The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1910-05-07

II
western extremity Of Van
X couver island. an irregular
line OF Islands and detached
Il rocks stretches for dis
tance Of 80 miles into the
North Pacific ocean. These islands
are very little known. ~ 10 far they
have been quite clear Of any CONNER
cial route. and. with the exception Of
an occasional haliDut-lshing schooner.
no vessel has had any reason for Wis
iting them. They lie. moreover. In
dangerous and only partially-surveyed
waters. where strong tide-races break
up the swell Of the ocean and sudden
storms Of great fury arc frequent.
There are no safe anchorages, and -
none Of the Islands appears to possess
any commercial value; they are likely
to remain undisturbed for many years
to come. Tho admiralty charts and
the Pilots Handbook are mot enthusi-
astic about the group. proiferinG only
the advice that mo- vessel sh9dld APP
preach them closely, and marking
many spots ~ dangerous for boats
and small vessels.
The object Of our expedition IN
June Of the present year was to az
anime into the nesting habits Of the
various ocean birds that were report
"a to breed on these islands in great
| QuAntities; and. Of course. Triangle
island. lying 1t the furthest distance
on shore and being the least access
fble, became the center Of attraction.
There were many dinhculties in the
way Of getting there: but we for
tunately fell in with two Danes at
Cape Scott who owned small san.
ing-boat and were willing to take NJ
to Triangle island and return for NJ
In q couple OF weeks. Neither Of them
had ever been to the island before.
20 We were all equally ignorant ~ to
the chances Of being able to land un-
der unfavorabls weather conditions.
The outward Journey was made
very comfortably. and an easy landing
was effected on the northeast side
Of the island. whore We found . good
stream Of water and great album
dance OF driftwood. The FIRST view Of
Triangle island gives one the impress
sion that It II covered with short
grass Of brilliant green color, and
that the high land II ~ easy to travel
over ~ the South Downs along tbs
English channel: but closer inspec.
ton reveals = dense growth Of stunt
I'd brush. mostly salmon-berry and
salile. with . little scrub crab-appls
growing to height Of three or -four
feet, and making speedy walking i'm
possible. The cliffs are rocky and
precipitous in places. but for the most
paft are quite accessible and covered
with long grass and fern. among
which grow many Of tho commoG
coast flowers. There II an entire ab
ssnce Of trees, in marked contrast Il
the dense growth Of scrub timber o.
the other Islands Of the group. and
| indeed, on nearly all the islands q
the seaboard Of British Columbia. III.
actual coastline II rough and Wild b
the extreme. The points run out 1
long way from the main island II
isolated pinnacles and high blu6s o
fantastic shape. while caves and un
derground sea passages are Of com
mon occurrence. The shape Of tn,
island IL that Of an ill-made starflsh
On the southwest corner 10 a lon,
promontory connected with the mali
island by . low. narrow neck, owe
which the sea breaks in heav,
weather. The island IL about q mil
IN length. and rises to height Of 60
feet. On the highest point II II NOV
proposed to establish \ lighthouse an
wireless telegraphy station. presun
ably In anticipation Of the tram
which IL expected to arise with III
growth Of Prince Rupert. the tsrminu
Of the new Trans-C Continental railwa,
now under construction.
with regard to the birds. there va
. certain amount Of disappointmer
In the fact that We were unable I
discover anything Of great rarity. m
island II well suited to the seabird,
which lay their eggs in holes In til
ground; but these birds have q taat
for forming colonies Of their ow
species on separate Islands. Thus II
burrowing grounds Of Triangle islam,
which extend over its whole surfae,
arc occupied By two species oaly-
the crested pufnn (Landa cifrhasa
and Cassin's auklst (PtychoeampAu
alsuticas). botA of wh1eA are peessG
= a20ooe ineof1lAao nu0boea u