300 ALBATROSS ISLAND. 



we stood away E.S.E., to sound and have a seaward 

 view of the entrance between Hunter Island and 

 Point Woohiorth. This examination confirmed our 

 former opinion that no ship-channel existed there. 

 But even if there had been one, the passage is so 

 strewed with rocks and disturbed by such heavy 

 tide ripples, that it wears a most dangerous appear- 

 ance from the offing. 



Rounding the south side of the south Black Rock, 

 we went between it and Steep Island in 19 fathoms. 

 From thence we steered between the north Black 

 Rock and the west point of Hunter Island in 24< 

 fathoms, having 15 fathoms midway between. Con- 

 tinuing our northern course, we passed a mile from 

 the west side of Albatross Island, in 30 and 33 

 fathoms. It is a dark cliffy isle, the summit of 

 which although 125 feet high, appears to be some- 

 times washed by the sea. There are one or two 

 finger-shaped points of rock at the south end ; and 

 a singular split in the entire island may be seen on 

 the bearing of N. 75° E. The wind had now 

 increased to a gale from the westward, and we were 

 obliged to seek shelter under Hunter Island. 



January 28. — In the morning the breeze was 

 moderate from N.E., to which quarter it had 

 changed suddenly during the night, veering round 

 from west by the north. By noon it had shifted to 

 E.N.E. and had increased to a gale. At 8, p. m. 

 it blew a strong gale with gusts from that quarter. 

 The barometer had now just begun to fall, and was 

 at 29.9. During the day it had been steady at 



