4 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



this place banks begin to appear, and the northern part of Hecate 

 Strait is comparatively quite shoal. Channels similar to those pene- 

 trating the mountain axis further south are represented in Graham 

 Island by the expansions of Masset Inlet and its associated lakes, and 

 by Naden Harbor. In the case of Masset Inlet, however, a wide border 

 of low land cuts the inlets off from direct communication with the sea 

 to the east. This has been brought about in the manner explained in 

 a subsequent division of this report which treats of the superficial 

 Mountains and geology. The highest and most rugged part of the mountain axis of 

 the islands is found in latitude 52° 30', where many peaks bear con- 

 siderable patches of perennial snow, and rise to altitudes probably 

 surpassing 5,000 feet. Southward, high mountains are again found 

 opposite Burnaby Island, but toward Cape St. James the land gradually 

 falls. About Houston Stewart Channel none of the summits probably 

 surpass 2000 feet. Northward, about the heads of Cumshewa and 

 Skidegate Inlets, and on Louise Island, the land is very rugged, with 

 many summits exceeding 3000 and 4000 feet. Beyond Skidegate, 

 however, in connection with the appearance of the Tertiary formation, 

 the surface becomes much less mountainous, and though the axis of 

 the islands is still well marked, the mountains about the head of Masset 

 Inlet appear seldom much to surpass 1000 feet in height, and near 

 North Island low hills only occur. Graham Island may, in fact, be 

 divided into two differently characterized regions by a line drawn from 

 Image Point, Skidegate Inlet, to Jal-un Eiver, on the north coast. To 

 the south-westward of this line is a country hilly and even mountainous, 

 but so far as observed almost always densely forest-clad, with trees 

 which attain large dimensions where not too much exposed. North- 

 eastward lies a low, fiat or gently undulating country, which seldom 

 exceeds 300 feet in elevation. This country is also densely wooded, 

 the trees often attaining magnificent dimensions. 



The west coast of the islands was examined in a few places only ; a 

 concise description of it is, however, given by Vancouver, who coasted 

 along it in September, 1793, from North Island southward. As little 

 can yet be added to this, it may be quoted entire.* 

 Vancouver's " From this point, which I have called Point North, we found the 



JhewesfcoaL general trending of these shores first take a direction S. 14 W.,f 

 twenty-two miles to a projecting land, appearing like two islands, the 

 west extremity of which I named Point Frederick [Frederick Island], 

 and then S. 17 E., twenty-six miles to a high, steep, cliffy hill, named 

 by Mr. L>ixon Hippa Island; this ended in a low projecting point to 



* A Voyage of Discovery to the N. Pacific Ocean, &c. London, 1801. Vol. IV., p. 283 et seq. 

 t Printed N. 1± W., by an accidental error. 



