Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-19
MARTINsBURG, 8. 1915

grisly bear; the mountain sheep; black
white, red and mixed foxes; beavers,
lynxes, martin, offers, minks, muskrats,
wolverines, maymot, ermines, woodrats,
and the small curled tailed. short cared
dog common among the Chipeways.
s'Of the feathered tribe, there are the
goose, the brant, several kinds Of cranes,
the swan, many varieties Of the duck,
hawks of several kinds, plovers. white ca
giles, ravens, crows, vultures, thrush,
gulIs, woojpeckers, pbeasants, pelicans,
partridges, grouse. snow birds, &c.
"ln the river and lakes are a very su.
perior quality of salmon, brook and sal
mon trout, saJdines, stergeon, rock cod,
the hair seal, &c; and IN the bays and
inlets along the coast. are the sea otter
and an inferior kind Of oyster"
Capt. Wilkes on the same subject OBJ
serves:
"FIsHERrEs.-Itw will be almost impos-
sible TO give an idea of the extensive fish.
cries in the rivers and on the coast. They
all abound in salmon OF the finest favor,
which run twice year, begnlng IN May
and October, and appear lnexhausta5le;
the whole population live upon them.
The Columbia produces the largest. and
probably affords the greatest numbers.
There are some few Of the branches ofthe
Columbia that the spring fish do not enter,
but they are plentl(ully supplied IN the
fall"
"The great fishery of the Columbia is
at DalIes; but all the rivers are well sup
piled. The last one on the northern
branch ofthe Columbia is near Coville,
the Kettle falls, but salmon are found above
this IN the river and its tributaries.
Sin Frazier's river the salmon are
said to be very numerous, but not large;
they are unable to get above the falls some
so miles from the sea.
"ln the rivers AID sounds are found sew
eral kinds of salmon, salmon trout, ster.
geon, cod, carp, sole, founders, ray, perch,
herring, lamprey eels, and kind ofsmelt,
called 'tshrow," in great abundance; also
large quantities Of she'll fish, viz: crabs,
clans, oysters, muscles, &c, which are all
used by the natives, and constitute grea.
Ter portion of their food.
"Whales IN numbers are found along
the coast, and are frequently captured by
the indians in the mouth of the straits OF
Juan de Fuca.
"GAME. -Abundanc OF game exists,
such as elk, deer, antelope, bears, wolves,
foxes, muskrats, martins, beavers, a few
grizzly bears and siffleurs. which are ea-
ten by the Canadians. 10 the middle
section, or that designated as the rolling
prairie, no game is found. 10 the eastern
section, the buffalo is met with. The fur
bearing animals are decreasing in mum.
bers yearly, particularly south Of the par.
allel Of As deg. Indeed it is very doubt.
ful whether they are sufficiently numer.
Gus to repay the expenses Of hunting
them.
"ln the spring and fall, the rivers are
literally covered with geese, ducks, and
other water fowl.
''ln the eastern sections, the buffalo
abound, and are hunted by the Oregon
Indians, as well as the Black Feet.
Wolves are troublesome to the settlers,
but are not so numerous as formerly"
He thus finally sums up his interesting
narrative: TO conclude, few portions OF the
globe, in my opinion, are TO be found so
rich in soil, so diversified IN surface, or
so capable of being rendered the happy
abode OF an industrious and civilized com.
munity. For beauty Of scenery and sau.
brlty of climate, it is not surpassed. 1t is
peculiarly adapted for an agricultural and
pastoral people, and no portion of the
world beyond the tropics, can be found
that will yield so readily with moderate
labor TO the wants of man. Mr.. Farm.
ham dissents from this opinion, aud holds
that Oregon is not equal IN its soil or ca
pabllities to California or the valley Of the
Mississippi.
Great Britain claims without reserva.
ton, all the territory north Of the Column
bia river, and with an equal right to navi-
gate that river. 1t is said that she has Of
tered to make that river the boundary be-
tween the two governments. This claim, #
allowed by the United States, would take
full one half OF Oregon perhaps more.
To this our country will never accede.
During the discussions in the papers and
in Congress, our title to the 49lh parallel
was considered valid and unqueslonabe.