The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-08-02
Letter from the Pacific Coast.
Correspondence of the .Journal.l
L. 5. STEAMER ALBATRosS.
Il

Ne. tlc AlDatrOSS weighed anchor IN san Fran
cisco harbor, and steamed out by the Golden
Gate bound for Alaska. A few days preyioll,
the noted little revenue cutter Rush started
for the Bhering Sea and Arctic Ocean. The
Rush annually makes Il trip to the Arctic for
the purpose Of preventing whalers and other
vessels from landing and trading whi>key and
firearms to the natives. This traffic was OK
tensively carried on by American and English
vessels to such an extent that waru- ami seal
hunting was entirely abandoned by the natives,
they neslecting everything pertaining to their
future welfare and comfort except drinking
whiskey, which they consider the chief object
in life. For days and weeks grand sympo.;-
nm would be kept up and in consequence huu-
drcds would die from starvation in winter.
Many retired sea captains of New England.
who live in luxury and ease gained their
wealth in this degrading and ileytlniate traf-
tic. Through the perseverance of the revenue
cutters nearly, if not quite, all of whskey
smuggling is broken ~,
The Albatross will endeayor to sound out
and locate the many fishing banks along the
southern coast of Alaska. Fishermen from
San Francisco and other places on The racinc
coast fish on these banks in the summer; but
how far they extend they cannot tell. and as
long as cod and haIibut are plentiful they do
not care. Already the demand is being made
by the people for more definite knowledge Of
the banks and shoals in Alaskan waters, which
are extremely dangerous to navigate, a> no
chart can be fully relied upon. The AIbatross
will devote about four months of this season
to surveying the coast and banks. Prob
ably no vessel is better adapted for the business,
as she is fitted with all modern appliances for
carrying on the work.
After passing the Golden Gate we imlned-
ately encountered Il moderate northwest gale
and heavy head sea which was extremely IN
comfortable to Il few on board, it being their first
voyage. Many places of interest We're passed.
especially along the Oregon coast. The high
mountains, hills and fertile valleys which arc
constantly hcaNng in sight keeps one who is in
search of scenery bu>ily engaged; for no soon
er is one picturesque spot passed than more
beautiful place than the last requires your at
tention. As the Albatro>s followed the coast. /.
we were at no time more than five miles from The
shore and an excellent opportunity was given
to stud. the country which was fully appreciate
ed by nearly all on board. At Cape Mcndocino Il
very high wind and a heavy seawaS met. which
corre>pondcd very favorably to Cape IIattcr;>
On the 9TH. ii I.25 p. H., the ship was stopped
and thirty Holsters We're planted in thirteen
fathom> of water on hard rocky and sandy bot
II, ~ rrnj] j]oI hno
one and one-half miles distant.
These Holsters were received on board at san
Francisco, from the L. S. Fish commissioners
and with many others had been shipped from
the East to be planted at various places along
the Pacific coast. OF the thirty planted
off Cape Trinidad thirteen were males and sew
enteen females and as they were all in good
order at the time Of planting. it is hoped
they Immediately Went to housekeeping. If
they did, probably Ill few years the Cali
fornian can boast of having that excellent dish,
lobster salad, upon his table.
Fortunately the Pacific coast i easily n;.yi-
gated, all shoals and ,unken rocks being close
in shore. If this was not the case many ship
wrecks would he reported. Il, the harhor, are
several hundred miles apart. Port orforl Of
fcrs shelter TO the mariner. but to one unae-
qualntcd it is an extremely dangerous place,
especially if approached from the north, Or
ford'> Reef, a very dangerous spot, lying direct
ly in the path. There is Il passage between
the reef and the shore called Steamers Cham
mel; but it is an intricate passage and full of
>nareS to catch the poor mariners seeking port
in storm. Tillamook Rock is Il craggy and is
olated looking place for human being to live.
1t is about 100 feet high and one mile from HE
main land. Apparently there is ju>t enough
rooll upon its top for the light. and no
more. The lighthouse on it cost twice the
amount of an ordinary light of the same size.
and Il good many lives. Whya light WAS erect
cd on such spot, when such good sites were
available on the main shore, is hard tptel. The
ways of government officials are past finding
out. am told that the light is soon to T." torn
down and another built ON the man shore,
where it ought to have been in the first place.
This will help reduce the surplus.
Cape disappointment at the mouth of Col
umbia River was passed at 1890 T.. NJ. 1t
proved disappointment We We're very
anxious to see the much moottd place, where
salmon are said to enter by millions. On July
$. four days after leaving san Francisco. at
l.3O 2. NJ. we pass Cape Flattery. on the STAR
board hand and enter the strait of Juan de
Fuca. The day is fine. the air warm and de-
lightful. and sea smooth All nature seems To
be trying to make things AS pleasant a> pos
sibe. Everybody that can is pacing the quar-
yer deck, enjoying the scenery and drinking in
the cool mountain breeze which blows from
the top of House Cone Mountain ON Nancou>-
er'S Island 900 feet himl.
The strait of Juan de Fuca is noted for it,
strong tides and extremely rough sea. 1t is
common occurrence for vessels to be caught in
ii and di>masted. owing to the wind suddenly
dying out and leaving them at the mercy of the
heavy sea and treachcrous tides. and in the
majority of cases it generally results in dis
ma>tlng or a total wreck of the vessel. As we
enter further in the strait. sii3i" capped maon-
tain> loom up in the distance on the American
shore. At first they We're thought to be heavy
cumulil> clouds hanging over low hills: but ON
closer inspection with the glass, the bare crag-
gy peaks of the mountain Were seen thru>tny
through the snow and ice. The chart indicated
that they were from seven to eight thousand
feet high Our course. +. by $. carried us
close to Race light Leaving this light on the
port hand We soon enter the harbor of E>qui-
mault where we cast anchor ut "a p NJ. On
entering the harhor we dip our ensign in re-
sponse to the barqne Matilda, of >ear>port.
Me. 1t seemed like meeting an old friend to
be recognized by New England ship. ESqui-
mault is about four mil ,s from Victoria. Van
couver's Island. 1t boasts of having one of tie
finest dry docks in British America. 1t was
built by the Colonial Government but is man
aged to certain extent by private parties.
After leaving Esquinault our next stopping
place will he Nanaimo, Departure Bay, where
we are to coal ship. On the followin. day at
noon we once more started Victoria is passed
on the port hand and san Juan Island on the
starboard. Leaving these behind lioro Strait
is entered where many beautiful islands are
scattered in wild profusion. Active Pass is
one of the prettiest sheets of water to be found
about Nancouver'S Island. 1t is n very intri-
cate passage, winding and curving around
mountains and hills of rare beauty. The seem
cry surpassed anything we had seen on our
cruise. and drew no less than three photog-
raphers with their cameras on deck. This
pass cuts off ten miles of the 81 to Nanaimo
and Immediately placed us in the Strait of
Georgia. opposite the mouth of Fraser River.
that famous place where SO many unfortunate
miners lost their ''bottom dollar" AT 80 =.
NJ. our anchor is dropped in Departure Bay.
Nanaimo is very primitive town of some
1000 inhabitants aud is the headquarters of the
Wellington Coal Mine Company. Here coal
retas for - Il ton while in San Francisco coal
outrageous price of SIS ton, and it is but
few months since it readily brought 800. The
duty is 10 per ton. Now here is a chance for
some free trader to say that if the duty was re-
moved the price would Immediately fall to Il
reasonable figure. Cinnamon We're formerly
employed in the mines, but since the eN-
rlosion which happened some time last winter
resulting in the loss of eighty-iiye lives. on
ly white men are employed. The cause,
believe, was attributed to some neglect on the
part Of the workmen. Departure Bay aboun,ls
in cod and herring, which are tished for by the