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 BEITISH COLUMBIA 295 of the Rocky mountains. In a right line it is less than 500 m. long, bnt with its meanderings 800 m. The river is navigable for about 100 m. of its lower course, and about 80 m. mid- way between its source and mouth. The Eraser has several affluents, the chief of which are Thompson, Harrison, and Lilloeet rivers. The first named rises in the Rocky mountains, flows W., and joins the Fraser in lat. 50. Peace river rises on the N. slope of the range which deflects the Fraser from its N. to S. course, and flows N., where it joins the Fin- lay. The Stikeen and Simpson are also con- siderable rivers, in the north of the territory, flowing into the Pacific. There are numerous lakes, the largest of which, the Upper and Lower Arrow, are connected with the Colum- bia river. Lake Okanagan has for its outlet the river of the same name. Pitt, Harrison, Lilloeet, Anderson, Quesnelle, and Caribou lakes are connected with Fraser river. Some of these lakes are navigable. The open coun- try around Lake Okanagan varies in height up to 1,500 ft. above the level of the sea; round Nicola lake up to 2,000 ft. ; round Lake La Hache to over 2,500 ft. The plateau be- tween Clinton and Bridge creeks has an ele- vation of from 3,500 to 4,000 ft. The cli- mate is healthy, and generally milder than in the corresponding latitude eastward of the mountains. On the coast the whiter is more humid than cold. The lakes are never wholly frozen, and travel is never impeded by the snow except in the mountain passes. All the harbors remain open throughout the winter except that of New Westminster, where the floating ice is dangerous to shipping from Jan- uary to March. From the middle of October till March there is much rain, with high winds. Winds from the S. and S. E. bring rain, and from the N. and N. W. fair weather. The central and eastern districts have from their elevation a severer climate, and in the upper country the thermometer in winter sometimes indicates 40 below zero. The soil of the valleys is generally fertile, but is subject to floods. The plateaus are barren, while the hillsides are generally covered with good tim- ber. The districts fit for agricultural settle- ment are thus estimated : On Fraser and Thomp- son rivers, 60,000 sq. m. ; sources of the upper Columbia, 20,000 ; Athabaska district, 50,000; Vancouver island, 16,000. The tract extend- ing from Thompson river to the Rocky moun- tains is described as eminently suitable for colonization. It possesses abundance of tim- ber and of bituminous coal, is diversified by hill and dale, watered by numerous streams and lakes, and has boundless pasturage. The soil, as elsewhere throughout the country, va- ries from a deep black vegetable loam to a light brown loamy earth, the hills supplying slate and building stone. The land on the lower course of Fraser river is also good, but it is covered almost entirely with dense forests. Wheat, oats, barley, Indian corn, peas, beans, potatoes, turnips, carrots, &c., have been suc- cessfully raised ; while garden produce, toma- toes, cucumbers, &c., ripen early. There is abundance of grass for cattle and flocks during the summer, and plenty of hay obtained for their support during the winter. Agriculture, however, is in a backward state. In the for- ests are found cedar, pine, fir, maple, hemlock, birch, poplar, willow, alder, and cottonwood trees, besides a variety of grasses and flowers. Sheep raising has been introduced with suc- cess. The country is rich in fur-bearing ani- mals, chiefly black, brown, and grisly bears, lynx, marten, and beaver. It was formerly the richest fur district of the Hudson Bay company. Fish abound in the lakes and rivers ; salmon are especially plentiful, and of four species, the largest being from 10 to 20 Ibs. hi weight. They proceed up Fraser river in countless num- bers, till stopped by shallow water, few of them returning to the sea. Although gold has been discovered in almost every part of the territory, and especially upon and E. of Fraser river, the fields which have been most extensively worked are in the Caribou district, which lies in the N. bend of Fraser river, about lat. 53 20'. Gold is also found in the Thomp- son and many of its smaller tributaries, on the Peace, and also on Gold stream and Leech river in Vancouver island. The gold is mostly in grains, few large pieces or " nuggets " hav- ing been found. Mining operations have been limited mainly to alluvial deposits, quartz crushing not having been introduced. The Cari- bou mines have been worked without interrup- tion since their discovery, but for some years have yielded less than $1,500,000 per annum. The number of miners is about 2,000. Accord- ing to the report of the commissioner of mines, the total amount of gold exported from the col- ony in 1869 was $2,417,873, exclusive of about $1,000,000 taken away by individuals. In 1870 it sank to $1,002,717, and in 1871 to $734,792, exclusive of what was taken away privately, about one third more. From 1862 to Sept. 20, 1871, the whole amount publicly exported was $16,650,036. The tardy devel- opment of the mines is attributed to the want of a geological survey, which has now, how- ever, been undertaken. Veins of silver have been discovered near Fort Hope and on Cherry creek near Shushwap lake, but are yet unde- veloped. Nuggets of native silver have been found on Peace river, indicating the presence of extensive deposits in that region. Veins of copper and lead are numerous, and prospecting has been done on the former, but without sat- isfactory results. Rock crystals, cobalt, talc, and iron ore exist near Fraser river. Platinum, cinnabar, plumbago, and agate have also been found. Coal abounds in several localities. Beds of valuable bituminous coal have been profitably worked on Vancouver island, where the annual produce amounts to about 50,000 tons, of which about 20,000 tons were ex- ported hi 1869. It is about 10 per cent.