72 Harbors, Rivers, and 



one on its western : there is a larger island higher up the bay, 

 called French Island, around which is also a channel for boats. 

 There is at present a considerable trade in oyster fishing carried 

 on in Western Port, and eventually, if coal, which exists in 

 this neighborhood, is worked, this port will become of much 

 importance. 



Port Phillip Bay is a magnificent basin of water, having 

 at its northern end a smaller bay, called Hobson's Bay, 

 wherein lie all the large ships coming to the Port of Melbourne. 

 The Rivers Yarra Yarra and Saltwater fall into the western side 

 of Hobson's Bay Vessels of 10 to 12 feet draught can pass, 

 at high water, over the bars at the entrance of the rivers and 

 go up to Melbourne. The River Yarra is otherwise deep enough 

 for any vessels, but is very narrow throughout its entire length: 

 it is navigable to Melbourne for all vessels which can cross the 

 bars. At Melbourne, advantage has been taken of a natural 

 barrier of rock to secure fresh water for the supply of the 

 city, by preventing the sea tide from mixing with it. Hobson's 

 Bay can contain from 300 to 400 vessels, which lie in entire 

 safety, even with sky-sail yards across, in the heaviest weather. 

 From the uniformity of bottom, both in this and Port Phillip 

 Bay, the sea never rises to any height, and 3 feet 6 inches is, 

 perhaps, the greatest altitude of wave : thus, ships of the 

 heaviest burthen and largest draught of water lie alongside the 

 pier extended into the bay, without accident or chafing, and 

 anchor close into the shore. 



On the western part of Port Phillip Bay lies Corio Bay, the 

 port and harbor of Geelong : unfortunately this beautiful sheet 

 of water has a bar of sand across the entrance which pre- 

 cludes large vessels from crossing and unloading at the town. 

 A channel is being dredged in the hope of obtaining 18 feet of 

 water, a slow and expensive process ; if, however, it should be 

 successfully completed, Corio Bay will receive such ships as the 

 channel will admit, to unload and load close to Geelong. At 

 present they anchor off Point Henry, some four miles distant. 

 The entrance to Port Phillip Bay, between Point Nepean and 

 Point Lonsdale, is only about a mile and a-half wide, and under 

 a mile for channel use. This causes at times a heavy surf 

 across, and the tide to sweep in and out with great velocity ; it 

 has also formed sand banks within the harbor for some miles, 

 through the channels of which the vessels navigate according to 

 their draught of water. The channels are buoyed and partially 

 lighted, as is also the entrance. From Point Lonsdale to Cape 

 Otway the only place of even partial shelter or anchorage is 



