, 1860-07-13
WASHINGTON TERRITORY:
Historical, Geographical and Statistic
BY THE GATHERER.

To return from the depression made in
the last chapter-to give portion of the
official correspondence relative to the San
Juan Island dificulties-we now take up
such portions of the description Of the wa
ters, Islands, &C., to the north Of the Straits
Of Fucs, within the 49th parallel, as given
BY Mr.. Davidson of the coast survey, as
will DO Of most general interest.
ARCHIPELAGO DE HARo-CANAL DE HARo.
tCldimed By tie United States as The main
channel named in The treaty of 1916.
"The entrance to this strait may be
said to lie between Discovery island lying
81 miles off the southeast point Of Vancou.
yer island) or the point Of Bellevue or San
Juan Island nearly northeast, and seven
miles distant. Starting from this line, and
about three miles from Discovery, course
northwest by north for sixteen miles will
run through the first stretch; thence an
abrupt turn is made towards the eastward,
and the way out can be readily seen be-
tween the islands. The next course is
northeast east, for eleven miles; finally,
north, northwest 2A miles, and run Of
seven miles on that course, will carry q
vessel into the middle Of the Gulf of Geor-
gia.
Commencing at the starting point, we
have Bellevue Tor San JUAN island on the
eastward, and pass it at the distance of ! !
miles. Its mountains rise to l,070 feet,
and some Of them are only partially covered
With'wood. The bluffs are very precipit-
Gus and inaccessible, and the depth Of wa
ter close to them Is as much as $50 fathoms.
The greater extent Of the strait is to the
westward, stretching off into bays and
passages among the islands, .Cordeva bay
is the only available anchorage about this
entrance. 1t commences at Gordon Head,
81 miles northwest from Discovery island f;
then stretches westward for two miles, and
gradually curves to the north northwest,
with long high bluff, broken and bright
Cowichen Head. Back Of the southwest
part of the bay rises bold, rocky-topped
bill, (called Mount Douglas by coast survey
parties, which reaches height Of 600
feet. Fresh water is obtanable on the
southern shores Of the bay The northern
limit Of the bay is Darcy island, northwest
four miles from Gordon Head y
In the bay depth of not over twenty
fathoms is found, decreasing irregularly in
advancing, but in the southern portion ai-
fordiug capital holding ground in ten
fathoms.
"When 81 miles within the entrance the
width Of the strait decreases to 81 miles,
having Darch island Glow and wooded) on
the west
"The island to the eastward, nearly
abreast Of Darcy, with a small cove at its
southern end, is Henry island, (named by
the u s. exploring expedition) having a
high, rocky PERCEPTIONS front, and swivling
current around it. Further on and to the
westward is the southeast end Of Sidney
island, IL miles northward Of Darcy, with
the Dot rocks between, but nearer Sidney
This island is not high like those on the
other side Of the channel, and landing
is easily made at any point. The channel
here, ten miles from the entrance, is 23
miles wide. To the westward it opens be.
yond the north end Of Henry island, with
high mountainous islands bounding the
view. To the westward lie couple oil
long narrow islands mile from Sidney
and between them and the latter is good
anchorage, and capital fishing ground for
halibut The moderately low wooded is
lands three or four miles ahead, and on the
western side of the channel, have not been
named. Between them runs the inside
channel for steamers to the Nah-ny-moh
coal mines The background of the view
is occupied by wooded islands, overlapping
each other and appearing like continuous
shore. The large high island on the east
ern side, Is miles from the entrance il
Stuart island, (named by the U. S. explor
ing expedition, l84l) and the canal is hert
contracted to q breadth of only two miles
this being the narrowest part. In thi
pass no bottom was found with l65 fathom.
Of line. Stuart island in many places i,
very high and PERCEPTIONS, and covered with
timber, but in some parts sparsely. Neal
Its southwest head q perpendicular wall O
rock seems also to distinguish it. Aftel
passing the western end of this island al
the distance of a mile, the channel takes
an abrupt turn to the eastward, aud the
Gulf of Georgia is seen. The course now
is northeast for IL miles, having on the