SAFETY OF GAGE ROADS. 133 



The result of our soundings between Rottenest 

 Island and the main, shewed that a bank extended 

 out to the north-east, from the foul ground off the 

 Stragglers, sufficiently to check, in some measure, 

 the vast body of water rolling in from the north-west; 

 and thereby adding to the safety of Gage Roads, pro- 

 vided vessels anchor in the proper berth, which is 

 in seven or eight fathoms, on sandy mud, about a 

 mile from the gaol, bearing E. by N. A quarter 

 of a mile nearer the shore the bottom shoals rapidly 

 to four and three fathoms, on rocky ground slightly 

 coated with sand. It is therefore not likely a ship, 

 well found, can drag her anchor up a bank so steep 

 as that inclination in the bottom forms. The 

 wrecks that have occurred in this anchorage may be 

 traced to vessels not selecting a proper berth. From 

 their desire to be near the shore they get into the 

 shoal rocky ground ; a breeze comes on when they 

 are in no way prepared, in the midst of discharging 

 cargo ; and in some cases, before a second anchor 

 can be let go, the ship is driven on shore. Thus, 

 through the want of judgment exhibited by a few 

 individuals, has a whole community suffered in the 

 manner I have alluded to, when speaking of the 

 loss of the Orontes at Port Essington.* 



* See Vol. I. p. 379. 



