1906-7. TRANSACTIONS. 27 



more rattlesnakes than in all the rest of Canada. If the rattle- 

 snake were as dangerous as it is supposed to be no one could live 

 long in that region, but as a matter of fact the rattlesnake, like 

 most other animals, will escape from man if he can, rather than 

 attack hini. Besides this, it is very easily seen in this open 

 country, and unless one steps upon a rattlesnake unawares there is 

 little danger, anywhere, of being bitten. As is well known due 

 warning is given by the snake before it strikes, and as it neither 

 springs at nor follows a passer-by, one may pass quite near them 

 without danger of being bitten. When coiled for a strike a rattle- 

 snake can reach about one-half its own length or at most two- 

 thirds. And after alP, only a small percentage of rattlesnake bites 

 prove fatal. Much depends upon the season and the strength of 

 the virus, but a good deal, too, on the condition of the person 

 bitten. With all that can be said for it, however, no one willingly 

 takes unnecessary risks, and the rattlesnake is more to be shunned 

 than any other Canadian animal. No other venomous creatures 

 are known for certain to inhabit the region, but the reports of 

 the occurrence of a poisonous scorpion are so circumstantial that 

 there seems little doubt that it is to be found there. 



It is doubtful whether British Columbia will ever be a self- 

 supporting province from an agricultural point of view, but as 

 transport facilities are improved and mines, that cannot at present 

 be worked profitably, are developed there will be a ready market 

 at high prices for all that the soil will produce in the southern 

 part of the province which I have attempted to describe. Any land 

 to which water can be brought is wonderfully productive, but there 

 is such a great extent of hilly or rolling country in the vicinity 

 of level areas that are now being profitably worked that no one 

 should purchase an acre of land in southern British Columbia with- 

 out first seeing it or securing a guarantee from the vendor that 

 a certain supply of water is available. I have recently read 

 several prospectuses issued by land companies, and find that 

 several of them are written in ambiguous terms as regards this 

 important particular. The best advice to give a prospective 

 investor in land, no matter where it may be located, is to see it 

 before purchasing, but this applies with greater force to southern 

 British Columbia than to any other part of Canada. A note- 

 worthy example of what water will do in that hot region was 

 observed at Osoyoos lake where water is pumped by a wind-mill 

 to a settler's garden. The water is first pumped into a large 



