70 
to blow through them and generally outwards; the shores of 
the Strait are bold, and anchorage is to be found in but few 
places. We could not obtain bottom in some places with gixty 
fathoms of line, even within a boat’s length of the shore. . . 
Nothing can exceed the beauty of these waters,—no shoal ex¬ 
ists within the Strait of Juan De Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, or 
Hood’s Canal, that can in any way interrupt the navigation of a 
seventy-four gun-ship. I venture nothing in saying that there 
is no country in the world that possesses waters equal to these. 
They cover an area of about 2000 square miles. The shores of 
all these inlets and bays are remarkably bold, so much so that 
in many places a ship’s side would strike the shore before the 
keel would touch the ground. The country by which these wa¬ 
ters are washed is remarkably salubrious, and offers every ad¬ 
vantage for the accommodation of a vast commercial and mili¬ 
tary marine, with conveniences for docks, and a great many 
sites for towns and cities,—at all times well supplied with wa¬ 
ter, and capable of being provided with everything by the sur¬ 
rounding country, which is Well adapted for agriculture.” 
Prof. Davidson has recorded his admiration of these waters. 
He says, “We know not where to point to such a ramification 
of inland navigation, save the British Possessions to the north¬ 
ward. For depth of water, boldness of approaches, freedom 
from hidden dangers, and the immeasurable sea of gigantic tim¬ 
ber coming down to the very shores, these waters are unsur¬ 
passed.” 
Governor Stevens, of Washington Territory, says of this ro¬ 
mantic region :—“ On the wdiole west coast from San Diego to 
the north, nothing like this is met. All the water channels of 
which Admiralty Inlet is composed, are comparatively narrow 
and long. They have all more or less bold shores, and are 
throughout very deep and abrupt, so much so that in many pla¬ 
ces a ship’s side will strike the shore before the keel will touch 
the ground. Even in the interior and most hidden parts, depths 
of fifty and one hundred fathoms occur. . . . Our modern 
and more extensive soundings prove that this depth dimin¬ 
ishes toward the extremities of the inlets and basins. A high 
tide goes up from De Fuca strait into all these sounds. . . . 
Nothing can exceed the beauty and safety of these w r aters for 
navigation ; not a shoal exists within them ; not a hidden rock ; 
no sudden over-falls of the water or the air; no such strong 
