APPENDIX. 557 



canvass, whitewashed and placed against a dark ground, or cut into 

 a triangular form, and tied between bushes or trees, forms a mark 

 easily distinguished, and may be left standing. 



It is extremely desirable that the points astronomically ascertained 

 should be brought directly into connexion with each other, by tri- 

 angulation, and no opportunity of getting the bearing of points in 

 transit should be neglected. 



The bays, harbours, &c., will be on the scale of four inches to the 

 mile, but the general chart you will plot on the scale of two inches, 

 which will include all distant points. 



The officers will be particular in sketching in the shores and 

 tracing the topography. 



It is expected that the soundings will be full, and no part omitted, 

 and that every part of the harbours that are surveyed will be attended 

 to in this respect, as few things give so unsightly an appearance to a 

 survey as an irregularity of soundings. In order, therefore, to have a 

 fall view of your work done, it is necessary that it should be plotted 

 immediately, and the work kept up daily. The number of officers 

 now attached to the brig will leave no excuse why it should not be 

 done, and it will be expected by me that this part of your duty will 

 meet with the greatest attention. 



Variation will be often taken ; also your dip and intensity obser- 

 vations should be frequently repeated. 



You will endeavour to obtain all the information that may lay in 

 your power, relative to the geological formation and capabilities of 

 the soil for agriculture, near and about the parts surveyed, also all 

 minerals. The east sides of Quadia's and Vancouver's Islands are 

 known to contain coal, which the Indians get from the surface. It 

 would be desirable to view the locality and get specimens, &c. All 

 water-courses and brooks that may affijrd water for shipping, will be 

 particularly noticed. 



You will also pay great attention to the tides, their height and 

 fall ; set of currents, and the time of high and low water at full and 

 change : this may be done in a few hours, by marking a staff, stuck in 

 the water a few feet from shore, and an hour or two before high and 

 low water, noting the time by the watch at the same time, and again 

 when the water rises to the same point : the mean will give you the 

 high and low water on that day, which, applied to the age of the 

 moon, will give it on full and change. 



I am desirous, also, that your dredge should be much used at all 



VOL. IV. 140 



