This is an investigation of the British Columbia trapping industry and associated markets. A major part of the study is devoted to familiarizing the reader with the present industry. The product, trapline tenure, trappers, fur traders, earnings from trapping, marketing of the product, and administrative arrangements are described. Many problems are associated with the industry today — low incomes; raw fur prices which are declining, uncertain, and unstable; widespread ignorance of proper trapping techniques, pelt handling methods, and marketing opportunities; factor immobility; and lack of organization and contact among trappers. At the local level, there is little competition among fur buyers. Either there is only one trader in an area, or if there is more than one, they often collude. In some areas, market imperfections such as ignorance of outside markets and lack of access to capital, provide an opportunity for fur buyers to exploit the primary producers. Public administrative policies are analyzed in terms of their economic consequences, and their ability to handle the problems of trappers. Present policies lack clearly defined goals, are outdated, fail to consider the socioeconomic needs of trappers, and provide few incentives for efficiency in resource use and development. Management devices succeed in conserving the resource (once the most basic problem), but today with raw fur prices low in comparison to a decade ago, they systematically lead to an underutilization of the resource. In the absence of any organized competition for traplines, there is little assurance that the rights are possessed by the most efficient producers. The primary method of raising revenue, the collection of royalty, negates the efficiency of the management system by encouraging economizing on the harvest and failure to report all animals trapped. Traders' fees ration buying rights on the basis of differential fees. Industry structure has been stagnated by measures that prevent flexibility in the scale of trapping operations. Management lacks adequate information for informed policymaking. And non-enforcement of regulations and lack of control over Indian trapping further decreases the effectiveness of the management system. Moreover, there is no effective organization for rationalizing conflicting land-use problems. As a way of overcoming these problems and leading to a more efficient development of the fur resource, the following recommendations are made: (i) full negotiability of trapline boundaries, (ii) disposition of trapline rights through public auction, (iii) simplification but expansion of present trappers' return form to include more information, (iv) extension of licensing and questionnaire requirements to all trappers, regardless of ethnic origin, (v) enforcement of regulations, (vi) abandonment of royalties, (vii) reduction of fur-traders' fee to one nominal amount, (viii) expansion of trapper education programs, (ix) encouragement of the growth of trapping organizations, and (x) special recommendations for Indians. Data and information on which this thesis is based were obtained from: (i) the provincial Fish and Wildlife Branch and the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, (ii) personal correspondence and interviews with trappers, fur buyers, provincial fur administrators, and Indian Affairs Branch authorities, (iv) mailed questionnaires to fur traders, (v) trappers' manuals, (vi) "A Report on the B.C. Fur Resources Study" (unpublished manuscript), and (vii) fur industry studies for other provinces. A sample of income for trapping in British Columbia was derived through the use of simple mathematics, provincial average fur value statistics, and the trappers' returns. / Arts, Faculty of / Vancouver School of Economics / Graduate

The Technical Fisheries Short Course has been administered by the Department of Extension at The University of British Columbia for fifteen years with funds provided by the federal government. The content of this three-week adult education program for commercial fishermen is designed with emphasis on the scientific rather than vocational aspects of fisheries. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Short Course in terms of new knowledge acquired and attitudes which were modified during the time it was offered. The study population consisted of 117 fishermen composed of 22 students of the 1969 Class (Group I); 40 non-students (Group II); and 55 former students (Group III). Data for Group I was collected by the use of six objective instruments and one subjective discussion session. Two of these, a knowledge-attitude test and a socio-economic instrument, were used to collect data for the other two Groups. Knowledge acquisition and attitude change for Group I was measured by administering the knowledge-attitude test in the pre and post situations. It was shown that learning did occur as average knowledge scores improved from 18.0 in the pre-test to 31.0 in the post-test out of a possible total of fifty. Although there were sixty-seven individual attitude changes to eight statements concerning governmental bodies, the overall Class attitude score remained virtually unchanged at 22.2 in the post-test from 22.4 in the pre-test out of a total of forty. By means of multiple stepwise regression it was shown that 30% of post-knowledge was dependent on pre-knowledge. By logic it is assumed that some of the remaining 70% was due, directly or indirectly, to exposure to the educational experience. Analysis of variance tests with socio-economic data provided some statistically significant results, but because of only one or two replies in the categories causing the significance these are not reported and further studies with larger populations are indicated. Group I fishermen showed a preference for vocationally-oriented subjects (unlike previous classes), but at the same time indicated an interest in and understanding of academic and research oriented content. In terms of interest and value ratings of the subjects offered the program content met the needs of the participants and they believed that what they had learned would help them to increase their financial returns from fishing. The results indicate the need for establishing instructional objectives and providing guidance to some instructors on teaching techniques. Other results based on the study are that consideration should be given to scheduling the program earlier in the year and that more advance publicity about the Short Course is required. The knowledge-attitude test and the socio-economic Instrument were also administered to Groups II and III (non-students and former students). As most of the Group I fishermen came from metropolitan areas in the lower mainland and on Vancouver Island an attempt was made to determine if the knowledge and attitude they possessed were representative of these factors for fishermen from metropolitan areas in general (Group II). Within the limitations of the study it was found that Group I knowledge was similar to that of Group II as determined by average group scores. On the same basis Group I attitude differed significantly at p.05 from that of Group II. Analysis of the data from the knowledge-attitude test and socioeconomic Instrument showed that Group I fishermen were more representative of Group III fishermen (former students) than they were of Group II fishermen (non-students). It was also determined that no significant difference existed between the knowledge scores of former students and post-test knowledge scores of Group I. This suggests a retention factor and reveals an area for further research. It was concluded on the basis of the factors studied that the 1969 Short Course was a success. The results indicate that certain modifications in content, instruction and format would have enhanced its effectiveness. The study also confirmed the difficulties faced by an adult education program administrator in concurrently conducting evaluative research. While the collection of evaluative data can be accomplished with comparative ease its interpretation and presentation becomes a problem in terms of the time and expense involved, a problem which can only be corrected by the provision of research funds. Other implications for research are a study of the application by students of knowledge gained at the Short Course and a study of the attitudes held by fishermen toward government regulatory agencies. Repeated evaluative studies of the Short Course using the same instruments established for this study are recommended. Communications research to determine if the program is influencing a much wider population than the fishermen who attend is also suggested. This empirical study provides a benchmark on which the research suggested can be built. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

This thesis describes the change in the pattern of service centres in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia at various periods during a century of European occupance. The study of settlement evolution in this region involves an examination of hierarchical change as indicated by variations in postal revenue. The attempt to focus both in time and space is one of the inherent difficulties in any dynamic study of the urban hierarchy, for it presents a basic problem in establishing an adequate and readily available index of centrality. Tertiary revenue would provide the best index, but it is neither available for the smaller centres nor through time. These disadvantages are not apparent in postal revenue which closely correlates with tertiary revenue. It is inferred that postal revenue reflects the tertiary activity of the great majority of service centres in British Columbia. Since the end of the nineteenth century the North American post office, with its low condition of entry, has been an essential part of all except some of the lowest order centres. Postal revenue data is available,throughout Canada, from Confederation onwards, but it presents some problems of utilization as dollar values change through time. The suggested method of expressing the revenue for each given year as a percentage of that for an areal unit is illustrated by its application to the Lower Mainland. However, while the Lower Mainland can be thought of as a physical entity, it must be considered as being part of a larger functional region which changes both functionally and areally. The province has been taken as the continuing functional unit. The idea would seem to be supported by the graphic analysis. The whole period, from 1858 to 1961, has been broken down into five eras, in each of which a common means of transport has predominated. The first era up to 1880 covers the years of initial exploitation and settlement of the region by Europeans, a period when water transport predominated. The second era (1881-1900) is a period of transition from water to rail: the first trans-continental railway merely duplicated the existing water facilities, but its construction encouraged a rapid expansion of settlement even before it actually opened. The turn of the century heralded a decade of feverish rail-way construction, culminating with the opening of the second trans-continental railway in 1915. The railway era ends with the close of hostilities in 1918, and the following era embraces the inter-war years, a period of transition from rail to road. The final era commences in 1940 for, although the steam railway and electric interurban assumed a new lease of life during the war, it was merely a temporary resurgence and road transport was soon predominant. The wartime incentive spurred a tremendous growth of the regional economy, a growth which has continued, somewhat sporadically, up to the present. Throughout the century, settlement change reflects the changes in the economy and transport facilities in the Lower Mainland. The economy of the region has passed from primary exploitation to that of a metropolitan complex with a growing secondary component. The Vancouver area has formed a distinct economic unit within the regions since the arrival of the railway in 1886. The growing functional concentration on the city led to the attainment of metropolitan status by the end of the first decade of the twentieth century. This attainment was expressed in the physical as well as the functional growth of the city: by 1910 it possessed over 30% of the provincial population and greater than 40% of the tertiary activity, more than double the proportions of a decade earlier. The interaction between the metropolis and the smaller centres, with the metropolis playing the dominant role, has given rise to the present urban hierarchy. The settlement pattern has varied from discrete and independent settlements, during the phase of primary exploitation, to a metropolitan-dominated complex. The discrete pattern changed to an increasingly depends hierarchy following the growth of Vancouver and New Westminster as market and distribution centres. The growth of these centres linked them into a common metropolitan area, while the external expansion of this area has resulted in the functional and physical domination of most of the region by the metropolis: a trend that has resulted in the supplanting of the central place hierarchy by an inter-urban complex. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

The present study is undertaken to explore social aspects of divorce legislation in British Columbia. The specific areas of procedures, grounds, domicile, and children of the marriage are examined as they would appear to have most significance for social welfare. The study attempts to draw attention to the relationship between law and human relations and to critically examine British Columbia divorce legislation, its functions and dysfunctions, in terms of the ideal whereby the law acts as an enabling device aimed at problem-solving. Chapter I of the study reviews the historical significance of attitudes, customs, and law still affecting divorce legislation in British Columbia and points out areas where they may presently be divorced from social reality. Chapter II, III, IV, and V examine specific areas of divorce legislation and their significance in modern society in terms of a problem solving approach. Chapter VI involves a survey of expert opinion on matters pertaining to British Columbia divorce legislation. The purpose here is to lend credibility to social problems around divorce legislation outlined in preceding chapters based on library research. Chapter VII is a short survey of comparative divorce legislation in a variety of other jurisdictions. This survey indicates possible solutions to some of the social problems arising from legislation in British Columbia. Throughout, the study method essentially involves library research with the exception of Chapter VI. A small sample of experts in a variety of fields interested in the question of divorce were interviewed. Experts include clergymen, politicians, lawyers, judges, social workers, etc. The interviews were structured by means of an interview schedule. Initial exploration carried out in this study indicates that the adversary nature of British Columbia divorce legislation with its limited grounds is not conducive to problem-solving and appears instead to create new problems for those already suffering from damaged interpersonal relationships. A variety of social problems arising from the legislation are more closely defined and documented by reading and expert opinion. Some of these social problems involve the fact that in undefended divorce cases the true facts are unlikely to emerge. The adversary system prevents the parties concerned from taking a mature look at what caused the marital breakdown. The law penalizes those who attempt reconciliation due to factors involved in condonation. Collusion bars also discourage discussion of matters of mutual concern or serve to keep such discussion secret. In some cases even though all personal and social functions of marriage have ceased to exist, the legal tie must be maintained because neither partner has committed adultery or is willing to engaged in fraud. In other cases, those who have grounds for divorce are unable to obtain same because of legal costs and difficulties in establishing domicile or travelling to a court that has jurisdiction. Scant investigation of proposed plans for children of the marriage is carried out unless the custody is contested. In general, British Columbia divorce legislation does not provide for any investigation concerning what really causes a marriage to fail. It provides no relief for many whose marriages have broken down beyond repair and no impetus towards problem-solving for others who might become reconciled or at least divorced with a minimum of secondary damage and with a recognition of responsibilities involving children. Divorce legislation in other countries is suggested as offering possible solutions for many of the problems inherent in our own law. Literature from the United States of America concerning Family-or Matrimonial Courts is seen in this study as the most fruitful. Hopefully then, the documentation of social problems associated with British Columbia divorce legislation and suggested solutions for change will aid others in future research of a more specific nature. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

This thesis is an attempt to combine two opposing arguments which have appeared in the literature of labour economics for nearly 25 years. The analysis deals with the formulation of a collective bargaining model which yields some insight into the wage-determining process. The economic criteria for a wage settlement proposed by J. T. Dunlop in his book, Wage Determination Under Trade Unions, are combined with the 'political' or 'power' variables which A. M. Ross had advocated as the most important determinants of wages in his book, Trade Union Wage Policy. The result is an analysis very similar to that of recent bargaining theory studies. Six industries from the British Columbia economy are examined within the concept of the model developed. These industries produce a major part of the output of this region. The examination of these industries, therefore, provides a key to the comprehension of the general trends and forces at work in the British Columbia labour market. The model attempts to discover the variables most significant in explaining the movement of wages in each industry from 1948 to 1968. The variables examined represent a combination of the economic and political forces which are hypothesized to act upon the wage determination process. In addition, the thesis examines those industries in the-context of a general wage structure. It is hypothesized that the existence of such a structure plays a large role in the wage determining process and has a significant influence upon trends in the economic activity of the province. The end result will be an explanation of the single and collective wage movements of these six industries. The findings generally support the theoretical hypothesis that the wage determining process is subject to both political and economic forces. Economic variables are able to confine wage settlements within a range. The size of this range also depends upon economic forces. Within the range, however, bargaining may involve a multiplicity of criteria. Both the union and the firm will often choose some easily observable criteria upon which to base wage settlements. This study attempts to determine the main criteria chosen within each industry. The conclusions reached show that wage comparisons made among industries by both workers and employers are able to explain the largest part of wage movements. A bargaining theory model is supported and ample evidence of a wage structure which plays an important role in the wage determining process is found. / Arts, Faculty of / Vancouver School of Economics / Graduate

Frost damage to sapling size plantation Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.] in the central interior of B.C. was identified as the major cause of dieback and canker through tree dissections. Prominent frost rings in the wood and frost damage to buds and shoots corresponded to the dates of dieback initiation and canker events throughout the history of the plantations. Frost rings and frost cankers were reproducible using an artificial freezing technique. Symptomatic frost-damaged buds and elongating shoots were described for Douglas-fir, white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] and subalpine fir [Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.]. The effect of growing season frost was most noticeable on early flushing trees. Frost and dieback damage was most severe on concave and flat landforms, which are conducive to cold air pooling on nights with strong radiative cooling. Several pathogens isolated from recently killed stems were identified from fruiting bodies and culture. Leucocytospora kunzei (Sacc.) Urban was the pathogen most commonly isolated from the edge of expanding cankers and progressive dieback margins. Sclerophoma semenospora Funk was commonly found fruiting on dead stems and leaders killed by frost or by mechanical means. Cinara pseudotaxifoliae Wilson feeding caused latent cankers on one year old leaders of Douglas-fir, which are thought to be activated by frost. Boron levels of both healthy and severely affected trees were in the intermediate range, and were not considered to play an important role in frost or pathogen susceptibility for Douglas-fir in the interior. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

A comprehensive seismotectonic model is developed to explain the seismicity of British Columbia. In order to do this extensive revisions are made to location and magnitude parameters in the Canadian Earthquake Data File. Fault plane solutions are calculated for all earthquakes possible and all mechanisms previously calculated are examined and upgraded where necessary. It is proposed that the subcrustal suite of earthquakes in the Puget Sound and southern Vancouver Island region are a result of strain caused by phase changes in the descending oceanic lithosphere of the subducting Juan de Fuca plate. The crustal earthquakes above the deeper seismicity can be explained with an oblique subduction model. The distribution of seismicity, the amount of seismicity and the focal mechanisms support these interpretations. The large earthquakes of central Vancouver Island are probably a result of the interaction of the Explorer Plate with the overriding America Plate. In the southern Queen Charlotte Islands thrusting components in the fault plane solutions confirm there is an element of convergence across the pacific/America boundary in this region. The distribution of seismicity suggests all relative plate motion is presently occurring along the Queen Charlotte fault. The Quaternary volcanoes of British Columbia show little correlation with the seismicity pattern except for the eastern end of the Anahim volcanic belt. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Aquatic arthropods communities were examined with respect to factors determining species distributions and community structure in a series of eight lakes on the Chilcotin Plateau of British Columbia. Climate, altitude, physical location, water temperature and basin shape were similar for all lakes, and although size differed, no evidence was found for the influence of basin morphology on community structure. Salinity and vegetation characteristics differed widely among lakes, so three major processes were investigated: the association of (1) salinity with faunal communities, (2) salinity with floral communities, and (3) faunal with floral communities. These relationships were examined in light of diversity-stability hypotheses. The severity component of environmental stability was represented by salinity, and mean surface water conductivity ranged from 56 to 13115 μS cm-¹ at 25 °C. Salinity variations among lakes were determined primarily by the ions Na, HCO₃, CO₃, C1 and K. Two classification schemes (taxonomic and ecological) and several analytical techniques (community parameters and cluster analysis) indicated that the distribution and structure of faunal and floral communities were related to salinity. In total, 84 arthropod taxa and 26 macrophyte species were found and divided into three groups: those characteristic of high salinities (>5000 μS), of moderate or low salinities (<5000 μS), or tolerant of all salinities. Faunal assemblages in all lakes were dominated by filter feeders, and predators were more abundant in saline lakes. Shredders, collectors and predators were found in all the lakes, but saline lakes had fewer size groups. Floating leaved macrophytes occurred only in freshwater lakes, submerged forms were rare in highly saline lakes, and emergent forms were found in all lakes, although they were less abundant at high salinities. Generally, this study supports the hypothesis that saline habitats have less diverse communities than freshwater ones. In all floral and faunal sample sets, increased salinity was accompanied by a decrease in species richness. Virtually all measures of macrophyte community diversity and productivity were inversely correlated with salinity. Faunal subgroups must be examined separately when measures of community structure incorporate relative abundances. Patterns of association observed in the entire faunal community were dictated by the numerically dominant entomostracan subcommunity, and patterns in other subgroups were masked. Zooplankton trophic level diversity increased with decreasing salinity and changes in community composition were analogous to those of eutrophication. In both coleopteran and hemipteran communities, diversity decreased and density increased with increasing salinity. Possible causal mechanisms structuring each community are hypothesized. Faunal distributions corresponded to their known habitat preferences in terms of macrophyte communities. It was difficult to distinguish between the influence of salinity or macrophyte communities on animal communities as animal communities were often associated with both. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

The seasonal distribution of herbage growth has particular importance for the management of grazing animals since the major objective of most pasture utilization plans is to provide sufficient feed for continuous grazing for as great a portion of the year as possible. Providing a more even distribution of herbage production has obvious practical advantages. The main objective of this study was to examine the annual growth pattern of herbage in the South Coastal region of British Columbia as affected by cultivars, cutting management and fertilizer management, with the aim of extending herbage production in the fall and increasing herbage availability during the summer months. These investigations were conducted in plot trials at three different sites. Forage quality was also examined at two of these sites. In addition to these plot cutting trials an investigation into the accuracy of a height/density meter (disc meter) was conducted. The disc meter, and other similar non-destructive devices, have great potential as both research and farm management aids. The first plot cutting trial was conducted at Agassiz, B.C. and examined the productivity of two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars, Prairial and Sumas and two perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars, Barlano and Norlea under two cutting regimes (low-infrequent and high-frequent). Annual yields averaged over the three years for low-infrequent (LI) cutting showed significant (P<0.05) differences between cultivars with the following ranking: Prairial (10,644) > Sumas (9,537) > Barlano (8,448) > Norlea (6,666 kg DM/ha). Annual yields averaged over two years for high-frequent (HF) cutting also showed significant (P<0.05) differences between the cultivars with the same ranking: Prairial (9,390) > Suinas (8,625) > Barlano (7,686) > Norlea (5,953 kg DM/ha). The same ranking of cultivars in terms of annual yield was obtained in each harvest year for both LI and HF cutting treatments. Annual herbage yields over the three years of the trial showed considerable variation in response to climatic factors. Average annual yields in 1984 (10,116) and 1986 (10,237 kg DM/ha) were not significantly different (P>0.05). However, yields in 1985 (5,916 kg DM/ha) were significantly (P<0.01) lower than 1984 and 1986 due to a wet, cool spring and exceptionally dry summer. Cutting regime did not have a significant effect on annual yields. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between average annual yields under HF (7,914) and LI (8,824 kg DM/ha) cutting, nor were there any significant (P>0.05) differences in annual yields between cultivars due to cutting treatments. There was a tendency for LI cutting to produce higher yields than HF cutting for Prairial, Sumas and Barlano with the reverse being true for Norlea. Examination of productivity on a seasonal basis indicated differences in yield due to cutting regime, depending on the season. During the spring LI cutting produced greater yields than HF cutting due to the greater yields obtained from the longer regrowth period and lower cutting height (Reid and MacLusky, 1960; Bland, 1967; Anslow, 1967). However, during the dry summer months the reverse situation was observed with HF cutting producing higher yields than LI cutting. Sucli a reversal in yield is attributable to the dry conditions under which high cutting has been shown to produce more herbage than low culling (Janti and Kramer, 1956; Appadurai and Holmes, 1964). Under LI cutting orchard grass produced 34 and 46% of annual yield in the spring for 1984 and 1985 respectively and 52 and 40% of annual yield in the summer for the same two years. This distribution was changed under HF cutting with 21 and 36% of annual yield produced in the spring for 1984 and 1985 respectively and 65 and 50% of annual yield produced in the summer for the same two years. The situation was similar for perennial ryegrass. Under Ll cutting perennial ryegrass produced 53 and 58% of annual yield in the spring for 1984 and 1985 respectively and 25 and 30% in the summer for the same two years. Distribution of annual yield was more even under HF cutting with 28 and 35% of yield produced in the spring of 1984 and 1985 respectively and 63 and 50% produced in the summer of the same two years. Variation in the distribution of annual production was also evident between orchardgrass and perennial ryegrass. Both orchardgrass cultivars produced a greater portion of their yield during the summer, whereas both perennial ryegrasses produced a greater portion of yield during the spring and early summer. Growth curves were developed for each cultivar for both cutting treatments over all harvest years which indicate the variability in the seasonal distribution of annual yield attributable to climatic factors and which can be varied by cutting management and choice of cultivars. Another trial conducted at the U.B.C. Research Farm #2, Oyster River, examined the effect of split nitrogen (N) applications on annual and seasonal yields. Under regime I a total of 100 kg N/ha was applied in April. Regimes II, III and IV involved application of a total of 300 kg N/ha at varying times over the growing season. Application of 300 kg N/ha produced significantly (P<0.05) higher annual yields (mean, 10,228) than application of 100 kg N/ha (7,706 kg DM/ha). Annual yields produced under regimes II, III and IV were not significantly (P>0.05) different (10,248, 10,245 and 10,192 kg DM/ha respectively). The seasonal distribution of yield was affected by N application regime. Regime III produced a greater portion of annual yield during August (20.1%) compared to the other three regimes (mean, 13.4%) and application of 100 kg N/ha in August produced significantly (P<0.05) higher yields for regime IV (1,104) compared to the other three regimes (mean, 426 kg DM/ha). The August N application also produced significantly (p<0.05) higher yields in the following spring for regime IV (2,774) than yields obtained for regimes II and III (mean, 1,810) and regime I (1,341 kg DM/ha). Such yield improvements in the spring could have been due to improved root reserves and/or root mass produced from the August N application. Two other trials conducted at Abbotsford also examined cutting treatments and N application regimes. The cutting trial examined the yields produced by four cutting regimes examining: high-frequent (HF), high-infrequent (HI), low-frequent (LF) and low-infrequent (LI) cutting combinations. Annual yields were significantly (P<0.()5) lower for LF (6,721), HI (6,066) and HF (5,674) cutting regimes than the LI (8,207 kg DM/ha) regime. Low cutting (7,464) produced significantly (P<0.05) greater yields than high cutting (5,870 kg DM/ha) while there were no significant (P>0.05) differences between frequent (6,197) and infrequent cutting (7,137 kg DM/ha). Unlike the Agassiz trial, high cutting produced no yield advantage during the dry summer months due to the exceptionally dry period where growth stopped under all cutting regimes. The Abbotsford fertilizer trial examined split N application in a similar manner to the Oyster River trial. However, due to the dry summer there was little response to applied N throughout most of the summer and thus little variation in distribution of annual yield. Regimes II, III and IV involved application of a total of 300 kg N/ha and produced significantly (P<0.05) more herbage (mean, 5,584) than the application of 0 N under regime I (3,758 kg DM/ha). Annual yields did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between regimes II, III and IV. Results from the four cutting trials indicate that the annual and seasonal distribution of yield can be affected by management factors such as variety and cultivar selection, fertilization management and defoliation management. Forage quality was examined at both the Agassiz and Oyster River sites. Differences in forage quality were noted as a result of year, seasonal, cultivar, fertilization and cutting treatment effects. Investigations were also conducted to examine the use of a height/density disc meter to measure herbage yield. A significant relationship (P < 0.001) was found between herbage yield and disc height for vegetative growth but more mature growth, with stems and seed heads, yielded a poor relationship. The use and accuracy of the instrument is discussed. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

A study of beach profiles and sediment activity has been undertaken investigating natural beaches of inner coastal southwest British Columbia and published data on laboratory beaches. Two separate types of sediment activity are focused upon: longshore sediment, activity occurring on inner coast beaches and on- offshore sediment activity occurring on wave Hume constrained laboratory beaches. Field investigative work on twenty-five natural beaches has included review of past-field studies, profile surveys, sediment tracing experiments, investigation of surface and subsurface sediment, size distribution and structure, measurement of slopes and elevations of shoreline features, review of available wave climate data and wave hindcasting for the period of profile surveys. The work has shown that inner coastal beaches are predominantly shingle beaches or cobble armoured beaches with longshore sediment transport, occurring in a narrow upper foreshore zone under wave action at high tides. There is also evidence that coarse materials (gravels and cobbles) move selectively in an onshore direction and fine materials (silts and sands) move in an offshore direction. The sediment transport processes and beach characteristics identified are different from the summer/ winter beach process known to occur on open coasts. Laboratory beaches have been studied to identify the general response of a beach profile to waves. One problem in the study of beaches has been the lack of a readily measured variable to interrelate wave action and sediment movement. By studying laboratory beach profiles a variable representing on-offshore sediment, movement has been abstracted as an area swept out by differencing two profiles as a function of time. The variable has been investigated using laboratory beach data and correlation between it and wave parameters such as height, and period is evident. A dimensional analysis of on-offshore sediment transport is performed using the swept, area variable. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate