96NAMU
On the eastern shore of Fitz Hugh Sound is ~hirlwind Bay, ~here the harbor
of Namu is located. The smaI1 community is mainIy oriented to~ards the fishing
fleet ~hich serves the B.C. Packer's Cannery that i5 its mainstay. During the
fishing season (summer and ear1y fa1l) the facilities and moorings are primar-
iIy for the use of the commerciaI fishing vessels -- pleasure craft must take a
back seat though they are ~elcome enough otherwise.
The cannery buildings and various ~orkshops are visible as one enters the
bay through either Morehouse or Cloverleaf Passes ~hich are on either 5ide of
Kiwash Island. The 5ma11 craft floats are to the northeast of the bui1dings.
The long, outer float acts as a breakwater far the remainder of the f10ats, in
spite of its dilapidated condition. It must be turned on the eastern side to
enter the protected area. A smali red buoy mark5 Loo Rock, about 300 feet N~E
of the end of the outer float, and it i5 through thi5 gap that vessels must
passo
If the inner f10ats are filled with fishing boats then plea5ure craft may
be reiegated to the outer float or move else~here for anchorage. However,
vessels are welcome to stop for water or provisions, the latter being obtained
at the company store which is a short ~alk along the board~alk. Garbage may be
deposited in the incinerator near the store. Fuel can be obtained at the
Imperiai Oi1 float which is to the west, behind Clam Island. A drying bank
connects the western end of C1am Island to the south shore of the har~or.~hirIwind Bay Is not a good anchorage. Though the willi-~aws that give it
the name occur mainly in fall and winter, the water is too deep for anchoring
and there is too much traffic for comfort. ~either Rock Inlet nor Harlequin
Basin nearby offer any anchorage. Anchorage can be taken in Fougner Bay in
Burke Channel, just 3 miles north. There are many islets and rocks but the
chart can be used to guide an entry and to find protected anchorage.Burke Chahnel leads northeasterly to the coastaI town of Bella Coola,
about 50 miles away. If the wedther is good this can be a very attractive
trip, as the channel lies beween high, rocky, sno~-capped peaks which increase
in height towards the head of the channel. Eucott Bay and the Alexander
MacKenzie Monument on Dean Channel.are other attractions reached through Burke
Channel.However, the Inside Passage route proceeds north through Fitz Hugh Sound
into Fisher Channel, past Fog Rock~. across to Pointer Island, and into Lama
Passage.