468 PASSAGES OVER THE ATLANTIC. 



marking its dangers. In Findlay's " Lighthouses of the World and Coast 

 Fog Signals," their latest condition is given, and it is now sincerely to be 

 hoped that no misleading alterations will take place, without due notice 

 being given beforehand. The lights, as they were, or as they are, answer 

 their purpose well ; but unknown alterations must lead to confusion, 

 doubt, and danger, and have before now been the cause of shipwreck. 

 Therefore, let the seaman who has been absent, perhaps for years, enter 

 these difficult channels with aU caution. 



Captain Midgley's instructions are arranged as follows : — 



(a) On proceeding from Liverpool Westward to the Bay of Holyhead. 



(6) On taking the North Channel, and thence to Tory Island. 



(c) On proceeding by the South Channel, and thence Westward to the 

 Ocean. 



(f'^ On proceeding by the South of Ireland from the Ocean to Liver- 

 pool, &c. 



The courses and bearings (corrected) are to be ^mderstood as by compass. 



(a) On pboceeding from Liverpool Westward to Holyhead. 



Liverpool being the principal and central port in St. George's Channel^ 

 and the prevalent winds being from the Westward, W.S.W., and S.W., 

 during eight or nine months of the year, I shall suppose that a large ship 

 leaves that port, with an adverse wind from the Westward. Having dis- 

 charged the pilot off the lightship, stand to the Northward all the ebb tide 

 (which, in Liverpool Bay, sets to the N.W., and the flood to the S.E.), 

 and, if laying N.N.W., or to the Westward of this direction, during the 

 first quarter of the flood, keep the lead occasionally going, with a careful 

 look-out for the Isle of Man, which is moderately high, and on the South 

 side bold-to. 



Should there be a strong breeze and a heavy sea, the vessel may not 

 weather the West Hoyle Sands, on the starboard tack ; and great caution 

 is, therefore, required when going near them, as they are bold-to and very 

 dangerous. In thick weather the lead must be constantly used, and the 

 sands should not be approached nearer than in 10 fathoms of water. 



The soundings along the North coast of Wales, Eastward of Point 

 Lynas, will pretty accurately determine the distance of the ship from the 

 land, provided due attention be paid to the depth of water; but the quality 

 of the soundings will not indicate the particular part of the coast she may 

 be abreast of. 



The Ormes Heads are very bold, and the Great Head marked by a fine 

 light, and any vessel may safely steer a direct course from thence to Point 

 Lynas, which maybe known by the castellated building near its extremity, 

 used as a lighthouse, and the telegraph station upon its summit. Point 

 Lynas and the land to the Westward of it is very bold, but the ebb tide 

 hence runs very strongly to the W.N.W. and thx'ough the sound inside the 

 Skerries. Off the Middle and West Mouse the spring ebbs run at the rate 

 of 7 knots ; and all vessels should, consequently, give this part of the land 

 a good berth, during light winds, at such times as the flood or ebb may be 



