THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
S62 
Through the Messier Channel, Sarmiento Channel, and Strait oe 
Magellan to the Falkland Islands. 
The Messier and Sarmiento Channels. — On the 31st December, at 9.15 a.m., the 
Peninsula of Tres Montes was seen through the mist, and at 10.45 a.m. .Cape Raper 
was "observed ahead. A fine westerly breeze was blowing, but the weather was cloudy 
and misty, with passing showers of drizzle until noon, at which time Cape Gallegos bore 
north and Cape Raper N.E. by E. ^ E. The afternoon was fine, especially after Cape 
Tres Montes was passed at 2 p.m., and there was a remarkably fine view of this iron- 
bound coast, off which, fortunately, there is no outlying danger, or it would probably 
have been the scene of many a shipwreck besides that of H.M.S. “Wager” in 1741. 
At 3 p.m. Cape Stokes was rounded, and shortly afterwards a sounding and dredging 
obtained in 40 fathoms, with the rock off the left extremity of the Peninsula of Tres 
Montes 17° 20' Cape Stokes 75° 20' right extremity of Entrance Isles. At 5 p.m. the 
ship proceeded towards Port Otway, anchoring there at 6.30 p.m. A party from the 
ship landed for a short time ; the rock at the landing place was. a dolomitic limestone. 
On the 1st January 1876,- at 5 a.m., the Expedition left Port Otway, and proceeded 
across the Gulf of Penas towards the Messier Channel, in order to pass through the Inner 
Straits from the Gulf of Penas to the Strait of Magellan. The morning was bright and 
fine, though misty. At 6 a.m. Cape Stokes was passed and a S.E. ^ S. course shaped for 
the Ayantau Islands. The rock off Cape Stokes is about 3 feet high and flat, but that 
off the point next west of Cape Stokes is about 60 feet high. At 10 a.m. the Ayantau 
Islands were seen and they were passed shortly after noon. By a good meridian altitude 
the peak of the largest island of this group was found to be in lat. 47° 35' 30" S. instead 
of lat. 47° 38' S., as marked in the chart supplied. At 2 p.m. a sounding was obtained 
in 165 fathoms, blue mud, with Sombrero Peak S. 82° E., Ayantau Peak N. 12° W., Mount 
Anson west, Southeast Hill S. 67° W., the left extremity of Penguin Island S. 27^° E., 
and Mount Baker S. 59° E. Proceeding towards Penguin Island, the ship was stopped 
at 2.45 p.m., and exploring parties were sent on shore, together with an officer to obtain 
a few angles, but the weather becoming cloudy with a drizzling rain, no angles could 
be taken. In the. meantime the ship sounded and trawled in 125 fathoms, with 
Sombrero Island Peak N. 65° E., Ayantau Peak N. 12° W., Pedro Island N. 57° W., 
and Mount Baker N. 69° E., and afterwards in 160 fathoms, with Ayantau Island 
N. 14° W. and Sombrero Island N. 72° E. On Penguin Island the rocks were an 
altered diabase and amphibolic granite. At 4 p.m. the exploring and surveying 
parties returned, the trawl was hove up, and at 4.30 p.m. the ship proceeded for Hale 
Cove, the weather still rainy and thick. At 5 p.m., however, the rain ceased, and at 6 p.m. 
the weather was again bright and clear. The vessel passed close along the west sides of 
Baker, Scout, Scylla, and Alert Islands, and the kelp reported by the “Alert” was 
