464 NAUTICAL REMARKS—STRAIT LE MAIRE. 
latter ; yet I should very reluctantly give up the opportunity 
that might offer of clearing the strait, and therefore of being 
so much more to windward. With a southerly wind it would 
not be advisable to attempt the strait; for, with a weather 
tide, the sea runs very cross and deep, and might severely 
injure and endanger the safety of a small vessel, and to a large 
one do much damage. In calm weather it would be still more 
imprudent (unless the western side of the strait can be 
reached, where a ship might anchor), on account of the tides 
setting over to the Staten Island side; where, if it becomes 
advisable to anchor, it would necessarily be in very deep water, 
and close to the land. With a northerly wind the route seems 
not only practicable, but very advantageous, and it would 
require some resolution to give up the opportunity so invitingly 
offered. I doubt whether northerly winds, unless they are 
very strong, blow through the strait—if not, a ship is drifted 
over to the eastern shores, where, from the force of the tides, 
she must be quite unmanageable. 
Captain Fitz Roy seems to think there is neither difficulty 
nor risk in passing the strait. The only danger that does 
exist, and that may be an imaginary one, is the failure of the 
wind. Ships passing through it from the south, are not so 
liable to the failure of the south-westerly wind, unless it be 
light, and then a breeze will probably be found from N.W.., at 
the northern end of the strait. The anchorage in Good Success 
Bay, however, is at hand, should the wind or tide fail. 
In passing to leeward of Staten Island, the tide race, 
which extends for some distance off Cape St. John, at the 
N.E. end of the island, must be avoided: otherwise there exist 
no dangers. 
The anchorage under New Year Islands, although it is 
a wild one, the bottom bad, and the tide very strong, yet 
offers good shelter from south-west winds, and might be occu- 
nied with advantage during the existence of a gale from 
that quarter, which is so unfavourable for ships bound round 
the Horn. 
After passing Staten Island, if the wind be westerly, the 
