10 B GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

sheltered coves, but care must be exercised, owing to sunken rocks.

There are three principal islands on the west coast, the most southerly
being Marble island, in the western entrance to Skidegate channel. Of
the other two, the more southerly is known on the charts as Nesta or
Hippo island and is about eighteen miles northwest of Rennell sound; the
other, Frederick island, is twenty-six miles farther north, or fourteen miles
south of Cape Knox, which forms the northwest angle of Graham island.
Hippo island has a length from east to west of about two miles, is high
nearest the shore and slopes gradually to the west end. Shelter for small
vessels can be found in the small bay on the east. Frederick island is
somewhat similar in shape and size but the shelter is not so good.

The southern channel, between Graham and Moresby islands, is open
to the sea on the west, with practically no shelter except Marble island.
On the north side of this channel, known originally as Cartwright sound,
are two bays; the outer one, due north from Marble island, extends inland
for a mile or more; the other, near the entrance to the channel proper, is
known as Dawson inlet and divides into two arms that extend inland for
two to three miles.

The point north of Cartwright sound or the western entrance of Skide-
gate channel is very rough with jagged ledges and reefs stretching to the
southwest for several miles. On Vancouver’s plan, this is known as
Hunters point, but on Dawson’s map this name is changed to Buck point,
which is the name given by Vancouver to the northwest corner of Moresby
island. The channel round the large island at the western entrance w
Skidegate channel is partially dry, except at high tide, when it can be
traversed by small boats only. Eastward of this island, Skidegate channel
is also navigable for small boats only, and by these only at high water,
owing to shallows and heavy tidal currents at what is known as the East
and West narrows. The shores are rocky and bordered by high hills
throughout the whole distance.

The eastern part of this channel opens out into South bay, and thence
it gradually widens into Skidegate harbour, at the southeast corner of
the island. This is practically the only harbour on the south and east
coasts of Graham island or along the north shore until Masset is reached.

The western part of Skidegate harbour contains a number of islands,
some of which are of considerable size, including Maude, South, Lena,
etc. Around the head or western end of the harbour, near Cowgitz,
the land is high, rising on the north into mountains 3000 to 4000 feet
above the sea. On the Moresby Island side, adjacent to the south, similar
high peaks are seen, some of which are apparently perpetually snow capped.

The only harbours along the east coast east of Skidegate village are
three shelters, for small boats only, at the mouths of small streams