PRINCE RUPERT

BRITISH COLUMBIA

OSSESSING a very large
and commodious _ har-
bor, covering an area of
about ten miles in

length by from a-half to two miles
in breadth, Prince Rupert as_ the
northern terminus of the Canadian
National Railway, principal port on
the northern coast of British Colum-
bia, and in the heart of an enormous
salmon and halibut industry, has
many factors contributing to its im-
portance. The railroad line which
has played a prominent part in the
development of the port, connects
Prince Rupert with the entire rail-
road system of Canada and_ the
United States.

Other industries, which are adding
force to the great progress which
Prince Rupert has been making for
several years past, are, mining
throughout Central and Northern
British Columbia and forestry in
the hinterland, the product of which
find an outlet at the port. This
is also a grain outlet for Saskatche-
wan and Alberta, the Dominion
Government elevator now being un-
der lease to the Alberta Wheat
Pool. The port is 500 miles nearer
the Orient than any other terminal
port on the Pacific Coast, and two
days nearer the Yukon and Alaske
than any other Pacific Coast city.

Large shipments of lumber,
poles, railway ties, silver, gold, cop-
per blister, shingles, fish and raw
furs are made through this port. It
is in the centre of the “Big Sitka
Spruce” district.

The fishing industry is of first

importance and has been developed
on a large scale. The official name
of the fisheries is the “Skeena River
District” or “District No. 2,” and
embraces the Skeena River, the
Naas River, Queen Charlotte Islands
and adjacent waters situated be-
tween. Prince Rupert is practically
located in the centre of the entire
fishing grounds.

Considering the Skeena No. 2
District as a whole, salmon fishing
predominates, but halibut fishing is
more important to Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert is the greatest hali-
but port on the Pacific. The Skeena
River entering the ocean a few miles
south of Prince Rupert is the most
productive salmon river on_ the
Pacific Coast. A dozen canneries
are locatedon that river and as
many more adjacent to its mouth.
The largest fish cold storage plant
in the world is at Prince Rupert.

The population of the city is about
8,000. The latitude of Prince Rupert
is 54 deg. 17 mins. north, longitude
130 deg. 20 mins. west, about the
same latitude as Liverpool, Eng-
land, and has a climate the mean
temperature of which is the same
as that of the great shipping port of
the Mersey.

Wet season extends from Octo-
ber to March. Dry season from
April to September. Precipitation
sometimes reaches 95 ins. Coastal
climate mild. Flowers bloom out-
side all through some winters.

The harbor and contiguous waters
are absolutely clear of ice and floes