ENTRANCE OF BASS STRAIT. 493 



Vansittart. Bad weather had prevented Mr. 

 Forsyth from completing the work allotted the 



she would risk sharing the fate of the Cataraqui,* unless more 

 caution were used than is generally the case, I regret to say, in 

 merchant vessels. Whereas, if the light were on Cape Otway, a 

 ship to the southward of her position would have the Strait open 

 to run through, and to the northward, would discover her error, 

 by falling in with the land. The lead, also, would inform the 

 master that his ship was near it, there being 30 fathoms ten 

 miles from the land thirty-five miles to the westward of Cape 

 Otway ; the trend of the coast besides is too westerly to make it 

 a lee shore. 



From the middle of the entrance between Cape Wickham and 

 Cape Otway, in 5/ fathoms, fine grey sand, and in lat. 39" 13' S., 

 long. 143" 48' E., the course to the entrance of Port Phillip, 

 is N. E, ^ N. seventy miles; the soundings will be found, 

 at first, to decrease rapidly, and in the parallel of Cape Otway 

 tlie depth will be 47 fathoms, fine sand and shells. Further 

 particulars respecting the quality of the bottom off this part of 

 the coast will be found in the first volume. 



A S. E. ^ E. course 1/6 miles, from the same position, will 

 take a ship to Port Dalrymple. In the first twenty-nine miles of 

 this distance, the soundings will have decreased to nearly 30 

 fathoms, and the ship's place should be then abreast of the N. E. 

 end of King Island, distant ten miles. The sight of this and, 

 further on, of the Hunter Group, which should be passed at a 

 distance of 20 miles to the S. W., will shew if the right allowance 

 has been made for the set of the tides. In the courses given in 



* In consequence of a letter of mine that appeared in the 

 * Times,' the owners of the Cataraqui have communicated with 

 me, stating that they have reason to believe the Beagle's 

 chart of Bass Strait was among those with which the ship was 

 furnished, and that wit;i regard to leads and lines she was well 

 supplied. 



