THE GREAT BAERIER REEF. 



365 



ships. The early explorers anxiously skirted the long line of breakers durino- the 

 day, and at dusk veered off to a safe distance from their everlasting roar ; yet 

 shipwrecks were of frequent occurrence. Now, however, all the accessible passes 



Fig. 158. — The G-eeat Baeeiee Reef. 

 Scale 1 : 11,800,000. 



Depths. 



to 100 

 Fathoms. 



too to 1,000 

 Fathoms. 



1,000 to 2,000 

 Fathoms. 



2,000 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



300 Miles. 



are known, and vessels freely navigate the inner waters under shelter from the 

 fury of the ocean waves. 



Before the introduction of steam navigation, the channels of the Great Barrier, 



