Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-01-20
SKIP HARBOR, FIDAi.GO ISLAND

BtstUtIC GNSNtb biNh NOW -
degree Of importance to this Lsrbor, the
eubstantial force OF which no one who
has thus far followed US will probably
gainsay. Tho SUBJECT naturally brings
1nto prominence the
CHARACTER OF THE HARBoR
as such, and the comparisons that are to
he made with other well known harbors
in their essential features OF approaches
by land aud by sea, anchorage, sheltered
frontage, etc, sill of which, in view of our
present improved prospects for an ads>
quate local and ocean steamer service,
will be Of particular interest to the inhab>
jtants of Whatcom and San Juan counties
Aside from its central location on the
waters OF the Fuca mediterranean. on the
eastside mainland or continental shore,
and at the bead of the Fuca Strait where
all other imaginable approaches by land
or sea must either meet or pass, the first
feature TO impress itself upon tho mind OF
the observer is the fact that, standing
anywhere you like upon the Fidslgo shore,
Ship Harbor has the appearance OF being,
as it really is, for all practical purposes, a
perfectly land-locxed hsrbor.
The second striking circumstance is the
fact that from this sheltered body OF
water are seen radiatipg five or six dit
ferent channels, or water ways, each of
them possessing individual merits either
Of direction for local commercial traffic, or
of facility OF approach for coasting and
sea going craft from any direction, north,
south, east or west Here smuggler or
n pirate might Turk, If be designed
striking suddenly in any direction--as
did the Massachusetts In early days, be-
fore the establishment of the custom
houses. These pcculiarities, combining a
perfectly land-locked shore with series
OF outlets in all desirable directions. make
Ship Harbor, with it's accessory good
qualities, the best harbor on Puget Sound.
and rank it among the best in the world
For facility of approach from the open
sea 1t is upsqualled, for the reason that
Fucs strait 10 itself unequaled as an APP
proach to more oi,elto.-d watsrs from tn.
open sea; the 'isesA.Obg directions ofssR2s
winds in regard to it, and the wide unob-
structad entrance leaving for it every
weather fair to come and 60. Coasters
from south to north, or from north to
south, making use of Fuca, Rosario and
tombstone Straits, have not mile to 90
cut Of their way here to approach COM
mon point, the nearest by any practicable
route from salt water to the great int.
rior valleys OF the Columbia and Fraser
Rivers.
By land the approaches TO the sea from
the valleys just mentioned are NO less ad.
yantageous than are the sea approaches
by way of Ship Harbor; the Fraser.
6kaget AMI Skykomish Rrivers having
cut cenverging Ioutes. and made uatu-
raj passes, known to DO more favorable
and lower than any Others 90 far found,
or likely to found, through the Cascade
Mountains. Beyond, the great rivers
themselves show a remarkable cenver>
gency Of trend ss Il they had intended to
Aow into Fuca Strait.
Al to anchorage, there IL none better,
por more easily reached from tile sea along
the entire course Of Fuca Strait, than the
lower anchorage OF Ship Harbor inside OF
Ship Point. Coal and timber vessels
loaded from the coal fields and forests of
this county, have been seen by our oldest
settlers ct different times anchored all
along Tidalgo frontage of Ship Hafbor
from Ship Point to the Anacortes knoll,
and thence all over the wider part Of the
bsrbor to Hat Island. The holding
ground is mostly Of mud, clay and clsyey
gravel, and is reported by the skippers to
b smineptiy satisfactory. An official OF
the csast survey who gave this matter his
particular attention during the first in
yestigation already referred to A. having
been made under Stevens Northern Pa
ci6c Railway explorations, made like
report. Of character 90 unequivocally
favorable that the matter OF the holding
ground Of Ship Harbor has been long
since considered settled. The uniform
depth of water at from to Is iathoms 10
The middle Of those portions OF the hsr.
bor known a. the channel, or Guemes
-. -
Channel, and the Psdilia, comprising the
widest portion between the Auacortes
knoll and Hat Island; everywhere con.
tinuing gradually to NOT less than or s
tathoms close to SHORE, has undoubtedly
~ important bearing ubder this head. A
ship cannot easily be driven ashore; and
Il can alwsss escaps from any emergency
If wind, Ore, or what not, from whatever
direction. The REF running out from
Chip Point. forming the south vestsrn eud
os the baybor aud a complete protection
Of the southern shore OF the hsrhor
ngainst the seas that sometimes come
rolling lnwsrds from Fuca Strait. is the
only obstruction anywhere to he found
under water. along the gravelly shores Of
tho hsrbnr. On either side, where ship
might pot 81 asbnre a any time Sthcos
:aiury.