NORTH WEST COAST OF AMERICA. loi 



J 



I FOUND it a moft excellent one indeed, with great ^ "^^ ^• 

 plenty of wood every where, and feveral fine runs of wa- <- — ^-^j 

 ter. For a confiderable diftance it runs up nearly Eaft juiy.' 

 South Eaft, and then bends rather to the Southward, with ^'^^^^ "' 

 fourteen fathoms water, over a bottom of muddy fand. 

 The Eaft fide aiFording plenty of black birch, and other 

 kinds of wood, which gre^v clofe ta a beach where the 

 boats could have eafy accefs, I fixed on it for a wooding 

 place, and returning immediately on board, I fent the 

 carpenters to get fome fpars, and another party to cut fire- 

 wood. 



None of the natives as yet had made their appearance; 

 but as the Rufiians were conftantly on their guard for fear 

 of being furprifed by the Americans, I judged it prudent 

 that we ftiould be fo likewife; and accordingly fent a cheft 

 with arms along v/ith the parties on ftiore. By noon we 

 got feveral boat loads of wood on board. 



In the afternoon the leine was hauled at the head of the 

 bay where we lay, but with little fuccefs, only a few cole- 

 fifh being caught. Whilft we were engaged in this bufi- 

 nefs, the Ruftian chief paid me a vifit, and informed me, 

 that the place where we hauled the feine was not ftocked 

 with fifh, but that near his refidence plenty might be 

 caught. I accordingly took the feine thither, and in fe- 

 veral hauls caught about thirty falmon, and a few flat 

 fifti. This indiiferent fuccefs v/as owing, as my friend the 

 Ruftian told me, to the time of tide, it being then low 

 water, when, for hauling the feine, it fliould be nearly 

 high water. However, he aftured me, if I would leave 

 the feine all night, and a man along with it, I ftiould 



have 



