The rainfall in British Columbia is considerable, and the flora—­trees, plants, ferns—­richer than anywhere else in North America, with many resemblances to the trees and plants of Japan and northern China.  In British Columbia more than in any other part of the world are found the noblest developments of the pines, firs, and junipers (Coniferae).

The coast rivers swarm with salmon, and perhaps because of the abundance of sea fish close in shore there have been developed in the course of ages those remarkable aquatic mammals, the sea lions or fur seals (Otaria), whose relationship to the true seals is a very distant one.  On the Alaskan coasts and islands is Otaria ursina, the creature which provides the sealskin fur of commerce.  There is also the much larger sea lion (Otaria stelleri), on the coasts of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.  Alexander Henry, jun., gives some interesting facts about this remarkable beast.

“The natives at Oak Point, during the time Mr. Keith was there, killed five very large sea lions by spearing them at night.  Two canoes being lashed together, they approach very softly, and throw their spears, which are fastened by a long, strong cord, with a barb so fixed in a socket that, when it strikes the animal and pierces the flesh, it is detached from the shaft of the spear, but remains fastened to the cord.  This is instantly made fast between the canoes; the animal dives and swims down river, dragging the canoes with such velocity that they may be in danger of filling, and require great skill in steering.  In this manner they are carried down some miles before the animal becomes exhausted with loss of blood, makes for the shore, and lies on the beach, where they dispatch it and cut it up.  The price of a sea lion among the natives is one slave and an assortment of other articles.  Mr. Keith bought the flesh of one of these animals, and we had some roasted; it resembles bear’s meat.  The hair is like that of a horse, in summer of a chestnut colour.  The natives, and also the Russians, are particularly fond of marine animals, such as whales, &c.; they drink the oil like milk.”

Another notable water beast of the British Columbia coast was the sea otter (Enhydris), described on p. 305.  Such an immense value was set on its fur that it is now nearly extinct within British limits.

The huge chocolate-coloured bear of the Yukon valley has already been mentioned; also the very large, blackish-brown wild dog (Canis pambasileus), which from one or two passages in the writings of Canadian pioneers may also be found as far south as the British Columbian Rocky Mountains.  In the Yukon country the elk (which was formerly very common in British Columbia) grows to gigantic proportions with longer and larger antlers than elsewhere.  In the forested mountains of British Columbia (as well as farther north) are the wood bison, the white mountain goat, grizzly bears, black bears, two kinds of lynx, the wapiti red deer, and the large bighorn sheep.