Official report of the exploration of the Queen Charlotte Islands | Page 5

250 fathoms in length, with 60 native hooks upon each,
baited with halibut. The fish dressed weight on an average six pounds
each, the largest being thirty-three inches in length. They are easily
cured with salt and keep well. It is believed that a good steam schooner
of about 100 tons register, provided with Colombia River boats of the
largest size, manned by practical cod fishermen, will be best adapted
for catching these fish in marketable quantities. There are good harbors
of easy access, within ten or fifteen miles off the fishing grounds, all
along the west coast.
* * * * *
Minerals--Gold, Etc.
Gold was discovered at the head of Gold, or Mitchell Harbor on the
west coast of Moresby Island in 1852, by an Indian, since known as
Captain Gold, and about $5,000 taken out by the Hudson Bay
Company, when the vein (quartz) pinched out. Parties of prospectors
have examined the locality since, but have not found any further
deposits. Colors of gold have been washed out from the sands on the
east and north shores of Graham Island.
* * * * *
Coal.
Numerous veins of coal have been previously discovered on Moresby
and Graham Islands, the most important of which are the anthracite
deposits situated on the Skidegate Inlet, and described under the head
of "The Cowgits Coal Mine" in progress report No. 4. There are

outcroppings of coal in several other places on and near the shores of
this inlet, viz: on its south side, nearly opposite the Cowgits seams, on
Alliford Bay, and on the north side about half a mile from the Indian
village of Skidegate. These coals are of a bituminous character, but the
veins exposed are only a few inches in thickness.
Beds of lignite formation lie on the north side of Graham Island
between Tow Hill and Chown Point, on the Yakoun and Mamin rivers
of Massett Inlet, on Lignite Brook and Naden Harbor and on the west
coast near the sea otter hunters' camp of Tledoo. Coal has also been
found at the head of Skaloo Inlet.
The Indians have brought in specimens of bituminous coal said to have
been obtained upon a stream discharging into Cumshewa Inlet, and
they also report having seen a seam near Ninstints. Messrs Knight,
Williams and Allen, practical coal miners of Nanaimo, prospected the
islands for coal during the past summer, but made no locations.
* * * * *
Copper.
Copper bearing rocks, and veins occur in several localities on the east
coast of Moresby Island, and shafts have been sunk into them at
Copper Bay and opposite Copper Island and abandoned. The
examination of these deposits is briefly mentioned in progress report
No. 2.
* * * * *
Productions, Cereals and Vegetables.
Oats are the only cereal which has been successfully grown in the
islands.
Potatoes, turnips, cabbages, peas, and garden vegetables generally, with
the exception of Indian corn tomatoes and melons are raised.

* * * * *
Fruits.
Crab-apples, red, blue and black whortleberries, Scotch, salal, salmon
and strawberries are very abundant. Cranberries were found on the
north and east side of Graham Island. A few black currants and
gooseberries were also seen. Apple and pear trees grow well, but bear
an inferior fruit which seldom ripens.
* * * * *
Inhabitants--Physical Characteristics.
These islands are inhabited by about 800 Hydah Indians, a very
remarkable race of people. The most common type of the adult
unmixed Hydah is about five feet, seven inches in height, thick-set,
large-boned, with fairly regular broad features, coal-black hair and eyes,
and a bronze complexion. They have generally--both men and
women--finely developed breasts and fore-arms, caused by their almost
daily use of the canoe paddle from infancy. A few have well-formed
legs, though the greater number are defective in this respect, resulting
from much sitting, or rather squatting in their, canoes, in and around
their lodges, with but comparatively little walking. Their feet are so
short, broad and thick through the instep, that shoes are made by the
manufacturer, expressly for them. Some of the young men wear a
moustache, and a scanty beard is occasionally seen upon the face of the
old men, though both generally eradicate such hair as it grows. Only
the women and medicine men permit the hair of the head to grow long.
They walk with a springy light tread and agile step, though I easily
outran a young Indian of Massett, who matched himself against me.
Some of them are very strong in the arms, an Indian of Skidegate
beating me at "tug of war." Many are expert swimmers, sometimes
diving from their canoes into the rough sea, and bringing out wounded
seal which have sunk to the bottom. One of my men performed such