492 DIRECTIONS FOR THE WESTERN 



greatest depth midway between being 40 fathoms. 

 Here, according to arrangement, we met the 



The Intter, however, is impeded by Reid's Rocks, the Conway 

 and Bell sunken rocks, with Albatross Island and the Black Py- 

 ramid ; the tide also sets across it at the rate of from one to three 

 knots, as I have already mentioned in the first volume ; conse- 

 quently, the entrance between King Island and Cape Otway is 

 much safer, the chief danger being the Harbinger Rocks, tw-o 

 granite boulders, with deep water between, one lying N. 74" W. 

 three miles and a half, and the other N. 88° W., nearly four 

 miles and a half from the north point of King Island, Cape Wick- 

 ham, which may be recognized by a round hill, 593 feet high, over 

 it. The southern Harbinger is a few feet only out of the water, 

 and the other scarcely a wash. These, with the Navarin Rock, 

 lying N. 25° W., one mile and a half from the same cape, and 

 the reef lying half a mile off Cape Otway, constitute the sole 

 dangers in this entrance. 



Masters of vessels should endeavour, if possible, to make the 

 land in the neighbourhood of Cape Otway ; but if the weather 

 be thick they may know they are in the fair way of the Strait 

 when they get into sixty fathoms, fine grey sand; in the same 

 depth, with a rocky bottom, ships will be to the southward, and 

 oiF the west side of King Island, which, as I have before de- 

 scribed, is a rocky dangerous coast. There is a doubtful position 

 of a sunken rock, ten miles W. i N. of the south point, which 

 is low and rocky, and inlat. 40° 10' S., long. 143° 58' E. ; whilst 

 Cape Wickham is in lat. 39° 35' S., long. 143° 59^' E.; and 

 Cape Otway in lat. 38° 51' S., long. 143° 35|' E. of Greenwich, 

 considering Sydney, to which these longitudes refer, to be in 

 1510 16' E. 



Various opinions have been expressed as to the best position 

 for a lighthouse at this entrance of the Strait, some recommend- 

 ing Cape Wickham ; others, Cape Otway. I, however, hold to the 

 latter, for this simple reason, that it will avoid bringing ships in 

 the neighbourhood of the Harbinger Rocks and the western side of 

 King Island. If a light were erected on Cape Wickham, and a 

 vessel running for it should be to the southward of her position. 



