338 



OPEN BAY — coNCEPcioN STRAIT. March 1830. 



sounding in the coves, but no fit spot was found ; therefore 

 we were forced to stop in an ill- sheltered nook, termed Small 

 Craft Bight, which just served us (having fair weather) as a 

 resting-place until morning (5th), when we set out again to 

 find a better anchorage ; for I still desired to ascertain whether 

 the opening to the eastward was a sound or a channel. In our 

 course to the southward we traced both shores in search of a 

 stopping-place ; but there was neither bight nor cove where it 

 was possible to anchor, until we arrived at Open Bay, which 

 lies near the entrance of Wide Channel. Even this was such a 

 very insecure place, that although I remained the next day, to 

 examine the neighbouring coast, it was far too exposed an 

 anchorage for the vessel to continue in while the boats were 

 away at a distance. 



" Disappointed by not finding a place for the schooner near 

 the opening I wished to explore, I was yet averse to leaving it 

 unexamined, having traced every inlet to its extremity for 

 upwards of two hundred miles along the continent. I wished 

 to continue so sure a mode of proceeding ; and although I felt 

 certain that this opening terminated like the rest, and Mr. 

 Kirke held the same opinion, I would gladly have prevented 

 any doubt by following its course in the boats, could we have 

 gained a safe anchorage for the vessel. The nearest harbour 

 that could be found was thirty miles from the opening, and 

 it would have detained us too long to send the boats such a 

 distance ; so considering that we had yet a great extent of 

 coast to examine ; that my state of health did not permit me 

 to undertake any very exposed or arduous service ; and that 

 Mr. Kirke was the only person to whom such duty could be 

 entrusted, I was induced to relinquish our former practice of 

 exploring every opening to its end. 



" We left Open Bay on the 7th, and soon entered Concep- 

 cion Strait, keeping along the east shore, and sending a boat, 

 at every opening, to seek a situation for the vessel. In the 

 afternoon, a tolerably sheltered bay was found, at the south 

 end of the North Canning Island, open only from S.E. to 

 S.W. ; but those winds being frequent and violent, and the 



