702 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
fringes the coast of Admiralty Island. They lie S.S.E. a little over 3 miles from Observatory Islet 
and E. by S. \ S. nearly 4 miles from Moseley Point, and form a good mark for entering through the 
east channel into Nares Harbour, as they lead, when bearing S. f E., midway between the east 
extremity of D’Entrecasteaux Eeef and Challenger Shoal. 
To the northward of these rocks, at a distance of half a mile, there is a narrow shoal with 
4 fathoms on it, and 20 to 28 fathoms just outside. 
Carpenter, Browne, and Tracey Islands are connected by a reef. They lie in a N.W. by W. 
direction from Moseley Point, and between that point and D’Entrecasteaux Island. There is a 
channel 9 cables in width between the reef surrounding them and the reef off Moseley Point, which 
appears, so far as explored, to be safe and deep, and there is probably also deep water between D’Entre- 
casteaux Island and this reef, as well as between it and Maclear Island, where one sounding of 19 
fathoms was -obtained. The space between these three islands and Maclear Island appears an 
excellent position to anchor in if the water should be found of a suitable depth, but this has not yet 
been ascertained. The three islands are all uninhabited, and like most others in the vicinity of the 
harbour are low, flat, and thickly wooded. 
Anchorage . — In that part of Nares Harbour sounded by the Challenger, viz., from Suhm Island 
eastward to the Challenger Shoal, a distance of 6 miles, and from the inner edge of D’Entrecasteaux 
Eeef to the reef fringing Tracey, Browne, and Carpenter Islands and the coast of Admiralty Island, the 
depth varies from 10 to 30 fathoms, with patches having less water near the edge of the reefs ; and 
the depth in the channel entering the harbour between D’Entrecasteaux Eeef and Challenger Shoal 
varies from 20 to 40 fathoms. The centre of the harbour is much encumbered by a chain of coral 
knolls extending from the middle of Carpenter Island northeastward to the edge of D’Entrecas- 
teaux Eeef. These knolls have from 1 to 2 fathoms over them, but are separated by channels of 
deep water 1 £ to 3 cables in width, either of which may be used if required ; but as there are no good 
marks for leading through, it is requisite either to buoy the knolls between which it is intended to 
pass, or to pilot the ship from aloft, when these patches are distinctly visible. To the eastward of 
these shoal patches is the anchorage, 3 miles long by 1J miles in width, and the only dangers in it 
with the exception of Havergal Shoal, are close to the edges of the reef. 
Havergal Shoal, a small patch of 4 fathoms, lies on the western side of the eastern channel into 
Nares Harbour. From it, Observatory Islet bears N.W. by N. 6J cables, and the east point of Wild 
Island W. by N. § N. 1J miles, and between it and Challenger Shoal the channel is 9 cables in width. 
Vessels should on no account attempt to pass between Havergal Shoal and D’Entrecasteaux Eeef, as 
some shoal heads may exist there which have not been examined. - 
Directions for the Eastern Channel . — If bound from the westward, steer along the edge of D’Entre- 
casteaux Eeef at a distance of a mile until Observatory Islet bears south, when haul to the southward 
and bring Failure Eocks, which may be easily distinguished, to bear S. f E., and steer in with them on 
that bearing, which will lead mid-way between Challenger Shoal on the east side of the channel, and 
the point of D’Entrecasteaux Eeef and Havergal Shoal on the west side. When the whole of Suhm 
Island is open to the southward of Wild Island, the ship will be inside Havergal Shoal and should 
haul to the westward, steering towards Browne Island, until the west point of Wild Island bears from 
N. to N.N.W. ; then steer in slowly towards Wild Island, and anchor as convenient in 18 to 20 
fathoms about half a mile from the shore. 
