001C97BA July 26, 1929- THE WEST VAN NEWS 19 KEiV BEACH West Vancouver Bird and Animal Life I)y I'urcell Hardman "Set in silver," embowered iii the changing shades of conifer- ous and deciduous trees, broid- ered with cascading mountain streams, sheltered from nortli- ern winds by the background of the Coast Range, which encircle the plateau of Hollyburn Ridge; the winter and summer play- ground of thousands of Lower Mainland residents, and the fut- ure Vancouver National Park. This, in brief, is the fortunate set ting of IVest Vancouver, a place one has to leave to fully appreciate. Gilbert white in his world- famous "Selbourne," remarks that "Hampshire is full of woods and streams, and is therefore full of birds" and thus it is with IVest Vancouver; favored haunt of artists and of many organized bodies of nature lovers. The story of our many furred and feathered fauna of the woods and glades of our hinter- land, once depleted, but happily, now coming back, is simply a story of conservation. The setting aside by the Pro- vincial Government in 1926 of an area from Seymour Creek on the east to Cypress Creek on the west from the sea shore to the crest of the watershed, as a Game Reserve together with the far-reaching effects of the Mi- gratory Birds Convention Act, has had a wonderful effect in the increasing of the valuable fur and feathered life of this district. Of the larger furred residents, that grock of the woods, the black bear, is becoming numer- ous enough to be a nuisance to domestic fowls and goat keepers. Columbia deer are increasing in numbers on the higher levels of the range and Virginia white Tail deer have been seen on the Reserve, drifted in doubtless for protection. Otter and beaver, though known to few, are here and are increasing, adding a delightful aesthetic touch to our streams while pine marten and mink are plentiful. There are neither red fox nor coyote as yet in this area, and that pest. the cougar is but an occasional visitor from the fast- nesses of Mts. Strachan and Har- vey. One could easily fill a volume on the bird life of )Vest Vancou- ver, so rich is it in variety and numbers, but in a short article one can only touch on them. Of game birds the introduced pheasant, Mongolian and ring- necked, are numerous and pro- vide ample sport for the gunner on lands adjacent to the Reserve while the hoot of the big sooty grouse can be heard from every woodland trail. The so-called willow grouse that is, the Canada ruffed grouse (I expect to be checked up on that, Mr. Editor) dying off in i@any parts of this continent, due to disease and shooting, is becoming more abundant here, thanks to well drained terrain, a southern slope and protection Quail introduced to Lynn Valley nine years ago are thriving here. Except in one or two woefully neglected gardens insects as a menace, don't exist here, there is no district on the Lower Main- land more free from insect pests than )Vest Vancouver. The answer is, our song and insectivorous birds. I remember a party of British editors paying a visit to Stanley Park. One of them happened to remark "where are all your song birds? Might I say that they are not there, perhaps the few the cats and crows did not de- stroy came across the Narrows to IVest Vancouver where they are assured of harborage. The whole gamut of IVestern bird life from the bald-headed eagle to the rufous humming bird is at home in our gardens, ivoods and on our rugged sea shore. The denizens of our streams and coast ~vaters seem to be bet- ter known to the enthusiastic IValtonian ivho visits us than to most of our residents. Three varieties of trout, now being increased by systematic stocking offer good sport to the (Continued on Page 21) a ~ 0 y ie 'L. g~ A Beach Scene at IVest Bay The Boat Landing at Kew Beach There are many delightful Summer Cottages in this District. Kew Beach stands at the ent- rance to Eagle IIarbour, an arm of the sea jutting inland for a- bnut a mile and opening out of which are numerous sheltered coves, dotted with tiny summer cottages perched like dove-cotes on the rocks, embowered in ar- butus and jack-pine, which find a precarious foothold in the dirt- filled crannies and clefts of the rocks. Here one's family can enjoy the benefits of life in a summer bungalow by the seashore and father can be with them each day as it is an easy and pleasant drive by Pacific Stage or private auto to the city of Vancouver. Mr. Trot ter, the proprietor manager of Kew Beach, has a number of splendid cottages for the pleasure and convenience of visitors, and it is a remarkable tribute to the charm of the place when the same people return summer after summer to enjoy their holidays at Kew Beach. The beach is clear of rocks and boulders and slopes gently to the water. To the left of the beach is Observation Point, a rocky prominence, from which there is a wonderful view to the moun- tains of Vancouver Island and the San Juan Islands to the southwest. Kew Beach is a fisherman' paradise, trout, steelhead salmon and cod abounding off shore. illineral Spring A spring is also situated there, the waters of which have a cer- tain medicinal value, and wond- erful cures for anemia and vari- ous ailments of the digestive organs are claimed to have been effected through its agency. HOI.LYBURil PIER Hollyburn pier, situated at the foot of 17th Street, was the first pier in AVest Vancouver, having been built by the Dominion Gov- ernment in the early days of the municipality. IUhen John Law- ~on established the first ferry service to the city, the pier, wtih that at Dundarave, were the ports of call in AVest Vancouver, but with the build- ing of the pier at Ambleside and the big influx of residents in that section of the municipality, the starting point of the ferries divas moved to Ambleside. The I'ederal Government did a lot of dredging at Hollyburn in the summer of 1925, and Hollyburn pier, while little used for the purpose, is the only pier where the water is sufficiently deep for l~;rger vessels to come in and tie up. The pier fell into disre- pair ivith the years, but the last couple of years the Dominion Government has done consider- able ivork on it, and it is now in first class shape. It is now the Mecca for swimmers from the easterly end of the munici- pality, anil every fine evening it is crowded with bathers, swim- rning and diving in the waters. There is a boat station located beside the pier, where boats can be obtained for fishing or row- ing. Street Names The avenues in EVest Vancou- ver run east and west. Starting from the waterfront the names start in alphabetical order, viz., Argyle, Bellevue, Clyde, Duch- ess, Esquimalt, Fulton, Gordon, Haywoo&l, Inglexvood, etc. Mar- ine Prive, the main highway, is the only break in this sequence. The streets which run north and south are numbered. such as 14th Street, 25th Street, etc. Horseshoe Hay, Q'hytec]if f HORSESHOE BAY A&D IVHYTECLIFF This peaceful little spot in summer time rings with the laughter and happy voices of thousands of picnickers, who look upon it as the ideal spot for a day's outing, the campers who make it their home in the summer, and the permanent res- idents who are growing in in- creasing numbers year by year. The township of )Vhytecliff, be- hind the beach, comprises some 1200 acres. The beach and extensive park are provided with many conveni- ences such as bath house, re- freshment pavilion, a dance hall, large and small tables for the use of picnickers set among the trees, and swings for the kid- dies. Fresh spring water is pip- ed from the mountains to the beach and picnic grounds. Horseshoe Bay is located in the extreme westerly end of the municipality on Marine Drive. ine Drive. Many residents of Greater Vancouver have their summer homes here, and every day in the warm weather the gently sloping sandy beach is full of picnickers. There are first class swimming and boating fac- ilities and two hotels provide ex- cellent accomodation for visitors. Salmon, sea trout, and other fish ire abundant. and the angler who likes a tussle with a large salmon can obtain here all the thrills he desires. On Sundays and holi- days the whole shore is crowded ivithvisitors. A number of yachts and large launches are usually to be seen at anchor in the bay. There is a good sized dance hall and the Horseshoe Bay Yachting and Boating Club give weekly dances which are very popular among the summer residents. A frequent service of busses is maintained by Pacific Stages to and from North Vancouver and Vancouver, their stages, the fin- est and latest of their kind, run- ning right down to the beach. ~ ~ K j. p, ~ P ~ ~ . 0 . ~ It is a very beautiful bay off Howe Sound, and, as its name implies, is in the shape of a horseshoe. On the easterly side Biack Mountain towers over it, its steep sides forming one side of the shoe, the other being the rocky point which separates it from Garrow Bay, and in the centre is a large flat of land with streets of summer residences gradually sloping back to Mar- IVhitecliff to Bowen Island The Sannie Transportation Company run a regular ferry ser- vice between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen Island, and there are few more beautiful trips anywhere than that by Pacific Stages a- lcng Marine Drive, along )Vest 4 ancouver's wonderful shore line, thence by the Sannie Trans- portation Co.'s ferries across Howe Sound to Bowen Island. Sandy Cove Horseshoe Bay, AVhytecliff Shoiving at the extreme right the starting place of the Bowcn Island - EVhytecliff Ferry 1