CHAPTER XXI

CASSIAR

Everysopy who has hunted big game on this continent
is familiar with the name of Cassiar, even if he has
never had the good fortune to visit the district himself.
It lies in the extreme north-west portion of this Province.

Apart from that derived from its fur trade, and a fair
amount of gold which has been taken out of the placer
mines in the vicinity of Atlin and Dease Lake, the district
has not produced any wealth. What timber grows there
is too small to be of any value except for local use, and
though there are thousands of acres of open meadows,
and hill after hill covered with rich grass, whereon huge
droves of cattle could wax fat, as well as vast stretches
of nice, fertile soil, the climatic conditions to some extent,
and its utter inaccessibility to a greater degree, make
them valueless for anything except game. Possibly some
day quartz mining may flourish up there, as already excel-
lent showings of gold, silver, lead, and other minerals
have been discovered, but until better means of trans-
portation than there are at the present time are forthcom-
ing, the country must remain undeveloped and the game
flourish in comparative security.

At present there is no other part of the continent that
is the superior of Cassiar for all-round sport—in my
opinion none that can equal it—-nor is there any other
part of the continent that can rival it for gorgeous sunsets
and peaceful charm. Of course the Rocky Mountains and
several other ranges excel it in grandeur, but for real
beauty the north is in a class by itself. Possibly also

other parts are better for certain kinds of game. There
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