88 Geolo^ica 1 Survey of Canada. 



which grows on it, would not be favorable, as there is almost a complete 

 absence, as far as my obesrvation went, of the hard-wood trees supposed 

 to be the sure indication of a good settling country. 



The most abundant tree is spruce, in size varj r ing from eight to eigh- 

 teen inches in diameter, and from forty to eighty feet in length. On the 

 north coast, and in some parts of the south, it is found of good size in 

 the open woods close by the beach, without any intervening space of 

 stunted growth. The stunted growth was occasionally met with on the 

 north side ; but it is only on the tops of cliffs, and other places exposed 

 to the heavy coast winds, where spruce, or any other tree on the island, 

 is stunted. In these situations there is oftentimes a low, dense, and 

 almost impenetrable barrier of stunted spruce, of from ten to twenty feet 

 across, and rarely exceeding a hundred feet ; beyond which open woods 

 and good comparatively large timber prevails. 



Pine was observed in the valley of the Salmon River, about four 

 miles inland, where ten or twelve trees that were measured gave from 

 twelve to twenty inches in diameter at the base, with heights varying 

 from sixty to eighty feet. White and yellow birch are common in sizes 

 from a few inches to two feet in diameter at the base, and from twenty 

 to fifty feet high. Balsam-fir was seen, but it was small and not abun- 

 dant. Tamarack was observed, but it was likewise small and scarce. 

 One of our men, however, who is a hunter on the island, informed me 

 he had seen groves of this timber north from Ellis, or Gamache Bay, 

 of which some of the trees were three feet in diameter, and over a hun- 

 dred feet in height. Poplar was met with in groves, close to the beach, 

 on the north side of the island. 



Of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, the mountain-ash, or rowan, was 

 the largest; it was most abundant in the interior, but appeared to 

 be of the largest size close on the beach, especially on the north side, 

 where it attains the height of forty feet, with long extending and some- 

 what slender branches, covered with clusters of fruit. The high cran- 

 berry ( Viburnum opulus) produces a large and juicy fruit, and is abun- 

 dant. A species of gooseberry bush from two to three feet high is met 

 with in the woods, but appears to thrive best close to the shingle, on 

 the beach, where strips of two or three yards across and ha'f-a-mile 

 long were occasionally covered with it. The fruit is very good, and re- 

 sembles in taste the garden berry ; it is smooth and black colored, and 

 about the size of a common marble. The shrub appeared to be very pro- 

 lific. Red and black currants are likewise abundant. There appear to be 

 two kinds of each, in one of which the berry is smooth, resembling both 

 in taste and appearance that of the garden ; the other rough and prickly, 

 with a bitter taste. 



Strawberries are found near the beach. In size and flavor they are but 

 little inferior to the garden fruit. They are most abundant among the 

 grass in the openings, and their season is from the middle of July to the 

 end of August. Five or six other kinds of fruit-bearing plants were ob- 

 served, some of which might be found of value. The low cranberry was 



