194 G. H. HALLIGAN. 



a portion of its waters is deflected towards the Australian 

 coast at about New Caledonia. The remaining portion 

 flows in a north-westerly direction towards Cape York and 

 into the Arafura Sea. 



Within the triangle formed by New Caledonia, Cape York 

 and the Chesterfield Reefs, the currents are uncertain both 

 as regards direction and velocity, being influenced largely 

 by the prevailing winds, and, when close to the shore line, 

 by the tidal currents which are very complicated, being 

 partly produced by local conditions existing throughout the 

 numerous islands. 



Inside the Barrier Reefs the currents are mainly tidal, 

 and the set is largely influenced by the wind, and by local 

 land configuration. 



Generally speaking the flood tide sets north, and the ebb 

 tide south, but during the prevalence of the north-west 

 winds, from December to March, these directions may be 

 reversed. 



Arafura Sea Currents, — In the Arafura Sea the current 

 generally sets with the wind, its course, in the south-east 

 monsoon season, from the beginning of April to the begin- 

 ning of October, being to the westward. The velocity 

 depends much upon the force of the wind, but seldom 

 exceeds 1 to \\ knots. Along the northern side of Sirwatti 

 Islands between Timor and the Tenimber group, the current 

 sets to the eastward, or to windward, during the south- 

 east monsoon season* During the north-west monsoon the 

 currents generally set also to the eastward. Practically 

 nothing has been done in investigating the currents of the 

 Arafura Sea, or towards the solution of the many compli- 

 cated problems appertaining to this area. 



The 'North- west and West Coasts. — On the north-west 

 and west coasts of Australia the current, though generally 

 setting with, the wind, is sometimes uncertain both in 



