THE ST. GEOEGE'S CHANNEL. 471 



This stream of tide sets E.N.E. toward the Tuskar, »nd nearly in the 

 same direction, or a little more Northerly, toward the Smalls, and rushes 

 with great velocity, past Skokham and Skomer, through the sound, towards 

 St. David's Head, and along the South and East coasts of Cardigan Bay, 

 from whence it diverges toward Bardsey Island ; in the sound betweenj 

 which island and the main it runs with great strength. 



It is generally advisable to keep the Irish shore aboard in turning dowrl 

 the St. George's Channel, with S.W. winds and heavy rain. In the South 

 Channel the lead will impart some idea of the position of the vessel, or at 

 any rate will indicate, by the depth of water, the probable distance of the 

 vessel from the land. The banks on the Irish coast, between Howth Head 

 and Arklow Bank, may be safely approached to 20 fathoms of water, and 

 nearer should it be clear weather, which, by-the-bye, is not often the case 

 in this neighbourhood. When near the N.E. end of Arklow Bank, and 

 from thence to the Westward, no vessel should shoalen her water under 28 

 fathoms, without daylight and constant caution. The lights on these banks 

 require close attention, as they have at times been mistaken. The tides of 

 both flood and ebb run directly over these banks, in a N.N.B. and S.S.W. 

 direction, and in light winds must be carefully attended to. 



In beating to the Westward, should a vessel shoalen her water on the 

 coast of Wales to 30 fathoms, she will be quite far enough inshore, and 

 should tack immediately, for it should be recollected that there is 36 to 40 

 fathoms water very close to Bardsey. 



Should a vessel be caught with hard N.W. gales upon this dangerous 

 coast, every exertion must be used, by carrying taut well-set sail, to get 

 the ship round Bardsey, on which is a lighthouse, when she will have St. 

 Tudwall's Eoad (which is well sheltered with Westerly winds) under her 

 lee. Should N.W. winds continue blowing hard, it will be better to run 

 for St. Tudwall's Eoad, on the North, or to Fishguard Bay, on the So'ith, 

 than to persevere too long in attempting to work out of Cardigan Bay. 



Any moderate-sized vessel may find good and safe anchorage in Fish- 

 guard Bay, by running in to 2 or 3 cables from Cow Bock, on the West side 

 of the entrance, and anchor when the land to the Westward of it is shut 

 in, and the rock bears North, distant 3 to 4 cables, in 4 to 5 fathoms at 

 low water, over a bottom of stiff clay and mud, which holds remarkably 

 weU ; and the ship will lie well sheltered with all winds, except those from 

 North, around by the Eastward, to S.E. by E. or S.S.E. ; N.E. winds 

 throw in a heavy sea. 



The coast in the vicinity of Fishguard Bay is clean and bold, and the 

 bay may be readily distinguished from the offing by Cow Eock, which is 

 always above water, off the Western point of the entrance, and by the re- 

 markable appearance of Dinas Head (the Eastern point), which, upon an 

 Easterly or S.E. bearing, exactly resembles the head of a large gurnet. 



Were the advantages of Fishguard Bay more fully known, they would 

 be duly appreciated. When the writer commanded the brig Freeland, of 

 Liverpool, that vessel was disabled, by the loss of her sails, in the heavy 

 N.W. gales which prevailed in December, 1833, and was obliged to run 

 into this bay in order to save the vessel from a lee shore ; and in this plao« 

 she lay in safety, at single anchor, with 70 fathoms of chain, during the 



