464 



NAUTICAL REMARKS STRAIT LE MAIRE. 



latter ; yet I should very reluctantly give up the opportunity 

 that might offer of clearing the strait, and therefore of being 

 so much more to windward. With a southerly wind it would 

 not be advisable to attempt the strait ; for, with a weather 

 tide, the sea runs very cross and deep, and might severely 

 injure and endanger the safety of a small vessel, and to a large 

 one do much damage. In calm weather it would be still more 

 imprudent (unless the western side of the strait can be 

 reached, where a ship might anchor), on account of the tides 

 setting over to the Staten Island side ; where, if it becomes 

 advisable to anchor, it would necessarily be in very deep water, 

 and close to the land. With a northerly wind the route seems 

 not only practicable, but very advantageous, and it would 

 require some resolution to give up the opportunity so invitingly 

 offered. I doubt whether northerly winds, unless they are 

 very strong, blow through the strait — if not, a ship is drifted 

 over to the eastern shores, where, from the force of the tides, 

 she must be quite unmanageable. 



Captain Fitz Roy seems to think there is neither difficulty 

 nor risk in passing the strait. The only danger that does 

 exist, and that may be an imaginary one, is the failure of the 

 wind. Ships passing through it from tlie south, are not so 

 liable to the failure of the south-westerly wind, unless it be 

 light, and then a breeze will probably be found from N.W., at 

 the northern end of the strait. The anchorage in Good Success 

 Bay, however, is at hand, should the wind or tide fail. 



In passing to leeward of Staten Island, the tide race» 

 which extends for some distance off Cape St. John, at the 

 N.E. end of the island, must be avoided : otherwise there exist 

 no dangers. 



The anchorage under New Year Islands, although it is 

 a wild one, the bottom bad, and the tide very strong, yet 

 offers good shelter from south-west winds, and might be occu- 

 pied with advantage during the existence of a gale from 

 that quarter, which is so unfavourable for ships bound round 

 the Horn. 



After passing Staten Island, if the wind be westerly,, the 



