Observatory Inlet was that body which debouches nearly opposite the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island. The better reasoning is that he understood that Baron Tuyll meant by Observatory Inlet the Observatory Inlet marked on the map whose mouth was under the 5dth parallel, and that this hody of water was not acceptable to him, first, becuase it was not on 54 40°, and, second. beeause if did not debouch on the high seas, it being desirable to have the line proceed np such a body of water.
Whatever Baron ‘Tayll's idea was, it is evident tut his letter was not sufficient to charge Conut Nesselrode with any different under- standing of Portlind Channel from the one consistently followed by him in the negotiations; and the date of the letter, which is October 21, 1822, and prior to the commencement of the negotiations, shows that it ix of no relatiye importance in interpreting the later under- stunding of the parties.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF PORTLAND CUANNEL.
The contention of the British Case is that “The only canal known by the name of Portland at the time of the treaty. had been surveyed, chartered. described and named by Vancouver as Portland Canal. and is so called in the first edition of his book. but changed in the second edition to Portland Channel. The variation seems immaterial.” ”
This contention is based upon the statement in the British Case, p. 51), that Vancouver's Narrative was known to have been before the negotiators. In view of the fact that Vancouver's Narrative is not referred to unywhere in the negotiations by any of the negotiators, this statement calls for aflirmative proof, but no evidence is offered in its support. On the contrary it appears in the negotiations as shown below that Vancouver's Narrative was not followed hy the newotiators in the astronomical loeations or in the veowruphical references, and it further appears that Vancouver's charts rather than his Narrative were the tinal expression of hix conclusions and were so regarded by the cartographers who followed hin.
In the geography of Aluska the word ‘canal’ has a local and special meaning. It signifies not an artificial channel, but a great arm of the sea, a fjord, or estuary, ‘‘Along the coast of Southern Alaska and British Columbia, submergence bas led the sea far inte
= “B, C., p. 4
