Elcho Harbour is not named on Vancouver's chart,
or any subsequent one, and is somewhat imperfectly
indicated, so that Mackenzie had very good reason for
supposing that he had been opposite the mouth of Cas-
cade, the only inlet hereabouts surveyed in full detail.
In order to “clear Vancouver's yard-arm’’ it may be
pointed out that an expedition to the head of Cascade
was particularly necessary as the Straits of De Fonte were
said to exist in the neighbourhood. Elcho, however,
obviously led nowhere, so that Vancouver would not have
been justified in wasting time in surveying it.

_ Finally there has to be taken into consideration the
fact that “the traverse is upwards of three miles North-
West,” and that ““At some distance from land a channel
opened... .South-West by West.’”’ A comparatively short
glimpse down Dean Channel may be obtained from mid-
stream opposite Cascade Inlet, but the bearing is nothing
like South-West by West, whether Magnetic or Astro-
nomic. Opposite Elcho, on the other hand, a clear view
at the bearing mentioned may be had for many miles
down Dean Channel, where Vancouver came on the 3lst
of May, having left his ship in Restoration Bay.

Furthermore, as this is the only place reasonably
near the latitude given by the observations where a tra-
verse of three miles can be obtained in a north-westerly
direction, we may feel justified in assuming that Mackenzie
approached the mouth of Elcho Harbour, and not Cascade
Inlet, from the south-east. The only evidence which
does not support this is the fact that the distance “‘coasted
along the land” from Edward Point is given as six miles.
In view of the windings of the channel and of the somewhat
harassing conditions at the time, an erroneous estimate of
the length of this course would be quite pardonable.
Possibly Mackenzie omitted to book his last course at the
point where the “troublesome fellow’ forced himself into
the canoe.

Elcho Harbour is, however, clearly indicated by all
other evidence, including Mackenzie's description of his
final camp, three miles to the North-East, a matter which
is dealt with later on.

The direction of the shore line for some distance to
the south of Elcho Harbour does not permit a clear view
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