From the Pacific to Hudson's Bay. 28G 



valley through which it flows. There is another large river flowing 

 into the Pacific north of the Skeena. It is the Nasse, drawing its 

 waters from the far north. 



The country in the immediate neighbourhood of Port' Simpson is 

 not of great agricultural value. There are patches of good soil ; but 

 for the most part the covering of soil is nearly everywhere scanty. 

 There is, however, an abundance of good timber, except on the 

 mountain sides, which are nearly all too steep for vegetation to 

 cling to. 



Port Simpson, as you may judge, is an old seat of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. The post wears a decided military appearance, not- 

 withstanding that its defences have long ago fallen into disuse. 

 Besides the Company's officers and employes, there are quite a 

 number of traders in the neighbourhood, as well as Indians ; and, 

 like almost all the other important posts of the ancient company, 

 its mission church is one of its most attractive features. 



There is a large colony of Indians about sixteen miles south of 

 Port Simpson, called Metla-Ketla, where a station of the Church 

 Missionary Society is in a flourishing condition. Still farther to 

 the south, at the mouth of the Skeena, is a third Indian establish- 

 ment, with one or two traders. These, with the exception of can- 

 ning establishments, are all the settlements between the mouth of 

 the Skeena and Port Simpson. 



The fisheries here are fast becoming important industries. The 

 salmon are of excellent quality, and are very abundant in both the 

 Skeena and the Nasse to the north of it. These fish are chiefly 

 taken in nets in the estuaries of the rivers, and a large number of 

 Indians and Chinamen are employed in connection with the canning 

 business. The sea fisheries of the coast also promise to afford a very 

 profitable industry. 



The climate of Port Simpson and neighbourhood is not subject 

 to great extremes of temperature. There is much rain at all seasons, 

 and occasionally in winter heavy falls of snow. I have at hand no 

 meteorological data with regard to Port Simpson proper ; but I have 

 what speaks volumes in support of its excellent climate in the 

 records of Sitka, two and a half degrees north of that place. How- 



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