SAILING DIRECTIONS. 
249 
veering to E.S.E. and E.b.S., which is often the case; and A. 
then the current, setting upon the weather-bow, will place 
the vessel, in a dark night, in considerable danger. The E. Coast, 
rate of the current is generally about one mile per hour, 
but it sometimes, though rarely, runs at the rate of nearly 
three knots. 
To the eastward, in the space between New South Wales 
and New Caledonia, the current sets to the N.W., which 
carries a great body of water into the bight between the 
former and New Guinea; but, as Torres’ Strait offers but a 
very inconsiderable outlet, the stream is turned, and sets to 
the southward until it gradually joins the easterly current, 
which, from the prevalence of westerly winds, is constantly 
running between V an Diemen’s Land and Cape Horn. 
The tides in this interval are of little consequence, and in 
few places rise higher than six feet at the springs, excepting 
where they are affected by local circumstances. 
There are but few places of shelter upon the east coast, 
between Port Jackson and Breaksea Spit: Captain Flinders 
points out Broken Bay, Port Hunter for small craft, Port 
Stephens, Shoal Bay for vessels not exceeding fifty tons, 
and Glass House (Moreton) Bay. There are, however, other 
anchorages that might be resorted to in the event of being 
thrown upon a lee shore, which are equally good with Port 
Hunter, Shoal Bay, and Glass House Bay. 
There is an anchorage behind Black Head to the north of 
Point Stevens, which Lieutenant Oxley discovered to be an 
island; Port Macquarie also affords shelter for small ves- 
sels; and, on the north side of Smoky Cape, there is good 
shelter from southerly or south-easterly winds : but the 
whole of these, excepting Broken Bay, are only attainable 
by small vessels. A large ship must keep an offing ; and, 
as the coast is not at all indented, the wind must blow very 
