Only three Indians have had the courage to give up the old customs and leave their people, and they have built neat cottages on the industrial-school reserve at Alert Bay, have married their wives, and work steadily in the saw-mill or at any employment they can get.

Temperance and Morality. - There is certainly not nearly as much intemperance among these Indians as formerly. No doubt the difficulty of obtaining liquor, owing to the strict enforcement of the law, has something to do with this, though many see the evils it has brought upon them in the way of sickness and death. I am also glad to say that undoubtedly not nearly as many women now visit the cities for immoral purposes.

General Remarks. - I may here mention that, owing to the great extent of the agency and the difficulty of visiting all the different bands, which are so scattered, many of them moving away altogether during the summer months from their permanent homes, and also to the fact that they have so little land fit for cultivation, much improvement cannot be looked for among these Indians until the children, who are being more or less educated, grow up and take the place of the present generation. These children, who have been in the industrial-school and girls' home, have undoubtedly already some influence for good, and it is in the education of the children in industrial and boarding-schools that greater effort should be made, which would bring about a more general improvement in the people; at the same time other industries should be encouraged as far as possible among the older members.

I have, & c.,
R.H. PIDCOCK,
Indian Agent.
BRITISH COLUMBIA,
NORTH-WEST COAST AGENCY,
METLAKAHTLA, 3rd August, 1896.

The Honourable
The Superintendent General of Indian Affairs,
Ottawa.

SIR, - I have the honour to present my annual report and tabular statement for the year ended the 30th June, 1896.

Vital Statistics. - In this agency there are five nations of Indians speaking different languages and forming twenty-four bands as follows: the Haida, nation of three bands, numbering five hundred and ninety-eight; the Nishgar nation of seven bands, numbering seven hundred and eighty-two; the Tsimpsean nation of six bands, numbering one thousand three hundred and sixty-four; the Oweekayno nation of five bands, numbering nine hundred and ten; and the Tallion nation of three bands, numbering three hundred and forty, making a total population of three thousand nine hundred and ninety-four. I have this year ceased to count in this agency a small band of about forty-four Indians living at Smith's Inlet, upon understanding that they rightfully belong to and have been counted in the Kwawkewlth Agency.

During the year seven of the Haida Indians emigrated to Alaska to join their relatives settled in that country.

There has been during the year an increase of twenty births over deaths throughout the agency.

Area of Reserves. - The total area of land reserved for the Indians of this agency is approximately one hundred and forty-nine thousand, three hundred and forty-seven acres, which was selected from the best available land, but is generally of small value.

Occupation. - These Indians can never depend upon agricultural pursuits for a food supply. The principal source of supply must be fishing and hunting. Many of the