On the Encroachments of the Sea, <&c. 55 



many years must have elapsed since the shore upon which 

 they grew had been visited by the waves of the sea. 

 Even so early as 1837, 1 remember Mr. Ourr, the intelligent 

 Chief Agent of the Van Diemen's Land Company, informing 

 me that the sea had made considerable inroads upon the 

 eastern side of the Peninsula, from the time of his arrival 

 there (about 1828). 



This he attributed to the greater and increasing preva- 

 lence of easterly winds. On the west coast, my recollection 

 did not enable me satisfactorily to determine whether the 

 sea was encroaching or not ; my impression is, however, 

 that it was. On the east coast a like result is, I am informed, 

 taking place, and I would be glad to receive information 

 from old residents on the coast east from George Town, and 

 on the east coast of the colony, in confirmation or refutation 

 of the opinion now advanced. 



In connection with this subject, I may observe that it is 

 stated that reefs now exist at the entrance of Port Phillip, 

 upon which several vessels have recently struck, not laid 

 down accurately in the charts, and which are believed by 

 some nautical men to be nearer to the surface of the sea 

 than they formerly were. Whether this is true, or whether 

 the present greatly increased traffic has led vessels to go 

 over places not previously examined, I know not ; but it is 

 now worthy of consideration whether permanent marks 

 ought not to be made upon rocks in favourable situations, 

 to ascertain positively whether the land at Port Phillip is 

 rising and that of Tasmania slowly sinking. 



This was done in Sweden, and I suggested it to be done 

 here some ten years ago. That revolutions of this kind have 

 taken place in comparatively recent times, there is abundant 

 evidence in the raised beaches at Hunter's Island, near 



