VIA 



FAMILY PINACEAE: Pine Family. 



( renus Chamcn cyparis. 



('. nootkalensis (Lamb) Spach: Alaska Cedar. This tree is found on all 

 the mountain ridges below 3,500 feel elevation. It is a conspicuous tree on 

 the ridges at the headwaters of the Soleduck and Bogachiel rivers and in the 

 vicinity of the Soleduck Hot Springs. It is often called Yellow Cedar. It 

 is also more abundant in the swamp regions near the Pacific coast, bordering 

 the rivers near their mouths. It is a medium tree in height for this region, 

 but exceeds the Red Fir in girth. Its greatest development is usually where 

 it stands the heaviest. It averages about 140 feet in height and 50 inches 

 in diameter. This tree is subject to rot; half of the stand is injured by this 

 disease. - 



Genus Thuja. 



T. plicata Donn: Red Cedar; Giant Cedar. This cedar is found in all 

 parts of the peninsula, except in the high mountain districts. It is of larger 

 growth near the coast, where it often measures from 40 to 50 feet in circu- 

 ference; some trees in the Elwa valley are said to measure even 80 feet in 

 eireumierenee. 



This tree differs from C. nootkalensis above in its wood being reddish in 

 color, in its larger size in circumference-measurements, and in the scales 

 of its cones being oblong, not pilcate. : ' 



s The juice of the bark of this tree and that of the Giant Cedar is used by the 

 natives in dyeing basket straw. The other coloring matter used by these Indians 

 is burned yellow clay, black earth, blood, soot and charcoal. 



9 Of this giant cedar the Indians make their dug-out canoes, canoes ranging from 

 the size of a little river canoe to an ocean-whaling canoe that will hold ten whale 

 hunters, or three tons of freight. These canoes are in each case made from a single 

 piece section) of log and the canoe is in each case one continuous piece 

 when finished, except just the front totem river-deer) part. In making these canoes 

 in the old time it was a slow process of burning and scraping with clam shells, and a 

 possible c'M^eling with some wedge-sliaped stone. Today they are hewed out with 

 ax and Indian adz. A cauo? for ocean use in now worth about $100. 



The cedars are used for may purpo-es by the Indians of the coast. The juice 

 of the green bark is used as medicine after being boiled. The outer bark is used in 

 ma'-irg wigwams. In the old times they also shredded the inner bark of these species 

 and wove it into a sort of cloth. Of this rloth they then made skirts for the women, 

 and other wearing « pparel both for the men and the women. They also lined their 

 cradles with this bark and wrapped their babies "up in it before tying them in the 

 cradles. A peculiar raincoat was made from this bark to be worn by the men while 

 fishing in stormy weather. 



