Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/250

 Oregonians. They are much alike, and are frequently confused even by people familiar with the woods. Their names are often mixed, and colloquial expressions such as red fir, yellow fir and Oregon fir are employed in attempts to describe them to the uninitiated. Probably the most important of the six Oregon species are the noble fir, Abies nobilis and silver fir, Abies amabalis. These two trees, particularly the former, are generally called larch by lumbermen. They are very important commercially. Abies lasiocarpa, or alpine fir, is small and not so important. The lowland white fir, Abies grandis, and the white fir, Abies concolor are important lumber producers, and are generally known as the white fir. The red fir of California, Abies magnifica also grows in Oregon, together with its variety shastensis. With the exception of the California sequoias, the firs of Oregon are the most magnificent of our forest trees, and attain heights of over 300 feet. Diameters of ten feet are not uncommon. For detailed descriptions of the species mentioned above, together with their ranges, see Sudworth's Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, and Mathews' Field Book of American Trees.

, Columbia County, Firwood was named for its natural, rustic surroundings. The post office was on or near Clatskanie River about ten miles southeast and upstream from Clatskanie. A contemporary map shows the office in the extreme south part of township 7 north, range 4 west, but a recent army map shows Fir Wood school in the next township to the east. The post office may have been moved from time to time, and in fact been in both locations in its career. The post office with the name Firwood, was established February 14, 1917, with Percy A. Frazer first of three postmasters. The office was discontinued May 31, 1918, with mail to Clatskanie.

, Benton County. Fischer Island is the lower part of a land-area in Willamette River upstream from Corvallis. The upper part is Stahlbusch Island. Fischer is the correct spelling and not Fisher. The Fischer Flouring Mill Company owned the land. Fisher, Lincoln County. Fisher post office is named for a small fur bearing animal, colloquially known as the fisher, but more properly the marten. There are three important members of the Musteline carnia vores, to-wit: beech marten, pine marten and American marten or sable. Fisher post office was established March 19, 1892. It has not always been in its present location. It is reported that Bennett Olsen suggested the name. Martin Johanson was the first postmaster, and J. W. Mink, later held the office. Remarkable nomenclature.

, Lane County. Fisher Creek is a tributary of North Fork Willamette River and was named for a pioneer cattleman who grazed stock nearby.

, Clatsop and Columbia counties. There are two streams called Fishhawk Creek tributary to Nehalem River from the north. One of these streams flows into the river in the extreme west part of Columbia County, The other flows in at Jewell. These streams were named because of incidents connected with the many fishhawks in Oregon and it is surprising that more streams have not been named for them. Ernest E. Hogberg was appointed postmaster at Fishhawk, Columbia County, on January 17, 1890, and he held the office until it was discontinued August 15, 1910. It was at, or very close to, the mouth of this stream near the extreme west edge of Columbia County. The area