LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 291
frightened, 80 and proceeded with the Ship to a good offing (this ought to have been done long before), thick foggy weather, with a moderate breeze.
16. N. Latt. 48 14'; W. Long. 124 3(X *. Fog clear'd off, saw Cape Flattery bearing NNE. 2 leagues. Very strong tides. At Noon we were about 2 miles from Tatooch Isle. Came to with the Kedge, sandy bottom, the Island bearing North. I think it possible there is a passage between Cape Flattery and this Isle of Tatooch; it appears about 2 miles wide. However cou'd see breakers between them and currents are excessive strong, as we cou'd discern them to foam in that narrow pass. Many Natives came off, and we purchas'd a few skins and plenty Halibut. Weigh'd and came to sail towards evening, bound to Clioquot.
AT ANCHOR IN CLIOQUOT HARBOUR
18. N. Latt. 49 9'; W. Long. 125 26' This day anchor'd in our Old Station 81 in Clioquot harbour, found the Brig Lady Washington still riding here. 82 At this Harbour Captain Gray had determin'd to winter, if he cou'd find a suitable place, for to build a Sloop of 45 Tons, for to assist in collecting furs, on the next season. The stem and stern post, with part of the floor timbers had been brought from Boston for this pur- pose.
19. On the 19th Capt. Gray went with two boats up the sound, for to seek a convenient cove. In the evening the Captain return'd, having found a place to his mind, about 4 leagues 83 from where the Ship lay.
WINTER QUARTERS, LATT. 499' N ; LONG. 1253(X W.
20. On the 20th weigh'd, with light airs, and with the Boats ahead, assisted by the Brig's Crew, we tow'd, and sail'd, into
80 Both Haswell and Hoskins give this awful experience in somewhat greater detail and unite in blaming Captain Gray for his stubbornness in refusing to seek an offing. Hoskins asserts that at times they could not see a hundred yards ahead; and for two days the Columbia was tacking backwards and forwards across the strait with its strong tides "having the surf on one side and the breakers on the other to give us warning when to go about."
8 1 In Port Cox, see ante, note 14. The latitude given is correct; the lati- tudes are usually nearly right but the longitudes are always too rar east; the longitude here should be 125* 58'.
82 Kendrick's movements appear quite leisurely. Gray can get ready to sail for China in three days; see entries in this journal Sept. 30, 1 79*. el seq; but it takes Kendrick nearly a month. Haswell says that on their return Kendrick was not much nearer ready than when they had left, ten days before.
83 This is an exaggeration. Hotkins is nearer correct; be says eight miles
