478 CORIO HAllBOUR. 



to give Mr. Fitzmaurice, and a small party, convey- 

 ance in his bullock dray to that projection, for the 

 purpose of determining its position. A party was 

 also landed on the eastern entrance of Grant Island, 

 to collect tidal observations. 



Having made these arrangements, v^e left for 

 Port Phillip, where, after landing another party at 

 Shortland's Bluff, also to make tidal observations, 

 vpe pursued our course round Indented Head to- 

 wards Corio Harbour, anchoring off Point Henry — 

 where no less than four vessels were lading with 

 wool for England — early on the morning of the 27th. 

 We devoted the remainder of this day and the next 

 to making a plan of the harbour ; and from the 

 result of our survey I feel more than ever convinced 

 that the bar (through the northern part of which 

 a channel winds for vessels of eight feet at low 

 water,) might be removed, and the entrance rendered 

 fit for vessels of any draught. There is deep water 

 in the south-western part, close to the northern side 

 of Geelong, where, by erecting wharfs, large ships 

 might discharge alongside, an advantage which can 

 never be obtained at Melbourne,* and of so great 

 importance that I am induced to believe Geelong 



* Corio Harbour is in fact the best anchorage in Port Phillip, 

 that at Hobson's Bay being very confined, and scarcely affording 

 any shelter from southerly winds for large ships. Moreover, 

 Corio Harbour lies more convenient for the western districts, 

 there being no other place where the sLeep-farniers of those parts 

 can, with safety, ship their wool, except Portland Bay. 



