, 1860-08-03
WASHINGTON TERRITORY:
Historical, Geographical and Statistical


sHoALwArER BAY.
1.-THE bold cliff Of Cape Disappointment
after extending about three miles north
ward, changes Suddenly TO low sandy
beach, running N. by w. half W. IS miles,
in nearly straight line to the southern
point Of the entrance to Shoalwater Bay.
A mile and o quarter behind this beach
lies the southern arm of the bay. Its wa
ters reach within mile or two or the north
side Of the Cape, and the portage from
them to the Wappalooche, emptying into
Bakers bay, is said to he about mile long,
and always used by the Indians and set
tiers. The peninsular thus formed is GOV.
cred with trees and dense underground of
bushes. Near its extremity it becomes
very low and sandy, and on the Coast Sur
Tey charts is named Leadbetier Point. =
4 This bay, as its name implies, is
10 full Of shoals that at low tides about
one-half Of its area is laid bare. Good,
but narrow channels are found throughout
lie extent The arm stretching southwark
toward Bakers bay, is is miles long from
Leadbetter Point, with an average width
Of not less than 81 miles, whilst the upper
portion stretches to the n E. for nine miles
to the mouth of the Wilapah river, reek.
oning from the middle of the line joining
Cape Shoalwater and Leadbetter Point.
THE principal stream entering the bay
Is the Whil-a-pah, at its northeast part.
"The mouth of the Palux or Copalux
lies five miles N. +. half r. from Leadbet-
ter Point. 1t is half a mile wide at its
mouth; contracts very much in two miles,
and is bordered with marshes with numer-
ous sloughs running through them.
"The Nasal enters about | miles south
from the Palux, and abreast of the middle
Of Long island. 1t has over 20 feet water
at its mouth, with bluff banks for some dis
lance, until it begins to expand, when it is
bordered by fats.
side Of the bay. One Of these, the Ne
eomauche, near the Whilapah, has six feet
in the main channel, and shows u miles
wide at high tide.
There are three islands in the bay
Pine island, about ! ! mile N. w. by N. of
the mouth of the Palux, is a small sand
iset Of only four or Eve acres in extent, and
occupied by oysterman. 1t is near the
channel and oyster beds, which stretch for
couple Of miles to the n. N. E. Of it,
The north end of Long island is 8 miles
from Leadbetter Point. This island 4uns
irregularly, about S. E., for six miles, and
has an average width Of II miles 1t is
covered with a dense forest Of fir and un-
dergrowth. Que mile S. S. f. of Long
island is a very small islet called Rnmo
island, OF only few acres 10 extent, COW
cred with wood and bushes The shores Of
the bay, except on the peninsula, are most.
ly composed Of perpendicular cliffs Of sandy
clay, in which are strata of recent fossil
shells and the remains of trees Where
the faces Of the cliffs are not washed 10y the
waters Of the bay, they slope gently and
haVe q small grassy shore at their base
The peninsula is a long, fiat, marshy
and sandy plain, elevated but few feet
above the level Of the sea, and covered, like
the entire surface Of this country, with a
dense growth Of gigantic forest trees, prin-
cipally spruce, FIR and cedar, with few
specimens Of maple, ash, and black alder.
The spruce frequently attains diameter OF
eight feet.
"The shoals are covered with shell fish,
among which the oyster is the most abun.
daut, and the principal article of export
They are small and have a copper tasre.-
Very much improved by cultivation in size
aud taste, within few years,-G ATH. =
Goldfish and halbut abound; sturgeon, said
to be of good quality, are plenty, and
salmon Of several varieties, and excellent
favor exist in infinite numbers In spring
vast shoals of q small herring enter the
bay. In winter, wild fowl are iunumerabe
Black and white swan, geese, mallards,
canvass-backs, &c, &c, always reward the
experienced sportsman.
The yearly shipment of oysters is about
$4,000 bushels, aud of piles aud spar;
about $1,000 feet. The average valuation
Of exports is $4,000. The number o
vessels entering yearly, is about 25, nearly
all OF which are schooners, counting an ag
gregate Of $500 tons. In 1855, the popu
iatiOn on the bay was 100 males and 60
females.
This bay was discovered by Lieut.. John
Mears, July 5, 1888, in the Fellce. when pro
ceedlng in search Of the Rio de San Rogue