VANCOU'VER ISLAND, now, jointly with British Columbia, one of the colonies of Great Britain, forms a part of the Dominion of Canada, and is bounded on the w. by the Pacific, and on the e. by Queen Charlotte sound, Johnstone strait, Discovery strait, and strait of Georg which, taken together, form an open sea-way, separating the island from British Columbia. Lat. 48° 20' to 51° n., long. 123° to 128° west. It is 270 m. in length, from 30 to 50 m. in average breadth, and is of importance not only for its great natural resources, but also from its geographical position, which gives it, both com mercially and in a military point of view, the command of the Pacific. Area, about 16,000 sq. miles. The main mass of tile island is a mountain ridge, which rises in its high est peak, mount Arrowsmitb, to the height of 5,900 ft., and whose buttress-like walls descend for the most part abruptly to the shore. There are, however, in many coast districts, especially on the s.e, and e. sides, undulating tracts, thickly wooded in general, but here and there containing patches of open grass-land. The outline of the island is boldly picturesque. The shores are marked by abrupt rocky cliffs and promontories, by pebbly beaches and sheltered coves, with fine harbors. The w. shores are gloomy and frowning in aspect, deeply indented by fiord-like arms of the sea, the banks of which are formed by steep rocks, rising like walls. The surface is diversified by mountain, precipice, OM, dale, and lake, and the whole country is more or less densely wooded, except where the mountain summits afford no foot-hold for plants, or where open grass lands occur. There are no navigable rivers, and the streams, which are torrents in win ter, and are nearly dry in summer, are short, and are valuable only as supplying power for grist and saw mills. Springs are numerous, and the water excellent. The climate closely resembles that of Great Britain, subject, however, to modifications traceable to the position of the island. The ocean that washes its shores is throughout the whole year of a remarkably low temperature, owing to the arctic currents that sweep down along the coast, even to the lat. of San Francisco; and westerly winds blowing over the chilled sea-water, modify the climate of the island considerably. Again, winds from the s.e., from the snow-covered Olympian mountains in Washington territory, are also cold. Owing to these causes, the climate of the island, even so far on as the middle of June, resembles a late English spring—having a clear atmosphere, bright sun, and cold winds. The winter, as a rule, is open and wet; the spring is later and colder than iu
England, and the summer drier and hotter. The maximum temperature is about 84° Fahr., and the minimum about 22° Fahr. Only a small proportion of the surface is suited for agriculture, four-fifths being little better than barren rock. The crops gener ally raised are wheat, barley, oats, and peas. The green crops are turnips, mangold wurzel, vetches, potatoes—which flourish here in unsurpassed excellence—and all sorts of vegetables Of wheat, the average production is 25 to 30 bushels per acre; of oats, 40 bushels; barley, 40 bushels. Fruit-culture is a very profitable branch of industry. Gold has been found; coal is very abundant; and copper, silver, lead, and other ores abound. The puma, the bear, and wolf still range in the forests; two kinds of deer are found; there are two kinds of grouse; and snipe and wild-fowl in great variety. Salmon abound. Extensive banks lie about 32 tn. off the 8.w. shore. All of them are well stocked with fish, especially the cod, herring, haddock, whiting, halibut, and sturgeon. A company has been formed to prosecute the fisheries; and there is an extensive market along the w. coast of America. Among the valuable woods of the island, the white fir, or Douglas pine, one of the best woods for spars known, is at once the commonest and most important. In some instances, this tree has been known " to square" 45 in. DO feet. The cedars have an average diameter of 6 to 7 ft., and one has been measured 14 ft. in diameter. Ship-building has sprung up, and is an important branch of indus try. The capital of the island is Victoria (q.v.). The pop. (including Victoria) is 0,000; together with a large floating pop. of miners, and about 18,000 natives, who, however, are gradually disappearing.
The island was discovered in 1762 by capt. Vancouver, an officer in the British navy. Its possession was secured to Britain by treaty in 1846; previous to 1858, it was held, together with British Columbia, by the Hudson's Bay company under lease from the crown; later, it was for two years an independent colony; but in 1865, Vancouver island and British Columbia were united. See COLUMBIA, BRITISH. The Canadian Pacific railway is to fix its ultimate terminus on Vancouver island, which will thus stand in unbroken communication with the Atlantic coast.