, 1860-06-08

from the Mount Olympus range.
We now return to the Straits OF Juan
de Fuca. OF this vast arm Of the sea and
the ramifcaton of waters to the north
ward of it, the following description is Ia
ken from the recently published Pacific
Coast Directory of Geo. Davidson, Esq,
one of the most efficient officers Of the
United States Coast Survey service. Mr.
d has labored for eight years in discharge
of the arduOus duties appertaining TO his
department upon the coast Of California,
Oregon and Washington. Not only our
own country, but "all VINO go down to the
sea in ships" who do business on the great
waters, are largely indebted for the full
and ample explorations and examinations,
aud the minute sailing directions contained
in the directory;
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA.
"The entrance to the Strait from the
Pacific, lies between Cape Flattery and
Cape BoniIla, on Vancouver'S Island, which
forms the northern shores. Its width is
about fourteen miles, and the bearing from
Flattery to Bonilla n. w, three-fOurthS
N. rTOm lHlS iluc tut pttdlJ runs tHob
for forty miles. 1t gradually contracts to
eight miles between Beachy Head on the
north, and Striped Peak on the south,
changes its direction to Il. by n. J n. for
fifteen miles, then expands TO the North
ward, attaining width of eighteen to
twenty miles, and divides into two ship
channels, the Canal dc Haro and Rosario
Strait, leading through the Archipelago de
Haro northward to the Gulf Of Geogia. 1t
is terminated on the east by Whidby's
Island; at the southeast it passes into Ad-
mirality Inlet; and it is bounded on the
south by the main land OF Washington
Territory, which forms the entire southern
shore of the Strait. From the ocean to
Whdby's Island, the md-channel distance
is eighty-four miles. The depth Of water
throughout the Strait is remarkably great,
no bottom being found in its deepest parts
with hundred and fifty fathoms of line
1t is the main artery for the waters of Ad-
miralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Possession
Sound, Hoods Canal, Canal dc Haro, Ro-
sario Strait, Bellingham Boy, and east Gulf
of Georgia, extending between Vancouver
Island aud New Calidona, for one hundred
and twenty miles, with an average width of
twenty. its currents run with an average
velocity of not less than three miles per
hour, and off the Race Islands and Beechy
Head over six miles an hour lis shores
are bold, abrupt and covered with heavy
growth of Yuried timber aud dense under
brush. On the north the mountains arise
rapidly from the water, and many attain an
elevation of not less than six or seven
thousand feet. These are covered with fir
to their submits. On the south for thirty
miles from t6e~entPance, the shore is bound
cd by hills OF two thousand feet height,
backed by the jagged Olympus range Of
5000 feet. For the next fifty miles the
shore is generally steep cliff frOm fifty TO-
two hundred feet high, with fat country
extending nearly 10 the foot hills Of Olym-
pus, and stretching further south as we
move eastward. On the east, the face of
Whidby's Island is very steep; it is about
25O feet high aud appears fiat, as does the
whole country eastward to the sharp-cut
outline Of the Cascade range stretching its
serrated ridge northward where the snow
peak of Mount Baker (named by Vancon-
yer, 1902 is distinctly seen; aud to the
southwark where the higher peak Of Mount
Rainier (named by VantouVer) attracts
the eye.
"At the time of our first visit, the south
ern shore Of the Strait was inhabited by
numbers Of Indians living in heavily stock
AIDED villages. They were tolerable expert
in the use of firearms, Of which they seemed
to have good supply. They lived mostly
by fishing, but raised fair supply of re
markably good potatoes from the stock
seed of the Hudson Bay Company.
During dry summers the Indians and
settlers set fire to the forests iu every di-
rection, and the country soon becomes en-
veloped in dense smoke that lasts for two
or three months. At such times, it IS fire.
quentIy impossible to make out the shore at
half u mile distance, the strong westerly
winds coming up the Strait disperse it for
a while, but only to fau the fires and give
them renewed force and activity.
" In summer the prevailing wind draws
into the Strait, increasing towards evening,
and frequently blowing ten knot breeze
SNASAS Oub uhlCSo buC Win Is
strong outside, little will be felt in the
Strait, and very frequently vessels will be a
week from Cape Flattery to Admiralty In-
let, or rice veTsG. In winter the southeast
winds draw directly out, and create q very
heavy cross-sea Of the entrance, the great
southwest swell meeting that rolling out
In such cases, trading vessels try TO gain
Nee-ah Bay or San Juan harbor, and re-
main at anchor until the wind changes
In beating in or out, vessels may run as
close under either shore as wind aud cur
reuts warrant, as no hidden dangers have
been found half a mile off shore, except at
the west side OF the small iudentation call
ed Crescent Bay, near Striped Rock, forty
four miles inside Of Rock Duncan.
"At the entrance the currents acquire,
during the large tide of each day, Yeloc.
ity OF four miles per hour, and, after strong
northwest winds, very large, short, but
regular swell is encountered west OF Nee