Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-06
A Wonderful voyage 1900 MILES
in n Canoe.

Capt. Chittenden was a passenger By the
Otter, having returned from making an ex
animation of the resources of the Queen
Charlotte islam generally In which he has
been engaged since April last. His progress
reports have already been published up to
May, but a short sketch OF his labors since
Will prove interesting. These embrace n
thorough examination Of the Masset Inlet
and Nirago Sound country, and all of the
bays, inlets and harbors of the west coast OF
Graham Island, of which there are fourteen,
from three and half to ten miles In
depth, several being fine harbors. He also
aseended all the streams flowing into the
same. first as far as the canoe could be
pushed and then advancing from three to
ten miles beyond on foot. He Is of the
opinion that the entire area OF agricultural
land will not aggregate more than 1900
acres, aud mountain grazing land about
| 2j,00O acres The former lie principally
along the north coast of Graham Island, be
tween Masset Inlet and Rose Spit, and on
the east coast of Graham Island between
Rose Spit and Tellell river. The balance
are found In small tracts of from five
to twenty acres Mt heads of inlets, and
these latter are partially oyeriiowed at
high tide. There Is some fine spruce tins Ell
| on Masset and Skidegate lnlets, some tr es
measuring thirty-onc feet and over. in cir
conference. There was also some red cedar
of the same proportions, while yellow cedar
was limited In extent These large trees
were, OF course, few and scattered. Nearly
the whole area of the islands is covered with
timber. but the quantity III for numbering
purposes is comp iratively small.
The fish supply is unlimited, there being
large quantities of halibnt skill. (black cod
and herring found In the various Water
surrounding the islands. There are halibui
banks at short ifste rivals around the entire
group, skill all dong the west coast from
Gold farbor northward, herring by the mil
lion in the inlets, small but excellent salmon
in nearly all the larger streams, salmon and
trout in nearly all the creeks and brooks.
The true. cod are also caught in various
portions OF the islands.
There have been no other veins of coal
found, except small vein of bituminous
coal ON Skidegate Inlet, altt ough several
practical Nanaimo miners have been pros
pecting there during the Fast summer
The weather during the spring was excep.
tionally stormy until about the middle OF
June, and fine weather during July and
August. The rainfall for the year will prob
ably be from 45 to 10 inches, the largest
amount falling on the west coast of the
island. which Is almost 4 continuous range
OF mountains from 800 to 49)J feet In hight.
The temperature Is very e1uable. ranging
only from 10 to Is degrees from five in the
morning till mid day the highest tenpera-
ture attained being about 70 degrees.
Great quantities Of game were met with,
the geese being almost tame. while large
blue grouse were in abundance. Bears are
very numerous There are no deer except
those that have been placed there by Mr..
Huu ttUtrft Wnilt tut
which were put ON the north end OF Graham
and a small island In Skidegate Inlet a year
or two ago are increasing very rapidly and
are being killed for food. No snakes and
comparatively few frogs were seen on the
island. There are no beasts of prey on the
island, such as wolves, wildcats. etc, which
are found in other parts Of the province.
A submerged forest, about 30 or "a acres OF
which were exposed at low tide, was discoy-
cred about fifteen miles sonth of Cape Knox
on the northwest coast of Graham island.
Portions of this were converted into Ignite
coal and others petrifed, some trees stand
ing erect and others thrown down.
Capt. Chittendens work has involved
many hardships and dangers which few can
appreciate who are not acquainted with the
country and waters traversed. The west
coast was exceedingly stormy. nearly wreck
ing their canoe among breakers and upon
rock on several occasions Twice his men
wanted to turn back, and once an Indian
stripped TO jump overheard. saying that
they would all be drowned. Capt. Chittend-
en- steered his canoe 500 miles most of the
time in stormy weather with his left hand,
his right having been then and now dis
abled from the effect OF hard rowing on his
first trip, it having been slightly poisoned
while in raw condition from rowing. About
1900 miles were converted altogether In the
canoe in exploring the coasts.-f Daily
British Oolonist of Oct. L..