, 1876-12-02
Around and Among the Islands.

from trip from that place to the lower
islands. In conversation with him, W,
found his observations made with such
excellent Judgment, and he had noticed
50 many things not generally known, that
we procured from him the following par.
tlculArs in relation to his trip;
On Saturday, November 18th, the par
", consisting Of Robert Mckay, John
Lander and Mr.. Root, left Mukilteo in a
Whitehall boat, at 0 \. NJ. \ very strong
southcrIy wind WAS blowing--so strong
that Just as they were off the southern
head of Camano Island their mast was
carried away. They were only about a
quarter OF mile from shore, and haul.
ing in sail, they took to the oars, pulled
INTO the shore. cut Il new mast, retitted'
and were soon under hcadway again for
Ccntrcville, on the Stilhguamish, reach.
ing there at a quarter to IL NJ, less than
three hours fron Mukilteo, distance Of
twenty miles and upwards.
There they purchased supplies for two
weeks, and, after dinner, started, going
to LII Conner, the southcrly wind still
continuing; not stopping at La Conner
but passing directly through the Swino'
mish slough, sailing the whole of the
way, not stopping until they reached a
barren, rocky island, called HIATT Island
some twelve miles from the head Of
Swinomish slough, and about the same
distance from SehQme, containing about
one hundred and sixty acres OF land and
rocks. Their stopping place for the night
was situate not far from fifty miles from
Mukilteo, the place they left in the morn
ing, they sailing all the way
Sunday morning, the 10Th, they sailed
to Sehome in couple of hours, stopped
there until Monday, examined maps, etc,
and decided on their future course the
object Of the cruise being to hunt claims
containing timber suitable for logging
purposes, and for getting out ship knees
The next morning (Monday, the 20th,)
they left Schome at about s A. NJ, went
up the Nootsack, rowlrg from SehOme,
some fifteen miles up the river, to the
jam. the mouth of the river helng some
seven miles from Sehome, and the place
where they camped for the night at the
jam being about twenty-five miles from
Sehomc.
They found parties at work cutting a
good channel, suitable for steamboat nav
iga,ion, through the jam, They were
doing their work vigorously, and in an
excellent manner, and had cut the jam
about twO.thirds thr, ugh; will finish it
during the present winter They learned
from the parties at work there that the
settlers had contributed some five hun
dred dollars towards cutting out the
JAM When this work is completed the
river will be navigable for steamers for
about nine months in the year, some
thirtyfv or forty miles from its mouth,
TO the place where the road from What
com to British Columbia crosses the river
so they were informed there.
As far up as they went, they found
very little land with timber on it suita-
BILE for logging purposes, the bottoms
being very broad, containing a great
amount of excellent agricultural land,
and most OF the timber being situate two
or three miles back from the river. At
one place, just below the jam, the tim.
bered highland comes out to the river,
bordering on it for about one mile. This
was of excellent quality for logging pur.
poses, as fine timber as they ever saw,
some seven or eight million feet being
easily got at near to the river, while by
extending roads back from the river
probably twenty-five or thirty million
feet could he proftably hauled there.
The front of this timbered tract is held
by homestead settlers, who have not
proved up as yet, consequently none of it
can I've cut until some OF them obtain
Government title to the land.
They examined no other timber on the
Nootsack, but left there on Tuesday
morning, November 2lst, passing down
the Lummi river, or slough, a small
stream gcing nearly dry at Low water
that branches from the Nootsack. like
Ebey slough docs from the lower course