294 
FOREST -AND STREAM. 
lAran. 11, 1903. 
cruising in the summer of 1902, we never once sailed the 
Rambler with a reef in any sail. We had the foresail 
down altogether several times to ease her when we didn't 
have time to reef; but here I go moralizing again instead 
of driving the Rambler into a stiff gale and head sea to 
Friday Harbor. We got there about noon and repaired 
to the hotel for dinner, the mate remarking that the culi- 
nary department of the Rambler would require a Sunday 
oif. Thus a mutiny was quelled and every one made 
happy, including the hotel proprietor. 
Friday Harbor is an excellent one, albeit a little deep 
for raising a heavy anchor. It is well protected from all 
winds, easy of ingress and egress, and is the best place 
among the islands for purchasing any kind of supplies. 
On a previous visit only a few weeks before we had 
AMONG THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS. 
anchored in company with the U. S. Revenue Cutter 
Grant, and exchanged visits with her officers. The prin- 
cipal article smuggled in. these waters is Chinamen at 
$50 per. 
On board again at 2 P. M. we immediately got under 
way for East Sound. Once outside the harbor we found 
that the wind had increased rather than decreased, but 
as our course soon brought it abeam and then aft we 
started sheets and proceeded to get as much speed out 
of the Rambler as she was ever guilty of. The tender 
towing astern made one continuous roar that almost 
drowned conversation in the cock-pit. The painter was 
tight enough for one to walk out on it, but although 
every one conceded the fact there were no offers. We 
carried the wind aft clear up to thfe end of East Sound. 
This is a good place for yachtsmen to stay away from. 
We walked several miles and worked all the farm-houses 
for milk and bread, but didn't get a rise. Query — what 
does the local creamery make butter of? The anchorage 
here is very exposed with a south wind, and it is apt to 
be a tedious beat in or out. We found it a beat out 
the next morning. The Artist had become so engrossed 
in a sketch composed of a broken-down wharf and the 
back end of a grocery store that we delayed our departure 
with the anchor hove short until the "color-scheme" 
could be evolved. 
Now, if the reader will refer to the chart he will ob- 
serve a small island almost blocking the passage between ■ 
Blakely and Orcas Islands. This is appropriately called 
Obstruction Island, and the passages north and south of 
it the Obstruction Passages. We took the north passage 
this time because it is wider (although longer). We will 
know better next time. I have been through both and 
the narrower and shorter passage is best, as the wind 
can draw straight through. We got becalmed when al- 
most through the north passage, and for about half an 
hour had a rather anxious time drifting back and forth 
within 100 yards of a fine breeze that we could see on 
the water at the mouth of the passage just ahead. It is 
so much trouble to take the cover off the tender and put 
it on again tight that we thought we would try to get 
through without it, but we couldn't. We finally got Chris 
out in the tender and five minutes' tow was enough. 
Whew ! How that wind did blow up Rosario Strait. The 
A STRONG WIND AND A SMOOTH SEA. 
tender dropped the tow line and then tried in vain to 
catch up. We had to heave to and wait for it. Then 
easing main and head sheets we jogged along under fore- 
sail only until the cover could be made fast on the tender. 
With a quartering wind we romped across Rosario Strait, 
rounded the southern point of Lummi Island and opened 
up the city of Whatcom, off which we dropped anchor 
about 6 P. M. 
We spent two days in Whatcom and said good-bye 
to the Lawyer and the Artist, who left by train for Van- 
couver, B. C. We left Whatcom about noon and an- 
chored that night in Watmouth Bight, a very secure and 
sheltered harbor in the southeast side of Lopez Island. 
This is a good port of departure for the run across the 
straits. A salmon trap is situated here and the trap men 
kindly presented us with a king salmon that would Weigh 
at least 25 pounds. 
For our passage across the strj^its we Ha4 very little 
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