San Juan county is a group of islands lying between the waters of the Straits of Fuca and the Gulf of Georgia, off the southeast shore of Vancouver island. It has about 200 square miles of territory and about 4,500 people.
There are three large islands and several smaller ones. The islands are covered with soil and timber not different from the main land adjoining. Heavy timber in the forests, fine clay loams in the bottom lands, shot clay on the hillsides, big ledges of lime rock and other minerals and great shoals of fish in the waters are the foundations for prosperity for the citizens of the county.
RESOURCES.
The soils of the islands yield generously to good tillage, and wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and hay yield large crops. Dairying is profitable. Poultry-raising and fruit-growing, are especially attractive. Sheep and cattle find splendid pasture. Great quantities of salmon and other fish are taken in the waters, and game-deer and wild fowl—are abundant.
Plate No. 67.—Two Views of the Lime Works at Roche Harbor, San Juan County.
Plate No. 68.—A Typical Farm Scene in Skagit County.
TRANSPORTATION.
There is no transportation save by water, but the islands are in the way of traffic from so many different directions that all parts are well served by steamboats.