No. 4. — A Visit to the Great Barrier Beef of Australia in 

 the Steamer " Croydon" during April and May, 1896. By 

 Alexandek Agassiz. 



THE EASTERN COAST OF QUEENSLAND. 



No better introduction can be given for the study of the problem of 

 the evolution of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia than a general sketch 

 of the Physical Geography of the Northeast Coast of Australia from 

 Moreton Bay to Cape York. I shall illustrate my remarks by a series 

 of charts and sketches of the most characteristic parts of the coast, se- 

 lected with special inference to our subject. (Plates XXIII. to XXXVI.) 

 These will show the gradual encroachment of the sea upon the northeastern 

 edge of the continent of Australia. We shall then follow the submarine 

 extension of the coast, and from the soundings given on the English 

 Hydrographic Charts select a number of lines across the continental 

 platform which will give us a fair idea of the sea-face slope upon which 

 the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef is situated. (Plates XXXVII. 

 to XLI.) This will be followed by a few charts illustrating that part 

 of the reef which we examined somewhat in detail, and from which 

 I have ventured to build up an explanation of the causes which have 

 been mainly efficient in the shaping of the Great Barrier Reef as 

 it stands to-day. 



Beginning at the latitude of Brisbane, the coast is flanked by the 

 islands of Stradbroke and Moreton, both of which rise to over six 

 hundred feet (Plate XXVI.). The former island is separated from the 

 maiuland at its southern extremity by a shallow and narrow passage, 

 while towards the north the island is separated from the mainland by 

 a number of low islands, one of which attains a height of 250 feet. 

 Between the islands, flats and bars are left uncovered at low tide 

 between the deeper parts of Moreton Bay. Similar banks and islands 

 flank the right bank of Brisbane River near its mouth. Moreton 

 Island is separated from the mainland by a series of bars and flats 

 running in a northerly direction, between which run the two principal 

 vol. xxvm. — no. 4. 



