User:Danilar/sandbox
This is the rough draft of the section 1.1 Background. I had to put explorer in brackets behind Simon Fraser since there are dozens of wikipedia entries on various Simon Frasers, so I had to include that in order for the internal link to correctly match up with Simon Fraser's wikipedia entry. I was also wondering whether or not I should internally link "Pacific Salmon" to it's wikipedia entry, which is titled "Oncorhynchus" (its genus name). The first few sentences at the top of the entry are the ones that are already present in the article, which I think are worth keeping, but I (we) will have to find a legitimate source for where the information came from (there is currently no reference). Let me know if you happen to come across any source with that information regarding Simon Fraser in it!
History
The first recorded history of Hells Gate is found in the explorer Simon Fraser's journal, 1808. There he describes this narrow passage as an "awesome gorge." He also says that "surely this is the gate of hell". Long before the arrival of explorer Simon Fraser (explorer) and as early as the end of the last ice age, Hells Gate was a First Nations congregation ground for settlement and salmon fishing.[1] Archaeological evidence from old occupation sites and isotopic analyses of human skeletal remains suggest that settlement and migration patterns for indigenous peoples in the Fraser Canyon correlated with the seasonal migration patterns of Pacific salmon.[2] During the last deglaciation 4000-6000 years ago, long tongues of ice formed wedges and dams in the basin above the canyon, resulting in the formation of large reservoirs and new lakes—creating optimal spawning grounds for salmon.[3] During this inter-glacial period, salmon began to populate the Fraser River and used Hells Gate passage as their route to upstream spawning grounds.[4] Constricted by two steep subvertical granodiorite walls, the incredibly narrow passage and high water velocity made this part of the upstream journey by salmon extraordinarily difficult.[5] Salmon would closely hover along the shores of the river or rest in its back-eddies.[6] As a result, Hells Gate’s geology provided the indigenous fishers with superb opportunities to readily catch salmon congregated at the river’s edge attempting to elude the strong currents and rough waters.[7] Hells Gate became one of the most popular fishing stations along the Fraser River— pre and post-colonial contact— where large numbers of natives, and eventually European settlers, congregated during the summer months to fish for migrating salmon.[8] Standing on adjacent rocks or on specially constructed wooden platforms extending from surrounding cliffs, fishermen would use long dip nets to snatch the salmon.[9] As Matthew Evenden asserts, the native culture along the Fraser River was built on a “salmon economy.”[10] After Simon Fraser explored and charted the river in the early nineteenth century, it became (and Hells Gate with it) an established corridor between the Pacific Ocean and the interior of what was to become British Columbia.[11] As Fraser discovered, Hells Gate would be a point that was passed by, but never through.[12] Safe water transportation through the 115 foot wide opening at Hells Gate proved virtually impossible.[13]
Here are the comments and ideas that I came up with:
Great introduction Danielle! It sums up the whole pre-history clearly and outlines the main ideas we would expand on. A few comments that I came up with when reading the draft are the following: (numbers are matched to the sentences) 1) the date in the first sentence jumps up at me a bit maybe we could reword it so it would be more embedded in the sentence: “explorer Simon Fraser's 1808 journal.”? 2) I think you can put a period after the citation and I think we should put reference in there. 3) would be good if that has a reference too. 4) putting explorer twice in the sentence may distract the reader (I suggest we should use the explorer only ones in the link.) 5) good. 6) I think we should provide a link to what “isotopic analyses” are (i.e. link it with the wiki entry) and I think that the reader may be confused when he reads “old occupation sites” maybe we can replace it with “settlements” instead? And provide a link to the “first nations” within Wikipedia 7) good maybe should provide a link to “dams” and “canyon” 8) good 9) I would clarify that you are talking about Hell’s gate passage here (and also keeping in mind the audience not many people would know what “subvertical granodiorite walls” mean so we should like the terms to other wiki entries if they exist) 10) great – link to back-eddies would be helpful. Otherwise great summary and I was clear about what you were talking about! To answer your questions I think that we should link the pacific salmon to its original article. I definitely agree that the first few sentences are worth keeping - I think we should all try to look up the reference as the sentecens are valuable and if not we would have to replace it with the information that we find about Simon Fraser in the sources. --AnastasiaU. (talk) 18:34, 9 March 2012 (UTC)
- ^ William E. Ricker, “Hell’s Gate and the Sockeye,” The Journal of Wildlife Management 11, 1 (January 1947): 10. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3796036 (accessed 12 February 2012).
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, Fish Versus Power: An Environmental History of the Fraser River (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 20.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 21.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 24.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 24.
- ^ Matthew D. Evenden, 24.