There have been alarming declines in the number of California bighorn sheep in the Similkameen region of British Columbia since the latter part of the nineteenth century. Present conflict for food supply with domestic stock makes further herd reduction imminent. This study was initiated to gather sound ecological data on which to base management and conservation practises for the California bighorn sheep in British Columbia and to determine population status of the Ashnola herd. The Ashnola herd was studied in the field from May 1960 through June 1961. The study area is described on the basis of broad soil and vegetation patterns. Line point transects were employed to determine botanical composition of important winter ranges. The sheep population is analysed from age and sex ratios and age structure data. Age structure was determined by collecting remains, in the field, of sheep which died of natural causes. Natality and mortality rates from the above sources indicate that the herd is relatively stable. Census data substantiates this observation. Factors limiting population increase are evaluated with emphasis on competition for food. Predation, accidents and hunting are not considered to be presently limiting herd increase. Incidence of parasitism in the herd was investigated by post mortem examination and fecal analysis. No deaths directly attributable to parasitism were noted during the study. Grazing by cattle appears to be the primary land use presently threatening the welfare of the herd. Bighorn sheep-cattle competition involves spring and fall utilization by cattle of sheep winter ranges. Direct and indirect observation of animal distribution, food habit analysis and exclosure plot technique have been employed to evaluate the competitive interaction. Although competition was slight in 1960, food shortage resulting from cattle grazing and occasional severe snow conditions is suggested as the factor limiting herd increase. Aspects of herd biology and behavior such as rutting, lambing, migration and social organization are also described. Management considerations and recommendations are briefly discussed. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Hawkesbury Island is in the Skeena Mining Division of British Columbia. It is underlain by Coast Intrusions, younger lamprophyre dykes and older metamorphic rocks. The latter form part of the Ecstall septum or roof pendant. The metamorphic rocks are mainly amphibolites and quartz-feldspar gneisses. A few bands of quartzite, crystalline limestone, kyanite-staurolite-almandine mica schist and other rock types are present. These rocks have been formed by dynamothermal metamorphism of the regional type. They generally have assemblages indicative of the staurolite-quartz and kyanite-muscovite-quartz subfacies of the almandine amphibolite facies. Shear zones are strongly sericitized. Small percentages of sericite and chlorite are common throughout the metamorphic rocks. These minerals have been formed during retrogressive metamorphism. Apart from a few small metamorphosed igneous bodies, these rocks were originally a thick eugeosynclinal sequence consisting mainly of tuffaceous sediments and semi-pelitic or arkosic sediments. The metamorphic rocks have probably undergone at least two periods of deformation, so that their structure is complex. However, the foliation has a general trend of north 50° west to north 70° west in the northern part of the septum and of north 20° east to north 55° east in the southern part. The Coast Intrusions have reached their present positions by The Coast Intrusions have reached their present positions by intrusion. They have not been formed by granitization in situ. Some assimilation of the country rock has occurred but this is a marginal feature. The Coast Intrusions have had little affect on the grade of metamorphism of the metamorphic rocks. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The goal of hospital treatment is the return of its patients to their community in a healthy, happy condition. This can be a particularly difficult objective to achieve in the case of mental illness because of traditional hospital isolation, and fear and misconceptions about on the part of the public. More and more it is being realized that if there is to be effective rehabilitation of the mentally ill, there must be greater understanding and acceptance of mental illness by their communities. This study examines the recently-developed volunteer programme at the Provincial Mental Hospital, (Essondale, B.C.,) sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association. It describes the programme's organization, and its activities aimed at bringing the community to the patient, as well as interpreting hospital and patient needs to the community. The method used in the study began with a review of professional and other literature in order to learn what volunteer services were being offered in mental hospital settings elsewhere. A questionnaire was then completed and interviews with key people in the volunteer movement conducted, in order to compile details of its development, organization and acceptance by hospital management and staff as a "treatment extra". In order to illustrate volunteer activities and potentials in detail, the focus was then narrowed to the study of one particular ward (Chapter 3.) Types of patients were described experimentally as belonging to behavior groups observed on the ward, such as "attention seekers" and "rescue seekers." (The possibility of a ward classification according to the various categories of mental illness such as chronic brain syndromes, psychotic disorders, etc., was considered but discarded because the required information was not available.) Ways in which volunteers can help the patients in the various behavior groups when visiting and assisting in occupational therapy are discussed, using two case examples for illustration. The study confirmed the general thinking that the volunteer programme is contributing a very useful service to the hospital treatment programme. In the concluding chapter some suggestions are offered towards increasing the effectiveness of this growing volunteer service. These are related to a problem common to all volunteer work, namely, sustaining the interest of volunteers. In addition, suggestions are made as to some ways in which the volunteers could work with the Social Service Department in this hospital setting. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The Deer Horn property lies astride the contact of the Coast Range batholith and a group of siliceous and shaly sediments of Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous age. The contact strikes westerly and dips about 50° to the South. The southern three fifths of the property are underlain by granitic rocks, the remaining northern part consists of slightly metamorphosed sediments striking approximately west, dipping about 70° south and believed to form an overturned syncline. The rocks are cut by two albitite dykes and several minor trap dykes. The granitic rocks are divided into two main types, "porphyritic" granodiorite and hornblende granodiorite. The latter contains the main part of the mineral deposit, and is further subdivided into several varieties produced by tectonic movements and hydrothermal alteration. Alkali metasomatism has affected both the granitic rocks and - to a lesser extent - the sediments. Some metasomatic features are discussed in detail. Two veins or vein systems, the Main and the Contact, lie in the hornblende granodiorite and in the contact zone. They strike westerly, converge towards the west and dip towards each other, forming a shallow troughlike structure. Both carry sulphides and minor tellurides with gold and silver. Scheelite occurs sparsely in the veins and in bands of epidotegarnet skarn in the sediments, being somewhat more concentrated in two areas of fine talus in the western part of the property. The Main vein is shown to be a replacement vein formed in a thrust fault. The shearing angle of the fault flattened in the more brittle contact zone, and the fault terminated in a series of complementary shears. The combination of these two factors produced the curving trough-like shape of the vein. The narrow Contact vein was formed in a later gravity fault. The zone of intersection of the two veins was highly sheared and thus rendered more permeable to the mineralizing fluids. This accounts for the numerous high-grade stringers present near the intersection. In view of the known and inferred limits of the two veins it is not expected that the ore will continue either laterally or in depth. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study has been to review desertion legislation; and to examine social work participation in the administration of desertion laws. The key question posed is: Does legislation work in dealing with cases of desertion? In order to gather answers to the key question, pertinent legislation is reviewed. Included is: (a) The Canadian Criminal Code; (b) maintenance legislation of the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia; (c) common law remedies; and (d) certain English and American laws which pertain to desertion. To gain an understanding of the policies and problems of administering desertion legislation, interviews were held with those who are working daily with eases of desertion and non-support. Interviewed were; Judges of the Family Court, Magistrates, police, probation officers, provincial and municipal social welfare administrators, and social workers. The Family Court is the acknowledge authority in dealing with problems of desertion. Because of this, its policies were used as a guide in reviewing the procedures followed by other social welfare agencies throughout British Columbia. This study suggests that; (a) certain minor revisions would strengthen the British Columbia Wives' and Children's Maintenance Act; (b) desertion Is as much a social problem as a legal problem; (c) social workers would be well advised to consider taking a more active part in court cases involving desertion; (d) in the final analysis a man cannot be forced to support his dependents if he wilfully refuses; and (e) skillful social work help can assist many deserters to assume their maintenance responsibilities. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The field study involved obtaining complete soil descriptions and data relating to the vegetation, relief, climate and geology of the area. The tests selected for the laboratory phase of the study were those thought most likely to reveal the degree of development of each profile and included mechanical analysis, apparent specific gravity, fusion analysis, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, and soil reaction. The results of the study indicate that the soils form a sequence of profiles showing different degrees of development. The first soil examined shows little evidence of profile development since free lime occurs right to the surface and there is no evidence of translocation of any constituents down the profile. It is suggested that this soil be treated as an Alluvial soil in classification. The second profile, termed a Brown Wooded soil, shows slightly greater development than the Alluvial soil, but at the same time it has not reached the Grey Wooded stage of development, as represented by the third profile. Free lime has been leached to a depth of six inches but there is no accumulation of clay or sesquioxides in the B horizon of the Brown Wooded soil. It would appear that this soil should be separated from Alluvial and Grey Wooded soils at the family level of the classification system. The third profile has the characteristics necessary for classification as a Grey Wooded soil. The analyses show that there has been an appreciable translocation of clay and sesquioxides from the A₂ to the B₂ horizon. The apparent specific gravity and percent base saturation are also typical of Grey Wooded soils. The fourth soil studied is a polygenetic profile having a Brown Podzolic soil in the upper part of the solum and a heavy textured clay horizon typical of Grey Wooded soils in the lower part. It would appear that a Brown Podzolic soil has developed in the A₂ horizon of a Grey Wooded due to acid leaching. This soil is considered to be a Grey Wooded-Brown Podzolic intergrade. The fifth soil is the most mature soil in the sequence. This profile is characterized by the development of a Podzol soil in the A₂ horizon of a Grey Wooded. The laboratory analyses have confirmed field observations in this regard. There is an accumulation of sesquioxides and organic matter, typical of Podzol soils in the B_█(p@) horizon,while the lower B_2gw horizon shows the clay accumulation characteristic of Grey Wooded soils. The soil reaction, cation exchange capacities and percent base saturation are also in agreement with the accepted definitions of these soils. The fifth soil, therefore, is considered to be a Grey Wooded-Podzol intergrade. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The soils of the Doukhobor lands of British Columbia were studied as a part of a research project undertaken by faculty members of the University of British Columbia at the request of the Attorney General of the Province. These lands comprise about 18,872 acres that occur in 16 parcels or communities in two general areas, 5327 acres near Grand Forks and 13,545 acres in the West Kootenay area. Soil surveys of these areas were conducted during the summers of 1951 and 1952. They were traversed by automobile and on foot and the soil type boundaries and related information plotted on aerial photographs of the scale of about one mile to 13 inches. From these photographs, soil maps were prepared of the scale of 400 feet to the inch. In the course of the field operations bulk and undisturbed soil profile samples were collected from the more important soil types and test were conducted relative to infiltration rates and field moisture capacities. The soil profile samples were used in the laboratory during the winters for the determination of soil reaction, organic carbon, nitrogen, mechanical composition, apparent specific gravity, pore size distribution, permanent wilting percentage and other properties. The more important soils of the valleys at Grand Forks were found to belong to the Black soil group while those in the West Kootenay were classed as Brown Podzolio. Small areas of Glei soils were also found. The soil parent materials were chiefly alluvium, glacial till and till derivatives and alluvial fan. From this information soil series were tentatively named and described. The Black soils have reactions ranging from about pH 7 in the A₁ horizon to pH 8.5 in the 0 horizon where free lime occurred. In reaction the Brown Podzolio soils were acid in all horizons and free lime was characteristically absent. The organic carbon content of the Black soils was significantly higher and the carbon to nitrogen ratio narrower than that of the Brown Podzolio soils. The mechanical analysis showed the soils to be low in clay and silt and high in sand in both areas, the exceptions being the soils derived from fine textured alluvium such as the Shoreacres, Glaybrlck and Claypit series. High macro-pore space, infiltration rates and hydraulic conductivities also characterize most of the soils. The field moisture storage capacity and permanent wilting percentage values showed that most of the soils have very low available moisture storage capacities which seriously limit their use for crop production without irrigation. When the soils were classified on the basis of their suitability for crop production without irrigation, only 3,037 acres or 17 percent of the area was classed as arable, and of this only 321 acres or 2 percent was Class 1. The land classed as nonarable without irrigation is suitable for forestry, wildlife, water storage, building sites and other uses. When rated on the basis of its suitability for crop production with sprinkler type irrigation 11,053 acres or 58 percent of the total area was classified as suitable for irrigation but of this only 635 acres or 3 percent was rated as Class 1, It is evident that Irrigation will be a very Important consideration in the use of these lands. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Ideally, the adopted child should be placed with parents and in a home that offers a reasonable guarantee for health and happiness. If this goal is not achieved, or is threatened, it is important to determine what factors in the placement procedure have been influential, or overlooked. With this theme in mind, this thesis makes an exploratory study of the cases of twenty-eight adopted children who attended the Vancouver Child Guidance Clinic in a period of two years (1953-1955). The social work foundations and principles of adoption practice are discussed in a preliminary chapter. Following this, the Child Guidance Clinic case records of twenty-eight adopted children are analysed, and the pertinent statistical material found therein is tabulated. Less tangible factors such as parental attitudes and feelings about the adopted child are dealt with descriptively. Case studies attempt an over-all picture of the adopted child's life experiences. The findings reveal (a) that in many of the cases studied, one parent had not been in favour of the spouse's plan to adopt a child, or that, one or both of the parents were disappointed in the child they received; (b) that many of the parents in the study group seemed to be over-demanding of the child; (c) that each adopted child presented a combination of behavious problems to the Clinic. The study underlines, for social workers responsible for placing adoptable children (1) the need for thorough investigation of the home and the prospective parents' attitudes about children as well as adults generally; (2) the responsibilities for helping prospective adoptive parents with their uncertainties about the whole adoption process; and (3) the need for supervision of the adoptive home during the adoption probation period. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study has been to review the development of public assistance in British Columbia; and to compare the present policies of (a) eligibility and determination of need, (b) assistance levels, and (c) service programs, in war Veterans’ Allowance, old Age Assistance, Blind Persons’ Allowance, Mothers’ Allowance and Social Allowance. Reference is made to American programs where a comparison of policies is helpful in clarifying Issues. On policy concerning such questions as residence, relatives’ responsibility, citizenship, assessment of resources, levels of assistance, and service programs, the policy Manual and the Acts and Regulations of the B.C. Social Welfare Branch are used as the basis for comparative analysis, interviews were held with authorities administering the programs and these were pursued in order to clarify apparent variation in policy between programs and administrative agencies. Information on the American programs was obtained through literature, correspondence; and a visit to one local office of the State Department of public Assistance, Washington. For the purpose of measuring levels of assistance, use is made of a standard budget developed in a previous Master of Social Work thesis. From this a monthly cost schedule is developed to suggest an up to date budgetary standard and to point up the evaluation of the adequacy of current public assistance allowances. Discrepancies between programs on such matters as exemptions and additional income are also examined. Service programs including the social and medical aspects are studied comparatively, and it is established that British Columbia is a leader in this respect. The more effective use of trained and untrained personnel in the social services appears to demand further research. The study leads to seven major suggestions; (a) abolition of local residence qualifications with appropriate financial arrangements; (b) standardization and liberalization of policies respecting assessment of resources and income; (c) use of the standard budget in establishing and meeting need; (d) use of a simplified budget - deficit method for determining grants; (e) more effective use of personnel in social services; (f) extended use of research in public assistance; (g) development of advisory - committee groups in public assistance. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The Western Division of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind offers a varied program of services to their clients, including casework, home teaching, vocational counselling, job training, certain kinds of employment and residential care. The present study undertakes to describe and make a preliminary evaluation of only part of these services, namely casework services, and only one important section of its clientele, namely, adult males whose numbers in the past few years have increased considerably. The study covers the registration of the blind client, the services of the Social Welfare Department, and the role of the social worker in offering casework services and co-ordinating the services of other departments. Casework services have been discussed under three classifications; (1) short-term, (2) long-term, and (3), intensive services, the division being made on the basis of the number and focus of interviews. Intensive services were offered to clients whose initial reaction to blindness was extreme, requiring more than supportive casework to assist them in their adjustment. Discussing the importance of employment in rehabilitation, problems that hinder the blind client vocationally have been identified, also the manner in which social work services aid in their solution. Areas of which the social worker has to be aware are: (a) the feelings of the client about his blindness, (b) the relationship between health and handicaps and adjustment to blindness, (c) family relationships and the acceptance of the client by his family, (d) social isolation, and (e) community attitudes toward blindness. Severe limitations of recording are discussed, and recommendations made for improving this aspect of casework services. A proposed registration inventory is submitted as a means to obtaining essential diagnostic information. While the study is of localized relevance it does point up the need for a more intensive study of casework services for the young blind adult male and for research in the areas of psychological, social, economic, and physical needs of the blind, for the establishment of future rehabilitation programs. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate