Esquimalt

a seaport and harbor of British Columbia, on the 8S. E. coast of Vancouver Island, and on the Strait of San Juan de Fuca; 4 miles from Victoria. The harbor is extensive and capable of receiving ve els of the greatest size, and is the British naval station for this part of the Pacific coast. It has a navy yard, marine hospital, a large dry dock built b the Dominion government in 18s. and a meteorological station. In 1894 the British government started work on the defenses of Esquimalt, consisting of earthworks, with disappearing guns, and two parapet forts on the hills for protection against a po ible attack by land. The harbors of both Esquimalt and Victoria could be thoroughly mined and wired, and constituted one of the best defended nayal stations in the world. On July 1, 1905, the Imperial Government turned over to the Dominion -authorities the manning and care of all the defensive works and property at both Halifax and Esquimalt.