On this particular day I was working in the garden at a cabin on Sterling Arm, Sproat Lake,Port Alberni, B.C.. I was busy digging a hole for a post.The day was overcast, no rain, about 65 degrees F, no wind. It was serene and quiet. The cabin is on the shore of the lake between two stands of hemlock and cedar. The area between these trees affords a fairly wide look at the sky. While working away I heard a sputtering sound above me similar to the sound you hear when dropping water on a hot griddle. I looked up and noticed a silver/gold sphere approximately 300ft. altitude passing overhead. It's speed was about 10mph, maybe a little faster. Diameter of the sphere was approx. 40ft. It had a sort of vaporish mist surrounding it that exuded no trail. I watched it pass over the trees and it disappeared from view. It appeared to be descending so I waited, listening, expecting to hear a crash of some kind. I did not hear a crash so I assumed it continued on. Because of the topography of the region I thought that by the time I found my car keys and chased out to have another look at it, it would be gone so I did not pursue the idea. The sphere had no wires, ropes,etc. hanging from it. It was perfectly round. As it moved, basically in a straight line, it seemed to "wobble" a little at times. The hissing sputtering sound was constant. I was not under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. I'd had a full night's sleep. I have no history of mental illness. I kept this sighting to myself for years. One day I was talking to another resident that lives in the area and he said he'd seen the same thing several years earlier only over the river where it goes out of the lake. He didn't report his either. Since then I've told re-searchers about it and always get the response that my sanity is in question. Well, I know what I saw (and heard)......I never heard of a weather balloon that "fizzles" while aloft, however I'm sure the experts will be glad to add their fact-based speculation.