38 BOTANY OF THE ROUTE. 



the lofty rocky promontory of Cape Disappointment I found two or more species rarely seen 

 within the mouth of the Columbia, though frequenting the outside of the cape in immense 

 numbers — (Graculus and Aphriza.) 



Of the fish peculiar to the ocean I know little, though the large skate found at the mouth of 

 Shoalwater bay seems to be one of them. Immense numbers of small cod, and of an excellent 

 kind of anchovy, are sometimes washed up near and within the mouth of the Columbia. 



A peculiar radiate (Spatangus) is found along the beach, and one mollusc, only, that I have 

 not'found elsewhere, (Machaera,) called there the razor clam, and considered the best of the 

 bivalves for the table. 



The vegetation of the salt waters is almost as interesting as its animals, although, being of a 

 low organization, it has not yet attracted so much attention. 



The immense "kelp" of the Pacific, (Macrocystis,) rivalling the gigantic forest trees of the 

 coast, sometimes said to be 300 feet in length, and growing at both ends of that ocean, is a 

 most remarkable object as it lies extended along the beach like an immense serpent, or, coiled 

 in tangled masses, it floats about, carrying attached to its roots stones of many pounds weight. 

 In the sound this seaweed grows plentifully, as well as in the deep sea, but not on sandy parts 

 of the coast. 



Mr. Ashmead has kindly noticed two other interesting species of Algae collected on the 

 coast in my catalogue of plants. The plants of higher orders growing close to or in salt water 

 illustrate the same fact in respect to distribution as those found along rivers, <fec., most of 

 them being of very wide distribution both on this continent and in other parts of the world. 

 (Lathyrus maritimus, Potentilla anserina, Ligusticum scoticum, Plantago manHma, Armeria 

 vulgaris, Glaux maritima, Zostera marina, Ruppia maritima, and several others.) 



In regard to the temperature of the salt waters I can only say that it prooably varies much 



less than that of the fresh, since the currents of the oceans coming from the northwest keep 



it cool in summer, while it never freezes, except where largely mixed with fresh water, and in 



shallow bays. It is well known, too, that the vast body of the North Pacific is warmer than 



the Atlantic in the same latitudes, and that icebergs are never seen anywhere near the coast of 



the Territory. 



SCENERY OF THE WESTERN REGIONS. 



The natural features of Washington Territory are strikingly different throughout from those 

 of a corresponding portion of the Atlantic coast, owing both to its mountainous cliaracter and 

 peculiar products. To a traveller approaching the coast by sea the whole country appears 

 mountainous and densely clothed with dark green forests from the water level to the limits of 

 perpetual snow. Far above this tower in indescribable majesty and beauty the brilliant snow- 

 clad peaks of the Cascade range, in strong relief against the deep blue sky, and seemingly 

 close to the sea, although Mount St. Helen's, the nearest, is one hundred miles inland. At 

 sunset the softening mist which often hangs over them becomes tinted with the most delicate 

 hues, gradually changing through the shades of rose, purple, and lilac, until in the moonlight 

 they become like monuments of shining silver. 



On nearing land this noble scenery is found to be accompanied by a proportionately gigantic 

 vegetation, and, indeed, everything seems planned on a gigantic scale of twice the dimensions 

 to which we have been accustomed. The Columbia, unequalled in grandeur even by the 

 "Father of Waters," is bordered by lofty cliffs and mountains, clothed from base to summit 



