No. 53.
Declaration of Rear-Admiral Wilkes.
In answer to the memorandum on the Haro question, I have to state that I have a full knowledge of the Islands and waters lying between the Straits of Fuca and the Gulf of Georgia, having surveyed the whole whilst I was in command of the United States exploring expedition, and I state of my own knowledge that the Canal de Haro is the best and shortest route bet ween the same. The depth of water is very great and all obstructions to the navigation of the Canal de Haro are visible. Indeed it may be said to be an arm of the sea passing from the Straits of Fuca to the Gulf of Georgia and separating the Island of Vancouver from the main or continent of America, comprising now the Territory of Washington, and it is the natural communication between the Gulf of Georgia and Fuca Straits, leading or trending north and south, and has now become the great highway of commerce, between Victoria, on the Island of Vancouver, and the Fraser’s river, a few miles north of the forty-ninth parallel, the boundary of the United States and the Northwest British America. The strait of Haro may be navigated at all times, day or night, with perfect [Page 152] safety, and nature has conferred upon it all that could be desired to be a well-defined national highway, between the island of Vancouver and the smaller and intricate passages through the small archipelago lying on its eastern side, which all are more or less intricate, narrow in places to a few hundred yards, and with very rapid tides. One of these passages *lying on the east of this small archipelago was named by me as Ringgold Channel, but at times called the Rosario Strait; its width does not entitle it to the name of a strait, and with its many and dangerous islets, rocks, and shoals, it is a very unsafe and difficult channel to navigate even in the day time, and impossible with any assurance of safety in the night time. It cannot be compared with the Strait of Haro in any point of view, and can only be used by small vessels seeking anchorage in the event of disaster, and bad or boisterous weather. While the Strait of Haro affords like facilities for anchorage under the islands on the east side, it may be safely navigated, and affords ample protection in its sea-room for the largest class of vessels.Rear-Admiral Wilkes on the Channel of Haro. [66]
The Strait of Haro, though known at the time of my survey in 1841, it was not visited, as there were no vessels engaged in those waters, except the small and very inefficient steamer called, the Beaver, commanded by Captain McNeil, who spoke of it to me as the best passage, although he was obliged to pass through the Rosario passage on account of the necessity of seeking the small coves at night in passing along the east shore towards Fraser’s river to supply the Post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and this was only achieved twice a year.
All the vessels now engaged in the trade from Victoria to Fraser’s river and the Gulf of Georgia, invariably pass through the Haro Straits, which verifies my opinion when I first surveyed it that it would become the great and only highway between the Straits of Fuca and the Gulf of Georgia, and such it has now become. I consider that in the treaty between the British government and the United States there is no other passage that could be considered as adapted to the terms of the treaty, and both parties to that instrument must have been of like views in relation to it. All the charts used as information show the same broad channel and superiority of the Gulf of Haro over any other line to the sea, and there can scarcely be a doubt that it was so understood by the Commissioners of both sides.