the canal de Haro as passenger in Hudson Bay Company's steamers; and, in fact, I never knew them to use any other channel in making trips to and from the above-named points. Vessels coming into the Straits of Juan de Fuca from the ocean, bound for ports or places on the Gulf of Georgia or Fraser River, invariably pass through the canal de Haro, whether touching at Victoria or not, and have done so since my residence here in eighteen hundred and fifty-eight. ALBERT HENRY GUILD. 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 this sixteenth day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, personally appeared before me Albert Henry Guild, and made oath and subscribed to the truth of the foregoing statements. I further certify that the said Albert Henry Guild is personally known to me, and that he is a respectable and credible person, to whose representation full faith and credit can be given. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office the day and year first above written. [SEAL.] DAVID ECKSTEIN, United States Consul. Extracts from the Affidavit of William J. Waitt. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Washington, ss: Affidavits on the canal of Haro. I, William J. Waitt, of the City of Olympia, County of Thurston, and Territory aforesaid, do solemnly declare upon oath that I am [81] *a master mariner, of the age of thirty-two years; that I came to Victoria, Vancouver's Island, in the spring of 1868, and for the next four years was engaged in steamboating between said City of Victoria and Fraser's River, in British Columbia; fifteen months of that period I was master, the remainder pilot and mate. In 1862 I commenced running between Victoria and Olympia, with occasional trips from Victoria to New Westminster. During all this time the canal de Haro has been the only channel used in going from Victoria or the Straits of Fuca, northward into the Gulf of Georgia and places on the Northern Coast. I know both Haro Canal and Rosario Straits. The first is the only one ever used in the large trade between Puget Sound and the British Columbia Mines; between Victoria and the said mines; between San Francisco and the main land of British Columbia. It is the only one by which the heavy coal trade of Nanaimo Mines is carried on. It is straighter, shorter, deeper, fewer rocks, less currents, and is much the safest route, particularly going through at night or in a fog. I am intimately acquainted with Capts. McNeil, Swanson, Ella, and Lewis. I knew Capt. Morrat in his life-time. They are old Captains who were in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company as early as 1840. I have talked with each and all of them on these matters, as it was my business to learn. ** * * All their statements to me justify my declaration upon oath, * that Haro channel used ern trade since tablishment of Fort Victoria in 1842. since Fort Victoria was established on Vancouver Island, this channel was exclusively used in all trips of their exclusively for northsteamers, between said Fort Victoria and their trading-posts North on the Gulf of Georgia, and on the upper Fraser's River. No other channel but this was talked about by either of them. None other had ever been used in their regular trade, since Fort Victoria was established, which I believe on information was in 1842. Capt. McNeil told me he had been through here in his own vessel, which he brought from Boston, before he was bought out by the Hudson's Bay Company, and employed in the Company's service. He also spoke of going through in the steamer Beayer, of which he was Master, when Captain Wilkes was here. * * * * The Northern Indians álways came and went by the same channel in their trips to Victoria, and over to Washington Territory, since I have been here; and from information, and knowledge of Indian customs, I state the opinion they always did use such Canal de Haro in [82] their trips to and from Victoria and their Northern *residences. They always used the same channel when coming to Affidavits on the the American side of the straits of Fuca, and the settlements canal de Hiro. on Puget sound. CAPT. W. J. WAITT. TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON, County of Thurston, ss: Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came William J. Waitt, 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. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this sixteenth day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL.] JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON, In I, Francis Tarbell, of the City of Olympia, County of Thurston, and Territory aforesaid, do solemnly declare upon oath, that I am a nativeborn Citizen of the United States, aged forty-one years. I went to Victoria, Vancouver's Island, on the 14th July, 1858, and continued to reside there, doing business as a wholesale merchant, up to 1866. 1862 I became a Director in the Victoria and British Columbia Steamboat Company, and from my connection with said Company, and my business, I became thoroughly acquainted with the Vessels, Steamboats, Route, &c., used by the Steam and other vessels, to and from said City of Victoria. From that knowledge I declare positively and without reserve, that the Canal de Haro was the only channel used by Vessels going to the Gulf of Georgia from Victoria, or from sea-voyages via Straits of Juan de Fuca. In the last fourteen years I have probably been five hundred times to New Westminster at the mouth of Fraser's River, in British Columbia. In these trips or voyages, no other channel but the Haro Canal was ever used. * [83] Affidavits on the canal de Haro. * * *I am well and intimately acquainted with Capt. McNeil, Capt. Swanston, Capt. Lewis, and Capt. Ella. I was well acquainted with Capt. Wm. A. Morrat in his life-time. These were all old Captains formerly in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company. From their statements to me, and from other sources, several of them were here, if not all, before 1840. In my eight years' residence in Victoria, I was in company with these men a great deal, conversing very freely on the subject of Steamboats, Routes up the Coast, Trade of the Coast, &c. It was in the direct line of my business to learn these matters. I freely inquired as to their knowledge, and they by Hudson's Bay freely communicated with me. I have been told frequently tablishment of Fort by all those gentlemen that the channel now used to reach the Gulf of Georgia in going from Victoria to Nanaimo, Fraser's River, or to the Northern Coast, or in returning from the same to Victoria, has been invariably used by the Vessels of the Hudson's Bay Company since Fort Victoria was established. Haro channel used Company since es. Victoria. Hudson's Bay * I am also positive that Captain McNeil has told me on several occasions that he used the same channel when sailing a Vessel Company used Haro for the Hudson Bay Company long prior to 1846; and I have channel before 1846. heard him make the same statement in regard to the vessel he brought out from Boston before he went into the Company's service. I am also positive that he has told me that after going into the Company's employ, long anterior to 1846, he passed through this channel in the steamer Beaver, of which he was Captain, about the time Capt. Wilkes made his survey of these waters. TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON, County of Thurston, ss: * * * FRANCIS TARBELL. Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came Francis Tarbell, 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 the said Court this 16th day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL OF THE SUP. COURT.] JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON, [84] Affidavits on the canal de Haro. *Extracts from the Affidavit of Charles Willoughby. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Washington, ss: I, Charles Willoughby, of the City of Port Townsend, County of Jefferson, in said Territory, do solemnly swear that I am a native-born American Citizen, aged 41 years, a Master Mariner, and have, since December, 1850, been Master of a Vessel. * In 1861 I made another voyage in Bark Naramisse to Nanaimo for Coal. Took a pilot at Victoria, who was recommended to me by the Harbor Master as an old and experienced Hudson Bay Co. pilot; his name I have forgotten. We were again piloted, as before, through Haro Canal. In the latter voyage we encountered a gale from S. E., veering to south, which struck the ship at 6 A. M., and lasted eight hours; ship under close-reef main top-sails, and blowing very heavy all the time. The position of the ship at the time we took the gale was off Chatham Island, with ebb tide. The pilot, as well as myself, entertained no fears for the safety of the ship, as the shores were bold, the water deep, currents so regular, and plenty of sea-room; and we had no fears of the result. I would not like to be caught in Rosario Straits in the same manner. When the gale broke, we were up by Sidney Island-nearly up to the Active Pass. From my experience then and knowledge now, I pronounce the Haro Channel the best Channel or passage between any of the Islands, or between the Main-land and Islands North of the Straits of Fuca. CHAS. WILLOUGHBY. * TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON, County of Thurston, ss: ** * * * Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came Charles Willoughby, 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. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Court this 16th day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL OF THE SUP. COURT.] [85] JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON, *Extracts from the Affidavit of James S. Lawson. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Washington, ss: I, James S. Lawson, Assistant United States Coast Survey, and at present a resident of Olympia, County of Thurston, and Ter- Affidavits on the ritory of Washington, do solemnly declare upon oath, that I canal de Haro. am a native-born citizen of the United States, aged forty-four years; that I came to the Western coast of the United States in June, 1850, in the coast survey, and have been engaged in the same from that time to the present, in all capacities from aid to assistant in charge of a party. From 1852 to 1859, both inclusive, I spent each working season in the surveys of straits of Juan de Fuca, Canal de Haro, Rosario Straits, Gulf of Georgia to forty-ninth parallel of North latitude, and Admiralty Inlet, and since 1866 I have been permanently located in this section, with a residence at Olympia. * From several years of such experience and service, I assert the great superiority of the Canal de Haro over the Rosario Strait as a ShipChannel or Channel of any character, depth of water, width, directness, and freedom from obstructions, rocks, &c. The currents are strong in both, but as a ship-channel the Haro Canal is decidedly superior. While working in the Gulf of Georgia in 1858 and 1859, vessels bound from Victoria to Fraser's River, Nanaimo, or farther north, invariably made use of Canal de Haro; in fact I have never heard of a single instance of a vessel sailing from Victoria since 1852, when I came to this section, and bound for any of the above-mentioned places, making use of Rosario Strait. My experience has shown that the Indians of the Northwest Coast always made use of the Canal de Haro, on their visits to Victoria and returning. JAS. S. LAWSON. TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON, County of Thurston, ss: Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came James S. Lawson, 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 [86] 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. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 16th day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL OF THE SUP. COURT.] Affidavits on the canal de Haro. JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON, Clerk Supreme Court, Washington Territory. Affidavit of Thomas McManus. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Territory of Washington, ss: I, Thomas McManus, of the City of Townsend, County of Jefferson, and Territory of Washington, do solemnly declare that I am a citizen of the United States, of the age of fifty-one years. Wilkes surveys ca On the 2d day of May, 1841, I was serving as an ordinary seaman, on board the United States ship Vincennes, in the United nal de Haro in 1841. States exploring expedition, Charles Wilkes, United States Navy, Commanding Expedition, and we entered these waters about the above date. I was in the Boat Expedition, surveying both Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits. I served during the whole cruise of the expedition. In 1858 I returned to Washington Territory, and since that time I have been constantly sailing in these waters. I know both channels well, and have been frequently in them, but never in Rosario Straits in a Ship. From my knowledge of said Rosario Straits, I do not think it a safe passage for sailing-vessels. From uncertainty of winds during summer months, and adversity of currents, the passage is unsafe without the use of towing; and in my knowledge it is not, nor has it ever been used by vessels going to or coming from the Gulf of Georgia. The Canal de Haro is the natural route for vessels from Victoria to the Gulf of Georgia and the Northern Coast. It is a safe and good shipchannel, broad, deep, and plenty of sea-room, and less danger from hidden rocks than in Rosario Straits. For heavy-draught Vessels it is the only Channel which can be used. Since I have been here (1858) the Canal de Haro is the Channel invariably used by vessels, American and English, Steam and other vessels. going into the Gulf of Georgia from Victoria or the Straits of Fuca. THOMAS MCMANUS. |