44 b 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



August 29th and September 12th, give a mean of 54°. 5. Fifteen obser- 

 vations between the last mentioned date and October 17th, taken about 

 the north end of Vancouver Island, and by the inner channels to Vic- 

 toria, give a mean of 50°. 7 degrees. Mud brought up in the dredge 

 from one hundred fathoms, in Dixon Entrance, had a temperature of 47°. 

 Fishing banks. The natives of the Queen Charlotte Islands, as described elsewhere, 

 live almost entirely on fish, more especially on the halibut. To the 

 north of a line drawn from the entrance of Skincuttle Inlet north-east- 

 ward across Hecate Strait, the depth of the water never exceeds 1(10 

 fathoms, and is generally very much less. A similar shallow area, with 

 a probable width of ten or twelve miles, borders Graham Island to the 

 north, and it is also probably comparatively shoal for some distance off 

 Halibut. the west coast of the northern part of the same island. These banks, 



swept Jby strong tidal currents, with the shore line of the inlets and 

 fiords, constitute the feeding grounds of the halibut and other fishes, 

 and by their exceptional extension account for the great abundance of 

 fish to be found in the vicinity of the islands. The halibut is doubtless 

 the most important, and though it has not yet been found marketable 

 either salted or canned, if means were adopted whereby it might be 

 carried in a fresh state to the southern markets, an extensive fishery 

 Dog-fish. might be maintained. The dog-fish (Acanthus Sukelyi), found in great 



abundance, is taken for the manufacture of oil, and a small establish- 

 ment was at work in this business at Skidegate at the time of 

 my visit, besides the less systematic operations of the Indians. 

 Salmon. Salmon of two or more species run up most of the streams in large 



numbers, especially in the autumn. They are taken by the natives in 

 wiers and by spearing, but as none of the rivers are large, the oppor- 

 tunities for establishing canneries are not so good as in other parts of 

 Herring. the Province. Herring are very abundant in some places, especially 



in the vicinity of Skidegate, at certain seasons. A species of pollock 

 or coal-fish is caught in large numbers on certain parts of the west 

 and north coasts of the islands. It is prized by the Indians as a source 

 of edible oil which some tribes use instead of that of the oolachen from 

 the Nasse Eiver. The last-named fish does not occur in the vicinity of 

 the islands. Flounders and plaice abound in some localities. A true 

 cod, probably of the same species as that for which vessels sail from 

 San Francisco to the Okhotsk Sea, is found, but is not sought after by 

 the Indians, though it may occur abundantly on certain banks at some 

 jviackerei. seasons. The same remark applies to the mackerel, of which a species 

 is found. Smaller fish, such as the various species of rock-cod and the 

 shell-fish, which form an important item in the native dietary, it is 

 unnecessary to particularize. With the exception of minerals of 

 economic value, more fully treated of in a subsequent part of this 



Flat-fish. 



Cod. 



