OREGON TERRITORY. 



319 



upper or northern part of Vashon's Island, where it forms a snug cove. 

 At extreme low water, Maury's and Vashon's Islands are joined by a 

 sandbar. Vessels wishing to pass up the inlet on the east side of 

 Vashon's Island should steer for Point Robinson, the eastern point of 

 Maury's Island. Point Robinson may be closely approached, but if 

 the tide should be favorable, it would be advisable to keep a mid-chan- 

 nel course. After passing Point Robinson, Admiralty Inlet turns to 

 the southwest and west, and again joins Colvo's Passage, at the south 

 end of Vashon's Island, abreast of Point Defiance. 



COMMENCEMENT BAY. 



Opposite the southwest point of Maury's Island, on the main, lies 

 Commencement Bay, an indentation on the southeast, 3 miles deep 

 by 2 wide. The water is too deep for anchorage, except around the 

 borders of the bay, on its south shore. The head of the bay has an 

 extensive mud-flat, where several small streams enter, among them 

 the Pugallop, which takes its rise in the Cascade Range of Mountains. 

 The distance of this bay from Point Defiance is 5 miles. 



THE NARROWS. 



The distance through the Narrows is 4 miles ; at its narrowest 

 place it is nearly a mile wide, though from the height of the shores it 

 appears much less. Point Defiance, on the left, is a flat bluff, 250 

 feet high, of yellow sandstone, and horizontal stratification. It com- 

 pletely commands this pass. Opposite Point Defiance is Gig Harbor, 

 which has a sufficient depth of water for small vessels. 



For passing the Narrows, the young flood is deemed the best time ; 

 both ebb and flood run with great velocity, the flood on the eastern 

 shore, while the ebb generally prevails strongest on the west. With 

 the wind from the west, it will be free until Puget Sound is opened, 

 when it generally draws ahead, and compels a vessel to back and fill, 

 along the east shore. The strong flood will carry a vessel through 

 in a short time. Great care should be taken not to stand too far over 

 towards the west shore, where an eddy current prevails with equal 

 strength on the flood and ebb in the opposite direction; if a vessel 

 stand too far over, and be caught within this eddy, she would be 

 carried back from whence she came. 



