12 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

from the shore of Skidegate harbour inland to the coal areas at Camps
Robertson and Wilson, the first eight miles in length, and the second
about the same distance farther north. The Robertson trail has been
carried west to the shore of Yakoun lake about three miles distant. A
horse trail is now being made between Skidegate post-office and the ranch
at the mouth of Tllal river about 25 miles north. Communica-
tion between Masset and Skidegate settlements is made either by tra-
versing the beach, a distance of over 100 miles, or by sail-boat round by
Rose spit. A few horses are kept at Masset by the Indians and by the
Rev. Charles Harrison, who has a small ranch called Delkatla three miles
east of the Indian village, while a Mr. Hodge at the Tllal has a few head
of cattle and horses and a fine piece of natural ranch-land. These animals
pick up a living on the wild grasses along the borders of the beaches or
in glades in the woods, while on the ranch lands at Masset and Tilal con-
siderable quantities of hay are-made from the wild grass on the marsh
lands along the creeks. A number of fine cows are also kept at these
places and the Indians, both at Masset and Skidegate, own a quantity of
eattle which run practically wild in the woods for a good part of the year.

In the northeast part of the island, towards Rose point and in rear
of Cape Fife, there is also a considerable herd of wild cattle, which are
now being hunted down for the sake of the meat, which is taken
to Port Simpson or to one of the Alaskan ports for sale. This herd
was reported as very large, but from close inquiries, it appears that the
number of animals at present in this part of the island in a wild state
is probably under one hundred.

Owing to the generally dense forest, ranching can be carried on,
with any chance of success, only at widely separated points. With the
exception of the above named, no other attempts have yet been made at
ranching on Graham island, though on the adjacent island (Moresby), at
Spit point across from Skidegate, a ranch of large size has quite recenta,
been started under favourable conditions. Owing to the fact that severe
winter weather never visits these islands, the stock can be kept in the open
all the year round.

The islands of the Queen Charlotte group held, some thirty years ago,
a large Indian population, variously stated at from 5,000 to 7000 persons
(Haidas), who were scattered in villages along the entire coast line.
This number has gradually decreased—through sickness or removal—and
the number of persons in this group is now reported to be about 700.
Gradually, also, the entire Indian population has removed from
the once widely separated villages, the remains of which can still
be seen at many places, until they are all now concentrated at
the village of Masset at the north end of Graham island, and