FRASER RIVER, the principal stream of British Columbia, comprises in its basin the far greater part of the colony. The F. R. proper has its origin in the union of two branches, the more important of which receives its waters from a series of lakes that lie in lat. 54° to 55° n., long. about 124° 50' w., flows in a general s c. direction for 260 m., and then unites with the other branch, which has its source near mount Brown, in the Rocky mountains, lat. 53° n., long. 118° 40' w., flows n.w., and is 200 m, in length. The point of confluence is near fort George, in lat. about 53° 25' n., and in long. about 122° 40' w., and hence the F. R. flows in a generally southern direction through nearly the whole length of the colony, and after a total course Of 740 m. it falls into the gulf of Georgia between Vancouver's island and the mainland, barely to the n. of the international boundary of 49° of latitude. Its chief affluents are the Stuart and the • Chilcotin on the right, and the Thompson on the left. Between the Stuart and the Chileotin, and on the same side, the F. R. is joined by an affluent, which is rather of historical interest than of physical importance—the West Road river, which took its name from its having been ascended by sir Alexander Mackenzie, on his adventurous journey of 1793 from the Hudson's bay territories to the Pacific ocean. The F. R. is practicable for steam-boats as far up as fort Hope, a distance of about 150 m. from its mouth, while about half. that distsnce, as far as New Westminster, it is navigable for large ships. Above fort Hope, all intercourse is more safely and conveniently con
ducted by land; and even the aborigines, as their trails still testify,- appear to have yielded to the same necessity.
In 1857, the F. R., in its auriferous diggings and washings, began to stand forth as the rival of California and Australia. Since then, the discoveries, originally confined to the lower basin, have -stotrd.ily4leclme at once more extensive and more productive.
Eastward on the Thompson, and more especially northward among the upper waters of the great artery of the country, the precious deposit has sometimes given almost fabu lous returns. The mining operations here are, however, almost wholly in the hands of Chinese and Indians. It was estimated that during the year 1875 they secured gold to the amount of 50,000 dollars (over S....10,000). Specimens of silver have also been found on the F. R., so rich as to justify tlie construction of extensive works. Happily for the country, the days easy gains and wicked waste have passed away: Since 1862, washings and surface diggings have been succeeded by systematic mining and steady labor. The F. R., its tributaries, and the numerous lakes communicating with them, furnish great facilities for of timber. The lower Fraser country is especi ally densely wooded. A steamer runs as far up the river as Yale. The salmon of the F. R., of which there are five species, are justly famous.