average temperature of points along the coast is several 
degrees warmer than inland points a few miles bach, and 
the average precipitation during the winter months is 
30/ii more than at Bergland, 26 km* hack from the shore* 
Keduced light intensity at the lower, more humid elevations 
on the north slope is probably more favorable to hemlock as 
compared with maple. 
The maple climax occurs on the higher portions 
of the first range (excepting the summit) and on the ranges 
further south. As compared with hemlock, maple seems to be 
more tolerant of extremes of temperature and light. 
The principal succession leading to the hemlock 
climax is along the shore. The pioneers in the more exposed 
situations are erevioe plants. In the severer situations 
tliese can initiate only very short or incomplete lines of 
succession. Where conditions are less severe, which may 
be only a few meters further inshore, the pioneers consist 
of lichens, mosses and crevice plants, which lead to more 
definite lines of advance; but the irregularities of the 
shore line produce such varied conditions that there is 
often a lack of any gradual transition from lower to higher 
ecological forms. At practically all points along the shore, 
the climax forest has pushed down to the limit of its 
possible extension undor present conditions; and this has 
