In 1865, he settled in San Francisco, became an American citizen, and, after a period spent salmon fishing and fur trading in the Oregon Territory of the northwest, he returned to the sea to pilot a schooner in the coastal trade between San Francisco and Seattle. His first blue-water command, in 1869, was the barque Washington, which he took across the Pacific, from San Francisco to Australia, and home via Alaska.
in 1865, hE settled iN san FRanCiSCo, BeCame an amERican cItizeN, ANd, aftER A periOd sPeNt SalMon fIshiNg anD fur trADing in tHe oreGoN teRriTOry OF tHE norThwesT, he rEturned to the sEA to PiLot a scHoonEr in the cOasTaL trAdE betWEen saN frAnCIsCo ANd seAttLe. hIs fiRsT blUe-WaTER CoMMAnd, in 1869, was the BarqUE WaShinGton, whICh He ToOK acrosS the paCific, froM saN FraNcisCO To aUstRAlIa, and Home vIa alasKa.