The fisheries of British 0. are perhaps the richest in the world, but their distance from populous centers has hitherto prevented their development. Whales and seals abound off the northern coasts. Sturgeon are plentiful in the rivers and estuaries; they are found weighing over 500 lbs., and are easily caught. The salmon of the Fraser river are famous over the American continent; so are the oulachans, small sprat-like fish, which enter the river in millions; some are so full of oil that, it is said, they will burn like a candle. Cod, herring, halibut, anchovies, haddock, etc., are caught in great quantities.
Steamers now ascend the Fraser as far as fort Yale, and others have been put on in various parts of the province, to provide easier access to the mining districts; bat the inland routes are of the rudest description. Up the left of the Fraser, however, there is a tolerable road as far as Lytton at the confluence of the Thompson. The grand obstacle, however, in the way of all improvements, centers in the more attractive char acter of mining than of any more regular pursuit. Independently of silver, which has been discovered in the lower basin of the Fraser, and of copper, which is known to exist immediately to the e. of the same, gold may be said to he universally diffused. In addi tion to the old "diggings," new mines were opened in 1871, in the n., in the Peace and Ominica district. and yielded in the same year over £80,000. The total yield for the province in 1875 was about £500.000, and the total yield from 1857 has been estimated at about £7.000,000. The only obstacles to the prosecution of almost inexhaustible gold mining are the want of roads, the want of capital, and the want of a thorough geologi cal survey. Silver mines have been opened in the Fraser valley. Coal and iron area's() found. Fors are one of the most important products of the country. the value of the exports of that article in 1874, being upwards of £00.000. The most valuable are the • black and silver fox, sea otter, red fox, fur seal, mink, martin, beaver, and common otter. Buffalo arc found on the plains; bears, and goats, and sheep on the mountains; elk are met with on the coast, and deer on the groups of small islands; wild ducks and geese are abundant; grouse and snipe are found everywhere; and in the plains a kind of tall buff crane, 4 or 5 ft. high.
The climate varies according to the locality, owing principally to four causes: (1) greater or less distance from the sea; (2) or from the mountain regions; (3) difference in the variety and growth of vegetation; (4) difference of level. The low portions near the sea and on Vancouver's island have a moderate climate, with a temperature rang ing from 20' in winter to 80' in summer. The spring is short, lasting from the begin ning of Mar. to the early part of May. A short spring lasts from Mar. till May; sum mer, from May till Sept.; the next two months are autumn, of which winter is only an aggravation, the snows being light, and the frosts far from 'severe or lasting.
To its mineral resources, British O. mainly owes its present position. It was the discovery of gold in 1857—coinciding as it did with the expiration of the Hudson's bay company's licensed monopoly—that led to the establishment of the colony in 1853. In connection with this same cause, adventurers from the United States, from Great Britain and its dependencies, and from China, have flocked hither. According to the census of 1871, the pop. of the province was 10.580, exclusive of Indians, who are esti mated at from n000 to 50,000, but their numbers are diminishing from small-pox, measles, and tribal wars. When the Canadian Pacific railway is completed, this province will become one of the most valuable in the dominion. The different routes proposed have provoked much local contention; but the visit of earl Dufferin, the governor-general, in 1676, has done good service in removing obstacles to this great enterprise.
British C. is represented in the Canadian parliament by 3 senators and 6 members of the house of commons; but it has also a local legislature, a lieut.gov., and an execu tive council. The chief towns arc Victoria and New Westminster.