The Shark became, on several occasions, a symbol of US naval power, and when it was sent to
Honolulu for repairs, in 1846, it was to be that it would later sail up the Columbia
River, ostensibly on an exploratory mission.2
Given tensions in Oregon Territory at the time, the Shark was likely sent to assert US trade and naval dominance. However, things did not go
as planned for the mission. On September 10th, the Shark struck an uncharted shoal off the mouth of the Columbia, and was swept by the tide
into a churn of waves.3 The ship was lost, but all crew survived; ironically, all hands chartered back to
San Francisco on the Cadboro, an HBC ship, and one very much British.4
1. Shark,Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.