COAST OF OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. 



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the best guides along this coast, is the green water, taking care to 

 keep without it during foggy weather. The most advisable course is 

 to keep beyond the depth of 70 fathoms. The current generally runs 

 to the northward, but it sometimes sets directly on the coast, and 

 oftentimes a high sea prevails. 



Gray's Harbor lies 20 miles to the southward of Point Grenville. 

 The land is comparatively low, till within a short distance of 

 the entrance of the harbor, then a few low sand-hills rise up. 

 Point Brown forms the north point of the harbor, Point Hanson the 

 southern. They are 2i miles asunder, and bear south-by -west (true) 

 from each other. Both these points have extensive sandspits, pro- 

 jecting some 3 miles to seaward ; between these is the entrance. 



The bar lies just beyond the outer end of the sandspits. It has 

 been reported that it is a shifting one, but I have reason to believe it 

 not to be the case. The see breaks heavily upon both the sandspits, 

 and at times extends entirely across from point to point. Fogs prevail 

 generally every afternoon, during the summer months, on this coast. 



On the northern sandspit lies Eld's Islet, from which rise several 

 hillocks. The channel between the sandspits is deep, and 2 miles in 

 length. To enter the harbor there is little difficulty. When off the 

 bar, bring Stearns Bluff Islet to bear south 85° east, on with the 

 side of Eld Islet. This course will lead through the channel. The 

 wind is usually fair, and it is only necessary to keep clear of the break- 

 ers on either side ; but to depart from this port, is as difficult as the 

 entrance is easy. The tides are irregular ; it is high water, full and 

 change, at 11 h. 45 m., with a rise and fall of 8 feet. 



Gray's Harbor, though apparently capacious, is more than half 

 filled up by mud-flats and sandspits. Its length lies east and west. 

 As a port it is only suitable for vessels of a small draft of water. 

 The land bordering it is low, with the exception of Brackenridge 

 Bluff on the east, and Stearns Bluff on the south. Both are covered 

 with pines. 



There are several anchorages, but they are very limited in space ; 

 that under Point Brown on the north, and another under Point Hanson 

 on the south, are the most convenient at which to procure supplies. 

 Elsewhere it is difficult to find a place where a landing can be effected, 

 in consequence of the mud-fiats ; most part of these are bare at low 

 water. The northern part of the harbor I have designated as Useless 

 Bay ; it is entirely filled by a mud-flat. 



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