Island, William H. Oliver, who, being first duly sworn, states as follows:

My age is forty-eight years; my residence is Victoria, Vancouver Island. I have resided here most of the time since eighteen hundred and fifty-eight. I am a retired merchant. I am acquainted with the route of travel by water, by steamers and sail-vessels, British and American, in making trips from Victoria to the Gulf of Georgia and Fraser River, since the year eighteen hundred and fifty-eight. So far as my knowledge extends, the Canal de Haro has been and now is universally used by all classes of vessels.

In eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, in December, or in January, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, I went, as a passen- Affidavits on the [93] ger, on the *Hudson Bay Company's steamer Beaver, canal de Haro.

from Victoria to "Derby" or "Old Langley," as it was called, on Fraser River, and passed through the Canal de Haro, in going and returning. At that time and since, the Canal de Haro is the channel generally, and I think exclusively used by British Steamers and others in going to and returning from Fraser River and Gulf of Georgia to Vic-. toria. Masters of vessels, and navigators generally, have expressed the opinion to me repeatedly, that the Canal de Haro was not only a superior channel to any other between the Continent and Vancouver Island, but was the only one used by mariners in passing from Victoria to the Gulf of Georgia and the Fraser River.

I have been acquainted with William H. McNeil, formerly Chief Factor in the Hudson Bay Company, personally since 1864, and by reputation since 1858. Since the sixth of the present month I have had a conversation with William H. McNeil, in which I asked him to state at what time the Hudson Bay Company commenced using the Canal de Haro, by steamers and other vessels employed in carrying their fur trade, and the reasons why they had not used it at an earlier day. He stated to me that the Hudson Bay Company commenced using the Canal de Haro, for the above purpose, soon after they established their Trading-post on Vancouver Island, which was, as he said, in eighteen hundred forty-two, or eighteen hundred and forty-three; and that the Company continued to use it, more or less, from that time on.

And, further, that the Hudson Bay Company ascertained the value of the Canal de Haro for purposes of navigation, at the time of their commencing to use it as above stated. He further stated that the reason why the Hudson Bay Company had not used the Canal de Haro previous to establishing their Trading-post on Vancouver Island, was their want of knowledge of its real value for purposes of navigation.

vessels of Hudson's

On pressing my inquiries further upon the subject, the said William H. McNeil stated to me distinctly and positively that the Canal de Haro regHudson Bay Company navigated the Canal de Haro with ularly navigated by their Steamers as early as one thousand eight hundred and Bay Company since forty-two and continued to navigate the said Canal de Haro thereafter exclusively, in carrying on their trade between Victoria and points on the Gulf of Georgia and Fraser River. William H. McNeil has been in the Hudson Bay Company service since 1837.

[94]

1842.

W. H. OLIVER.

*CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

I, David Eckstein, Consul of the United States of America, residing at Victoria, Vancouver Island, do hereby certify, that on Affidavits or the this thirteenth day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hun- canal de Haro.

dred and seventy-two, personally appeared before me William H. Oliver and made oath and subscribed to the truth of the foregoing statements; I further certify that the said William H. Oliver is personally known to me, and that he is a respectable and credible person, to whose representations full faith and credit can be given.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of my Office, this thirteenth day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.

[L. S]

DAVID ECKSTEIN,

United States Consul.

Affidavit of Charles M. Bradshaw.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Territory of Washington, ss:

I, Charles M. Bradshaw, of the City of Port Townsend, County of Jefferson, in said Territory, do solemnly declare upon oath that I am a native-born citizen of the United States, aged forty years; that I came to Washington Territory, then included in the Territory of Oregon, in November, 1852. In March, 1853, I went to Dungeness, on the South side of the Straits of Fuca, in Clallam County, Washington Territoryand took up a Donation Claim-fronting upon the Harbor which is but an indentation in said Straits of Juan de Fuca, where I continued to reside until some time in 1867.

From my house, without the weather was very hazy or foggy, I had an unobstructed view to the entrance of Victoria Harbor, the shore of Vancouver Island, the entrance to Canal de Haro, the shore of San Juan Island, and the entrance of Rosario Straits. Between 1853 and 1855 there were no steamers in those localities, except those belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, or British vessels of war, and the sight of a vessel propelled by steam was a novelty, and always attracted my attention. It was not an unfrequent occurrence to see a steamer leaving Victoria Harbor, passing around Trial [95] Island, and disappear up de Haro *Straits, on its way to the Gulf of Georgia, and the trading-posts to the North. The Steamers referred to by me were without any doubt the Hudson's Bay Company's Steamers Beaver and Otter, and I have no hesitancy in declaring at this time to have been one or the other or both of those vessels. I have yet to see the first Steamer or Sailing vessel come out of Victoria Harbor and go into Rosario Straits. After 1855, at times there were American Steamers making trips between Olympia, Washington Territory, and Victoria.

Affidavits on the canal de Haro,

In the spring and summer of 1858 I made a number of trips to Fraser's River from Victoria, and returned from there to Victoria, each time going through Haro Channel and returning the same way. On two of those trips to Fraser's River, I was accompanied by from forty to fifty small boats and canoes, many of which boats piloted by Indians, and old Hudson Bay Company bargemen, and discharged servants. In every one of those trips no other route was proposed than through Haro Straits. At that time, and ever since, the Haro Channel was the recog nized route of travel from Victoria to the Gulf of Georgia, and to the main-land of British Columbia at and above the mouth of the Fraser's River. All the Steamers to and from Victoria used that Channel, and none other was spoken of or used either for sailing Vessels or Steamers.

Since 1858, I speak from positive knowledge, the Canal de Haro has been exclusively used in the navigation and commerce between Victoria on Vancouver's Island, and British Columbia, and the Northern Coast. CHARLES M. BRADSHAW.

TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,

County of Thurston, ss:

Before me, Joseph N. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came Charles M. Bradshaw, who, being first duly sworn, did depose and say that he had carefully read the foregoing statement, and knew the contents thereof; that the same had been dictated by him; and that so much thereof as was stated from his own knowledge was true, and so much thereof as was stated on information he verily believes to be true.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 16th day of March,

A. D. 1872. [SEAL.]

JOSEPH N. HOUGHTON, Clerk Supreme Court, Washington Territory.

[96] *Extract from the statement of Uriah Nelson, made before the United States Consul, residing at the Port of Victoria, Van- Affidavits on the couver Island, March 18, 1872, touching the navigation of the Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits.

canal de Haro.

On this 18th day of March, A. D. 1872, personally appeared before me, David Eckstein, Consul of the United States of America for the Province of British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, residing at the Port of Victoria, Vancouver Island, Uriah Nelson, who, being first duly sworn, states as follows:

My age is forty-five years, my residence Victoria, Vancouver Island. Since 1859 I have resided here part of the time, and the rest of the time at Yale and Clinton, on the main-land of British Columbia. My occupation is that of Merchant and Forwarding Agent. I am acquainted, since the year 1859, with the course pursued by all classes of vessels, British and American, plying between Victoria and ports or places on the Gulf of Georgia and Fraser River. The Canal de Haro has been since 1859, and is now, universally used as the Channel by all Steamers and Sail-Vessels, British and others, in making trips between the abovenamed points.

Since the year 1859 I have made about one hundred trips between Victoria and New Westminster on the Fraser River, as passenger, in Hudson Bay Company Steamers and others, and every time passed through the Canal de Haro, in going and returning.

The Canal de Haro is in fact the main Channel, and the only one regarded as safe by Masters of Steamers and Sail-Vessels, who are acquainted with the waters between the Continent and Vancouver Island.

URIAH NELSON.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia:

I, David Eckstein, Consul of the United States of America, residing at the Port of Victoria, Vancouver Island, do hereby certify that on this 18th day of March, A. D. 1872, personally ap

Affidavits on the canal de Haro.

[97]

peared before me *Uriah Nelson, and made oath and subscribed to the truth of the foregoing statements; I further certify that the said Uriah Nelson is personally known to me, and that he is a respectable and credible person, to whose representations full faith and credit can be given.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my Office, the day and year first above written. [SEAL.]

DAVID ECKSTEIN,

United States Consul.

No. 62.

Extracts of the report of the Voyage of de Eliza, forwarded December 29, 1791, from San Blas, by Juan Pantoja y Arriaga. From a certified copy of the original Report in the Hydrographical Bureau at Madrid.

Survey of the cans!

de Haro by the Span

ards in 1791.

El 31 del mismo, como à las cinco de la mañana, salió la lancha armada en guerra, à las órdenes del segundo piloto D" José Verdia con el fin de explorar la boca é interiores del Canal de Lopez de Aro y à las 103 regresé con toda diligencia y dió parte al Comandte de que no podia continuar la Commision al que lo habia destinado por haberse visto sorprendido desde que entró por el Canal por muchas Canoas de Indios, á quienes se vió precisado á hacer fuego y que de haber seguido consideraba se exponia á perderse con la gente y lancha, pues ademas de la mucha Indiada que habia concurrido, veia concurrir mucha mas en tierra, echando canoas al aqua y al mismo tiempo oyeron en ella estruendo como de tambor, y en las Canoas andaba uno muy solícito, animando y repartiendo zurrones de flechas, con cuya noticia y atrevimiento nos hemos asegurado ser cierto lo que sus mismos paisanos nos han significado, y en la retirada echaron à pique una canoa grande, y mataron algunos Naturales de los que mas se empeñaban en atracar la lancha por todas partes con gruesas lanzas, y los puntos de hierro arponadas. En vista de lo acaceido determinó el Comande esperar la Goleta para seguir el expresado reconocimiento, la que fondeo próxima à nosotros el 11 de Junio, y su capitan comunicó al Comandante

ser la entrada ó boca de Carrasco un grande archipiélago de islas [98] *pequeñas que tiene de Ete à Ote Cleguas, y de N. á S. 4 leguas, y

tienne en lo interior de la tierra dos brazos de mar de media legua de ancho que se internan mucho, demorando el uno en el 1er cuadrante y el otro en el 4° los cuales no pudo explorar mas que tres leguas por haberselo impedido los fuertes temporales con copiosa lluvia que tuvo por espacio de doce dias, y que hallándoce sin víveres se vió precisado à dejar la commision sin concluir y durante el dicho tiempo lo insultaron los Indios por tres ocasiones à quienes rechazó con la artilleria, tirando varios canoñazos al viento para separarlos de la Goleta, lo que en breve conseguia pues de haberlos dejado que se empeñasen en la accion mariba la destruccion tan grande que haria en ellos con la metralla de los cañones por venir numerosa Indiada en Muchas Canoas juntas, demostrando ser muy guerreros y atrevidos y en lo que anduvo vio cuatro grandes rancherias y todas visten lo mismo que los de Noca, con alguno diferencia en el idioma.

El 14 de dho. Junio mandò el Comandante armar la lancha eu guerra proveer la Goleta de 29 tiros para el cañon y pedreros que lleva monta

dos que son seis y tripuló una y otra con treinta hombres de mar y ocho soldados hábiles y de espíritu de los voluntarios de Cataluña, y me entregó el mando de la Comision, con el objeto de examinar prolijamente cuanto comprenda el canal de Lopez de Aro, y castigar à los Indios siempre que vuelvan ó quieran insultarnos como lo hicieron con Da José Verdia, y à las nueve de la mañana nos largamos con toda fuerza de vela y con viento fresco de So. con el cual navegamos la vuelta del 1er cuadrante haciendo los rumbos convenientes para entrar por el canal de Lopez de Aro, lo que conseguimos á las 103 por entre varias tiletas y algunas piedras que tienne próximas á la costa, y en toda encontramos muy recia corriente la que hacia remolinos tan grandes que parecia navegabamos por un Rio muy caudaloso, y hallándonos á las 11 rebasados enteramente, seguimos en vuelta del cuarto cuadrante por ser la direccion que lleva este canal, por el cual navegamos con viento fresco del tercer cuadrante hasta las 124 que refrescó algo mas, por cuya razon no me era posible seguir à la vela por lo mucho que me sotaventeaba de la Goleta (que se habia mandado tender la base) y por lo mismo los aferré, y echando abajo los palos seguí al remo en su demanda, haciendo mucha agua que me entraba por la borda por estar la

mar picada. La Goleta, notándome que nada podia grangear se [99] puso à la Capa, y habiendo à la 1 llegado à su bordo, *mandé

arbolar los palos, y largando las velas seguí por la popa de remolque de cuya conformidad seguimos hasta las 8 de la tarde que viendo se estaba poniendo el sol y no teniamos ya mas que ventolinas y que por este motivo no podiamos llegar à un fronton de tierra que habiamos demarcado en donde nos parecia se concluia este brazo del 4° cuadrante me largué al remo en la demanda, y habiendo reconocido eran dos bocas que sus direcciones iban la una al 1er cuadrante y la otra al 3°, retrocedí llegué á la Goleta á las 10 la cual estaba fondeada proxima à tiera en 20 brazas de agua fondó lama, donde paramos la noche,. sin haber visto en todo el dia mas que un Indio y varias humaredas en el grande bosque que hay à orillas de la playa de todo el pedazo de Costa, en donde hicieron sus naturales retroceder al piloto D José Verdia.

Nota-que el haber determinado el Comandante saliese con la lancha en conserva con la Goleta ha sido con el fin de que tomasemos con las dos embarcaciones las dos costas de este canal, por habor concebido todos seria mucho mas angosto que el Estrecho, y siendolo pudieramos con mas prontitud concluir su reconocimiento, y por este concepto me dió cuatro dias de término, pero ha sucedido todo muy al contrario, pues nos hallamos en un imponderable archipiélago de islas, con rocas y bocanas, por cuya razon hemos determinado no sepeararnos, tanto por que no serian capaces de encontranos en muchos dias, cuanto por que la lancha no es appropósito para semejante comision en brazos tan anchos por ser muy pequeña y no tener buque para acomodar los necesarios correspondientes al efecto, y asi hemos dispuesto siga la lancha por la popa de la Goleta al remolque y que se ayude con sus velas cuando haya viento y cuando este se calme pase à proa de la Goleta à darle remolque, y erto despesto me pasé à la Goleta a ayudar à mis compañeros, à hacer las muchas marcaciones, enfilaciones y rectificaciones que hay que hacer, y en la tarde hemos dejado por la parte del Ote varias bocanas y brazos formados al parecer de muchas islas que sus direcciones prometen alguna estension por ser tierras quebradas y rasas y sin verse por detras serrania alguna, los canales no hemos seguido por haber comprendido con bastante fundamento ser necessaros imuchos dias, y traer nosotros muy pocos dias de término, y tambien por que en la navegacion que