Clark: March 6, 1806

Thursday March 6th 1806 This morning, the fishing and hunting party’s Set
out agreeably to their instructions given them last evening. At 11 a.m. we
were visited by Commowoll and two boys Sons of his. he presented us with
Some Anchovies which had been well Cured in their manner, we found them
excellent. they were very acceptable perticularly at this moment. we gave
the old mans Sones a twisted wire to ware about his neck, and I gave him a
par of old glovs which he was much pleased with. this we have found much
the most friendly and decent Indian that we have met with in this
neighbourhood.

Hall had his foot and ankle much injured yesterday by the fall of a log
which he had on his Sholder; the bones are fortunately not broken, I
expect he will be able to walk again Shortly. Bratten is now weaker than
any of the convalessants, and complains verry much of his back, all of
them recovering Slowly in consequence of the want of proper diet, which we
have it not in our power to precure.

The large Blue and brown Herons or crains as they are usialy called in the
U States are found below tide water. they are the Same of those of the U,
States. The Fishing Hawk with the Crown of the head white, and back of a
milkey white, and the blue crested or king fisher are found on every part
of the Columbia and its water Along which we passed and are the Same with
those of the U, States. the fishing hawk is not abundant, particularly in
the mountains. There are 4 Species of the larus or gull on this coast and
river. 1st a Small Species the Size of a Pegion; white except some black
spots about the head and the little bone on the but of the wing. 2d a
Species Somewhat larger of a light brown colour, with a mealy coloured
back. 3rd the large Grey Gull, or white larus with a greyish brown back,
and light grey belly and breast, about the Size of a well grown pullet,
the wings are remarkably long in perpotion to the Size of the body and
it’s under chap towards the extremity is gibbous and protuberant than in
either of the other Species. a White Gull about the Size of the Second
with a remarkable beak; adjoining the head and on the base of the upper
Chap there is an elivated orning of the Same Substance with the beak which
forms the nostriels at A; it is Somewhat in this form. the feet are webed
and the legs and feet of a yellow colour. the form of the wings body &c
are much that of the 2d Species this bird was Seen on Haleys bay.

The large Grey Gull is found on the Columbian waters as high as the
enterence of the Koos koos ke and in common with the other Species on the
coast; the others appear confined to the tidewater, and the 4th Species
not So common as either of the others. The Comorant is a large black duck
which feeds on fish; I proceive no difference between it & these found
in the rivers of the Atlantic Coasts. we met with as high up the river as
the enterance of the Chopunnish into the Kooskooske river. they increased
in numbers as we decended, and formed much the Greatest portion of
waterfowls which we saw on the Columbia untill we reached tidewater, where
they also abound but do not bear a Similar proportion to the fowls found
in this quarter. we found this bird fat and tolerably flavoured as we
decended the Columbia.