34S ' ENDEAVOUR " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



investigations confirm this conclusion, and as will afterwards 

 be shown there is considerable evidence yet of the submerged 

 river beds. 



It is of interest, however, to first consider some other 

 theories advanced ; the latest is by Dr. F. Noetling (11)10), 

 who has endeavoured to prove that in the central area between 

 Victoria and Tasmania there existed a very extensive inland 

 lake, which he considered was perfectly cut off from the 

 ocean by extensive barriers to the east and west. On 

 assumption of the gradually increasing water area, Dr. 

 Noetling constructed a series of diagrams showing the relation 

 between land and water in the Strait for every successive 5 

 fathom line from '20 to 50 fathoms ; but as this painstaking 

 work is based upon the Admiralty Chart, which, in many 

 instances, is too erratic for such detailed investigation, it is 

 not surprising that errors in detail have crept in. These are 

 mostly unimportant except in two principal points, viz. : (1) 

 that the maximum depth is wrong, and (2) that the doctor has 

 been led to connect a north-eastern extension from King 

 Island with Phillip Island and Western Port in Victoria, thus 

 establishing a western barrier across the strait in addition 

 to the eastern from Wilson Promontory. A freshwater lake 

 of great expanse is thereby created in the centre of Bass 

 Strait area, and for this there is no justification in the light 

 of the more recent surveys made by the " Endeavour," which 

 strongly point to a water passage along the Victorian side 

 westward into the ocean. Some years ago I commenced to 

 construct diagrams from the Bass Strait charts, but experience 

 obtained in the " Endeavour " soon made it apparent that 

 the chart soundings cannot, in many instances, be relied upon. 

 It is generally found that our soundings, and particularly 

 those under 35 fathoms, show a greater depth than indicated 

 in the charts ; also it is found that the undulations indicated 

 do not always exist. In explanation thereof it should be 

 remembered that the compilation of the chart soundings has 

 been a gradual process since the Strait was discovered, and 

 with the different methods employed at the various periods 

 some irregularities are sure to creep in. It is probable also 

 that some slight changes in the distribution, of the bottoms 

 may have taken place, so it is inadvisable to follow the details 

 of the Admiralty Chart too minutely. Di-.igramsi . . 

 are oased upon exact soundings taken by the " Endeavour.' 

 The figures have not yet been reduced to low water mark, but 

 as the maximum error would only be a few feet it is sufficient 



1. The diagrams referred to are not forthcoming. It i.- possible Mr. 

 Dnnnevig had them with him at the time the vessel was lo.st. EDITOR. 



