, 1860-07-27
WASHINGTON TERRITORY:
Hstorical, Geographical and Statistical
BIRCH BAY.
BY THE GATHERER.

"The southern point OF this hne bay is
Point Whitehorn, aud the northern shore
i formed by long, rounding high bluff,
hearing about N W. from Whitehorn, and
distant three miles. The bay runs n. n.
E2I miles, with width of H. The bot
tom Is very uniform, with capital holding
ground of soft mud, in from four to ten
htboms. Inside the immediate shores are
low, and edged with marshy patches, thick
undergrOwth, and heavy wood. No direc-
tons are necessary for entering, as there is
depth Of Is to 20 fathoms a mile outside,
and 10 fathoms water on the line of the
entrance. During the heavies southeast
weather, no swell is felt here in a properly
selected anchorage. The approx.
mate geographical position of Point White,
horn Is lat. 4So 53k' n, Ion. 1929 Az W.
It received its present name from Vancou.
YER in 1892 Passing the bluff n w. ol
Birch bay, the shore trends about n. N. L
for nearly three miles, and terminates in q
long, low sandy point, behind which lies a
small land locked harbor, having depth
Of 10 fathoms inside. The south
east shore Of the harbor is fat and marshy
and is not separated by much more than a
mile from Birch bay.
"In this harbor the United States and
British steamers attached to the Northwest
Boundary Survey were accustomed to an
ehor. (l857) The American commission
er eneamped on the bluff about mile north
Of the boundary, the site having been Sc
ected on account of fresh water, but it has
an extensive fiat in 'front.'
Stretching to the northwest is large
shallow, marshy bay, fringed with trees and
bushes. From its northern shore low land
extends as far back as Frazer river. The
western boundary of the bay is formed by
the eastern shore of Point Roberts.
POINT ROBERTS.
"The southwestern extremity OF this
point is low, and bears west by IL or .l3
miles from Point Whitehorn. Its approx
mate position is consequently lat. 4S0 So
N, lon. 1899 O5' W., or about two miles
below the boundary of the United States.
"0n the outer or Gulf Of Georgia side
Of Point Roberts, the shore runs about n.
". 9 or 10 miles to the southern and prin-
eipal mouth Of Frazer river The south
point runs +. N. T. three miles, and pre-
Sents for nearly the entire distance bold
bluff about $50 feet high, and covered with
wood. Half a mile of this shore anchor
age may be had in from 10 to Is fathoms,
but in southerly weather it must be avodi-
ed. The eastern shore of the point runs
nearly parallel with the western for 4 or 5
miles"
BELLINGHAM BAY.
Bellingham Bay opens into Rosario
Straits o'the southwark Of Lummi island,
which communicates with Deception Pass
and the channel to the east Of Whidby's
island. This pass is at the head of the
Straits of Juan de Fuca, and on the east
side Of the entrance to Rosario Straits.
The general direction Of the bay is S.
3. and n W., its width 3 miles and length
IA, extending from lat. 49O 33' to lat. 4S0
49,. The depth of water ranges from 3 to
20 fathoms, with good sticky bottom.
Bellingham Bay was first surveyed by
WILDLY, under Vancouver's orders in 1872
and then received its present name. In
some recent maps, the northern portion is
called Castor Bay, and for the southern
part the original name is retained but
Yancouver's designation is that universally
adopted of the western coast"
Returning to the Straits of Fuca, and
passing the entrance to the Canal de Haro
We come to Vancouver's Island, which
from this point to the ocean, constitutes the
north shore of the Straits. On this side
are several nlets and harbors, the principal
ones being Port San Juan, Esquimalt and
Victoria harbors and Sooke Inlet.
PORT SAN JUAN.
The eastern head of the entrance j.
formed by several large rocks called Oh
serVatory Rocks on the Apmiralty chart o
iS47. From Tatoosh island Light they
bear N. E. by N. / N. IA miles distant
The width Of the bay is I miles from poin
to point, aud their bearing E. / S. and W
/ N. from each other. The length of thu
bay is 81 miles on a general course n. Z
t N, aud the width almost uniform at l.
miles to the very head, where severa
streams enter, amongst which are cooper
inlet at the northeast, and the river Ger