334 MESIER AND FALLOS CHANNELS. Feb. 1830. 
ground, and abundance of wood and water. The two following 
days, Mr. Kirke was away examining the coast ; the third we 
were confined by bad weather ; and, indeed, during our whole 
continuance at this place, we had very much rain. 
“* We sailed early on the 12th from Island Harbour, and 
by night reached Waterfall Bay, an anchorage about fifteen 
miles to the southward: the wind all day was light, and the 
tide, the greater part of the time, against us; so that, with 
every exertion, we scarcely gained anchoring ground before it 
was quite dark : the strength of the tide was upwards of a mile 
an hour, at neap-tides: the ebb and flood were of equal duration, 
the former running to the 8. b. E., the latter N.b.W. Thirty 
miles within the Mesier Channel it is as wide as at the entrance, 
and for several miles to the southward appears clear: so that 
no one is liable thus far to mistake its course. 
*“'The land on the west side appears to be a number of large 
islands, with here and there wide passages leading to the S.W., 
rendering it probable that there are many (although not direct) 
communications between the Mesier and the Fallos Channels. 
Our anchorages were chiefly on the eastern shore, that the 
openings on that side might be more readily examined ; but all 
which appeared to run far inland were found to be merely 
narrow inlets, or sounds ending abruptly. On each side the 
land is hilly, but not high; and this distinguishes the Mesier 
Channel from many others, whose shores for miles are formed 
by ranges of steep-sided mountains. Here, in many places, 
there is much low land, which is generally thickly wooded, yet 
with no greater variety of trees than is to met with in the Strait 
of Magalhaens. The beech, birch, pine, or cypress, Winter’s- 
bark, and a kind of red-wood, form the forests; but none 
were observed that could be at all serviceable for the larger 
spars of a vessel. 
“* (16th). Left Waterfall Bay, and with a N.W. breeze passed 
Middle Island, entered Lion Bay, and moored in White Kelp 
Cove. The coast survey was soon finished, but we were con- 
fined at our anchors here four days; not by bad, but by ex- 
traordinarily fine weather. During such intervals, so very rare 
