University of Washington Publications in Geology The Geology of the San Juan Islands

ISLANDS

ORCAS ISLAND

Orcas Island, the largest island of the archipelago, has an area of 56.92 square miles. In general its shape is that of a trapezoid whose northwest and southeast sides are nearly parallel and trend about N 45° E. The northeast shore-line, which follows the strike of the rock formations, is quite free from harbors or other irregularities. It trends N 60° W. The south side, which trends approximately east and west, differs from the other three sides in the fact that its shore-line is extremely irregular, being penetrated by three long narrow harbors or sounds.

Orcas Island is cut into two almost equal parts by a narrow and deep depression averaging nearly a mile in width, which trends about N 30° W. Excepting for a distance of one and one-fourth miles at its northern end, this valley is filled with sea-water known as East Sound. The depth of water throughout the submerged eight miles of its course is quite constant and it averages around 90 feet.

A considerable part of the land area at the northern end of East Sound is even now below sea-level, the sea being held back by wave-built sand bars. A submergence of 20 feet would cause Orcas Island to be divided into two islands of nearly equal size.

A second long narrow harbor known as West Sound penetrates the southern shore of the island about three and one-half miles west of East Sound. It is nearly a mile in width and its length is about four miles. At its northern end it is divided into two bays by an elevated spur of land sloping down from Ship Peak, a portion of the Turtleback Range. West Sound trends about parallel to East Sound. Its bed is shallow and rocky at its northern end, but its depth increases steadily and uniformly until, at the entrance, it is about 180 feet deep.

The peninsula to the west of West Sound is cut by a third and much smaller indentation known as Deer Harbor. It is about one and one-half miles long with its east shore trending parallel to West Sound, while the other side trends northeasterly and causes the harbor to have the shape of a blunt wedge that opens towards the southward. At its northern end, Deer Harbor, after narrowing down to a width of a few feet, opens out into a broad shallow lagoon. A small though deep bay occurs on the west shore of Deer Harbor, and a narrow valley, 50 to 100 yards wide, extends northwesterly from it and crosses to the west shore of Orcas Island.

Deer Harbor is shallow and sandy near its eastern margin. The deepest part of the harbor lies near the western shore and the depth increases rapidly to the south of Fisherman Island until, near the southwest entrance to the harbor, the depth is about 100 feet.

The narrow peninsula between West Sound and Deer Harbor is partly covered with glacial drift, but the old metamorphic rocks outcrop along nearly all parts of the shore-line at tide level. Elevations up to 200 feet may be found in this area.

The elevation which forms the peninsula to the west of Deer Harbor continues northward as a subdued ridge with an average elevation of 300 feet, until it reaches the precipitous slopes of Orcas Knob. This region has been strongly glaciated but little or no mantle rock now covers the rounded hills. Here and there a poorly drained swamp or peat-bog may be found in the depressions carved out of the solid rock by the glaciers.

To the northward a dome-shaped hill known as Orcas Knob (the head of the "turtle") rises abruptly to an elevation of 1050 feet. It is separated from the Turtleback Range by the narrow divide which continues southward to form West Sound. The Turtleback Range extends northward from Haida Point on West Sound, and continues as far north as Kimple Beach, a distance of three and one-half miles. Turtleback Mountain, the summit of the range, is a broad, flat and heavily wooded upland with a maximum elevation of 1497 feet.

The Turtleback Range is quite steep on the east and north sides, but its southern slopes are somewhat more gentle. Its most southern prolongation, known as Ship Peak, has an elevation of 900 feet and it slopes down towards West Sound. The slopes of the Turtleback Range are either bare and rocky, or they contain only the thin layer of soil necessary to support the forests that grow upon them.

Near the northwest extremity of East Sound there is a small group of rocky hills known as the Double Hill Range, which trends in a northeasterly direction. Lookout Mountain, the highest point on the range, has an elevation of 680 feet.

The Double Hill Range is steep and precipitous on the southeast side but in every other direction its slopes are more gentle. To the northward a drift-covered ridge extends out from the base of the range and continues as far as the north shore of the island. A long rocky and elevated ridge extends out from the northwest corner of Orcas Island to form Point Doughty. At a distance of about one and one-half miles to the southward another rocky point projects from the northwest side of the island to form Point Kimple.

The Double Hill Range is separated from the Turtleback Range by a valley that is almost a mile wide. To the westward this valley extends down towards Kimple Beach.

PLATE III. Looking eastward from Mount Entrance. The Rosario Strait and the south end of Lummi Island in the middle background; Mount Baker and the Cascade Range in the distant background. (Photograph by J. A. McCormick).

Extending southwestward from East Sound, near the base of Lookout Mountain, there is a broad valley of low elevation. This valley continues on to West Sound, being flanked on the west by the steep slopes of Turtleback Range. Its eastern margin is not so well defined but its average width is about a mile. To the southeast it is bounded by the group of hills that belong to or surround Mount Woolard Range.

The peninsula located between East Sound and West Sound is covered with a complicated group of hills and valleys. Some of these valleys were carved out by the glaciers, others follow the strike of the rock formations, while still others owe their existence to the presence of fracture or fault zones.

Near the west shore of East Sound, about a mile south of Lookout Mountain, there is a group of rocky hills with a maximum elevation of 400 feet.

The highest elevation in the southern part of the peninsula is found on Mount Woolard, which is 1180 feet in height. On its north and east sides, Mount Woolard is steep and precipitous, but it slopes more gently towards the southwest. To the northward there are several lesser ridges and dome-shaped hills, one of which has an elevation of 800 feet. A large limestone ledge is located on a long ridge situated about a mile north of Mount Woolard.

A valley extends along the southwest side of Mount Woolard and continues southward towards Grindstone Harbor. It is joined by another valley connecting with Orcas Bay. The region to the west of this valley is heavily wooded, excepting in the valleys that are under cultivation, and some of the hills have elevations up to 500 feet.

To the southeast of Mount Woolard there is another high rocky hill known as Diamond Hill, which has an elevation of 1020 feet. It is somewhat dome-shaped though its major axis trends in a northeasterly direction.

The depression between Mount Woolard and Diamond Hill is about half a mile wide, and its elevation at the middle of the divide is about 500 feet, though it slopes rapidly to the southward and continues on towards Grindstone Harbor. The valley contains a small lake, known as Killebrews Lake, which has an elevation of about 250 feet.

The eastern lobe of Orcas Island is more rugged than the western portion. Extending up from the lowland that lies to the north of East Sound, there is a rocky dome-shaped mountain known as Buck Mountain, which has an elevation of 1383 feet. To the southeastward it is connected with Mount Constitution Range by means of an elevated ridge, the elevation of which is only slightly lower than the top of Buck Mountain. A broad ravine extends towards the southwest and separates Buck Mountain from the western part of Mount Constitution Range. A small lake, known as Buck Lake, is situated on the lowest point along the crest of the divide.

The Mount Constitution Range has the form of a truncated dome with a summit that is broad and relatively flat. Its slopes are usually quite steep and precipitous, but in places, particularly on the south side, its flanks grade off at a more gentle angle. The elevated upland at the top of Mount Constitution Range, which is more than a mile in diameter, has a gently undulating surface that is heavily wooded where sufficient mantle rock is present to support such vegetation. Several large bogs containing sphagnum moss are located in depressions carved out of the solid rock by glacial erosion. Mount Constitution, the summit of the range, is located at the extreme northeast margin of the elevated upland and its altitude is 2409 feet.

From an elevation of about 1400 feet a rocky spur extends southwestward from Mount Constitution Range and continues toward East Sound. Near the shore of East Sound it rises to a sharp peak known as Mount Rosario, which has an elevation of 860 feet. A portion of this rocky spur projects into East Sound and forms Cascade Bay.

Rising precipitously from the shores of East Sound and extending from the village of Rosario to the village of Olga, the sharp knife-like summit of Entrance Mountain reaches a maximum elevation of 1200 feet. The eastern slope is more gentle and, in general, it follows the dip-slope of the rock formations.

Situated in the depression between Entrance Mountain and Mount Constitution, and bounded on the northwest by Mount Rosario, is a large lake known as Cascade Lake which is three-quarters of a mile long and has an elevation of 350 feet.

A broad divide occurs on the east side of Mount Constitution Range and separates it from another upland region that for purposes of description will be here referred to as Mount Pickett Range. At its northern end, this depression contains Twin Lakes, which have an elevation of 1100 feet. Mountain Lake, the largest lake in the map-area, is situated to the south of Twin Lakes, at an elevation of 915 feet. It is more than a mile long and it trends in a general north and south direction. To the south of Mountain Lake the valley turns toward the southwest and joins another valley extending south eastward from Cascade Lake. The combined valleys continue southward towards the village of Olga, being flanked on the west by Mount Entrance and on the east by a mountain spur extending southwestward from Mount Pickett Range.

The highest point of land occurring to the east of Mount Constitution Range is here called Mount Pickett, in honor of Captain George Pickett of the United States Army, during the San Juan dispute. It has an elevation of 1890 feet, and with the exception of the higher peaks occurring on Mount Constitution Range, it is the highest mountain in the map-area. For the most part, Mount Pickett and the whole Mount Pickett Range are heavily wooded.

A long ridge-shaped rocky spur extends out from the east side of Mount Pickett Range and continues as far as Point Lawrence. On the southeast side the range slopes quite abruptly down towards the valley to the north of Doe Bay. This valley, which is somewhat interrupted in places, extends from the double bay at the south side of Point Lawrence to the village of Olga. To the south of this valley the peninsula extending towards Obstruction Pass is covered with heavily glaciated and striated rocky hills that are drumlinoidal in shape and of low relief.

The north shore of Orcas Island, from Point Lawrence to Buck Mountain, follows the strike of the rock formations and is practically a straight unbroken line that trends about N 60° W. This shore-line is formed by the steep and rocky slopes of Mount Pickett, Mount Constitution, and Buck Mountain. One or more flat drift-covered benches may be found at elevations of 200 feet or higher, but otherwise this whole shore-line is steep and precipitous.

Owing to its rugged topography the arable land on Orcas Island is chiefly limited to the valleys and depressions that are covered with glacial drift.

PLATE IV. Looking up the shore of East Sound from a point near the entrance to Obstruction Pass. Mount Entrance is located in the center, while still further distant is Mount Rosario. Lookout Mountain appears in the distant background. (Photograph by J. A. McCormick).

INDIAN ISLAND

Indian Island, which has an area of 1.25 acres is situated near East Sound village. It is located on the west side of Arbutus Point in the little harbor known as Fishing Bay. The island is low and rocky but it contains sufficient soil to support a limited amount of vegetation. At low tide it is connected with Orcas Island by a broad sand bar.

GIFFIN ROCKS

Giffin Rocks are located on the east side, and near the north end of East Sound. The rocks, which are two in number, are located near the shore of Orcas Island and occur as remnants of erosion. They extend but a few feet above high tide-level and their combined area is about equal to that of a city lot.

TWIN ROCKS

Twin Rocks are located on the west side of East Sound, directly opposite the village of Olga. They have a combined area of a little more than an acre and both have elevations of about 15 feet. They owe their presence to a spur of rock that projects out from the shore of Orcas Island, Twin Rocks being remnants of erosion. The inner rock is almost connected by a land bridge with Orcas Island at low tide.

Near the west shore of East Sound, about a mile north of Twin Rocks, there is small flat-topped island with an elevation of 25 feet. This un-named island is connected with Orcas Island at low tide.

SHAG ROCK

Shag Rock is located at a distance of 275 yards from the south shore of Orcas Island, to the east of the entrance of Guthrie Bay. It is situated about 800 yards to the east of Foster Point. Shag Rock is only a few feet in diameter and it rises about two feet above high tide-level.

OAK ISLAND

Oak Island, which has an area of less than a quarter of an acre, is located in West Sound near its east entrance. This island is made up of two components both of which are nearly covered at high tide. At low tide they are connected with, and form a part of Orcas Island.

SHEEP ISLAND

Sheep Island is located in West Sound about a quarter of a mile south of the boat-landing at the village of West Sound. It has an elevation of about 20 feet, the top being flat and covered with several feet of glacial drift. This is surmounted by a dense growth of vegetation which includes a number of conifers. Sheep Island has an area of two acres.

HARBOR ROCK

Harbor Rock is a small rock or reef located in West Sound about half way between Haida Point and Indian Point. It is covered with water at half tide.

SKULL ISLAND

Skull Island is a rocky island located near the head of West Sound. It rises 25 feet above sea-level, and its rocky sides contain only a scanty amount of vegetation. Skull Island has an area of 2.7 acres.

In the vicinity of Skull Island there are several small un-named rocks and reefs, some of which are covered with water at high tide.

VICTIM ISLAND

Victim Island, which has an area of 3.0 acres, is located near the west shore of West Sound. It rises 45 feet above sea-level and its somewhat flattened surface is rocky though heavily wooded.

DOUBLE ISLAND

Double Island is located in West Sound about a quarter of a mile south of Victim Island. The two parts, which are separated by a channel about 10 feet wide, have a combined area of 25.94 acres. The larger or northern portion contains sufficient soil in places to permit cultivation. Its maximum elevation is about 85 feet. The southern portion has a maximum elevation of about 30 feet.

FISHERMAN ISLAND

Fisherman Island, which was formerly known as Fawn Island, is located near the west shore of Deer Harbor. It has an area of 2.75 acres and a maximum elevation of 40 feet. Its thinly drift-covered rocky sides are quite heavily wooded.

JONES ISLAND

Jones Island is located near the southwest Corner of Orcas Island and separated from it by Spring Passage. It has an area of 200.18 acres and a maximum elevation of 140 feet. The shores of Jones Island are quite rugged but there are two large harbors, one entering from the north side and the other from the south. A considerable area in the south and south central part of the island is covered with a sufficient depth of soil to permit cultivation. Jones Island is now used as a fox farm.

FREEMAN ISLAND

Freeman Island is a small wooded island located near the northwest shore of Orcas Island, about half way between Point Doughty and Point Kimple. At high tide it has an area of less than half an acre, but at low tide the area is increased by the exposure of a broad flat rocky shelf that extends out from the south side of the island. Freeman Island has a maximum elevation of about 25 feet.

PARKER REEF

A broad flat submerged rocky shelf extends northward from the north shore of Orcas Island. At a distance of about a mile from the shore an elevation occurs on this platform and about five acres are exposed as a flat reef at extreme low tide. This reef which is known as Parker Reef, is located in a region frequented by very heavy tide-rips and during foggy weather it is a menace to navigation. Excepting for one small narrow ridge, Parker Reef is covered at high tide.

DOE ISLAND

Doe Island, which has an area of 6.43 acres, is located near the southeast shore of Orcas Island about three-quarters of a mile south of Doe Bay post office. Doe Island has a maximum elevation of about 30 feet. Although its rocky surface is only scantily covered with soil, the island is quite heavily wooded.

SAN JUAN ISLAND

San Juan Island is 14-1/2 miles long and its maximum width is 6-1/2 miles. It has an area of 55.39 square miles. The long dimension of the island trends in a northwesterly direction, and the southeast end projects out as a long narrow arm which culminates at Cattle Point.

Excepting at the southeast portion of the island, the shores are usually elevated and rocky. The southwest shore-line is broken by only one large bay, known as False Bay, and even here the shore-line is but slightly indented at low tide. False Bay is about a mile long and three-quarters of a mile wide, and it is so shallow that the greater part of the harbor is bare at low tide. At the entrance of False Bay the margins are rocky, but elsewhere they are composed of glacial drift with a low relief. The mud in the bottom of False Bay was derived from glacial clays that occur in the San Juan Valley.

The west side of San Juan Island is cut by four large harbors or bays. From north to south these are Roche Harbor, Westcott Bay, Garrison Bay, and Mitchell Bay.

Roche Harbor has a length and width of about half a mile. It is quite shallow excepting at the north central part where a channel 20 feet deep at low tide extends to the wharf at Roche Harbor post office. At the entrance of the harbor the water is about 24 feet deep at low tide.

About one and a half miles south of Roche Harbor a very narrow steep-walled passage leads into Westcott Bay which trends northeasterly. It has a length of one and three-quarter miles and an average width of three-quarters of a mile. Westcott Bay is very shallow and the greater part of it is filled with a dense growth of eel-grass. The water is about 20 feet deep in the narrow passage at the entrance to Westcott Bay, but the average depth of water in the bay is much less.

PLATE V. Above: Looking northeastward from Mount Constitution. Barnes and Clark Islands in the center, Lummi Island in the background. Below: Looking northwestward from Mount Constitution. The Sucia Islands, Patos Islands, and a portion of the Matia Islands in the background.

Garrison Bay extends southeasterly from the south shore of Westcott Bay. It is irregular in shape and in general it is less than six feet deep at low tide. Garrison Bay has a length of about a mile, its southeastern extremity being extended as a narrow arm that nearly connects with Mitchell Bay. The remains of an old fort, which was built and occupied by the British during the time of the San Juan dispute, is located on the north shore of Garrison Bay.

Mitchell Bay has a length of about a mile. It trends in a general east and west direction, but it sends a narrow arm northward towards a similar narrow shallow arm extending down from Garrison Bay. The greater part of Mitchell Bay is less than six feet deep at low tide.

The northeast shore of San Juan Island is indented by Rocky Bay, whose straight shore-lines make an angle of about 90 degrees with each other. At the innermost part of the bay a small harbor trending northwesterly follows the direction of a fault zone that crosses the island at this point. The innermost portion of Rocky Bay is shallow, but farther out its depth is greater than 100 feet, excepting in the immediate vicinity of O'Neal Island.

The northeast shore-line of San Juan Island is also indented by Friday Harbor which is roughly rectangular in shape. Friday Harbor has an average width of one and one-half miles and a length of more than a mile. It opens towards the northeast. Brown Island, with an area of about 60 acres, is located in the center of the harbor. Between Brown Island and the harbor shore-line the water is rarely more than 60 feet deep at low tide, though a narrow passage exists at the southeast end of Brown Island that is about 130 feet deep. Near the entrance of Friday Harbor the water is more than 300 feet deep. Friday Harbor apparently owes its origin to the presence of two or more intersecting fault or fracture zones occurring in the underlying rock formations.

Griffin Bay, the largest bay occurring on San Juan Island, is located on the east side of the island between Cattle Point and Pear Point. It is somewhat rectangular in shape with a width of nearly four miles and a length of approximately two miles. The water near the shore is shallow in some places while in others the deep water extends close to the shore-line. Within half a mile from the shore there are numerous small scattered reefs and rocks, many of which do not rise high enough to be uncovered at low tide. Beyond a distance of half a mile from the shore the water increases rapidly in depth and reaches a maximum near the center of the bay with a depth of about 275 feet.

Near the middle of the southwest side of San Juan Island the shores are formed by the rugged slopes of Mount Dallas Range. Mount Dallas, the highest point on the range, has an elevation of 1036 feet, being the highest mountain on San Juan Island. The soil covering on the slopes of Mount Dallas Range is very scanty and it is only on the most favored portions, particularly on the northern slopes, that conifers have been able to gain a foothold. Mount Dallas Range trends about N 55° W, or approximately parallel to the southwest shore-line of San Juan Island.

About two and one-half miles to the southeast of the summit of Mount Dallas there is another more or less ridge-shaped mountain known as Little Mountain. Its maximum elevation is 475 feet and it is separated from Mount Dallas Range by a broad flat drift-covered valley.

To the northeast of Little Mountain and Mount Dallas Range there is a large drift-covered valley of low elevation. This is known as San Juan Valley and it is famous because of its fertility.

At a distance of approximately one and one-half miles to the north of the summit of Mount Dallas, there is an abrupt ridge-shaped elevation known as Mount Grant which is 680 feet in altitude. Mount Grant is scantily covered with soil and conifers occur only in scattered patches.

Between Mount Grant and Mount Dallas Range there is a low divide which contains Trout Lake, the source of the water supply for the village of Friday Harbor. Trout Lake has a length of about 600 yards and an elevation of about 200 feet.

About half a mile to the northwest of Mount Grant there is a small ridge-shaped peak with an elevation of 700 feet. The axis of the ridge trends a few degrees west of north. The northern slopes of this ridge are abrupt, and they extend downward towards a deep valley. The other sides slope abruptly towards a flat rocky upland that connects Mount Grant with an un-named peak 610 feet high, located one and one-half miles to the westward, near the shore of Andrews Bay.

Beginning at a point about a mile north of Mount Grant, San Juan Range crosses the center of the island in a northeasterly direction. A low divide which separates it from Mount Grant, connects with San Juan Valley to the southeast, while to the northwest it opens out into the broad lowland extending from Andrews Bay to Mitchell Bay.

The western extremity of San Juan Range ends in a steep escarpment by means of a narrow sand spit. Davidson Head is elongated in an east and west direction which is parallel to the strike of the rock formations.

Extending along the northeast shore of San Juan Island to the north of Sportsmans Lake, there is a range of hills with a maximum elevation of 520 feet. Farther to the southeast there is another hill with an elevation of 380 feet, which is separated from the others by the depression that contains the stream issuing from Sportsmans Lake. These hills are all heavily wooded on their northern slopes, while the southern slopes are either bare or covered by a few scattered conifers.

The lack of conifers on the southern slopes is noticeable on all of the islands where the soil is shallow or sandy. This phenomenon has been ascribed partly to the relative conservation of moisture on the northern or shady side, and partly to the fact that the most prevalent wind storms come from the southward and uproot the vegetation on the southern slopes, especially when the soil is sandy.

In the vicinity of Point Caution there is a rocky wooded elevation which is here called Biological Hill. It has an altitude of 440 feet. The slopes of Biological Hill are gentle in all directions, but in places the nearby shores are somewhat precipitous. The covering of soil is very scanty and the conifers occur in scattered patches on those areas which were especially favored with soil. The grounds of the Puget Sound Biological Station are located on the eastern slopes of Biological Hill, near the shore of Friday Harbor.

A broad drift-covered valley extends northwesterly from Friday Harbor, following the direction of a probable fault or fracture zone which loses itself in the irregular topography to the northwest of Sportsmans Lake.

A portion of this valley turns southwestward from Sportsman's Lake and extends along the east side of San Juan Range. It finally opens out towards San Juan Valley.

Sportsmans Lake and another much smaller lake, known as Egg Lake, are located in a low swampy valley surrounded by irregular rocky hills. These lakes have an elevation of approximately 160 feet.

Beginning near the village of Friday Harbor, a series of rocky ridges extend northwestward towards San Juan Range. This chain of elevated ridges separates San Juan Valley from the smaller valley to the northward. The highest of these ridges has an elevation of 440 feet.

Near the outskirts of the village of Friday Harbor a rocky and wooded elevation known as King Mountain rises to an altitude of 280 feet. A low ridge trends southward from King Mountain and with more or less modification it extends as far as the southern shore of the island near Eagle Point. Between False Bay and Griffin Bay this ridge widens out into a series of partly wooded hills with a maximum elevation of 320 feet.

The low gently undulating drift-covered area to the west of this ridge is known as San Juan Valley. This valley occupies a large area in the south central part of the island and it sends a number of small off-shoot valleys in among the adjoining hills. The drainage slopes of San Juan Valley converge towards False Bay.

The peninsula situated between Friday Harbor and Griffin Bay is composed of low rocky hills and narrow drift-covered valleys. An elevation, known as Pork Hill, is located near the center of the peninsula and its altitude is 200 feet.

The isthmus between Friday Harbor and North Bay has the form of an elevated ridge known as Bald Hill, with an altitude of 321 feet. Bald Hill is composed entirely of glacial materials and a gravel quarry is located on its northern side near the shore of Friday Harbor.

The region between Eagle Point and Cattle Point is deeply covered with glacial drift. Near Cattle Point a sandy hill rises to an elevation of 292 feet. It is wooded on the northern side but quite devoid of conifers on its southern slopes. The old metamorphic rocks outcrop along the shore at Cattle Point and on the small peninsula to the northward.

While the shore-line is usually bounded by elevated rocky hills, the typical topography of the central part of San Juan Island, with its numerous drift-covered valleys and depressions, has furnished this island with an abundance of fertile land.

BROWN ISLAND

Brown Island, which has an area of 59.7 acres, is situated in the center of Friday Harbor. The island is rocky and its long dimension trends in a northwesterly direction. A drift-filled depression crosses the center of the island, while the two ends are rocky and more elevated. The highest point on the island is located near the northwest end and it has an elevation of 80 feet. The shores at this end of Brown Island are somewhat precipitous. The southern end of the island is lower but it contains elevations up to 60 feet. All parts of Brown Island are heavily wooded.

TURN ISLAND

Turn Island is located near the shore of San Juan Island, about one and one-half miles to the east of Brown Island. Turn Island has an area of 35.15 acres and a maximum elevation of 100 feet. The island is rocky excepting at the southwestern extremity, where the shore-line is fringed with glacial drift. The steepest slopes are found on the east side of the island but precipitous shore-lines are also found at other places. Two rocky knobs are connected with the southwest corner of the island by narrow drift-covered arms, one of the arms being covered with water at high tide. Conifers occur on all parts of Turn Island.

TURN ROCK

Turn Rock is situated about 350 yards to the northeast of Turn Island. It is a flat bench of rock that is covered with water at half tide. A lighthouse or beacon light is located on Turn Rock.

To the south of Turn Island the shore of San Juan Island is fringed with several groups of rocks and reefs. Across the narrow channel to the south of Turn Island, two rocky knobs that are joined together by a narrow arm of glacial materials and alluvium, are connected with San Juan Island by a sand spit and hook that is covered with water at half tide.

LITTLE ISLAND

Little Island is a small rocky knob situated near the village of Argyle. It is no longer isolated for it is connected with San Juan Island by the long sandspits that enclose the Argyle Lagoon.

Near the shore of San Juan Island, to the south of Bald Hill, a small isolated rock rises to an elevation of ten feet.

DINNER ISLAND

Dinner Island is situated at the entrance of North Bay. Although it has an area of 9.1 acres, it rises but a few feet above high tide-level and the south side grades off into a submerged bench or reef. The highest points of this bench are exposed as reefs at low tide.

Situated in North Bay about 500 yards to the west or slightly northwest of Dinner Island, there is a reef that is covered with water at high tide.

HALF TIDE REEF

Half Tide Reef is located in Griffin Bay to the southeast of Low Point. This reef is awash at high tide.

HOPE REEF

Hope Reef is situated a short distance to the southwest of Half Tide Reef. It as awash only at the lowest tides.

NORTH PACIFIC ROCK

North Pacific Rock is located about three-quarters of a mile to the south of Half Tide Reef. At the lowest tide it extends about three feet above the surface of the water.

KELP ROCK

Kelp Rock, formerly known as Harbor Rock, is located near the rocky shore of San Juan Island at the south side of Griffin Bay. It is situated near the north end of the rocky peninsula that occurs to the north of Cattle Point. Kelp Rock has an elevation of about eight feet.

PLATE VI. Above: Contorted chert belonging to the Orcas group, Orcas Island. Below: Chert belonging to the Orcas group, Orcas Island.

ANDREWS ISLAND

Andrews Island, formerly known as Low Island, is situated in Andrews Bay on the west side of San Juan Island. It is a small rocky bench that rises five feet above high tide.

A large number of rocks and reefs occur near the southwest shore of San Juan Island, being scattered over the region from Eagle Point to Mitchell Bay. With the exception of Andrews Island, these are all too small to warrant individual names.

Two small un-named rocks occur in Mitchell Bay, both of which project but a few feet above high tide-level.

GUSS ISLAND

Guss Island, with an area of 0.6 acres, is a rocky knob occurring in Garrison Bay. It has an elevation of about six feet, and at low tide it is connected with the mainland.

POLE ISLAND

Pole Island is situated in Mosquito Pass, which separates Henry Island from San Juan Island. Pole Island is located in the middle of the channel, a short distance south of Bazalgette Point. It is little more than a rock that rises eight feet above high tide-level.

HENRY ISLAND

Henry Island has an area of 1.59 square miles. It is located at the northwest end of San Juan Island, being separated from it by the narrow shallow waters of Mosquito Pass.

The island is composed of two curved parallel ridges trending about N 25° E, which are separated by a depression running parallel to the curved ridges. The convex sides of the curved ridges face towards the northwest. The outer or northwestern ridge is about three miles long and its average width is about 1000 yards. The other ridge is located about 500 yards to the southeastward. It is about one and one-half miles long with an average width of 500 yards. The southwestern extremities of the two ridges are located at points about opposite each other, but owing to the greater length of the outer ridge, it extends much farther northeastward than the other.

The longitudinal depression between the two ridges is filled with salt water excepting near the center of the shorter ridge, where a low sand bar connects the two ridges. Henry Island consequently has the general shape of the letter H.

The water entering the longitudinal depression from the south is known as Open Bay. It has a depth of approximately 500 feet at its entrance, but the depth decreases rapidly and the inner half of the bay is everywhere less than 30 feet deep. The deepest part of Open Bay is found near the western part of the entrance.

To the north of the connecting sand bar the land is swampy for a distance of several hundred feet. The remainder of the depression is filled with shallow water entering from the northeast. This shallow body of water, which is little more than six feet deep at low tide, is known as Nelson Bay.

The inner ridge is rocky at each end, with elevations up to 100 feet at the southern end, and up to 60 feet at the northern end. The central part of this ridge is low and covered with glacial drift. A large part of the higher portions of the ridge is thinly drift-covered.

The southern half of the western ridge is rocky with elevations up to 355 feet. At the extreme southern end of this ridge there is a hill 310 feet high, with precipitous sides that extend down into very deep water. This hill is known as Kelletts Bluff.

The shores along the west side of Henry Island are steep and precipitous. The southern half of this shore-line is rocky, while the northern part is chiefly sandy and less elevated. Henry Island is bounded on the west by the exceedingly deep waters of Haro Strait.

The central part of the western ridge slopes gently down towards the shores of Nelson Bay. This area is largely drift-covered. A rocky peninsula rising to an elevation of 60 feet extends eastwardly near the entrance of Nelson Bay. To the north of this peninsula the eastern shores are precipitous and elevations up to 200 feet may be found.

The northern end of the island is low and drift-covered with occasional rocky knobs outcropping at the shore-line. A large part of Henry Island is covered with conifers and other trees and shrubs.

BATTLESHIP ISLAND

Battleship Island, formerly known as Morse Island, is located near the north end of Henry Island. It has an area of 3.2 acres and a maximum elevation of 40 feet. A submerged reef or rock platform connects Battleship Island with Henry Island.

PEARL ISLAND

Pearl Island, which has an area of 38.6 acres, is located at the north side of Roche Harbor. This island is elongated in an east and west direction and it almost forms a connection between San Juan Island and Henry Island. Pearl Island is rocky at its eastern end with elevations up to 40 feet, but the western end is low and drift-covered with rocks outcropping near the water's edge. Pearl Island is heavily wooded.

POSEY ISLAND

Posey Island is a low flat rocky island with an area of approximately an acre. It is connected with the north side of Pearl Island by means of a sand spit that is covered at half tide.

BARREN ISLAND

Barren Island, so-called because it is practically devoid of vegetation, is located midway between Posey Island and Davidson Head. The island has an area of 1.37 acres and it rises to an elevation of 25 feet. Barren Island is more or less dome-shaped.

O'NEAL ISLAND

O'Neal Island is located in Rocky Bay near the northeast shore of San Juan Island. It has an area of 4.5 acres and its rocky shores are steep on all sides. The maximum elevation is about 40 feet. The vegetation growing on the flat top of O'Neal Island is chiefly confined to low shrubs and grasses.

Farther in towards the head of Rocky Bay there is a small reef that is bare at low tide.

LOPEZ ISLAND

Lopez Island has an area of 29.45 square miles. It is less mountainous than Orcas or San Juan Island, the surface being typically flat or gently undulating and covered with glacial drift. The southeast portion of Lopez Island is more rugged than the remainder, and the shore-line is broken by a complicated group of harbors.

At the north end of Lopez Island there are two elevated rocky masses that extend out from the shore as long parallel ridges trending north and south. These rocky masses are, in reality, islands that have been tied to the main part of Lopez Island by broad arms of glacial drift and alluvium.

The western mass, which is known as Upright Head, is about a mile long and 600 yards wide. The west side rises precipitously to an elevation of 260 feet, but the eastern slopes are more gentle and they approximate the dip-slopes of the rock formations. Upright Head is heavily wooded.

At a distance of approximately three-quarters of a mile to the eastward, there is another somewhat smaller ridge known as Humphreys Head. It is about three-quarters of a mile long and has an average width of 500 yards. As in the case of Upright Head, the western shore rises precipitously to an elevation of 260 feet, while the eastern slopes are more gentle.

Humphreys Head is separated from Upright Head by Shoal Bay, which is rectangular in shape. Midway between the two ridges there is a submerged ridge that trends parallel to the others.

To the west of Upright Head the shore is sandy, and vertical cliffs of glacial drift up to 60 feet in height extend along the shore of Upright Channel. Flat Point has been built out from the base of the cliff at the northwest corner of the island where two converging sand spits contain a small swampy lagoon between them.

To the south of Flat Point the sandy cliffs rise to an elevation of nearly 100 feet, but in the vicinity of Fisherman Bay the low drift-covered hills slope gently towards the water's edge.

Fisherman Bay is formed by a low and somewhat rocky island mass, the south end of which has been connected with Lopez Island by a long narrow sand bar. A narrow opening located near Lopez post office leads into the bay which is about one and one-half miles long. Fisherman Bay is essentially a lagoon and the water is more or less stagnant. It is 24 feet deep at a point just inside of the narrow inlet, but elsewhere it is quite shallow and contains an abundant growth of eel-grass.

To the south of Fisherman Bay the shores are again formed by sandy cliffs that in places rise almost vertically to an elevation exceeding 100 feet. Rock outcrops begin to appear at the southwest corner of the island along the shores of Cattle Point Narrows, about a mile north of Point Davis.

The eastern shore-line of Lopez Island is somewhat more broken than the western one. To the south of Humphreys Head a broad shallow bay known as Swifts Bay opens out towards the northeast. Along the east shore of the island south of Swifts Bay two long sand spits extend towards the eastward and converge to a sharp point. A shallow swampy lagoon occurs between these sand spits which are fused together near the eastern extremity. This double sand spit is known as Spencers Spit and it almost connects with Frost Island.

The shore-line for a distance of nearly four miles to the south of Spencers Spit is formed by sandy cliffs with an average height of about 50 feet. From Small Island to Hunter Bay the shore-line is rocky but usually it is not precipitous and the elevations depart but little from those of the sandy cliffs to the northward.

Lopez Sound, which bounds the eastern side of the island, is divided at its southern end into two shallow bays which trend southwesterly. These are called Hunter Bay and Mud Bay.

The eastern shores of Mud Bay and Southern Lopez Sound are formed by a rocky peninsula that extends northward as far as Lopez Pass. Near the northeast side of Mud Bay, this rocky peninsula, which is triangular in shape and almost a mile across, is connected with Lopez Island by a broad sand bar. On the east side of this sand bar, there is a wide shallow bay called Shoal Bight that opens to the eastward towards the waters of Rosario Strait. The shores of Shoal Bight are low and sandy.

The shore-line to the south of Cape St. Mary is rocky and irregular, being indented by Telegraph Bay and Watmough Bight. The latter opens towards the northeast and its northern shore is formed by the precipitous side of Mount Chadwick, which rises almost vertically from the water's edge to an elevation of 464 feet. The bottom of Watmough Bight is quite flat and the depth of water at low tide is about 12 feet.

From Watmough Head to Cape Colville the shores are either rocky and nearly vertical or they are formed by sandy cliffs with large erratic boulders along the beach. Watmough Head and Cape Colville form the southeast extremity of Lopez Island.

The shore-line from Cape Colville to Iceberg Point is rugged and irregular. From east to west this precipitous shore-line is broken successively by McArdle Bay, Hughes Bay, and Aleck Bay. The average depth of water in McArdle Bay and Hughes Bay is about 30 feet. Aleck Bay is somewhat larger and deeper, being more than half a mile long and averaging about 60 feet in depth. Aleck Bay trends northwesterly and approximately follows the strike of the rock formations.

From Iceberg Point the shore-line trends northeasterly for a distance of two and one-fourth miles, being broken by the elevated rocky peninsula that extends out and separates Outer Bay from Mackaye Harbor.

Outer Bay contains a number of islands and submerged reefs that cause its depth to vary considerably. It is shallow and sandy at its head and the shore-line is low and sandy.

Mackaye Harbor is also shallow and sandy at its head and the depth gradually increases until, at the entrance, it is about 60 feet deep. At the southeast extremity of Mackaye Harbor the rocky peninsula is penetrated by Barlow Bay, which is shallow and sandy.

The northern shore of Mackaye Harbor is rocky and precipitous and it trends in an east and west direction. Near the boat-landing at Richardson there is a small bay known as Jones Bay that is nearly circular in shape.

Still farther westward there is another large bay, known as Davis Bay, which is about a mile wide. Near the southeast margin of Davis Bay an elevated rocky ridge ends abruptly at the water's edge and forms a steep cliff known as Nigger Head. (See Plate XIX A). Davis Bay is shallow and sandy near the shore and the depth increases gradually until at the entrance it is about 60 feet deep. The shores of Davis Bay are generally of moderate relief, but here and there elevated rocky knobs and ridges extend down to the water's edge. Point Davis is located at the west side of Davis Bay and forms the southwestern extremity of Lopez Island.

The surface of Lopez Island is relatively flat and free from abrupt changes in elevation. The rocky points that extend out from the north end of the island to form Upright Head and Humphreys Head, are in reality islands that are tied to Lopez Island by arms of glacial drift and alluvium. The low wooded peninsula on the west side of Fisherman Bay contains some exposures of the old metamorphic rocks. With these exceptions, the whole northern half of Lopez Island is covered with a deep mantle of glacial materials.

Near the northwest corner of the island in the vicinity of Flat Point, and again in the northeast corner near Spencers Spit, the drift-covered hills rise to elevations of 180 feet.

About a mile to the east of Lopez post office there is a small lake called Lopez Lake. It has an elevation of 91 feet, and a small stream issuing from it empties into Swifts Bay near Port Stanley.

To the southeast of Fishermans Bay a drift-covered ridge with elevations up to 280 feet, trends in a northeasterly direction. The southeastern slopes of this ridge are very gentle. In fact they lose but little of their elevation before they finally merge with the northwestern flanks of Lopez Range.

To the west and northwest of Hunter Bay, a roughly circular area, with a diameter of about two miles, is occupied by the wooded and rocky hills belonging to Lopez Range. Mount Lopez, the highest point on the range, has an elevation of 486 feet. The Lopez Range consists of rounded and glacially striated rocky hills in which the local depressions contain sufficient mantle materials to support the forests growing upon it. Here and there the drift-filled depressions are large enough to permit a limited amount of cultivation.

The area to the west of Lopez Range is almost entirely covered with glacial drift and in most places the covering is very deep. Elevations up to 220 feet may be found in this region.

The old metamorphic rocks appear along the shore of Cattle Point Narrows and their outcrops extend northward from Point Davis for a distance of about a mile. Throughout this distance the tops of the hills are covered with glacial drift.

Rocky points project at several places on Davis Bay but farther inland they are covered with drift. From the east side of Davis Bay an elevated rocky ridge extends eastward, and, with one or two minor interruptions continues along the entire north shore of Mackaye Harbor. This ridge has elevations up to 200 feet and in places it is heavily wooded. To the south of Hunter Bay it merges with a dome-shaped hill that has an elevation of 340 feet.

To the north of this ridge, or series of ridges as the case may be, there is a broad lowland that extends from Davis Bay to Hunter Bay.

Between Mackaye Harbor and Mud Bay the land is low and flat with elevations usually below 50 feet. The peninsula between Mackaye Harbor and Outer Bay is rocky and precipitous with elevations up to 100 feet. A rocky ridge that forms the entrance to Barlow Bay, trends southeasterly and forms the north shore of Aleck Bay. To the north of this ridge another lowland extends from Hughes Bay to Mackaye Harbor. To the south of this ridge, which follows the strike of the rock formations, another lowland extends from Aleck Bay to Outer Bay. The group of ridges extending from the south side of Aleck Bay to Iceberg Point is crossed by a depression that merges with the broad lowland to the northward.

The ridge extending eastward from Iceberg Point has a maximum elevation of 220 feet and contains a remarkable display of glacial grooving and polishing. The glacial striations trend approximately at right angles to the strike of the upturned rock formations.

To the southeast of Mud Bay a wooded and rocky hill rises to an elevation of 240 feet. The surrounding area is largely drift-covered. Near Cape St. Mary there is a wooded and rocky hill, with an elevation of 200 feet which is separated from Mount Chadwick on the south by a drift-covered lowland that extends toward Telegraph Bay.

Mount Chadwick has an elevation of 464 feet. Its southeast side is a sheer precipice that reaches the water's edge at Watmough Bight. To the northwestward the slopes of Mount Chadwick are more gentle and are covered with a dense entanglement of vegetation.

A low narrow valley connects Watmough Bight with McArdle Bay. At the southeast side of McArdle Bay a dome-shaped hill rises abruptly to an elevation of 260 feet. This hill is really a portion of the ridge extending westward from Cape Colville. The area in the vicinity of Watmough Head is relatively flat and in places it contains a scanty covering of glacial drift.

The peninsula to the northeast of Mud Bay contains two parallel rocky ridges that trend about N 55° E. Their maximum elevation, which occurs on the southeastern ridge, is 220 feet. The greater part of this peninsula is heavily wooded.

Lopez Island contains an abundance of land suitable for cultivation and water is readily obtained in most parts of the island.

FLOWER ISLAND

Flower Island, with an area of 4.6 acres, is located near the northeast corner of Lopez Island. It is rocky throughout and contains only a scanty amount of vegetation. Flower Island trends north and south and the northwest corner extends out as a low rocky shelf. The highest part of the island is located along the eastern margin with a maximum elevation of 74 feet. The eastern shore of Flower Island is practically a vertical cliff that resembles a fault-scarp.

Situated at a point about half a mile north of Flower Island there are two reefs. One of these is awash at high tide while the other is uncovered only at lower low tide.

FROST ISLAND

Frost Island has an area of 69.95 acres. Its maximum elevation is 220 feet, the highest and most precipitous side being located on the northwest part of the island. Frost Island is rocky and wooded throughout and it contains a very scanty amount of soil. The small irregular depressions in the rocky surface contain scarcely sufficient soil to support the conifers that grow on the island. Spencers Spit extends out from Lopez Island and almost connects with Frost Island at low tide.

SMALL ISLAND

Small Island is a low flat rocky island situated near the shore of Lopez Island to the northeast of Lopez Range. Its area is about that of a city lot.

CRAB ROCKS

Crab Rocks are situated near the extremity of the peninsula that separates Hunter Bay from Mud Bay. Their size is about that of a city lot.

FORTRESS ISLAND

Fortress Island (shown on the British chart as Crown Island) has an area of 3.21 acres. It is located in Lopez Sound about a half mile to the northeast of Crab Rocks. Fortress Island has precipitous slopes on all sides and is surrounded by deep water near its shores. The island is somewhat dome shaped and rises to an elevation of about 100 feet. All parts of it are rocky and almost devoid of vegetation.

Situated about 300 yards to the northeast of Fortress Island there is a low rocky island with an area of about that of a city lot. About 600 yards to the southeast, and at the east side of Mud Bay near its entrance, there is a small reef that is exposed at low tide.

PLATE VII. Above: Devonian brachiopods in the Orcas Lime Quarry, Orcas Island. Below: Diallagite and hornblendite occurring as thin parallel stringers in the gabbro-diorite.

RAM ISLANDS

Ram Islands, which are three in number, are located near the west entrance to Lopez Pass. They are elongated in a northeasterly direction and all three of them are lined up as parts of the same ridge. The largest and most southwestern member of the group has a maximum elevation of 80 feet. A low reef extends eastward from the center of the southeast side of this island. Ram Islands have a combined area of 8.8 acres.

KELLETT LEDGE

Kellett Ledge is located about 700 yards to the northeast of Cape St. Mary. It is a reef that is uncovered only at the lowest tides.

BOULDER ISLAND

Boulder Island is located at the south entrance to Watmough Bight. It has an area of 6.9 acres and its maximum elevation is 79 feet. Boulder Island is almost circular in outline, although a narrow rocky point projects from the south side of the island. It is rocky throughout and contains only a scanty growth of vegetation.

DAVIDSON ROCK

Davidson Rock, which is covered with water at all times, is located about 600 yards to the east or slightly southeast of Colville Island.

COLVILLE ISLAND

Colville Island is located about half a mile south of the southeast corner of Lopez Island. It is elongated in an east and west direction, or parallel to the strike of the rock formations. Colville Island has an area of 11.48 acres and a maximum elevation of 40 feet. Like the small rocky island situated near its western end, it contains practically no soil, and it is used as a nesting-place by numerous gulls, cormorants and other sea-fowl.

CASTLE ISLAND

Castle Island is situated to the north of Colville Island and near the shore of Lopez Island. It has an area of 9.33 acres and a maximum elevation of 161 feet. It is roughly triangular in shape, with its north and southeast sides being almost vertical cliffs, while the west side, though less steeply inclined, can be climbed only with difficulty. There is practically no glacial drift or soil on this island and it is used as a nesting-place by many kinds of sea-fowl.

To the west of Castle Island there are two small rocky islands. The larger of these has an elevation of 45 feet, while the height of the smaller one is 35 feet.

ALECK ROCKS

Aleck Rocks include two groups of rocky islands and reefs situated at the south part of the entrance to Aleck Bay. They have a combined area of about 3.25 acres. The largest of these rocks occur in the northern group where two fairly large islets may be found. The larger or southeastern of these two islands is sometimes known as Fish-trap Island. It has an elevation of about 100 feet.

The southern group is composed of two small rocks, one of which has an elevation of 40 feet.

Near the head of Aleck Bay there are two small rocks, and at low tide four small reefs are exposed.

Between Aleck Bay and Iceberg Point there are a number of small rocky islands and reefs. The largest of these, which is situated in the small bay midway between Iceberg Point and Aleck Rocks, has an area of about two acres and is known as Barnacle Rock.

GEESE ISLETS

Geese Islets include a number of rocky islands and reefs situated near the southwest shore of Lopez Island. The majority of them are practically devoid of soil or vegetation, and any soil that might form would soon be blown away by the strong winds during the winter season.

Geese Islets include the following island masses,—Long Island, Charles Island, Goose Island, Iceberg Island, Hall Island, Buck Island, Secar Rock, Deadman Island, Richardson Rock, Mummy Rocks, Whale Rocks, and many smaller rocks and reefs.

LONG ISLAND

Long Island, the largest of the Geese group, has an area of 58.05 acres. It is elongated in a direction about N 70° W, or parallel to the strike of the rock formations. Its maximum elevation is 75 feet and the surface of the island is relatively flat.

Long Island is divided into two parts at high tide, but at low tide the parts are connected by a sand bar. On the south side of the island there are a number of small rocky islands that are connected with each other and with Long Island at low tide by means of a series of sand bars. Three small isolated islands are located near the southeast side of Long Island.

CHARLES ISLAND

Charles Island is located about 400 yards to the east or slightly north east of Long Island. It has an area of 32.4 acres and a maximum elevation of about 75 feet. The shore lines of Charles Island usually have a nearly vertical slope with average elevations of about 30 feet. The height increases gradually from the shores to the center of the island, and in places, the surface is sparsely wooded. An uplifted arm of glacial drift and alluvium connects a small rocky island with the north side of Charles Island.

Two small rocks situated between Charles Island and Lopez Island rise 15 feet and 10 feet respectively, above high tide-level. Another small rock located 375 yards to the east of Charles Island rises to an elevation of 12 feet. This latter rock is known as Round Rock.

GOOSE ISLAND

Goose Island, which is located in Cattle Point Narrows, near the shore of San Juan Island, is the most western member of the Geese Islet group. It is more or less dome-shaped with a circular outline. Goose Island has an area of 4.25 acres and an elevation of approximately 50 feet. It is almost devoid of soil or vegetation.

ICEBERG ISLAND

Iceberg Island is located about 700 yards to the northeast of Iceberg Point, being the most eastern member of the Geese Islet group. It has an area of 3.5 acres and an elevation of about 50 feet. The shores of Iceberg Island are bare and rocky.

HALL ISLAND

Hall Island is located about 650 yards to the south of Charles Island. It has an area of 3.9 acres and rises 25 feet above high tide-level. A fracture zone crosses Hall Island in a northeasterly direction and differential erosion has caused the island to assume the shape of a dumbbell.

A small rock situated about 250 yards to the west of Hall Island rises a few feet above high tide.

DEADMAN ISLAND

Deadman Island is located in Cattle Point Narrows near the shore of Lopez Island. It is situated a short distance to the northwest of Point Davis.

The island has an area of 3.5 acres and rises to an elevation of 50 feet. Deadman Island is elongated parallel to the strike of the rock formations, or about N 65° W. It is bare and rocky throughout, and the northeast side is low and flat.

RICHARDSON ROCK

Richardson Rock is located near the shore of Lopez Island, about 250 yards east of the boat-landing at Richardson post office. It has an area of 1.35 acres and its nearly vertical sides rise to an elevation of about 35 feet.

BUCK ISLAND

Buck Island is located in Davis Bay about 300 yards west of the promontory known as Nigger Head. It has an area of 1.25 acres and a maximum elevation of 35 feet. It is bare and rocky with steep or vertical shore lines.

A small rock situated about 100 yards to the north of Buck Island rises a few feet above high tide-level.

SECAR ROCK

Secar Rock, with an area of 0.6 acres, is located midway between Hall Island and Charles Island. It rises 15 feet above high tide.

MUMMY ROCKS

Mummy Rocks are located, midway between Long Island and Point Davis on Lopez Island. They consist of two small rocks that rise about 25 feet above high tide.

To the northwest of Mummy Rocks, near Point Davis, there are a number of small rocks and reefs which are exposed at low tide.

WHALE ROCKS

Whale Rocks are located at the south entrance of Cattle Point Narrows, in a region that is swept by very strong tides. They are utterly devoid of either soil or vegetation and they have a combined area of about three-quarters of an acre.

SHARK REEF

Shark Reef is located near the west shore of Lopez Island, about 1-1/2 miles north of Point Davis. It trends in a north and south direction, and is nearly covered with water at high tide.

DECATUR ISLAND

Decatur Island is situated on the east side of Lopez Sound. It is separated from Lopez Island to the south by the narrow waters of Lopez Pass. On the east it is bounded by the waters of Rosario Strait. It is separated from Blakeley Island to the north by the waters of Thatcher Pass.

Decatur Island has an area of 3.58 square miles. It is roughly triangular in shape, the north side being relatively straight while the other two sides converge into a long narrow arm that extends toward the south.

The northeast corner of Decatur Island projects toward the east, parallel to the strike of the rock formations, to form Fauntleroy Point. About a mile to the southward, along the east shore, a long elevated double sand spit extends out to connect with a dome-shaped rocky land mass 200 feet high. This dome-shaped rocky point is known as Decatur Head. The east side of the island from Fauntleroy Point southward is deeply covered with glacial drift. To the southwest of Decatur Head the cliffs of glacial drift rise to elevations of 180 feet. Farther southward the land slopes gently until it is only a few feet above high tide-level.

Along the west side of Decatur Island there is a dome-shaped rocky land mass that rises to an elevation of 160 feet. It is connected with the main portion of Decatur Island by a recently elevated double sand bar, and the lagoon which formerly existed between them has been filled with rocky debris. To the southeast the shore-line is formed by cliffs of glacial drift, with occasional outcrops of bed rock at the northern portion. Large glacial erratics together with many smaller boulders are scattered along this shore.

The northern and norwestern parts of Decatur Island, are high and rocky. The maximum elevation on the island, which is located in the northwestern portion, is 540 feet. The northern part of the island is very heavily wooded.

A mountain spur extends southward towards the southwest shore of the island near Decatur post office. To the south of Decatur post office the elevations are low and the land is deeply covered with glacial drift. The curved shore-line to the south of Decatur post office is sometimes spoken of as the Macedonian Crescent.

The south end of Decatur Island is formed by an elevated and elongated rocky hill that rises to an altitude of 140 feet. To the westward at a distance of about 100 yards there is a dome-shaped hill with an elevation of 120 feet. This is connected with Decatur Island by means of a long sand bar which has been built above the level of high tide. Near the north side of this sand bar there is another and much smaller rocky island.

CENTER ISLAND

Center Island has an area of 178.25 acres. It is situated near the southwest side of Decatur Island, and a broad sandy submerged shelf extends from one island to the other at a depth of about 10 or 12 feet at low tide.

Center Island is roughly triangular in shape, with its north shore low and irregular. A large part of the southeast shore-line is formed by cliffs of glacial drift, but near the southern end the shores are rocky. The western shore is rocky and its relief is moderate. The elevations increase towards the center of the island where a maximum height of 200 feet is reached. Excepting for the central portions that are under cultivation, the island is covered with conifers and in many places these have scarcely enough soil to support their growth.

TRUMP ISLAND

Trump Island is located in Lopez Sound near the western shore of Decatur Island. It has an area of 29.4 acres, and its greatest elevation, which is located at its eastern margin, is 120 feet. The strike of the rock formations on Trump Island is approximately north and south, and the massive and elevated ridge occurring along the eastern margin was formed by the differential erosion of a resistant formation. The island is scantily wooded and the soil is very shallow. A small bank of glacial drift occurs at its southern extremity.

JAMES ISLAND

James Island is located on the east side of Decatur Island, near Decatur Head. It has the shape of a dumbbell with its longer axis in a north and south direction. James Island has an area of 113.65 acres.

The northern part of the island is dome-shaped with scarcely enough soil to support the conifers growing upon it. It rises to an elevation of 260 feet.

The southern portion of James Island is joined to the northern part by a narrow arm of uplifted alluvial material that is densely overgrown with vegetation during the summer season. The southern portion of the island is cut into two almost equal parts by a low narrow valley trending in a northeasterly direction and parallel to a probable fracture zone. The highest elevation on James Island occurs on the eastern side of this valley, where a wooded dome-shaped hill rises to a height of 300 feet.

BELLE ROCK

Belle Rock is situated in Rosario Strait about one and one-fourth miles to the southeast of James Island. It is exposed only at low tide, but a tall cylindrical masonry structure has been erected upon it to support a beacon and a warning bell. It is a portion of a submerged reef that trends in a north easterly direction.

BIRD ROCKS

Bird Rocks are situated in Rosario Strait about half a mile to the southwest of Belle Rock. The rocks are three in number and they are lined up in a northeast and southwest direction. They appear to be a part of the same submerged ridge or reef that forms Belle Rock.

Bird Rocks have a combined area of about 3.75 acres and the two most southern islands have elevations of about 40 feet. The northern island is much lower and it extends northward as a low reef.

Bird Rocks contain neither soil nor vegetation but they serve as the nesting-place for large numbers of sea-fowl. The waters surrounding Bird Rocks and Belle Rock are noted for their strong tide-rips and these small rocky islands are seldom visited.

BLAKELEY ISLAND

Blakeley Island is located on the east side of Lopez Sound. It is separated from Decatur Island on the south by the waters of Thatcher Pass. On the east it is bounded by the waters of Rosario Strait. It is separated from Obstruction Island on the north by the narrow waters of Peavine Pass.

Blakeley Island has an area of 6.93 square miles. With the exception of a fringe of glacial materials that occur as a bench about 90 feet high along the northwest side, and an occasional remnant of glacial material near the southern end of the island, the region is rocky and mountainous and the shore-lines are precipitous. Blakeley Dome, the highest elevation on the island, occurs near the northeast margin with an altitude of 1060 feet. Near the shore at the eastern extremity of the island a hill rises to an elevation of 780 feet. This hill is connected with Blakeley Dome by an elevated ridge that forms the shore-line in this vicinity.

The southern extremity of Blakeley Island is formed by a small hill that rises to an elevation of 260 feet. This hill is elongated in a northwest and southeast direction and its southern margin is flanked by a thick bench of glacial drift.

To the north of Thatcher Harbor there is a precipitous mountain known as Bald Bluff, which is elongated in a northeast and southwest direction. Bald Bluff rises to an elevation of 880 feet and its western sides are deeply striated and polished by glacial action. Along the north shore of Thatcher Harbor its sides are flanked by a thick bench of glacial drift.

Each of the dome-shaped mountain peaks that occur near the shores of Blakeley Island slope gradually towards the center of the island. In this central depression there are two large lakes. The northern or upper lake is known as Blakeley Lake, and its elevation is 374 feet. The lower one, which is known as Thatcher Lake, has an elevation of 188 feet and drains directly into Thatcher Harbor.

Blakeley Lake is separated from Thatcher Lake by a mountain spur that extends northeasterly from Bald Bluff, and the valley and meadow land that connects the two lakes is bent far to the eastward around this mountain spur.

From Thatcher Lake a broad valley extends southward towards the southeast shore line of the island.

At the northern extremity of Blakeley Island, along Peavine Pass, a rocky island has been tied to the main island by means of double sand spits. (See Figure 10, page 141). A large lagoon still exists between these sand spits and it is connected with the sea at high tide. The rocky island or peninsula is elongated parallel to the shore of Peavine Pass, which is at the same time parallel to the strike of the underlying rock formations. All parts of Blakeley Island are heavily wooded.

WILLOW ISLAND

Willow Island is located near the southwest side of Blakeley Island and is composed of massive igneous rocks with scarcely any soil or vegetation. It has an area of 9.64 acres.

ARMITAGE ISLAND

Armitage Island, which has an area of 7.35 acres, is located near the southeast shore of Blakeley Island at the east entrance to Thatcher Pass. It has a maximum elevation of about 80 feet and its rocky sides slope down abruptly to the water's edge.

LAWSON ROCK

Lawson Rock is located at the east entrance of Thatcher Pass. It is exposed only at the lowest tides.

POINTER ROCK

Pointed Rock, a low flat-topped islet situated about 600 yards from the southeast shore of Blakeley Island, was formerly known as White Rock. It is about twice the size of a city lot and it rises 16 feet above high tide. Pointer Rock has a covering of glacial drift that is sufficiently deep to support the moderate growth of vegetation that occurs upon it.

PLATE VIII. Above: Richardson, Lopez Island. Below: Looking eastward from Lookout Mountain; East Sound in the foreground, Buck Mountain in the background.

BLACK ROCK

A small rock rising 20 feet above high tide is located in Rosario Strait about a half mile from the southeast shore of Blakeley Island and about a mile to the northeast of Pointer Island. This landmass which is known as Black Rock, is composed of igneous materials.

SPINDLE ROCK

Spindle Rock is a small rocky mass that is located about 400 yards from the northeast shore of Blakeley Island near the east entrance to Peavine Pass. It rises about 20 feet above high tide.

Along the northeast shore of Blakeley Island, near Spindle Rock, there are two other small rocks that rise a few feet above high tide.

OBSTRUCTION ISLAND

Obstruction Island is separated from Blakeley Island on the south by the narrow waters of Peavine Pass. On the east it is bounded by the waters of Rosario Strait. It is separated from Orcas Island on the north by the narrow waters of Obstruction Pass. On the west it is bounded by the waters of East Sound and Lopez Sound at their common meeting point.

Obstruction Island has an area of 216.2 acres. It is triangular in shape with the north and west sides forming an approximate right angle. The other side trends about N 55° E. The island is relatively low and flat. Its maximum elevation is found in the west central portion where the altitude is 200 feet. A broad valley due to a fault or break in the rock formations crosses the southern part of the island.

A large part of Obstruction Island is covered with a thin mantle of glacial drift, and the island is heavily wooded. The shore lines are generally rocky.

SHAW ISLAND

Shaw Island is located in the center of the San Juan Island group. It is separated from San Juan Island on the southwest by San Juan Channel. On the southeast it is separated from Lopez Island by Upright Channel. It is separated from Orcas Island on the north by Harney Channel, while on the northwest it is separated from the Wasp group of islands by Wasp Passage.

Shaw Island has an area of 7.71 square miles. It is roughly triangular in shape and its shore lines are generally low and rocky, being cut by numerous harbors and bays.

The surface in the vicinity of Hankin Point, at the eastern extremity of the island, is elevated and rocky. Elevations up to 240 feet occur in this region.

The north shore of Shaw Island is penetrated by a large shallow bay known as Blind Bay. It is about a mile long and three-quarters of a mile wide. It is a part of a broad depression of glacial origin that crosses Shaw Island in a north and south direction. At the south side of the island this broad valley is given its physiographic expression by the formation of the shallow bay known as Indian Cove.

To the west of Blind Bay the northern shore-line trends westerly with out any important bays. Near the entrance of West Sound, an elevated rocky island is connected with Shaw Island by a long straight sand spit that is not covered at high tide. This island and sand spit together make up Broken Point.

Along Wasp Passage the shores are elevated and rocky. Near the western end of the island, a group of islands have been tied to Shaw Island by sand bars that have since been built up or elevated high above sea-level.

The southern shores of the island are broken by numerous irregular harbors and bays. A large rock mass projects out from the southwest side of Shaw Island in the form of a shoe, with Point George representing the toe. The upper side of the shoe is bounded by Parks Bay, which is nearly a mile long, while the heel and back part of the shoe are bounded by Hicks Bay. Another small bay forms the instep of the shoe. Parks Bay and Hicks Bay are connected by two narrow parallel valleys which follow fracture zones. These valleys also trend approximately parallel to the strike of the rock formations in this portion of the island.

To the west of Indian Cove there is a narrow shallow bay called Squaw Bay. It is about three-quarters of a mile long and is connected with both Parks Bay and Hicks Bay by low narrow valleys.

The greater part of the surface of Shaw Island is covered with rocky elevated knobs and intervening drift-covered valleys. It is probable that the latter generally follow fracture or fault zones. The irregularities in the shore-lines are caused largely by the drift-covered valleys which are at, or a little below, sea-level.

The most elevated knobs occur in the west central portion of the island where elevations up to 300 feet may be found. Deciduous trees predominate in the valleys, while conifers are abundant in the higher areas. Shaw Island is more heavily wooded than any of the other islands of the San Juan Island group.

CANOE ISLAND

Canoe Island is located in Upright Channel midway between Shaw Island and Flat Point on Lopez Island. It has an area of 49.58 acres and a maximum elevation of 60 feet. Although the island supports a moderately heavy growth of conifers, it contains but a scanty amount of soil and the rocks are exposed at all parts of the area. The rocky shores of Canoe Island are seldom too steep to climb.

BLIND ISLAND

Blind Island is located at the entrance to Blind Bay on Shaw Island. It has an area of 2.25 acres and its irregular rocky surface rises to a maximum elevation of 40 feet. It contains a very scanty amount of vegetation.

At a distance of 250 yards to the southeast of Blind Island there is a small reef that is awash at high tide. At about the same distance to the northwest of Blind Island there are a number of small reefs which are awash at low tide. Near the southwest shore of Blind Bay a small rock rises to an elevation of ten feet.

On the west side of the long sand spit that extends out towards Broken Point, a small rock island which is tied to the sand spit at low tide, rises to an elevation of 25 feet. Still farther westward along the shore of Shaw Island another rock mass is tied to the shore at half tide by means of a sand spit.

BELL ISLAND

Bell Island is located near the northeast extremity of Wasp Passage and midway between Orcas and Shaw islands. Though rocky it is moderately wooded and its maximum elevation is 40 feet. Bell Island has an area of 3.67 acres.

A small reef situated 250 yards to the east of Bell Island is uncovered at low tide.

CRANE ISLAND

Crane Island is located at the east side of the entrance to Deer Harbor and it is separated from Orcas Island by the waters of Pole Pass. Crane Island has an area of 221.66 acres, and with the exception of those portions which are under cultivation the whole island is wooded. In relief Crane Island is low and its surface is gently undulating and largely covered with glacial drift. The old metamorphic rocks outcrop along the shore near the water's edge. The maximum elevation on Crane Island, which occurs in the central or slightly southeastern portion, is 120 feet.

In Pole Pass near the shore of Crane Island a small rock rises a few feet above high tide. A reef that is covered at high tide is located near the eastern extremity of Crane Island. Several other reefs that are covered at high tide occur near the northeast shore of the island. Near the southwestern extremity of Crane Island a large mass of limestone and intrusive igneous material is tied to its shore by means of an uplifted arm of alluvial material.

Near the western extremity of Shaw Island and situated at a point about 500 yards to the east or slightly southeast of Cliff Island, there is a small rocky island of low relief.

TIFT ROCKS

Tift Rocks are located near the south shore of Shaw Island, at a point about a mile from its western extremity. Tift Rocks consist of five rock clusters, the highest points of which rise but a few feet above high tide. These rocks are practically devoid of soil or vegetation.

Near the north shore of Parks Bay, not far from its entrance, there is a small rock island that is connected with Shaw Island at half-tide. This rocky mass rises to an elevation of 40 feet and a reef extends out from its west shore-line.

A low reef which is scarcely seen at low tide is located near the eastern shore of Hicks Bay.

WASP ISLANDS

Wasp Islands include a group of small rocky islands and reefs which are situated to the west of Shaw and Crane islands. Among them are McConnell Island, Reef Island, Cliff Island, Yellow Island, Coon Island, Knob Island, Low Island, and Cormorant Rock.

MCCONNELL ISLAND

McConnell Island, the largest of the Wasp Island group, has an area of 31.68 acres. The southern part of the island is rocky and elevated, its maximum height being 100 feet. The northern part is largely covered with glacial drift or alluvial materials, and at one time this area was under cultivation.

McConnell Island is remarkable for the number of sand spit-tied rock masses that occur in its northern part. Six rock masses are tied in this manner to McConnell Island, and the most western of these is isolated at high tide. The greater part of the island is wooded.

REEF ISLAND

Reef Island, the most northern member of the Wasp Island group, has an area of 17.25 acres. It is elongated in a north and south direction and shallow reefs fringe its western and southern borders. The shore-lines are low and rocky and the highest elevation, which occurs near the northern end, is about 40 feet. Reef Island is wooded throughout its entire area.

CLIFF ISLAND

Cliff Island is located near the western extremity of Shaw Island. It has an area of 15.61 acres and a maximum elevation of 60 feet. The island is divided into three almost equal parts by two transverse drift-covered valleys. Elsewhere the drift covering is quite thin and only sufficient to support the forest growing upon it.

Though composed largely of igneous rocks, Cliff Island is elongated parallel to the strike of the sedimentary beds, which include a fairly large limestone ledge that at one time was quarried for lime rock.

YELLOW ISLAND

Yellow Island, so-called because of its arid nature and the typical color of its vegetation, is located 350 yards to the southwest of McConnell Island. It has an area of 10.27 acres, is thinly covered with glacial materials, and its low rolling hills reach a maximum elevation of 40 feet. Rocky masses of land are tied to the north end, and also to the south end of Yellow Island, by means of sand spits. A species of prickly cactus occurs in abundance on Yellow Island.

COON ISLAND

Coon Island, with an area of 2.7 acres, is located about 100 yards to the east of McConnell Island. It rises to an elevation of about 25 feet and is wooded throughout.

KNOB ISLAND

Knob Island is situated near the west side of Cliff Island, and separated from it by a deep channel. It has an area of 0.8 acres and rises to an elevation of 20 feet. A series of rocks and reefs extend to the southwest of Knob Island.

LOW ISLAND

As its name implies, Low Island rises but a few feet above high tide. Its surface is flat and rocky and its area amounts to about three-quarters of an acre. Low Island is situated at a point about one-third of a mile to the south of McConnell Island. Prickly cactus occurs on this island.

CORMORANT ROCK

Cormorant Rock, formerly known as Bird Rock, is located midway between Crane Island and McConnell Island. It is awash at high tide, but at other times it is generally covered with cormorants.

STUART ISLAND

Stuart Island is the most western of the San Juan Island group, being located in Haro Strait to the northwest of San Juan Island. It has an area of 2.79 square miles.

Due to the fact that Stuart Island is composed of closely folded sedimentary rocks which have suffered from differential erosion, the shore-line is exceedingly irregular. In certain cases the softer formations have been eroded to such an extent that they are now covered with water, and long narrow bays with parallel sides result. Were it not for the presence of two large harbors, Stuart Island would be roughly elliptical in shape with its major axis trending about N 65° W.

A long narrow embankment known as Reid Harbor enters the island near its southeast extremity. With an average width of 500 yards and an average depth of 25 feet at low tide, it trends in a northwesterly direction for a distance of nearly 2 miles. Reid Harbor is located on the axis of an elongated centroclinal fold in the underlying rock formations. To the northwest of Reid Harbor the same erosional and structural valley extends as far as the western shore-line of the island, being flanked on each side by an elevated and consequently more resistant rock formation. On the south side of the valley this resistant formation rises in the form of an elongated dome called Tiptop Mountain, which is 640 feet high. On the north side of the valley these same resistant strata again appear, and they serve as the narrow arm which separates Reid Harbor from Prevost Harbor.

To the north of this central resistant rock ridge there is another softer formation which is represented by a valley of low relief. Still farther north ward the same resistant strata appear for the third time, and they form the elevated northern margins of Stuart and Satellite islands. Along the northern side of Stuart Island this resistant formation is broken through in two places about a mile apart, and the water entering the valley to the southward connects the one inlet with the other and forms the large harbor known as Prevost Harbor. The elevated landmass occurring in, and surrounded by the waters of Prevost Harbor, is called Satellite Island.

The central elevated ridge has a maximum elevation of 420 feet, while the northern ridge attains an altitude of 500 feet. The shore-lines along the north and west sides of Stuart Island are steep and rugged. The precipitous rocky point at the northwest extremity of Stuart Island is called Turn Point, and here a lighthouse is located. The nearby waters of Haro Strait are characterized by strong tide-rips.

The northeast extremity of Stuart Island is formed by a rocky area that is connected with the remainder of the island by an uplifted arm of alluvial materials. Stuart Island is only moderately wooded.

PLATE IX. A storm on the Rosario Strait, showing how large storm-waves are broken up and their eroding power largely destroyed by the tide-rips at half tide. (Photography by A. O. McCormick).

SATELLITE ISLAND

Satellite Island is located in Prevost Harbor, on the north side of Stuart Island. It is very irregular in outline due to the differential erosion along two fracture or fault lines that cross the island. Satellite Island has an area of 106.15 acres and its maximum elevation, which occurs near the northern side, is 140 feet. It contains only a moderate growth of conifers because of the lack of soil.

Several reefs occur in Prevost Harbor to the southeast and also to the southwest of Satellite Island.

GOSSIP ISLANDS

Two small rock islands, called the Gossip Islands, are located at the entrance of Reid Harbor on Stuart Island. They have a combined area of 1.75 acres and rise but a few feet above sea-level. The larger of these two islands is sometimes known as George Island.

Several reefs occur near the shore of Stuart Island to the east of Gossip Islands.

JOHNS ISLAND

Johns Island, with an area of 214.55 acres, is located to the east of Stuart Island and separated from it by the narrow waters of Johns Pass. Johns Island is elongated parallel to the strike of the rock formations or about N. 60° W. It is about one and one-half miles long and its maximum width is 650 yards.

The northern side of Johns Island is elevated and rocky with steep and rugged shore-lines. It is penetrated by two small harbors that cut across the elevated resistant formation. The south side of the island is largely drift-covered with an occasional rock outcrop near the water's edge. A portion of the southern shore-line is formed by an elevated wave-built sand bar and a swampy area occurs behind it.

The glacial drift occurring along the southern shore has been deposited on the glacially truncated and polished surfaces of the underlying rock formations.

Johns Island is heavily wooded in some parts, while in others the vegetation is very scanty.

A small reef occurs about 175 yards from the south shore opposite the central part of Johns Island.

RIPPLE ISLAND

Ripple Island, with an area of 3.25 acres, is located near the east end of Johns Island and separated from it by a narrow shallow channel. Ripple Island is low and flat and surrounded by reefs. Its maximum elevation is about 20 feet. Some portions of the surface of Ripple Island are covered with glacial drift and alluvium and a dense growth of shrubs and grasses occurs on these areas.

SHAG REEF

Shag Reef is located midway between Ripple Island and Cactus Islands. It is a flat reef and the highest points rise about a foot above high tide. Shag Reef trends in a northwesterly direction and it is divided into two parts by a deep depression that crosses the central portion of the reef.

GULL REEF

Gull Reef is located about 1000 yards to the west of Shag Reef. It rises about two feet above high tide. Between Gull Reef and Cactus Islands there is another small reef that is awash at half-tide.

CACTUS ISLANDS

Cactus Islands are located about midway between Ripple Island on the north and Spieden Island on the south, being separated from the latter by New Channel.

The western or smaller island has an area of 8.7 acres and its flat surface has a maximum elevation of about 40 feet.

The eastern island has an area of 22.7 acres and its maximum elevation is 60 feet. The south sides of both Cactus Islands trend about N 65° W, or parallel to the strike of the rock formations. The shore-lines are steep, being quite straight and smooth when running parallel to the strike of the rock formations, and jagged when crossing the strata.

Near the southeast end of the larger Cactus island there are two small rocky islands that are connected with it by a submerged reef. A reef occurs along the south shore of the same island.

Cactus Islands are both wooded but the soil covering is scarce.

SPIEDEN ISLAND

Spieden Island is situated about a mile from the north shore of San Juan Island, being separated from it by the deep waters of Spieden Channel. It has an area of 480.45 acres.

Spieden Island is nearly three miles long and its maximum width is only 875 yards. It trends about N 70° W, or roughly parallel to the strike of the rock formations. Near the central part of the island the elevation reaches a maximum of 410 feet. The east end of Spieden Island is less elevated than the western portion. The eastern extremity is formed by a dome-shaped hill rising 80 feet above sea-level, known as Green Point. To the west of the dome-shaped hill a broad lowland crosses the island at an elevation of about 25 feet. Still farther westward the land rises to a maximum elevation of 410 feet.

Beginning to the west of the lowland, a drift-covered shelf extends along the north side of Spieden Island for a distance of one and one-half miles. This shelf has an average elevation of about 40 feet at the water's edge, and rises at a gentle angle. At a distance of, about 250 yards from the shore, near the central part of the shelf, and at a shorter distance when measured from a point to the east or west of the center, the elevations increase abruptly towards the top of the ridge. The north side of this elevated ridge, though somewhat precipitous, is heavily wooded, while the southern slopes are almost devoid of trees.

The western part of the north side of Spieden Island is bounded by sheer cliffs that rise to a height of 260 feet. The western extremity of the island is known as Spieden Bluff.

Spieden Island is surrounded on all sides by deep water near the shore, and it has the distinction of being the only large island of the San Juan Island group that does not possess a harbor.

SENTINEL ISLAND

Sentinel Island, with an area of 14.65 acres and a maximum elevation of 120 feet, is located near the south shore of Spieden Island. The island is somewhat dome-shaped although its south side is straight and trends in the direction of the strike of the rock formations. Sentinel Island has a moderately heavy growth of conifers though the soil covering is generally thin.

SENTINEL ROCK

At a distance of 350 yards to the west of Sentinel Island a small bare rock, known as Sentinel Rock, attains an elevation of five feet. A deeply submerged reef connects it with Sentinel Island.

CENTER REEF

In Spieden Channel, about 600 yards to the southwest of Sentinel Rock, there is a reef that is bare at low tide, known as Center Reef.

About a mile to the west of Sentinel Rock there is a submerged reef known as Danger Shoal.

FLATTOP ISLAND

Flattop Island is located about a mile to the northeast of Green Point on Spieden Island. It has an area of 49.3 acres.

Flattop Island is rounded or slightly elliptical in shape. Its northwest side is steep and precipitous and it rises to an elevation of 130 feet. The whole surface of the island slopes toward the southeast at an angle of approximately 25 degrees, or following the dip-slope of the rock formations. With this fact in mind the name of the island can scarcely be considered as appropriate.

The surface of Flattop Island is uniformly though scantily covered with conifers. The steep rocky northwest side of the island is used as a nesting place by numerous sea-fowl.

Reefs extend out from the northeast and also from the southwest ends of the island.

GULL ROCK

Gull Rock, with an area of 1.3 acres and an elevation of 30 feet, is located 500 yards to the northwest of Flattop Island. Gull Rock is almost divided into two parts by the differential erosion along a stratum of soft materials that is bounded on each side by hard layers of conglomerate. Numerous sea-gulls use Gull Rock as their nesting-place.

WHITE ROCKS

White Rocks have a combined area of 1.45 acres. They are located about one and three-fourths miles to the north of Flattop Island, and a like distance to the southwest of Point Disney on Waldron Island. The maximum elevation on White Rocks is 35 feet.

At low tide White Rocks are surrounded by reefs but at high tide there are but two rocks that extend above the surface of the water. Of these rocks the one located to the southeast is the larger, and it is used as the nesting-place of many kinds of sea-fowl.

Danger Rock is located to the southeast of White Rocks, and since it lies in the direction of the strike of the rock formations on the latter, it is probably formed from a part of the same resistant rock stratum.

WALDRON ISLAND

Waldron Island has an area of 4.59 square miles. It is located about one and one-half miles from the northwest shore of Orcas Island and separated from it by the deep waters of President Channel.

The southeast portion of Waldron Island is elevated and rocky, but elsewhere the island is deeply covered with glacial drift and elevations above 100 feet are rare.

The highest portion of the island is roughly elliptical in shape, with its longer axis trending about N 45° E. Although this area is surrounded on all sides by steep slopes, the structure of the under-lying rock formations is just the reverse of the topography since this is at the same time the location of an elongated centroclinal fold. The maximum elevation of this region is 580 feet.

The southwest end of the elevated region projects out into the water about a mile beyond the adjoining shores to form Point Disney. The cliffs on the northwest side of Point Disney rise vertically from the water's edge to a height of nearly 500 feet.

The elevated portion of Waldron Island is covered with a moderately abundant growth of oak trees and conifers which have favored the soil derived from the weathering of certain shaly sandstones. As a consequence the trees now occur in curved rows which follow the outcrops of these rock formations.

A small double rock-bound bay occurs on the east side of Waldron Island near the northern extremity of the elevated area, known as Mail Bay.

To the north of the rock point which forms the northern margin of Mail Bay the region is low and covered with glacial drift. Near Point Hammond at the northeast corner of the island, the stratified cliffs of glacial materials rise to an elevation of 100 feet, while the bed rock outcrops near the water's edge. Several rock points outcrop along the north shore of the island beneath the cliffs of glacial materials. One of these rock points extends out from the northwest corner of the island to form Fishery Point.

The central part of the west side of Waldron Island projects to the westward as a long narrow point of glacial drift and alluvial materials which have a low relief. This long point is called Sandy Point. Between Sandy Point and Point Disney there is a broad embayment known as Cowlitz Bay. Waldron post office and boat-landing are located on the shore of this bay.

Near the southeast side of Cowlitz Bay there is a reef, known as Mouatt Reef, which rises about three feet above low tide.

BARE ISLAND

Bare Island is located about three-quarters of a mile to the north of Waldron Island. It rises 40 feet above sea-level and has an area of 0.7 acres. The east and west sides of Bare Island are penetrated by narrow bays with parallel sides, formed by the differential erosion of nearly vertical shale strata.

Bare Island is practically void of vegetation. It is used as the nesting-place for many kinds of sea-fowl, including the puffin or sea-parrot which burrows into the bank of glacial drift or into the less resistant shale strata.

A flat rocky shelf extends southward from Bare Island and on it there is an elevated rock mass which occurs as a remnant of wave erosion.

At a distance of 450 yards to the west of Bare Island there is a reef which is covered at half-tide.

PLATE X. Looking northward from Obstruction Island; Mount Constitution in the background. (Photography by J. A. McCormick).

SKIPJACK ISLAND

Skipjack Island, with an area of 19.28 acres, is located about a mile to the west or slightly northwest of Bare Island. In contrast with Bare Island it is wooded and rises to an elevation of 120 feet.

Skipjack Island is elongated in an east and west direction, with its parallel sides trending in the direction of the strike of the rock formations, the dip of which is steep or nearly vertical. Due to the differential erosion of the shale strata, the ends of the island are penetrated by narrow bays with parallel sides. The widths of these bays are determined by the thickness of the eroded strata. For the same reason the island is crossed by two longitudinal valleys, and these are partly covered with glacial drift.

About 200 yards to the east of Skipjack Island there is a small reef which is awash at high tide.

PATOS ISLANDS

Patos Islands are located in the Gulf of Georgia at the extreme northwest corner of the San Juan Island group. They are separated from the Canadian islands to the west by the deep waters of Boundary Pass which are conspicuous for their strong tide-rips.

Patos Islands are composed of Patos Island and Little Patos Island, and these have a combined area of 244.5 acres.

Patos Island is about one and one-half miles long and its maximum width is 550 yards. It is elongated parallel to the strike of the rock formations, and is curved so that its convex side points towards the south. The west end of the island trends northwesterly, while the east end of it trends north easterly. The strike of the rock formations follows the curvature as well as the elongated direction of Patos Island.

The southern shore-line is rocky and elevations up to 60 feet occur near this side. The north side is low and largely drift-covered but the bed rock outcrops along the shore near sea-level.

At the east end of Patos Island there are three long points, composed of resistant material, that extend out far beyond the intervening spaces due to differential erosion. Since these long narrow parallel points of land extend out from the end of the island like the toes on the foot, this end of Patos Island is called Toe Point. The western extremity of Patos Island is called Alden Point, and a lighthouse is located upon it. Patos Island is quite heavily wooded.

Little Patos Island is located near the southwest shore of Patos Island and separated from it by the narrow waters of Active Cove. Little Patos Island is heavily wooded. The whole island is formed from the western extension of the resistant strata which follow along the southern shore of Patos Island. The maximum elevation on Little Patos Island is about 50 feet.

SUCIA ISLANDS

Sucia Islands are located in the Gulf of Georgia about three miles to the north of Orcas Island. They have a combined area of 749.0 acres.

Sucia Islands owe their origin to the differential erosion of stratified rocks which have been folded into the form of a trough or syncline that is inclined towards the eastward. During the lapse of time since the folding of these rocks, the region has been reduced by erosion to an approximate level, and due to the inclined trough-like structure of the rocks, the outcrop of each stratum has the general form of a horseshoe. By the processes of erosion, the shale strata have been eroded somewhat deeper than the more resistant sandstone and conglomerate layers which stand out to form parallel horseshoe-shaped ridges. In some cases the softer formations composing Sucia Islands are represented by drift-covered valleys, while in others they are covered by sea water to form long narrow bays or channels.

The Sucia Island group includes the following islands; Sucia Island, Little Sucia Island, Herndon Island, South Finger Islands, North Finger Island, Ewing Island, Clements Reef, and a number of other small rocks and reefs.

Sucia Island, which forms the nucleus of the Sucia Island group, is composed of portions of five parallel horseshoe-shaped strata, two of which are soft while the remaining three are relatively resistant. With the exception of the south side, the island is composed of two parallel resistant strata with an intervening softer stratum.

Near the western extremity of the island, the outer ridge of resistant material is broken through so that the water enters a portion of the shallow valley representing the softer stratum. The bay so formed is called Shallow Bay. The central portion of the horseshoe is occupied by the shallow waters of Echo Bay.

The north arm of Sucia Island is bounded by steep cliffs that slope abruptly down into deep water. This elevated region is known as Lawson Bluff and rises to a maximum height of 160 feet. The outer ridge belonging to the north arm of Sucia Island is crossed by a narrow channel which separates Ewing Island from Sucia Island. In this region the inner ridge is represented by a series of small rock islands, while the intervening softer stratum is covered with marine water.

The inner member of the south arm of Sucia Island extends out towards the east without any break in the ridge. The extremity of this ridge is called Johnson Point. The valley to the southward is largely filled with sea water, and the next ridge to the southward is broken through in two places. The intervening portion of this ridge forms Herndon Island. To the south of this ridge the water enters from the eastward along an erosional valley to form Fossil Bay. The head of Fossil Bay is separated from Fox Cove, an other bay entering the island from the westward, by a narrow neck of land.

The rock formations on the south side of Fossil Bay are richly fossiliferous. These rock formations extend westward to form Little Sucia Island.

The surface of Sucia Island, and particularly that of the drift-covered valleys, is covered with a dense growth of vegetation. Sucia Island is used as a fox farm.

Little Sucia Island is located near the southwest side of Sucia Island, being an extension of the fossiliferous strata which form the southern margin of Sucia Island. The shores of Little Sucia Island, as well as the exposed shores of the other islands of the group, are fringed by flat rocky shelves which have been formed by wave action at high tide. The island is crossed by a depression which is filled with glacial drift and alluvial material.

About a mile to the west of Little Sucia Island there is a submerged reef called West Bank. It forms a part of a submerged horseshoe-shaped ridge which occurs about two miles to the west of Sucia Island.

Herndon Island is a small knob-shaped island which is located at the north side of Fossil Bay.

South Finger Islands are located in Echo Bay near the south arm of Sucia Island, being separated from it by a narrow channel with a minimum depth of about 17 feet at low tide. South Finger Islands both represent parts of the same ridge or rock stratum and they are moderately wooded.

North Finger Island is situated about 325 yards to the north of South Finger Islands and it trends parallel with them. The intervening channel has a minimum depth of 72 feet at low tide.

Ewing Island is situated at the eastern extremity of the northern arm of Sucia Island and separated from it by a narrow shallow passage. Like the other large islands of the group, it is wooded and its long dimension follows the direction of the strike of the rock formations.

Near the north shore of Echo Bay, to the south of Ewing Island and the north arm of Sucia Island, there are a number of knob-shaped islands and reefs called the Cluster Islands, some of which are covered at high tide. The most western member of the Cluster Islands is known as Wiggins Reef. The most eastern member is called Stony Reef.

Clements Reef includes three small elongated reefs which are located to the north of Ewing Island. They are elongated in a direction about N 40° W. These reefs are either covered or awash at high tide.

MATIA ISLANDS

Matia Islands are located in the Gulf of Georgia about one and one-half miles east of Sucia Islands. They have a combined area of 170.11 acres, being composed of Matia Island, Puffin Island, and several small rocky islands and reefs.

Matia Island, the chief member of the group, is composed of three elevated parallel ridges and their narrow intervening drift-covered valleys. These ridges are composed of resistant sandstone and conglomerate formations, while the valleys represent the intervening shales and less resistant strata. At all parts of the island the ridges trend about N 68° W.

Matia Island has a length of one mile and a maximum width of 625 yards. At the ends of the island the less resistant formations are represented by long narrow bays, while the ridges on each side of them extend out to form rocky islands and reefs. The greatest elevation occurs on the central ridge at the center of the island, with an altitude of 160 feet. Matia Island is quite heavily wooded, especially along the drift-covered valleys. The is land is used as a fox farm.

A series of reefs extend along the north shore of Matia Island. At the northwest corned of the island there are two small islands, the larger of which is wooded.

Puffin Island is located 350 yards to the east of Matia Island. It rises to an elevation of about 60 feet and its grass-covered slopes are used as a nesting-place by many kinds of sea-fowl. The slopes of Puffin Island are precipitous, excepting on the east. A rocky shelf extends along the north side of the island, while to the eastward there are three small reefs which are covered at half tide.

BARNES ISLAND

Barnes Island is located about one and three-fourths miles from the northeast shore of Orcas Island, opposite Mount Pickett. It has a length of 1000 yards and a maximum width of 280 yards, with an area of 36.1 acres. It is elongated parallel to the strike of the rock formations. The surface of Barnes Island is wooded and quite flat and contains a thin covering of glacial drift in many places. The maximum elevation on Barnes Island is about 40 feet.

CLARK ISLAND

Clark Island, with an area of 55.05 acres, is located about 625 yards to the east of Barnes Island. It is about a mile long and its maximum width is about 300 yards. The northern part of the island trends in the direction of the strike of the rock formations, but the southern portion is formed largely of glacial drift that connects with another rocky ridge at the southeastern extremity of the island. Clark Island has a maximum elevation of about 50 feet and its flat drift-covered surface is heavily wooded.

THE SISTERS

Three small rocky islands situated to the south and southeast of Clark Island make up the group known as the Sisters. These have a combined area of 8.27 acres. The largest and most northern of the Sister islands has a single conifer tree growing upon it and it is sometimes known as Lone Tree Island. The other two islands are devoid of trees and one of them is completely free from vegetation. The two northern members of the group are low and partly covered with a thin layer of glacial drift. Lone Tree Island rises to an elevation of 20 feet while the other is only 15 feet high. The third or most southern of the Sister group is bare and rocky and rises abruptly from the water's edge to an elevation of 42 feet.

PEAPOD ROCKS

Peapod Rocks are located in Rosario Strait about a mile from the southeast shore of Orcas Island. They have a combined area of 6.9 acres.

North Peapod Rock is much the largest of the group, having an area of 5.5 acres. Its surface is quite flat and it has an elevation of 28 feet.

South Peapod Rock is situated about a mile to the southwest of North Peapod Rock. It rises about 25 feet above sea-level. Between the two rocks there is a chain of reefs which are largely covered with water at high tide. Peapod Rocks are not wooded.

LUMMI ISLAND

Lummi Island is located at the northern extremity of Rosario Strait where it merges with the Gulf of Georgia. It has an area of 8.2 square miles. The island is nine miles long and its maximum width is nearly two miles. It trends in a northwest and southeast direction and it is separated from the mainland and Portage Island to the east by the narrow waters of Hale Passage.

The northern half of Lummi Island is relatively low and flat. With the exception of a few rock hills near the northern extremity of the island, the whole northern half of Lummi Island is covered with glacial drift and its elevations are below 200 feet. The northern extremity of Lummi Island, which is called Point Migley, is rocky but its elevation is moderate. Along the west shore of the island, about two miles south of Point Migley, a low sandy point extends out to the westward to form Village Point. The village of Carlyle is located on this point. On the opposite side of the island a low sandy point, called Lummi Point, extends out to the eastward.

The region to the northeast of Village Point is covered with ridge-shaped rocky hills, the highest of which is located to the west of Lummi Point and rises to an elevation of 340 feet.

The topography of the southern half of Lummi Island is strikingly different from that of the northern portion. The southern half of Lummi Island is high and rocky and its greatest elevation, which is known as Lummi Peak, rises precipitously to an altitude of 1740 feet.

The whole southern part of the island is formed by a ridge which trends parallel to the strike of the rock formations. The southwest side is bounded by sheer cliffs and their talus slopes, while the northeastern side slopes away more gently and in general follows the dip-slope of the rock formations.

The talus slopes on the southwest side of Lummi Peak extend from the water's edge to a height of 1000 feet to form the "Devils Rock Slide." Several fatal accidents have occurred to those who attempted to climb these talus slopes.

The southern end of Lummi Island extends out into a thin though elevated tapering point called Carter Point.

A small bay, known as Inati Bay, enters the east side of the island about opposite Lummi Peak. About half a mile to the southward there is another small open bay called Reil Harbor.

The abrupt change in the topography of the two halves of Lummi Island is probably due to a fault or break in the rock formations. Where it is not under cultivation, the northern half of the island is heavily wooded, particularly with deciduous trees. The southern half contains but little soil and the vegetation is largely limited to the soil-covered depressions in the rocks.

The delta of Lummi River, a distributary of the Nooksack River, is gradually encroaching on the north end of Lummi Island, and already a submerged sandy ridge extends from Lummi Island to the mainland.

LUMMI ROCKS

Lummi Rocks are located near the southwest side of the elevated portion of Lummi Island. They have a combined area of approximately three acres and rise about 25 feet above high tide-level.

VITI ROCKS

Viti Rocks are composed of two small rocky islands having a combined area of 2.75 acres. The northern and larger island rises to an elevation of about 35 feet. It contains a thick growth of small shrubs and grass but there are no conifers growing upon it. The southern island is a bare rocky reef which rises only a few feet above the water at high tide.

ELIZA ISLAND

Eliza Island is named in honor of Lieutenant Francisco Eliza, the Spanish explorer who discovered the San Juan Islands in the year 1791. It is located about three-quarters of a mile to the east of Carter Point on Lummi Island. Eliza Island has an area of 170.0 acres.

The main body of the island is composed of glacial drift which rises to an elevation of 40 feet. It is elongated in a direction about N 15° W, and connects with a high rocky knob at the southern extremity of the island. The latter has an elevation of 60 feet. A pair of long sand bars extends out from the center of the west side of Eliza Island to connect with a small rock knob nearly half a mile away. Between these sand bars the land is swampy and a small lagoon still exists. Eliza Island is heavily wooded.

ELIZA ROCK

Eliza Rock, with an area of about 0.4 acres, is located near the south end of Eliza Island, and rises to an elevation of about 6 feet.

PORTAGE ISLAND

Portage Island is located to the east of Lummi Island and separated from it by the waters of Hale Passage. It has an area of 923.25 acres and rises to a maximum elevation of 200 feet. At low tide its northwestern extremity is connected with the mainland by a long sand spit. The northeast corner of Portage Island is also extended to the northward as a long irregularly curved sandy hook. The east and southeast sides of the island are bounded by the waters of Bellingham Bay.

Portage Island is composed entirely of glacial drift, and its surface, which is heavily covered with deciduous trees, is for the most part flat or gently undulating. The southern shores of the island are bounded by elevated cliffs of glacial materials and the blunt rounded off southern margin is known as Point Frances.

VENDOVI ISLAND

Vendovi Island is located one and three-fourths miles to the south of Lummi Island. It has an area of 218.98 acres and its rugged sides rise to an elevation of 330 feet. Vendovi Island is elliptical in shape with the major axis trending in a northwest and southeast direction. There is a small harbor near the northwest corner of the island. Due to the scarcity of soil, Vendovi Island is only moderately wooded and it is used as a fox farm.

SINCLAIR ISLAND

Sinclair Island is located about a mile to the northeast of Cypress Island, at the north end of Bellingham Channel which separates Cypress and Guemes islands. Sinclair Island has an area of 1.65 square miles. It is heavily wooded with deciduous trees and is sometimes known as Cottonwood Island.

Excepting for its southern margin, Sinclair Island is covered with glacial drift and its relief is low. Along the southern margin there are a number of rock hills and the highest of these, which is located near the southeast extremity of the island, has an elevation of 180 feet.

About half a mile from the northwest shore of Sinclair Island there is a submerged reef known as Boulder Reef.

CYPRESS ISLAND

Cypress Island, with an area of 8.59 square miles, is located in Rosario Strait to the East of Blakeley Island. It is separated from Guemes Island on the east by Bellingham Channel.

In many respects the topography of Cypress Island is a duplicate of that occurring on Blakeley Island. Near the north end of Cypress Island a hill rises precipitously to an elevation of 720 feet. This is called Eagle Cliff. A narrow lowland crosses the island immediately south of Eagle Cliff, while still farther southward there are three dome-shaped hills. The most western of these, which has an elevation of 600 feet, merges with the elevated region to the southward. It is separated from the next dome-shaped hill to the eastward by a low swampy valley that connects with the depression crossing the island to the south of Eagle Cliff. The most eastern of the three domes is surrounded by water on all sides except its northwest corner. This dome-shaped hill forms the northeast side of Eagle Harbor.

The central part of the east side of Cypress Island projects towards the eastward. At the eastern extremity a small rocky elongated knob is connected with the island by a sand bar.

The southeast corner of Cypress Island is formed by a symmetrical dome-shaped hill which rises to an elevation of 600 feet. For purposes of description this hill is here called Olivine Hill because it is composed largely of a fresh vitreous variety of dunite, a rock composed almost entirely of the mineral olivine.

The southern margin of Cypress Island is fringed by glacial drift which forms elevated cliffs along the shore-line westward from Olivine Hill. Between Olivine Hill and the elevated central portion of the island, the sea water enters from the northeastward to form Secret Harbor. The north side of Olivine Hill is bounded by a broad open bay, called Deep Water Bay, of which Secret Harbor is a part.

The southern shore-line of Cypress Island is strewn with large glacially transported boulders, and the cliffs of glacial material rise to an elevation of 100 feet. These cliffs of glacial materials also extend along the west side of the island.

The southwest corner of Cypress Island is called Reef Point. About two miles north of Reef Point, along the west side of the island, a broad open bay called Strawberry Bay penetrates the marginal shelf of glacial materials. About two miles north of Strawberry Bay a low sandy point called Tide Point, extends out to the westward and marks the northern limit of the fringing shelf of glacial materials. To the south of Tide Point the shore is strewn with large glacial erratics.

The central portion of Cypress Island is elevated and rocky. It is composed of a group of rock domes which merge into each other. The highest of these, known as Cypress Dome, is located about a mile to the east of Tide Point and has an elevation of 1530 feet. Three small lakes occur in a depression on the east side of Cypress Dome, near the summit. The largest of these is known as Cypress Lake. To the southeast of Cypress Lake is a swampy region which occupies the head of a canyon that slopes down towards Strawberry Bay. To the south of this elevated swampy region there is an other large dome which rises to an altitude of 1480 feet. There is a small lake on the east side of the summit of this dome.

Excepting on the areas which are deeply covered with glacial drift, the surface of Cypress Island, though wooded, is quite free from underbrush. The elevated fringing bench of glacial materials is very heavily wooded.

PLATE XI. Aucella crassicollis Keyserling from the Spieden formation.

TOWHEAD ISLAND

Towhead Island, with an area of 2.15 acres, is located about a quarter of a mile from the north end of Cypress Island. It has an elevation of about 50 feet and it is bounded by steep rocky cliffs. The surface of the island is quite flat and is covered with conifers.

About a quarter of a mile to the northwest of Towhead Island there is a submerged reef known as Cypress Reef. Three-quarters of a mile to the northwest of Cypress Reef is another submerged reef known as Buckeye Shoal.

STRAWBERRY ISLAND

Strawberry Island is located near the west shore of Cypress Island, at the entrance of Strawberry Bay. It is elongated in a north and south direction or parallel to the strike of the rook formations. It has an area of 10.5 acres and rises to an elevation of about 80 feet. It is scantily wooded.

CONE ISLANDS

The Cone Island group includes five small rock islands which are located near the northeast side of Cypress Island, in the vicinity of Eagle Harbor. They have a combined area of 6.5 acres and the largest or most eastern member of the group has an elevation of about 60 feet. The most western member of the group is little more than a small thin jagged rock which rises about eight feet above tide. Because the side of this island is perforated by a small hole, it is commonly known as Buttonhole Island. The larger members of the Cone Island group are wooded.

GUEMES ISLAND

Guemes Island is separated from Cypress Island on the west by the waters of Bellingham Channel. On the other sides it is bounded by the waters of Guemes Channel, which separate it from Fidalgo Island on the south, and from the mainland on the east.

Guemes Island has an area of 7.96 square miles. The island is roughly triangular in shape and its sides are not broken by any large bays or harbors. With the exception of a few elongated dome-shaped rock hills occurring near the southeast end, the island is entirely covered with stratified glacial drift. This material forms high cliffs along all of the shores excepting a portion of the southern margin near the village of Guemes which is low and flat. The maximum elevation occurring in the drift-covered portion of Guemes Island is 140 feet.

The rounded point which forms the southwest corner of the island is known as Yellow Bluff. The northern extremity of Guemes Island is called Clark Point.

Near the southeast corner of the island there are seven rocky hills, the highest of which has an elevation of 560 feet. A small protected harbor, known as Boat Harbor, occurs to the east of this hill.

All parts of Guemes Island that are not under cultivation are heavily wooded, both with conifers and with deciduous trees.

JACK ISLAND

Jack Island, with an area of 20 acres, is located about a mile from the northeast shore of Guemes Island. It is elliptical in shape, but the major axis of the ellipse does not follow the strike of the rock formations. Though Jack Island is moderately wooded, it contains a very scanty amount of soil. The maximum elevation is about 40 feet.

SAMISH ISLAND

Samish Island is located at the margin of the Samish delta and is connected with it at low tide. Samish Island has an area of 1.46 square miles. It is elongated in an east and west direction, and with the exception of two rock points near the western extremity, it is composed of glacial drift. Near the southern margin of the island the cliffs of glacial drift rise to an elevation of 120 feet.

At the western extremity of Samish Island the bed rock outcrops to form William Point. On the south side of William Point a low sand bar extends far to the southward. Samish Island. is connected by a bridge with the mainland to the east. The surface of the island is quite heavily wooded in places where it is not under cultivation.

HUCKLEBERRY ISLAND

Huckleberry Island is situated in Guemes Channel near the entrance to Padilla Bay. It is located near the southeast corner of Guemes Island. It is elliptical in shape, with the major axis trending in a northwest and southeast direction. Huckleberry Island has an area of 11.74 acres and a maximum elevation of about 80 feet. A flat sandy beach extends out from the southwest side of the island, for at that portion the rocky sides are flanked by banks of glacial drift. Huckleberry Island is moderately wooded.

SADDLEBAG ISLAND

Saddlebag Island is situated at the entrance of Padilla Bay, about half a mile to the east of Huckleberry Island. It has an area of 20.6 acres and a maximum elevation of about 80 feet. Saddlebag Island is crossed by a low land which trends north and south, and as a consequence, embayments enter the island from both the north and south sides. These are separated by an elevated sand bar. Saddlebag Island is moderately wooded.

DOT ISLAND

A small round wooded island near the southeast corner of Saddlebag Island is called Dot Island. It has an area of 2.5 acres and a maximum elevation of about 50 feet.

HAT ISLAND

Hat Island is located at the entrance to Padilla Bay, about half a mile to the southeast of Dot Island. It has an area of 91.85 acres and its maximum elevation is 300 feet. Hat Island is elliptical in outline and somewhat dome-shaped. It is rocky and moderately wooded at all parts of the island.

BURROWS ISLAND

Burrows Island, with an area of 473.7 acres, is situated in Rosario Strait, a short distance south of Fidalgo Head. Its rocky sides rise steeply from the water's edge to a maximum elevation of 690 feet. Burrows Island is scantily wooded.

YOUNG ISLAND

Young Island is located near the southeast shore of Burrows Island. It has an area of 6.76 acres and is elongated in a northeast and southwest direction. Its maximum elevation is about 80 feet and its surface is scantily wooded.

ALLAN ISLAND

Allan Island is located about 700 yards to the south of Burrows Island. It has an area of 287.55 acres and a maximum elevation of 260 feet. Its shore-lines are rocky and irregular, being cut by many small harbors. In places the surface has a thin covering of glacial drift and in such localities it is heavily wooded.

The south shore of Allan Island is fringed by a broad rock shelf which is partly uncovered at low tide. A submerged reef, located about 600 yards to the southwest of Allan Island, is known as Dennis Shoal.

WILLIAMSON ROCKS

Williamson Rooks, with a combined area of 1.2 acres, are located about 1000 yards to the south of Allan Island. They are bare and rocky and the largest of the group of five rocks has an elevation of 22 feet.