324 LIZARD ISLAND TO CAPE MELVILLE. 



From the neighbourhood of Lizard Island,* the 

 Barrier curves round to the N.W. by W., in 

 which direction it runs till it approaches the pro- 

 jecting point of Cape Melville within twelve miles, 

 when it trends round to the northward again. In the 

 space about Cape Melville, the inner reefs are more 

 than commonly numerous and strong, for as the 

 outer Barrier here runs almost parallel to the direc- 

 tion of the trade wind, instead of across it, the sea 

 inside is less sheltered, and the surf on the edges of 

 the inner reefs becomes heavier than usual. This 

 circumstance, I believe, is always favourable to the 

 extension and increase in number of coral reefs. 

 The inner reefs in this part are generally quite 

 " steep to," having 10 fathoms close alongside their 

 edge, the channels between them varying from 

 12 to <25 fathoms. 



Outside the Barrier the depth could rarely be 

 ascertained. It often required from 30 to 80 

 fathoms of line to strike bottom from a boat imme- 

 diately outside the surf of the breakers. On one 

 line, however, bearing N. by E , from Ho wick's 

 Group of Islands, in long. 145° 5', lat. 14° 15', 

 bottom was got with 57 fathoms at two miles, 

 and 68 fathoms at four miles outside the reefs. 



* See the chart attached to this work, which is a pretty accu- 

 rate and careful reduction from our surveys, with the coast line 

 and some other reefs added from the old charts by Captains 

 Cook, Flinders, King, &c. 



