British nautical maps from century ago help B.C. researchers chart kelp beds

VICTORIA — A serendipitous meeting between a professor and a colleague last year led to a treasure trove of historical maps indicating kelp bed locations off British Columbia’s coast, helping experts understand the changes in the ocean’s rainforests.
University of Victoria geography Prof. Maycira Costa saw the squiggly lines on the yellowed, hand-drawn map in a picture frame above her colleague’s desk.
The wall art was from 1903 and Costa said her co-worker had found it a