GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 971 
The north and south shores of this strait are parallel as far as the southern end of Vancou- 
ver's island, or to about the middle point of its length. Up to this point the strait has a 
general width of about eleven nautical miles. From the Race Rocks on the north, and Fresh- 
water bay on the south, exactly the middle point of the whole extent, the strait widens about 
twenty nautical miles, and afterwards presents more the aspect of a broad interior basin. It 
is no longer bounded by straight parallel shores, but branches out into several broad passage 
bays and channels. 
There are, therefore, two very distinct divisions of the Strait of Juan de Fuca—a western 
division, between Cape Flattery and Cape Church, which may be called De Fuca strait proper, 
and an eastern,division, between Cape Church and Whidby's island, for which there ought to 
be a particular name. Upon the Coast Survey charts it may be regarded as a part of what is 
called Washington sound. This name appears also to include the great central channel of the 
De Haro Archipelago.* De Fuca strait is very deep throughout its whole extent. In mid- 
channel its average depth is one hundred fathoms, and this depth is carried near shore on both 
sides. It commences shoaling perceptibly at a distance of two miles from shore; and in all 
the channels and branches of this strait the depth is equally great. 
There are no impediments to navigation throughout the whole extent of this strait. A deep 
sea bank is found at the entrance of the strait, which is a favorite fishing bank for the Indians 
in the vicinity. 
La Perouse speaks of a bank in the latitude and longitude of the entrance, though the capes 
were hidden by a fog. 
He has this bank marked on his chart of the northwest coast. Captain Broughtont also 
speaks of this bank, and remarks that it bears west by north three or four leagues from 
Tatooche island. It was examined by Lieutenant Commanding Alden, of the United States 
Coast Survey, in 1855, who found upon it a depth of forty fathoms. It may exert, however, 
some influence on the currents of ocean, and may divide those that enter the strait. The only 
exceptions to the general free navigation of the strait are a few kelp-fields which are "e in 
the eastern part of the strait, and which are usually formed upon rocky bottom, with com- 
paratively low soundings upon them. Four such kelp-fields have been ашнен апа marked 
upon the charts of the Coast Survey. One, south of San Juan island, at a distance vi аны miles 
from the shore. in latitude 48° 25’ north, longitude 122° 57’. It is about two miles in circum- 
ference, and ні a depth of three fathoms of water upon it. Another lies south of the same 
island, at a distance of seven miles from it, in latitude 48° 22’, longitude 123° 3’, of about 
three miles in circumference, and has a depth of five fathoms. | 
A third lies west of Whidby’s island, four miles from shore; it is about three miles in cir- 
cumference, with a depth of from seven to ten fathoms of water. p | | 
A fourth and much larger kelp-field lies west of Smith’s island, and this little ишы, with 
its kelp and sand banks, is quite conspicuous. It lies quite separate from m other islands, and 
we will give a description of it here, because it may be regarded as a particular feature of the 
cape itself. 
SwrrH's ISLAND lies nearl 
latitude 48° 19/, longitude 122? 62’. 
# See chart of Washington sound, Coast Survey Report, 1855. 
+ Broughton’s Voyage, L. С., page 55. 
y in the middle of the broad eastern extension of De Fuca strait, 
It is very small, being only a little more than a mile in 
