Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05
Scientists Give Lecture Before
Biological Society.
DESCRIPTION OF HARDSHIPS
Travel Through Country Seldom Wis
tied by White Man.
SEEK SPECIMENS OF ANIMALS
George Mixter of the Department Of
Agriculture and E. A. Preble
Travel 1900 Miles.

Under the title of "Afoot Across the
British Columbia Rockies. George Mix
ter, scientist of the Department of Agri-
culture. described last night before the
Biological Society of Washington trip
i'm the north country in quest of new
specimens of mammal and bird life. Mr..
Mixter was accompanied by +. A. Preble,
a fellow scientist, and the haTdships en-
dured equaled, If not surpassed, the trials
of previous extraordinary expeditions.
While unsuccessful in discovering any
new specimens of wild life the travellers
were enabled to study at first hand a
number of rare specimens of which little
has been hitherto known.
The trip was taken last summer and
began at Vancouver, British Columbia. 1t
continued up the Pacific coast to point
a short distance south of the Alaskan
line then up one of the numerous rivers
that rise in the British Columbia Rockies,
across the continental divide and down
the Finlay river. one Of the biggest tribu-
taries of the Hudson bay, to the Atha-
basca river, thence to AthaSasca Landing.
THE last leg lay from AthabaSca Land
ing to Edmonton, Alberta, hundred
miles south. the central western rendez-
Vous of Canada for prospectors and trap
pers going north. The major portion of the
"trip lay over country that has seldom
seen the foot of white man except an
occasional prospector, who has wandered
out of the recognized limits of the gold
regions westward of the Klondike. The
trip was slightly more than 1900 miles.
The first COO miles was made with a horse
pack train, and in a dugout canoe. The
other half, from point on the Finlay
river to Athabasca Landing, the scientists
jOurneyed by water on log raft, on
which they ate and slept.
Provisions Ran Low.
Twice our provisions reached the
point where we saw small chance of hav-
ing anything to eat a week ahead. Luck
was the only thing that saved us 1t was
the widest, dreariest and yet the most
fascinating land / have ever SEEM. said
Mr.. Mixter. II never really appreciated
how utterly unknown is the country north
of us, and the vastness of this continent,
until 1 had an opportunity to reflect on
what we had seen and done after our re-
turn to civilization.
Aside from the biologic objects of the
trip Mr.. Mixter and his companion took
the opportunity Of making the first accu-
rate maps of the country through which
they passed and of studying the Indian
tribes of the interior. They were accom-
panied by two coast Indian guides, and
were out OF touch of civilization a little
less than four months.
The description of the trip was il
Illustrated with stereopticon views from
photographs taken by both Mr.. Mixter
and Mr.. Preble From the continental
divide 10 the Pacific coast. Mr.. Mixter
said they found an ideal game cOun-
try. Great herds of caribou, deer
mountain goats and sheep were en-
eourtered almost daily, Game BIRDS
were also plantiful. including four or
five varieties of ptarmagin. For sew
eral hundred miles east of the divide
game became scarcer and scarcer until
they were forced to shoot an occas sion
al mountain goat or ground hog for
food. AS they neared the Athabasca
river the supply became plentiful
again, but not to the extent Of the
coast slopes.
Shot Goat at Mountain Top.
"Once- after We had been travelling