OREGON TERRITORY. 



317 



PORT MADISON. 



Port Madison is 5 miles to the southward of Apple Cove, on the 

 west side of Admiralty Inlet ; it is one of the best anchorages, 

 capacious and safe ; is 2 miles wide by 3 deep. The head of the bay 

 communicates with Port Orchard, through Agate's Passage, a good, 

 though narrow channel, dividing Bainbridge Island from the Great 

 Peninsula. The north and south points of Port Madison were named 

 Jefferson and Monroe ; under the latter a vessel may anchor, but it is 

 better to enter the port, and there await a favorable tide to pro- 

 ceed up the inlet. 



PORT ORCHARD. 



The southern entrance to Port Orchard lies to the south of Port 

 Madison 9 miles ; it has three arms, stretching to the southwest, 

 west, and northwest ; the latter communicates, as before stated, with 

 Port Madison. The waters of Port Orchard are separated from Ad- 

 miralty Inlet by Bainbridge Island, 7 miles in length, north and south, 

 by 3 wide. Towards its southern end, on its east side, are two small 

 coves, Eagle Harbor and Port Blakeley. The main entrance to Port 

 Orchard is through Rich's Passage : this lies between the south end 

 of Bainbridge Island and the Great Peninsula, trending in a north- 

 west direction, 2 miles in length, by half a mile wide, when it takes 

 a sharp turn to the southwest, of one mile. Properly speaking, 

 Rich's Passage is a part of Port Orchard, but as there were so 

 many branches, I thought it necessary to give the arms which 

 lead into it different names, reserving the name given by Vancouver 

 to the largest ; the others we called Dye's, Sinclair's, and May's 

 Inlets. Port Orchard offers all that could be desired for the safety 

 and equipment of vessels. It will be a convenient place of resort 

 for supplies as well as repairs. It is needless to point out any parti- 

 cular place of anchorage ; every part of it may be used, and that 

 resorted to will depend upon future settlements that may be formed. 

 There are several rocks at the entrance of Rich's Passage, situated 

 near mid-channel. Vessels may pass on either side of them, but the 

 south shore is to be preferred, offering more room and a clearer pas- 

 sage. If it is not the intention to enter this harbor, good anchorage 

 may be had in Barron's Bay, between the land and Blake's Island at 

 its mouth. 



so 



