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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 Affidavits on the knowledge was true, and so much thereof as was stated on canal de Haro. 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.]

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.

[87] *TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,

County of Thurston, ss :

Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came Thomas McManus, who being first duly Affidavits on the sworn, did depose and say that he had carefully read the caual de Haro. 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 20th day of March, A. D. 1872.

[SEAL.]

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

Affidavit of Adam Benson.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Territory of Washington, ss:

I, Adam Benson, of Pierce County, Washington Territory, do solemnly declare upon oath that I am a citizen of the United States, of the age of fifty-six years, and a native of the North of Scotland. I came to this Territory, then Oregon, in the service of the Hudson Bay Company in 1836, and stopped at Fort Nisqually, in what is now Pierce County. I was a shepherd and herder of the Company's sheep, after Fort Victoria was established in 1842. I made a trip in charge of the company's sheep from Fort Nisqually to Fort Victoria, in the spring of 1845, The steamer Beajust before potato planting. From thence the Steamer Beaver towed the ship Columbia to the mouth of Fraser's River. Haro channel in 1815. We went through the Channel between Vancouver's Island and San Juan Island. Captain Dodd was the master of the Steamer Beaver. I fix the year 1845, because it was the year that Colonel Simmons came and settled at New Market. I remember that Fort Victoria had only been established two or three years, and all the buildings were not up when I was there.

TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,

County of Thurston, ss:

ver towed the ship Columbia through

ADAM BENSON.

Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came Adam Benson, who, being first duly sworn, did depose and say that he had carefully read the foregoing state* ment, and knew the contents thereof; that the same had

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been dictated by him and was true.

Affidavits on the canal de Haro.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty-seventh day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL.] JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON,

Clerk Supreme Court, Washington Territory.

Affidavit of William N. Horton.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Territory of Washington, ss:

I, William N. Horton, now of the City of Olympia, County of Thurston, and Territory aforesaid, do solemnly declare upon oath, that I am

a native-born citizen of the United States, of the age of forty-two years, and am a Steamboat Engineer by profession. I came to Portland, Oregon, in June, 1850. I came to Puget Sound in May or June, 1854, since which time Olympia has been my residence when upon shore. Early after coming to the Sound, I made a trip in the Sloop Sarah Stone, Captain Thomas Slaten, to all of the Sound Ports, extending our voyage to Fort Victoria, and Nanaimo, upon Vancouver's Island. went and returned through the Canal de Haro; at that time it was the only channel used by all Coal Vessels going to and from Nanaimo, by the Hudson's Bay Company's Steamers Beaver and Otter in their trips North from Fort Victoria to the trading-posts on the Northern Coast. Indeed it is the only channel which can be profitably or safely used in going from the Straits of Fuca into the Gulf of Georgia, and the inland waters to the North. It was then used by those Steamers, for on that trip, or shortly after, I have seen both of those Steamers, either going from or returning to the then Fort Victoria, now the City of Victoria, on Vancouver's Island.

From the spring of 1855 up to 1858, I was running a Steamer on the Sound, and made numerous trips to Victoria, and saw Steam and other vessels in the Canal de Haro. I never saw or heard of any vessel ever using the Rosario Straits to get into the Gulf of Georgia. In 1858 I was employed on various Steamers running to Fraser's River, and continued in that business until 1861. The whole trade between Victoria and Fraser's River,*in all classes of vessels, was entirely and exclusively done in the Canal de Haro.

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Afidavits on the

I know both channels, having run in both as pilot and Engineer. Haro Channel for all vessels is infinitely superior to Rosario canal de Haro. Straits. It is broader, deeper, more direct, less sunken rocks, and the Canal de Haro is perfectly safe at night or in a fog, which I cannot say of Rosario Straits. The currents are strong in both, but in the Canal de Haro much the more regular.

I have very frequently seen the Northern Indians coming and going through Haro Channel, and from my information I believe that such Channel has always been used by them in their trading trips from the North to Fort Victoria. Indians follow customs tenaciously, and do not change their routes; and as this was their custom in 1854, I am positive it was previous thereto.

TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,

County of Thurston, ss:

W. N. HORTON.

Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came William N. Horton, 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 upon information he verily believes to be true.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 30th day of March, A. D. 1872. [SEAL.]

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

Affidavit of John McLeod.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Territory of Washington, ss:

I, John McLeod, of Pierce County, Washington Territory, do solemnly declare upon oath that I am a naturalized citizen of the United States, of the age of fifty-six years, and was born in Lewes Island, North of

Canal de Haro reg ularly navigated by vessels of Hudson's Bay Company since 1842.

Scotland. I arrived in this Territory, then Oregon, in the service [90] of the Hudson's Bay Company, in the Fall *of 1838, at Fort Nisqually on Puget Sound, and immediately was put on board of the Company's Steamer Beaver; Captain McNeil was then master. While I was on board, she was also commanded by Captain Brotchie and Captain Duncan. My duty was that of Stoker. Up to 1842, when Fort Victoria was established on Vancouver's Island, she made two trips up North from Fort Nisqually annually, in collecting furs. I continued on board until the spring of 1844, (April, I think,) since which time I have lived in Pierce County, near Fort Nisqually." I know San Juan Island, and the channel between it and Vancouver's Island. I made in the Steamer Beaver, after 1842, and till I was discharged, at least two trips to the North each year, that is to say in 1842 and 1843. While building the Fort at Victoria till the buildings were well up, we staid in the harbor as a Guard against the Indians, and while thus delayed the Beaver towed the Schooner Cadboro, two or three times to the mouth of Fraser's River. In all her trips North from Fort Victoria to Fort Simpson, and back, and in towing the Cadboro to Fraser's River, we always went through the channel between Vancouver's Island and San Juan Island. After 1842 the Steamer Beaver only came to Fort Nisqually on particular business. Her regular trips twice a year were made between Fort Victoria, on the Island of Vancouver, and the trading-posts north of the Gulf of Georgia. I can remember at least eight or nine trips through the channel between Vancouver's Island and San Juan Island, while I was engaged as Stoker on the Steamer Beaver.

His

JOHN MCLEOD.

Mark.

TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,

County of Thurston, ss:

Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, personally came John McLeod, who, being by me first duly sworn, did declare and say that he knew the contents of the foregoing affidavit; that the same had been dictated by him and carefully read to him, and that the same was true.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this third day of April, A. D. 1872. [SEAL.]

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

*Affidavit of W. H. Gray.

ASTORIA, April 8, 1872.

The undersigned was in Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, Oregon, in the month of January, 1837. During my stay at Affidavits on the that port of the Hudson's Bay Company, news came that canal de Haro.

one of the Company's vessels, I think it was the Steamer Beaver, had passed Haro Straits, and found it a shorter, deeper, and better channel from the Gulf of Georgia to Victoria than that nearer the main land.

I was informed, by the Masters of the Hudson's Bay Company's vessels, several of whom I have been well acquainted with since the winter of 1837, that the Haro Channel was the safest and the one they preferred to any other.

From 1858, and onward, I have frequently and invariably passed through the Haro Channel in American and the Company's steamers, and been assured by all the masters that it was preferable to any other. As to the question of the Company or British ignorance of the Haro Channel, I verily believe it wholly fictitious, and that it was well known to them as early as 1837, and that the Steamer Beaver had passed and repassed it from Victoria, on Vancouver's Island, to Fort Langley, on Fraser's River.

I, W. H. Gray, do solemnly swear that the foregoing statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. So help me God.

W. H. GRAY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 8th day of April, 1872.
[L. S.]
A. VAN DUSEN,
Notary Public for Clatsop County, State of Oregon.

Affidavit of J. A. Gardiner.

The undersigned was one of the seamen on the Exploring Squadron of Captain Wilkes, of the United States, on the American Coast in 1840

-41, and knows that the Channel de Haro, or Belview Channel, [92] was explored during the continuance of the surveying *expedition upon the Coast, in 1841, and knows that it has been for the last thirteen years universally used by both British and Americans, Affidavits on the and is the preferable Channel to any other.

canal de Haro.

J. A. GARDINER, First Officer S. S. California.

STATE OF OREGON, County of Clatsop, ss:

On this 16th day of April, A. D. 1872, personally appeared before me the above-named J. A. Gardiner, and to me personally known, who subscribed his name in my presence and swore, according to law, to the truth of the above statement. [NOTARIAL SEAL.]

A. VAN DUSEN,
Notary Public.

Statements of William H. Oliver made before the Consul of the United States of America, residing at Victoria, Vancouver Island, March 13, A. D. 1872, touching upon the navigation of the Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits.

On this thirteenth day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, 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

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