The Living Land: An Account of the Natural Resources of British Columbia

MacMillan, 1961. First edition. Hard cover. Very Good/Fair. Dusjacket front flap detached, and now taped and in protective mylar sleeve. Some chipping, tears, and edgewear to dustjacket. Large, color, folded map of British Columbia in 1961 present in pocket in back of book; scarce thus. The BC Commisioned by the British Columbia Natural Resources Council; designed by Robert Reid. Extensively illustrated; with 24 pages of Color Plates. A vintage look at the natural resources of B.C., including game animals, birds, the sport fish, also geology, water, climate, forests, agriculture, fossil fuels, water power resources, mining, recreation, and more. Roderick Haig-Brown was an influential fly-fisherman and thinking man -- a philosopher some might say. He became a very influential advisor to the fledgling organizations of his time, Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Flyfishers. These organizations were responsible for starting the movement to curtail put-and-take trout stocking and focus on trout habitat. Through his writings he chronicled early efforts in game and fish conservation, fly fishing, and the art of the fly fishing experience. He was a prolific writer who published many books, including A River Never Sleeps, first published in 1946. In 1947 Haig-Brown won the inaugural Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award, recognizing his 1943 novel Starbuck Valley Winter, which features trapping. He won award again in 1963 for The Whale People, a novel that features Native Americans. In 1953 Haig-Brown received an honorary LLD (Doctor of Laws) from the University of British Columbia. His books for younger readers won several awards, including the Governor General's Award for "Saltwater Summer" (based on his experience salmon fishing off northern Vancouver Island).