Lewis and Clark reported "that about 300 Cathlamet occupied nine
plank houses on the south side of the Columbia River", and lived between Tongue Point and
Puget Island in
Clatsop County, Oregon. On the north side, they lived "from the mouth of Grays Bay to a little east of Oak Point." Clark wrote: November 11th Monday 1805About 12 o'clock 5 Indians came down in a
canoe, the wind very high from the S.W., with most tremendous waves breaking with great violence against the shores. Rain falling in torrents, we are all wet as usual and our situation is truly a disagreeable one. We purchased of the Indians 13
red char which we found to be an excellent fish. We have seen those Indians above and are of a nation who reside above and on the opposite side who call themselves (Calt-har-ma). They are badly clad & ill made, small and speak a language much resembling the last nation. One of those men had on a sailor's jacket and
pantaloons and made signs that he got those clothes from the white people who lived below the point &c. Those people left us and crossed the river (which is about 5 miles wide at this place) through the highest waves I ever saw a small vessels ride. Those Indians are certainly the best canoe navigators I ever saw. == Later history ==