Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part II, Volume V

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*Extract from the statement of Uriah Nelson, made before the United States Consul, residing at the Port of Victoria, Vancouver Island, March 18, 1872, touching the navigation of the Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits.[96]Affidavits on the 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 above-named 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 appeared 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.Affidavits OR the canal de Haro.[97]

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.