The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-11-21
REPORT ON YAQUINA BAY.

The entrance to Yaquipa Bay is situ-
ated on the Coast of Oregon approx {:
Lat 40 40 30", Long. l240 03' " ;
los miles south of the mouth Of tho Co
lumbia river.
Ia approaching il from sea, should it
be clear day, navigators viii frs; make
out peculiar square topped mountain,
covered with dead pine trees, giving it n
whitish color. This mountain, known
az Alsea mountain, is on the head waters
Of the river Of the saue name aud is from
sea, apparently to the south and cast Of
the entrance to Yaquina.
Mary's peak, conieal. shaped noun
tain in the interior, viii also show dark
blue in COLOR to the north Of Alsea.
On nearing the shore, If comi from
soutlrgard, cluster of detached rocks
will be seen about a mile from the sand
beach and outlined against it. These
rocks are called the Scai-ille-he's or Seal
Rocks and are (approx) 3 miles below
the mouth Of the iaquina, and between
it and the Alsca river.
Three and one half (3A) miles TO the
n. w. Of Yaquina Head is remarkable
cape or point known as Cape Foulwea'h.
er. 1t is perfectly bare of timber, cx.
tends / mile out from the beach, and con.
sists of two conical hills; the inner one
407, the outer $50 feet above low water
mark; and terminates in n tongue or
point of rocks, with one large detached
islet lying off its extreme end. This
cape being a very prominent land mark,
and unlike any other on the coast line,
will identify the position OF Yaquina en-
trance at once if the mountains are not
visible.
The north shore or Head" of Yaquina
entrance consists Of bluff l20 to 130
feet high, of sandstone formation, show
ing yellow from the sea. This bluff is
crowned with an isolated grove of tall
pine or fir trees, some dead and some
alive. On its seaward face beacon or
signal has been erected. the base of
which is 126 feet high. Directly under
it and extending towards the Bar is
large fat rock oblong in shape.
The South Beach is low and sandy,
backed by sand dunes and still further
back by low range of hills bare of tim
Der, on the highest of which Flagstaff
(158 feet at base) hds been erected for
celebrations, ETC. This flagstaff has been
boarded up 30 feet from the ground TO
serve as range or beacon for entering
the Harbor (to be mentioned hereafter
Back of these hills there is long ridge
covered with dense forest of living fir
trees. On the point of the South Beach,
seen from sea, the roof Of large house,
new, 1868, will show prominently.
The first danger in approaching the
Harbor of Yaquina, consists of ledge of
rocks runnin.g parallel with the general
trend of the shore ,'i;ne and distant from
/ to IL miles from It. This ledge, Gas
far as suryeyed) eliminates III rock II
miles from shore and q miles S. :. WI
of the North Head on which there is butt
121 feet at mean low water On this
rock the sea breaks at low tide and In
heavy weather. Running from this rock
to the northward the ledge sinks. Op-I
posite the entrance it again rises, the
shoalest spot being but 8 feet below the
surface at mean low water. The extent
OF shoal water is about 600 yards iinl
length, the reef then sinks again rising
in isolated spots to l3 feet below the sur
face until it terminates at Cape Foul-l
weather. Between this reef and the
bar there is a good channel over 60Ol
yards wide with an average depth of "a
feet (m. l. W..
The Bar is formed partly by a sand
spit making out from the South Beach
and partly by double reef of rocks ex-
tending from the North Head, The out
ermost reef starts from point 338 yds.l
north of the large rock before mentioned