Colonial Despatches

Semiahmoo is east of White Rock, near the British Columbia-Washington border. The name comes from the Coast Salish Semiahmoo people. According to Scott, the word “semiahmoo” is often reported to mean half moon, referring to the shape of the shoreline, but historians note that this translation is dubious at best.1

In this despatch, Douglas reports that Drayton harbour, located within the Semiahmoo area, possesses great natural advantages for trade being accessible by land from Semiamhoo, having deep water, a bold shore and good anchorage. The land is also clear of trees, and was surveyed at a very small expense, and therefore perfectly suiting our pecuniary means.

• 1. Andrew Scott, The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Placenames (Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 2009), 536-537.