riVDKCXiRAIMlKK's DICPAKTMliNT OF THE ADMIRALTY. 377 



We arc now beginning to reap the trnits of those long- years of toil 

 and inchistry. the rewards of that skill, patience and perseverance which 

 prodnced to the world the magnificent survey of 800 miles of channels 

 within the reefs of this coast, a survey which when commenced must 

 have appeared almost a liopeless undertaking, hut which has led to the 

 opening of a safe highway, soon to become the beaten track between 

 India and Australia, in connection therewith let not the names of King- 

 and Blackwood and Stanley be forgotten. Well may the companions of 

 these gifted men who still remain feel proud to have participated in a 

 work which will ever remain a monument of their perse\crancc and their 

 skill, and among nautical sur\e\s will stand unrivalled. 



Ill the Geographical Society's report for 1865 we again hear 

 of Captain Fitzroy. who had died not long before. After the 

 Bcayic voyage (in which Charles Darwin took part as naturali.stj 

 l\e returned to the South American Station, being unwilling to 

 ciuit it without rendering hi.s survey in every sense complete. He 

 hired two additional vessels, at his own cost, to finish oft the 

 examination of the Falkland Islands, and subseciuently purchased 

 a third ( the Bcayic itself, it should be noted, having been fitted 

 out to a great extent at Fitzroy's own expense). These eft'orts, 

 which cost him several thousand pounds, had not been sanc- 

 tioned by the Admiralty, and he was never reirnbursed. He died 

 in impoverished circumstances. An institution by which his name 

 should also be remembered is that of storm signals estal)lished 

 all round our coasts. 



In 1865 Plettenberg Bay and the adjoining coast was sur- 

 veyed, and a total of 203,775 charts were issued to the public. 



In 1866 there is a note that Captain Afansell had retired 

 from his long and useful labours, after 32 years passed in the 

 surveying branch of his profession, and another short paragraph 

 about the coast of British Columbia, which gives an insight into 

 the labour involved in survey work. Of the coast of British 

 Columbia it says, in speaking of a single inlet: 



The islands are so numerous and the coasts so much broken that 

 although it is not more than 70 miles from the entrance to the head of 

 the inlet, yet its shores comprise an extent of coastline aniiounting to 

 upwards of 700 miles. 



About this time the Agulhas Bank was sounded, and the 

 survey was completed from Cape Infanta to Yzervark Point, and 

 from Cape St. Francis to Receife Point. Owing to the exposed 

 nature of the coast, difficulties of obtaining soundings were very 

 great. 



In 1867 a chart of the Agulhas Bank and the coast of the 

 Cai)e Colony, from Hondeklip to Port Natal, was published. 



In t868 many hidden dangers in the neighbourhood of the 

 Channel Islands, hitherto unknown, were discovered and placed 

 upon the chart. 



In 1869 a consecutive line of deep sea soundings was carried 

 out from the Cape of Cood Hope via St. Helena to the Fnglish 

 Channel. 



