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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1886)
THE WEST SHORE. 40 BY STEAMER FROM SAVONA TO EAGLE PASS. SINCE the Fraser, the grout niniu waterway of the Province, is too turbulent and rocky for navigation in the grest canyon extending for many miles above the town of Yale, the steamboats plying on the interior Btreama and lakes of British Columbia aro disconnected from those ou the Lower Eraser and Gulf of Georgia. The most important of these iidand routes is that from Savona through Lake Kamloops, up Thompson River and through the Shuswap lakes to tho settlements on of those inland lakes, and yet in tho bright, clear morn ing air it was a beautiful aipht Tt is Bovoutoou miles long und from two to three miles wide. The water has not that crystal transparency for which the Shuswaps are noted, but in tlimn salmon and the beautiful lake trout swarm in countless utimbors. Its shores are bor- dored by gracefully rolling h.lls, barren of timber, vet pleasing to tho eye in spite of the aWnoe of rooky gorges and green forests. At the upper end of the lake we entered tho Thompson again, tho lake itself being but SpallumcTieon River. From Lytton, whore tho Thump- a widening of that stream, and after ascending it uino son pours us accumuiaieu waters iwo mo fraser, the miles reached tho bustling town of Kamloops, lying ou former stream is unnavigablo as far as Savona, at the foot of Lake Kamloops, a distance of sixty-nine miles. During the summer of 1881 repoated attempts were made to utilize the stream for forty-seven miles below Savona for the transportation of supplies for railroad construo- tho south side, oposito tho point of junction of tho North lhompson with the main stream. Hero tho difTorenoo in tho water of the two rivera is vory noticeable. Tho North Thompson, like the Fraaer, is a muddy stream, whilo tho South Thompson carries turn, but all ended in failure. The most notable effort the orvstal water,, f tl,n M1.......V . .l!.., ti..- was that made by Captain John Irving with tho steamer Kamloops tho waters of the two streams flow aide by Peerless. The run down tho swift and treacherous Hide, gradually mingling until the river becomes of one sironm was nmue in a low uours, out 11 was only atter a Inio throughout. montn s nam worn ana many narrow escapes from wreck ing that the valuable steamer was again safely tied up to tho landing at Savoua. From Savona to Spallumchoen steamers havo plied for a number of years, and last year the route as far as Eagle Pass, by which tho Canadian Pacific cuts through the Gold Mountains, was utili.ed in conveying passen gers, supplies, etc., during the construction of tho rail road running parallel to it Ou this route ran the JVrr lens, commanded by Captain Troup, well known on the Columbia as the man who took the IIui'ithI Qihxh through the rapids at Celilo, aud who in 1883 success- After a short step at this thriving inland town, which has lioconio the most imortant trade centre of tho in. torior, the Wfrs ngaiu headed eastward and proceeded up the south branch. Tho pebbly Utttom could be clearly seen, since the water was only from ten to twelve feet deep, and as I bent over tho rail I saw thousand of salmon, perch and trout darting in all directions from tho steamer's bow. Tho salmon I could hardly rooou. nio as tho samo fish I Imd semi swarming in the Fraser a few days lieforo, or which tho fishermen at the mouth of tho stream had Itocn hauling into their boats as I en tered the river blow New Westminster. While loapinir fully ran the gauntlet of the Cascade Captain Troup ami darting in tho turgid waters of the Fraser Gorge, was no small factor in hastening the construction of the tho salmon, with his silver sides glistening in tho sun, ia Canadian l'aciho. Dunug tho tall of 1884, though navi- a sight to captivate tho eye and challenge the admiration gntion of the Upper Thompson was at that Boason doomed of every beholder. Iu tho Upper Thommon it ia au impossible, this was. the only prauticablo route by which supplies and material could bo distributed along tho line of construction. Captain Troup alone was found equal to the emergency. lie declared the river navigable and proceeded to demonstrate it His carefulness and skill brought Buccess, and after three months he was presented by Mr. Ondordonk, the contractor, with a chock for $1,000 in addition to his regular large salary. From Savona the lake and river route is about 150 miles iu length, aud on it now run the PeerU'sa, Kamloops and Spnllumclurn, the first named costing $30,000. They are owned by J A. Mara & Co., the partners being Captain John Irving and F. J. Barnard. The headquarters of the company are at Kamloops. The Thompson is a rapid and shallow stream, but the lakes are deep enough to float tho largest craft, reaching in places a depth of 300 feet It was a beautiful August morning when I boarded the Pwrutss at Savona for the purpose of going to ham loops aud then bv the same boat to Eaide Pass. The 0 " other fish. Its days of glory havo departed. Instead of tho plump, succulent salmon of a few days ago it liaa become a long, lank fish, whose tenure of life ia brief. During its pilgrimage of 400 mile from the sea it liaa been denuded of its silvery scale by its encounters with rapids and sharp rocks, its body has assumed dull red hue, and though it still darts through the water with lightning Boed its almost boundless energy is well nigh sMnt A few week later I saw the 1mm and banks of Upper ThomHtoii and haglo rivers covered or mile with their festering bodies. Tho salmon is truly won derful fish. Nature has given it the instinct to return from tho sea in tho summer season and ascend to the headwaters of tho stream where it was Wn to exercise the faculty of procreation, aud ha provided it with the oower and energy to accomplish the task. Tuey are often found 2,000 miles inland, their head bruised, thsir fins aud tails almost worn awsy, their scale rul-lted off and their side covered with wounds and sore, still ...... . ....... , i . steamer drew alowly away from the dock, aud heading valiantly fighting their way upwar again, in curreni into Lake Kamloopn was aoon churning the water into of aorae shallow and rapid moaut .in brook, on who tm with her wheel Kamloops ia the least attractive bank their lacerated carcase finally I, rotting In tU