by Geo. Vaux, Jr., and William S. Vaux

“ If now one will examine a map of the Pacific ocean upon which the currents are marked, he will see that the great Japan current flows in a northeasterly direction along the Asiatic coast, until it divides, one branch continuing through Behring sea and strait into the Arctic, whilst the other and larger portion takes a great sweep to the east, until it strikes the American continent, when it turns southward, and flows parallel to the coast. ”

“ Whilst the glaciers of the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks cannot compare in size with those of Alaska and other far northern latitudes, there are probably no other mountain ranges in the world where the conditions are more favorable for glacial study and observations. All the various types may be seen, and their location is such that they may be visited with the greatest ease by the tourist, and a continuation of observations made and records kept, which in the future will be of the greatest value in solving the many problems that are as yet unanswered respecting the action of glaciers. ”

“ This same result of advance and retreat may also be produced by protracted changes of weather conditions as more or less precipitation, higher or lower mean annual temperature. Such must last, however, for terms of years in order to produce anything more than a temporary effect upon the glacier. This characteristic has long been noted, and it is found that usually through long cycles varying from a dozen up to thirty or more years, the glaciers of a given region will show each year a net advance and then again for a succeeding period successive annual recessions. ”

“ TEST PICTURE OF THE ILLECILLEWAET GLACIER FOR THE YEAR 1905
Showing the Left Lateral Moraine, Mount Lookout in the Centre
to calculate the amount of recession. By correspondence and otherwise we have endeavored to collate all of this information, and it is recorded in these maps. The first systematic marking was done in 1888 by the Rev. W. S. Green. He daubed with tar a number of boulders adjacent to the ice, and its limitations that year may be easily made out by following these marked rocks. ”

“ These observations were made with the aid of some large boulders, and the prismatic compass, by which means the position of the rocks was located in successive seasons relative to fixed points not on the ice. The amount of the flow was about 147 feet during the year 1899- 1900.
We have also visited and photographed a number of other glaciers, but on none of them have we made any accurate measurements and observations. In the interests of science, it is much to be hoped that the number of glaciers studied will be very largely extended. ”