42 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



Moore Channel with a south-easterly wind should keep well over to 

 Hewlett Bay, so as to pass clear of the Moresby Islands, as the wind is 

 very unsteady till clear of the high land. 



Cape Henry, three miles south of the entrance to Moore's Channel, 

 ends in a steep slope, with a hillock at its extremity. Eighteen miles 



Tasoo Harbour, further south is the entrance to Tasoo Harbour. The intervening coast 

 is high, and rises abruptly from the sea. The entrance to Tasoo Har- 

 bour is said to be short and narrow, the harbour itself large and deep. 

 Anchorage is found near some small islands on the port hand going in. 

 From Tasoo Harbour to Houston Stuart Channel is very bold. There 

 are several openings which are reported by the Indians to lead to good 

 harbours. Louscoone, at the west entrance to Houston Stuart Channel, 

 is said to be a good harbour similar to Eose Harbour. 



The time and means at my disposal did not enable me to make a 

 survey or geological examination of the west coast of the islands, which 

 would require to be carried on during the early summer, which appears 

 to be the least boisterous portion of the year. It is a very dangerous 

 lee shore for sailing craft, and would, I believe, be most easily dealt 

 with in one of the canoes of the country, manned by a good Indian 

 crew. 



Tidal currents. Strong tidal currents prevail in the waters surrounding the Queen 

 Charlotte Islands. The tide from the southward and that which has 

 passed round the' north end of the island meet between Eose Point and 

 Cape Ball. The flood runs northward along the southern part of the 

 east coast, and eastward in Dixon's Entrance. 



•Great abund- The well-known Douglas fir does not occur in the Queen Charlotte 



timber. n Islands, finding its northern limit on the outer coast at the north end 

 of Vancouver Island. The .forest is chiefly composed of Menzies 

 spruce {Abies Menziesii), the western cedar (Thuja gigantea) and the 

 western hemlock (Abies Mertensiana). The yellow cedar or C} T press 

 (Cupressus Nutkatensis) also occurs, though seldom in large groves, 

 and generally scattered over the more barren and rocky portions of 

 the hill slopes. Of the trees above mentioned, Menzies spruce, the 

 cedar and the cypress are the most valuable for lumber, and though 

 the first-named is not considered equal to the Douglas fir for most 

 purposes, it must ere long become valuable, and can be obtained of 

 excellent quality and in almost inexhaustible quantity in these islands. 

 Skidegate Inlet would be convenient in many respects as a site for saw- 

 mills, but ISTaden Harbour or Masset are better situated for the purpose, 

 affording easy access to a large area of wooded country. 



Humid climate The great growth of the trees and the comparative immunity of the 

 woodland from forest fires depend principally on the damp character 

 of the climate of the islands, which is also evidenced in many other 



