Oct.] 



CHABOE ISLAND. 



293 



of this coast, south of Spencer's Bay, that lies more than four miles 

 from the mainland ; and this one lies north-north-west from Angra 

 Pequena, or Santa Cruz, about fifteen miles. 



October 2d. — On Thursday we got under way, and steered to the 

 south, to examine a few rocks which lie about one mile off-shore from 

 the mainland, and nearly half-way between Possession Island and 

 Angra Pequena, or Santa Cruz. These rocks are small, but evidently 

 of volcanic origin, and have fine anchorage between them snd the 

 mainland, in five fathoms of water, sandy bottom, sheltered from all 

 winds. But their greatest attraction in our estimation was their dense 

 population of fur-seal, with which they were literally covered. We 

 of course secured a few of these animals, or rather a few of their 

 valuable jackets. In going into the anchorage just mentioned, you 

 pass the north point of the ledge, leaving the rocks on your right- 

 hand half a cable's length distant, and then haul immediately round *o 

 the south, and anchor abreast of the middle of the ledge, about mid- 

 channel. 



October 6tk. — From this anchorage we steered once more tc the 

 north, and passing Angra Pequena we arrived at Ichaboe Island on 

 Monday, the 6th of October. This island, which is about one mi?e in 

 circumference, lies eight leagues to the north and west of Angra Pe- 

 quena, and not more than a mile and a half from the shore. Cn *he 

 east side of this island ships may anchor in perfect safety, in five 

 fathoms of water, sand and clay bottom, about two cables' length from 

 its shore. The safety and convenience of this anchorage are owing to 

 the following circumstances : — A point of land from the continent ex- 

 tends three or four miles into the sea, to the south of the island ; and 

 from the extremity of this point a reef puts off in a north-west direc- 

 tion, until it nearly meets a reef that projects from the west side of the 

 island. Another reef puts off from the north-east point of the island ; 

 consequently a bay is formed, in which a ship might lie all the year 

 round, in perfect safety and smooth water. But in coming to this an- 

 chorage care should always be taken to pass round the north end of 

 the island, giving its north-east point a berth of half a mile, which will 

 avoid all dangers. In working into this harbour the shore on the main 

 may be approached within two cables' length. 



This is a fine place for making captive the great leviathan of the 

 ocean, the right whale, great numbers of which strike on this part of 

 the coast about the middle of June. They are in the habit of playing 

 about the reefs of the island, and that which runs from the continental 

 point before mentioned ; and as the south wind generally prevails, there 

 is no difficulty in getting the dead whale alongside of the ship. Scale- 

 fish may be caught at the anchorage with hook and line ; or at the 

 bottom of the bay with a seine, in great quantities. An abundance of 

 crawfish ' may also be caught with a hoop-net, all around the island, 

 within fifty fathoms of the shore. 



Eggs also may be obtained here in great quantities. In the months 

 of October and November this island is literally covered with jackass- 

 penguins and gannets, which convene here for the purposes of laying 

 and incubation. The nests of the gannets are formed like those of 



