The  island  had  been  occupied  as  a  lumber  camp  some  years  ago  and
all  of  the  large  Pines  had  been  removed  from  it  at  that  time,  as  well
as  other  timber  trees  which  could  be  used  in  the  various  operations  con-
nected with  the  lumbering  of  Pine.  Later  the  island  had  been  still
farther  cleared  and  occupied  as  a  summer  camp,  but,  in  general,  the
natural  plant  covering,  except  the  trees,  had  not  been  seriously  dis-
turbed, save  where  paths  had  been  laid  out  and  houses  built.  The  re-
moval of  the  trees,  by  increasing  the  light,  had  undoubtedly  increased
the  number  of  individuals  of  some  of  the  lower  growing  plants,  rind  de-
creased that  of  others,  while  with  the  advent  of  man,  a  few  weeds  and
cultivated  grasses  had  been  brought  in,  in  packing  material  and  in
other  ways,  from  the  outside  world,  but  it  was  still  possible  to  deter-
mine, satisfactorily,  the  original  relations  of  the  plant  societies  found.
Including  the  species  growing  in  shallow  water  around  the  island,
there  were  four  fairly  distinct  plant  societies  present  corresponding  to
variations  in  habitat.  These  were  the  aquatic,  the  marsh,  the  exposed
rock,  or  crevice,  and  the  Conifer-Heath  society.  The  latter  covered  the
greater  portion  of  the  island  from  a  short  distance  above  the  water
level,  with  the  exception  of  steep  and  exposed  rock  faces  at  various
points,  and  was,  by  far,  the  most  important  and  characteristic  associa-
tion growing  here,  all  the  others  being  limited  in  the  number  of  species
and  of  individuals,  and  in  the  area  which  they  occupied,  in  comparison
with  this.
