1846.] SHOAL OF FISH. 207 



only to the sport of capture, but also to the gratification 

 of a treat, quite equal to Billingsgate, and more enjoyable, 

 possibly, for the seventy-six fathom exercise which it 

 provided. On the night of the 22nd we passed Cape 

 Hanglip, but mistaking the force of the current, and the 

 master mistaking the land, we had over-shot our mark ; 

 and on the morning following, when we thought our- 

 selves in a position to run with a flowing sheet into 

 Simon's Bay, had the mortification to discover that we 

 had rounded the Cape during the night, and the breeze 

 having failed, were being swept away by the current to 

 the N.W. Fortunately, we managed to beat back that 

 night, and on the morning of the 23rd re-passed the Cape, 

 and dropped our anchor about 5, P.M., in Simon's Bay. 



Here I found Capt. Kelly in H.M.S. ' Conway ', and 

 Commander Radcliffe, of the 'Apollo', troop ship, the latter 

 vessel had just returned from Port Elizabeth, on the eastern 

 coast, where she had narrowly escaped shipwreck ; having 

 parted her cables, and by sheer dint of good sailing, as 

 well as seamanship, gained her offing, and returned to 

 this port. The period of our stay was employed in the 

 examination of Simon's Bay, and construction of its 

 chart. During the interval which had elapsed since our 

 quitting this port in 1843, and the present, a Light- 

 vessel had been established off the Roman Rocks. To 

 her position, and the general fitness of the vessel for this 

 service, my attention was directed. Owing to insuffi- 

 ciency of beam she was not able to display her light at 

 her mast-head, in any weather which could be termed 

 fresh. It was therefore lowered half mast. In a gale it 

 could not be shown above the deck. It must, therefore, 



