about eight hundred acres, chiefly good land; strong fortifications have been built here recently.

Directly in the line between San Francisco and Oakland, midway in the bay, is Yerba Buena, or Goat island. It is less in size than Angel island, and is held by the United States as a military station, although no troops have ever been stationed there. A bridge of considerable length extends from Oakland toward this island, this bridge being the terminus of the overland railroad,

Four miles north of Angel island is Red Rock. Further north, in San Francisco bay, is Bird Rock and the Two Sisters. There are other small islands and rocks in the bay, but not of sufficient importance to mention.

About a mile south of the Golden Gate is Seal Rock, a clump of jagged rocks standing high above the sea, worn and scarred by the incessant dashing of the waves, which in stormy weather break over them with terrible fury; the roar of the waters can often be heard at San Francisco, a distance of eight miles. These rocks in calm weather are a source of great interest owing to the immense seals, frequently called sea-lions, which continually crawl up their rugged sides and bask upon them, keeping up a constant howl, much to the amusement and wonderment of the visitors at the Cliff House, who, upon the balcony, level their glasses upon them. Some of these animals are as large as an ox. They are protected by law from the sportsman's slaughter.

The name Golden Gate is applied to the entrance of the Bay of San Francisco. Many attempts have been made to ascertain the origin of this name and its application to this passage, but all without satisfactory results. few writers going beyond the year 1847, when

the name appears in the "Geographical Memoir of California," written by John C. Fremont, who had explored the country.

In "The Book of Constant Purity," ascribed to Lauki-un, a Chinese philosopher, who is supposed to have lived more than fourteen centuries before Christ, the words golden gate are first found in the records of the human family, and indeed nowhere else, except in modern writings pertaining to the harbor of San Francisco, is the name found. A Chinese sage, speaking of "The Book of Constant Purity," says: "Scholars of the first rank, if they understand it, will be raised to become heavenly rulers. Those of the second rank, if they attend to its instructions, will be placed among the immortal sages of the southern palace. Those of the lowest class, if they obtain this book, will enjoy long life on earth, roam at will through the three worlds, and enter the Golden Gate." Whether or no this prophetic allusion applies to the hundred thousand, of the "lower class," of Chinese who have, since the discovery of the precious metals in California, entered the Golden Gate is left to the judgment of the reader.

The great temple of Solomon, which was begun 1012 B. C., was ornamented with the precious metals, and this with other edifices and palaces erected by this proud king are said to have had "gates of gold."

Whatever the origin of the name, Golden Gate, as applied to the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco, although applied long before the discovery of gold in California, is certainly most appropriate, for through this gate has passed more gold than through any other port in the world.

The early navigator or explorer, after the perils of a

tedious sea-voyage or the trials of the arid plains and the frosts of the stern Sierras, when first beholding the beautiful Bay of San Francisco, burnished like molten gold with the bright sun of a California sky, might well exclaim, Chrysorrhoas! (Golden Stream,) the name applied to a beautiful river in Syria near Damascus ; or the name might have been suggested to some navigator by Chrysoceras, (Horn of Gold,) a name applied to the harbor of Byzantium.

BOLINAS BAY.-Ten miles north of the Bay of San Francisco is Bolinas bay, formed by a projecting point of rocks, on the west side of Marin county. It is sheltered only from the north and west, and is of little importance except for small coast-traders.

DRAKE'S BAY.-This famous historic bay is the place visited by Sir Francis Drake in 1579, and which some supposed was the Bay of San Francisco. It is directly south of the long projecting Point Reyes, in Marin county, and thirty miles north of the Golden Gate; is of considerable size, and well sheltered from the west and north, but is of little value as a commercial port.

TOMALES BAY.-Eighteen miles north of Drake's bay, and forty-eight miles north of the Golden Gate, in Marin county, near the northern end of the county, is this bay. It is less than a mile in width, having eleven feet of water at low tide; it is fifteen miles in length, heading southeast and parallel with the Coast Range. It is sheltered from all winds and perfectly landlocked. The surrounding country is a rich agricultural and grazing district, and a lively coast-trade is carried on between this point and San Francisco

BODEGO BAY.-Six miles directly north of Tomales bay, and where the southern corner of Sonoma county reaches the Pacific ocean, is this little bay, formed by a projecting point. It is well sheltered from the north and west, but is open to the southwest. It is only about two miles in length and one and a-half in width, with nine feet of water at low tide. A small Russian settlement was established here in 1812, which was not abandoned until 1841. An active coasting and produce trade is carried on from this port to San Francisco. From this point north and along the coast for one hundred and seventy miles there is not a single harbor or safe entrance for a vessel of large size. This space embraces the northern half of Sonoma county, all of Mendocino and the greater part of Humboldt county. In this space there are numerous rivers and small inlets, to and from which an active lumber and produce trade is carried on with San Francisco.

HUMBOLDT BAY.-North of the Golden Gate two hundred and twenty-three miles, and in the northern part of Humboldt county, is Humboldt bay, entering the coast where the dense forests of firs and pines grow to the water's edge. The passage in is about a quarter of a mile wide and about half a mile long, having eighteen feet of water at low tide; inside, the bay swells north and south for six miles in each direction, leaving a narrow peninsula between it and the ocean. The bay inside is twelve miles from north to south, and about four in width; it is completely landlocked, and is one of the most secure harbors in the State. Steamers and ships of all classes enter this bay, many of the latter loading lumber and spars for foreign and domestic

ports. The town of Eureka is situated on the inside of the bay. On the northern side of the entrance there is a good light-house; there are also substantial tugboats on the bay. This harbor was not discovered until 1850.

TRINIDAD BAY.-Twenty miles north of Humboldt, and in the southern end of Klamath county, is Trinidad bay. It is an open roadstead, formed by a projecting cape toward the west; it is exposed to the south and west winds, and on that account is not a safe harbor. It is small, but has good anchorage and plenty of water. The town of Trinidad is located at its head, is in the midst of a timbered district, and an active trade is carried on in timber from this port. It is two hundred and forty-three miles north from San Francisco.

CRESCENT CITY HARBOR.-This is the farthest harbor north upon the coast of California, forty-seven miles north of Trinidad and two hundred and ninety north of San Francisco. It is an open roadstead, formed by the projecting Cape of St. George, extending westward about a mile. It is in about the centre of Del Norte county, and seventeen miles south of the northern State line. One mile from shore the depth of water is only twelve feet; vessels of any considerable size must discharge by lighters, but for vessels of light draught there is good wharf accommodation, and a considerable coast-trade is carried on between this point and San Francisco by steamer and sailing craft. Immense quantities of fir, pine, and redwood lumber leave this port It is also the most northern point of egress and ingress to and from the mines in this section of the State and