BELLS GRAHAM ISLAND 43 8B

exposures here also interferes with the determination of this problem. Along
the north shore of Skidegate harbour, east of the Cowgitz mine, there is also
an extended area of the shales, etc., of the coal formation, and while outcrops
of coal itself are not disclosed at the surface, it seems possible that the
anthracite of the Cowgitz mine should be found in a less altered condition at
some point between this place and the igneous rocks west of Skidegate. This
also, is a matter to be determined by judicious boring operations.

The question of shipping facilities is also a very important one as re-
gards the future development of this coal field. There are only three
places where these can be found, viz., (1) at Skidegate on the south; (2)

by way of Masset inlet on the north, and (3) from Rennell sound on the
west coast.

In the present practically unsurveyed condition of these termini but
little can be said as to choice of route, but in any case a railway will have
to be built in order to reach a seaboard.

The conditions for the occurrence of lignite in economic quantities from
the Tertiary rocks of the eastern portion of the island are not very favour-
able. There are no shipping ports available on the east side, while the
presence of lignite itself has only been ascertained on the north shore east
of Masset, below high water mark. The statement is, however, made by
Rev. C. Harrison to the effect that the lignite exists in the flat country
adjacent to the south, but no information as to quantity or quality can be
ascertained. In fact, to determine actual conditions in this respect, a
systematic series of borings will have to be made under proper direction at
well selected spots.

The analysis of the coal from the Robertson seam shows it to differ in
a marked degree from that of Camp Wilson. From a specimen examined
by Dr. J. T. Donald of Montreal the following result was obtained :—

Camp RoBERTSON, LOWER SEAM, 1905.

NATO USTULT Occ ee eee cee ara gro meat bak at vone arcwenonere Ue Be
BN ECO TINO Se as Oe eae G VSS eae Semen Sees 85-25
JS cao bevorenie 6 Toys etic Un ss or Gaerne y Sieger reer saiareoeciO 48°89
PNR ee Nay rie nore ee eins Seen OE Rs ree gUcee Tier cen gala shee 20°85

100°00

An analysis of the coals from the seams at Camps Robertson, Wilson, and
Anthracite, from samples furnished Dr. G. M. Dawson by the first explorer
of the area, Mr. W. A. Robertson, gave the following results: —