, 1860-06-08

feasibility of their connection by rail roads
and canals"
The mention made in previous chapter
of some of the harbors of these waters as
described by Com. Wilkes, were those
only which lie upon the right shore after
entering the Straits of Fuca. As these
constitute but a portion Of the bays and
harbors, we will retrace our steps to Admi'
rally Inlet, and to the waters north Of the
Straits of Fuca. Admiralty Inlet" says
Mr.. Davidson, "may be described as q
vast canal, commencing at the southeast
extremity Of the Straits of Juan de FucO
and running in a general S. f by L direc
tion for sixty miles, to the south end Of
Vashon's Island. 1t has for that distance
an average width of three and half miles
and then branches into q multitude oI
arms comprising what is called Puget
Sound'
On the eastern or left shore of Admiral
ty Inlet, and abreast of Port Madison, is
Duwamish Bay, SO called by the Coast
Survey, and properly, as it is at the mouth
of the Duwamsh river. 1t was called by
Con. Wilkes "Elliops Bay" but its pres.
ent name, adopted several years since, is
Seattle, by which it is now only known.
1t is the point designated in the explora.
tions and survey Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad as its turmiuus. From Mr.. Da-
Wilson's report, we give the following:
"West Point forms the extreme north.
west entrance to DuwamiSh Bay. The
bay runs E. by S. six and half miles, and
has a width Of two miles. To the south
point, called Battery Point, which is low
and bare, with curiously shaped mound
rising sharply behind it; the course is about
S. L. by S., and distance four and hall
miles. Under West Point there is an an.
chorage in ten to fifteen fathoms after get,
ting towards the bluff; but on the north
side Of the point the water is very deep.
Through the centre of the bay the depth
ranges from eighty-eight to forty fathoms
On the north side of Battery Point a YES.
sci anchoring in twenty fathoms cannot
have greater scope Of chain than thirty.
five fathoms without being too close to the
shore. When we anchored there in thir-
tSeas fathoms, and Veered to twenty-five
fathoms Of chain, the vessels stern was in
two and a half fathoms. The beach is
smooth and very regular, being composed
of sand and gravel. = The head
Of the bay receives the Duwamish river,
and for one and two miles is an extensive
fat, bare at low water. The usual
anchorage is directly of the wharf in ten
to fifteen fathoms."
Passing from the harbor Of Seattle north
ward down Admiralty Inlet to within six
teen miles of the Straits OF Fuca, Hoods
Canal is reached. The entrance to this
arm Of the Inlet is between Basalt Point
and Foulweather Bluff The course of the
Canal for the first seven miles is nearly due
south, it then changes and runs southwest
for forty miles, when it makes sharp turn
to the northeast, and terminates in thirteen
miles, reaching to within two and half
miles Of the northern terminus of Cases
Inlet, heretofore described as one of the
arms Of Puget Sound. Between the Inlet
and Canal is a large lake. The entire
length of the Canal is sixty miles, with an
average width Of one mile and half The
soundings from the entrance to
its termination, range from fifty to one
fathom, being nowhere less than ten faith
oms, until within two miles ofathe head
Along shore on either hand, depth OF
from twenty to Eve fathoms maintains
No distractions or dangers occur to pre-
vent navigation by the largest vessels
Just within the entrance south of Basalt
Point, on the western shore, is Port Ludlow,
a beautiful little land-locked harbor about
two miles long, and in width from three
fourths to half mile Inside the point of
entrance is a fine steam saw-nill. About
a mile above the mill is water power
with fall Of IS or 80 feet. The soundiugs
in this bay are from eleven to FIVE fathoms.
PORT GAMBLE.
Seven miles up the Canal, on the eastern
shore, this fine harbor is situated. 1t is
two and a half miles long by three-fourths
in width, with uniform soundings Of four to
nine fathoms. On this bay is one of the
most extensive numbering mills in the Ter
ritory, cutting about ten million feet per
annum. Vessels load here for China, Aus
tralia, the Sandwich Islands, California
and South American ports.
sUQUAmsH HARBoR
lies on the western shore abreast Of Port
Gamble. 1t is snug little buy, having
fine anchorage.
CoLsEED HARBoR AND DABoP BAY.
Fourteen miles southwark from Suquam-
iSh, on the same shore, broad arm of the
Canal makes to the north for a distance Of
ten miles, within which the above large
and capacious harbors are situated.
sEABECK HARBoR
is ten miles further south on the eastern
shore, and is about a mile long, aud half q
mile wide, with sounding from ten to fifteen
fathoms.
The banks Of Hoods Canal as far as
Te.kuts-ka Point, do not exceed one hun.
hundred feet in height, and are formed of
trati6ed clay, with a light gravelly soil
above it, thickly covered with pine. This
is the character of the eastern shore for the
whole extent of the Canal hut the west