The Hudson's Bay Company's possessory rights in Oregon were the stumbling blocks. If the Columbia River establishments were abandoned the Company's claim might be jeopardized, and rather than do that a route was opened through from Fort Vancouver to Nisqually on the Puget Sound via the Cowlitz River, where trade goods could be transported by boat and ox-cart and shipped north on the ships engaged in the trade, thereby saving much time to the ships but wasting considerable of the time of the land forces. _The "Beaver's" Coast Route_ From Nisqually, the "Beaver" took a full cargo in January, proceeding to Fort Simpson, calling en route at all Indian villages where she would anchor, throw out her boarding nets and proceed to trade, so that by the time she reached Fort Simpson a large part of her cargo would have been traded. At Fort Simpson the furs collected were taken ashore and stored and the ship restocked with trade goods; then she proceeded, calling at all villages en route to Taku. Returning to Fort Simpson, furs were unloaded and more goods taken. This procedure was kept up all summer, the "Beaver" making about four trips north, and the same number south, leaving off in time to reach Victoria before Christmas. The "Beaver" was not subject to orders from any but Sir James Douglas, but she had all Posts on the route she covered under her control. It was estimated that she _had to cater to the wants of forty thousand natives_. _Monarch of Trade for Twenty Years_ For twenty years she was complete monarch of the coast. In all new Indian trade countries and indeed in all new white settlements, the wants of the population had gradually increased, until in 1852 the "Beaver" was found to be totally inadequate for the trade. A new boat was built for the Company in England and named the "Otter," arriving at Victoria in April, 1853. _Victoria to San Francisco in Four Days_ One of the "Otter's" first duties after arriving at Victoria from England was to go to San Francisco. Sir James Douglas says, "In spite of head winds, she went down in four days and returned in five days, and she was much admired where her unexpected arrival created quite a sensation." She was the first steamer propelled by a screw to be brought out by the Company, and was altogether just as successful as was the "Beaver" and had the same fault--being too small. However, the "Beaver" and "Otter" between them were able to take care of the work for a few years, until the "Enterprise" was purchased in 1862, to help out on the Fraser River run during the great Caribou gold excitement. _"Beaver" Chartered to British Government_