NT
are coal-mining towns of importance.

SAN JUAN COUNTY.

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
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cattle find splendid pasture. Great quantities of salmon and other
fish are taken in the waters, and game-deer and wild fowl--are
abundant.

[Illustration: Plate No. 67.--Two Views of the Lime Works at Roche
Harbor, San Juan County.]

[Illustration: 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.

ISLANDS AND TOWNS.

SAN JUAN ISLAND is the largest of the group, and its chief industries
are farming, raising stock, salmon-fishing, and manufacturing lime.

FRIDAY HARBOR, on this island, is the county seat and largest town,
with about 500 people. A telephone system is in operation throughout
the island.

ROCHE HARBOR is the home of great lime kilns.

ORCAS ISLAND is the leading fruit-growing district of the county.

EAST SOUND, near the center of the island, at the foot of Mount
Constitution, is a picturesque and charming fruit-growing section
and summer resort.

ORCAS is an important center of the fruit and sheep raising industries.

LOPEZ ISLAND is a beautiful stretch of fertile agricultural land,
much of it under tillage, and is the home of a prosperous community
of farmers and stock-growers.

LOPEZ is the chief commercial center, with a cannery and creamery.

SKAGIT COUNTY.

Skagit county is the next county to the northwest corner of the
state, stretching from Rosario straits to the peaks of the
Cascades--ab