable, and is 

 typical of the growth of many of the industries 

 of the West. In 1865 there was only one cannery 

 in operation in British Columbia, with an 

 annual pack amounting to 2,000 cases. To-day 

 there are over 300 establishments canning salmon 

 in the province, with an annual capacity of well 

 over 1,000,000 cases. Buildings and equipment 

 are the best that can be bought, and represent 

 an investment of $50,000,000. The value of 

 production of these plants has touched $100,- 

 000,000, and employment is given directly or 

 indirectly to a large number of people. 



The Eraser River Industry 



The sockeye salmon fishery of the Fraser 

 River, which now provides the major portion 

 of the catch, was famous the world over for the 

 enormous quantities of fish that were caught 

 there, but in recent years the careless and 

 inefficient methods of some of the packers has 

 nearly destroyed the veritable gold mine. Dur- 

 ing the period 1897 to 1913 inclusive, the 

 Fraser River system produced more sockeye 

 salmon than any other known river system, 

 amounting to a pack of 11,007,125 cases, or 

 a catch of 132,085,450 fish. It is a peculiar 

 characteristic of this river that every fourth 

 year the fishermen experience a phenomenal 

 run of sockeye, but since 1901 the catch has 

 gradually grown less and in 1921 the pack was 

 below the average. 



In order to offset the heavy toll exacted each 

 year from the Fraser and other salmon grounds 

 in the province, the Federal Government 

 established a fish hatchery at Bon Accord in 

 1885 for the propagation of sockeye. Between 

 1900 and 1907 five more hatcheries were built 

 on the Fraser River, having a capacity of one 

 hundred and ten million eggs, and since then 

 two auxiliary stations have been completed . 

 These hatcheries have done excellent work, but 

 have been handicapped owing to their inability 

 to collect a sufficient number of eggs, the 

 hatcheries on the Fraser having never been 

 filled beyond thirty per cent, of their capacity 

 since 1905. 



During the War the salmon canneries were 

 working to capacity, and there was a ready 

 market for all they could produce. However, 

 at the termination of hostilities the market 

 took a slump, which, together with the decrease 

 in the annual catch, worked hardships on the 



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