This island is fertile, well timbered, finely diversified by
intersecting mountain ranges, and small prairies, with extensive coal
fields, compared by one witness to the West Riding of Yorkshire coal,
and fortunate in its harbours. Esquimault Harbour, on which Victoria is
situated, is equal to San Francisco. The salmon and other fisheries are
excellent; but this advantage is shared by every stream and inlet of the
adjacent coast. The climate is frequently compared with England, except
that it is even warmer. The winter is stormy, with heavy rains in
November and December; frosts occur in the lowlands in January, but
seldom interrupt agriculture; vegetation starts in February, rapidly
progressing in March and fostered by alternate warm showers and sunshine
in April and May--while intense heat and drought are often experienced
during June, July, and August. As already remarked, the island has an
area of 16,200 square miles.