PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. l^J 



dark, and they were so thick that in trying to escape 

 one we endangered another, and were obhged to lie 



to until daylight. These boats are large vessels, and April, 



would endanger a small merchant ship were she to 

 run foul of any of them. We were informed that 

 they were upon their usual fishing ground, and vessels 

 therefore in approaching the spot should be cautious 

 how they proceed, as these boats carry only a large 

 paper lanthcrn, which cannot be seen far off, and I 

 believe they only show this when they perceive a 

 strange vessel. They were fishing in pairs, one vessel 

 being attached by cables to each end of an enormous 

 net, which kept them both broadside to the sea ; they 

 were constantly covered with the spray, and being 

 light, were washed about in so violent a manner that 

 it scarcely appeared possible for people to stand upon 

 their decks. Still the crews of several which we 

 passed consisted principally of females, who did not 

 appear to be in the least inconvenienced by their 

 situation. 



In the forenoon we passed Piedra Branca, and in 

 the evening entered the channel between the Great 

 Lemma and Potoy. As no pilot offered, I stood on, 

 guided by the chart of Lieutenant Ross, which was 

 extremely accurate, and at ten at night brought up in 

 the Lantao passage, and at nine o'clock next morning 

 anchored in the Typa. In entering this harbour we 

 found less depth of water than is marked in the plan 

 of Captain King ; and by the survey which we sub- 

 sequently made, it appeared that at low water a ship 

 cannot depend upon a greater depth than two fathoms, 

 until after she passes the rocky head on her rifi^ht. 



Immediately after we were anchored, I visited the 

 late Sir William Fraser, who was then chief officer of 



K 2 



1827. 



