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8 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

The only two settlements on Graham island are the Indian villages of
Skidegate, at the southeast extremity, and of Masset, at the north end.
The nearest shipping ports on the mainland of British Columbia are Ports
Simpson and Essington, the distance from Masset to the former in a straight
line being 85 to 90 miles and from Skidegate to Simpson 115 miles, or to
Essington 115 miles. The sailing distances are, of course, somewhat greater
than those given. The nearest land on the north is at Point Chacon in
Alaska, distant about 45 miles.

Connexion with the mainland is made by means of a steamer calling at
Skidegate once a month and at Masset once a year, though a more frequent
service to the latter place is contemplated. At other times ccmmunication
is had with the ports in British Columbia by sailing boats of about five
tons burden, known as ‘‘Columbia River boats,’’? which usually have fine
seagoing qualities.

Graham island is much broader at the north end than at the south.
Thus, from Rose point, on the northeast, to Cape Knox, at the north-
west extremity, is fifty-three miles in a direct line; while from Lawn
hill, near the southeast point, to the south entrance of Rennell sound,
on the southwest coast, is only twenty-five miles across country. This
is also practically the distance between Skidegate village and Hunter
point, at the northwest entrance to Cartwright sound. The distance
between Masset village on the north and Skidegate on the south is
about 48 miles measured directly across the island, while from the
north end of North island to the western entrance of Skidegate. chan-
nel along the west coast is about 77 miles. The area of the island,
roughly speaking, is somewhat more than 2000 square miles.

The northern interior of the island is accessible by water through
Masset inlet, a deep and narrow tidal waterway, which, after a distance
of seventeen miles, expands into a large lake-like sheet of water, with a
length, from east to west, of eighteen miles, and a breadth north from the
mouth of Yakoun river, which is near the southeast angle, of about seven
miles. On the south side of this inland lake a narrow passage, through
which the tide rushes with great foree, connects with another inland salt
water lake known as Tsooskatli, which is nine miles long, one to two and a
half miles wide, and contains many small islands. The time of high water
in this inland lake is about four hours and a half later than at Masset har-
bour.

To the north of the main expansion of Masset inlet there is a fresh
water lake about fourteen miles long from the east to west, with a maxi:
mum breadth of one mile and a half, known as Iintsua lake, which connects
with the inlet by the Ain river. All these inland lakes are bor-
dered by high ranges of mountains, including many cone-shaped
peaks. All are composed of igneous rocks, portions of which are Pre-