CAPE CROKER REEF. 377 



the New South Wales colonial schooner, Isabella, was 

 returning from rescuing the survivors of the Charles 

 Eaton, from the natives of Murray Island. When 

 half a mile from the N. E. side, in 22 fathoms rocky- 

 bottom. Cape Croker, bearing S. 29° E. six miles ; 

 we steered out, keeping at the same distance round 

 this patch of light water in twenty and twenty-one 

 fathoms, seven or eight miles from the Cape, which 

 bore when over what appeared the shoalest part, 

 S. 42° E. 



This conclusion I afterwards found, on meeting 

 Captain Stanley, to be correct, as that bearing led 

 over the part of the reef he struck on in H. M. S. 

 Britomart. Butbeingon the inner part he was distant 

 only three miles from Cape Croker, whilst the outer 

 edge of the reef I believe to be seven miles from it 

 on the same bearing. In hauling up to the south- 

 ward, round the N. W. extreme of the discoloured 

 water, the soundings were as follows, 17, 12, and 

 19 fathoms, with rocky bottom. The Cape bore when 

 in the least depth S. 58° E. nine miles. 



We were fortunate in having such good means of 

 determining the longitude of Cape Croker, by 

 observation of a twilight star when in the meridian, 

 and others with the sun soon afterwards. These 

 both agreeing, place the Cape 27^ miles east of Port 

 Essington, instead of 20, as it is laid down in the 

 chart. This discovery is of vital importance to 

 ships proceeding to Port Essington ; we were there- 

 fore glad of so good an opportunity for rectifying 

 the error. 



