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HYDROGRAPHY. 



LAYSON ISLE. 



Layson Isle is an American discovery. It is a small lagoon 

 island, nearly round, above 6 miles in circumference. It was also 

 seen by Captain Stanihowitch, of the Russian Navy, who gave it the 

 name of Layson. His determination I have adopted. He places it 

 in latitude 25° 46' north, and longitude 171° 49' west. It is inha- 

 bited, but does not afford any supplies. It may be seen 8 or 10 miles 

 in good weather. 



LISIANSKY ISLE. 



This isle was discovered by Captain Lisiansky, in 1805. It is 

 quite a small island, situated in latitude 26° north, and longitude 

 173° .45' west. In 1827, Captain Stanihowitch discovered a dan- 

 gerous reef which had not been seen by the discoverer. The east 

 point of the reef lies 7? miles south 41° east from the northwest point 

 of the island, and its western point at the distance of 3 * miles. 



PEARL AND HERMES REEF. 



This is one of the most dangerous reefs in the Pacific Ocean, on 

 which the two vessels whose names the reef bears were wrecked, in 1822. 

 It lies in a northwest and southeast direction ; is 90 miles in length. 

 It has many sand-islets upon it, and near to the centre two which are 

 larger than the rest ; these are called Pearl and Hermes. Its north- 

 west extremity lies in latitude 28° 22' north, longitude 177° 32' west; 

 its southeast extremity in 27° 31' north, and 178° 28' west. It is 

 somewhat in the form of a crescent, with its bow turned towards the 

 northeast. The Russian navigators give the situation somewhat 

 different, but I have retained the determination which I believe to be 

 the most correct. There is an anchorage on the west side near the 

 larger islets. The island affords little that can be worth seeking ; 

 care should rather be taken to avoid it, unless necessity or interest 

 compel a visit. That part of the squadron detached for the survey 

 of the Western Groups were unable to sight these dangers, in conse- 



