470 WESTERN ENTRANCE— ADVANTAGES. 
Long Reach is both long and narrow, and ill supplied with 
anchorages for a ship; such as they are, Swallow Harbour, 
- Playa Parda, Marian Cove, and Half Port Bay, seem to be 
the best. In thick weather, although the channel is very 
narrow, yet one side is scarcely visible from the other, and 
the only advantage it has over other parts of the strait is the 
smoothness of the water. In Sea Reach there is a heavy 
rolling swell, with a short and deep sea, which renders it very 
difficult to beat to windward. 
Tamar Harbour, Valentine Harbour, Tuesday Cove, and 
the Harbour of Mercy, are the best anchorages ; and the latter 
is particularly convenient to occupy, while awaiting an oppor- 
tunity of sailing out of the strait. 
In the entrance, the sea runs very heavy and irregularly 
during and after a gale; so that a ship should not leave her 
anchorage in the Harbour of Mercy, without a fair or a 
leading wind to get her quickly through it. 
For small vessels, particularly if they be fore-and-aft rigged, 
many, if not all of the local difficulties vanish; and inlets 
which a ship dare not or cannot approach, may be entered with 
safety, and anchorage easily obtained by them. A large 
ship will perhaps be better off in entering and leaving the 
Strait where there is open space and frequently a heavy sea; 
but for the navigation of the Strait, a small vessel has con- 
siderably the advantage. She has also the opportunity of 
passing through the Cockburn Channel should the wind be 
north-westerly, which will very much reduce the length of 
the passage into the Pacific. 
One very great advantage to be derived from the passage 
through the Strait is, the opportunity of obtaining as much 
wood and water as can be required, without the least difficulty ; 
and another benefit is, that by hauling the seine during 
the summer months, from January to May, at the mouth of 
the river or along the beaches in Port Famine, at the first 
quarter flood, a plentiful supply of fish may be obtained. 
Excellent fish are also caught at the anchorage with the hook 
and line, at all seasons, early in the morning or late in the 
