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