Tasmanian field Naturalists’ Club 
A very enjoyable camp-out of members 
of the Field Naturalists’ Club took place 
at Frevcinet Peninsula, on the East Coast, 
Hie place being locally' known as The 
Schoutons. Last year’s camp-out at 
lirenm Creek was very enjoyable, but was 
exceeded by this one. Our full strength 
was exactly 40 on this occasion. 
Many of the members brought cameras 
with them, conspicuous among these being 
Mr. .1. W. Beattie, photographer to the 
Tasmanian Government, and most of the 
photos, accompanying this article were 
taken by him. Our number also included 
Mr. L Kodway, Government Botanist. 
Other well-known naturalists with us 
were Messrs. W. L. May, couchologist; A. 
L. Butler, ornithologist; and O. E. 
White, geologist. 
Favourable reports as to the many 
matters of interest at The Schoutens were 
not wanting.nnd long before Easter arriv¬ 
ed it was seen that a large number would 
take part in the camp, especially as the 
committee had agreed to the nomination 
of friends by members; so that it was 
no surprise to find some thirty-six in 
number ready to start when the vessel 
was timed to sail, 2 o’clock in the morn¬ 
ing of Good Friday. The vessel, s.s. Moo- 
liah, did not shine as a passenger boat, 
yet, iu spite of all, the time passed pleas¬ 
antly enough. Dunalley was reached 
shortly after daylight, and here the boat 
was delayed for some hours, waiting for 
the tide to rise sufficiently to enable it to 
pass the bar at the entrance to Denison 
Canal. Leaving there at 9.30. Maria Is¬ 
land was reached shortly before 1 p.m., 
where two more members, who had pre¬ 
ceded the party, thus far, a ere picked up. 
Passing on the inside of Schouten Is¬ 
land, the vessel proceeded up the coast of 
the peninsula, which is very mountain¬ 
ous, and has many striking features, near¬ 
ly to the eud of Oyster Bav, the fine scen¬ 
ery being enjoyed en route. On rounding 
Hazard Point, Cole’s Bay was reached 
and as tV.e vessel steamed along its shore 
several beaches were seen, and at one of 
these, known as Meredith’s Fisherv. the 
party landed at 3.39 p.m. 
As darkness was dosing in, tents were 
quickly erected, while the boats busily 
C lied between the beach and s.s. Moonali, 
ringing the impedimenta ashore. At the 
upper end of the beach there was stand¬ 
ing tlie frame of a dining hut, having a 
long table with seating accommodation 
for twenty-five, and adjoining this was a 
large fireplace, where the cook made pre¬ 
parations for the first camp meal. When 
this was ready, darkness had quite Sof¬ 
ia, and with their labours done, members 
came to do full justice to the fare. 
The evening was spent in seining on the 
beach, and enough fish were taken to sup¬ 
ply the camp on the following day. Floun¬ 
ders were in greatest number, at one drag 
of the seine five and one-third dozen being 
caught; mullet and colonial salmon were 
taken as well. 
An idea of the geography of the local¬ 
ity had better first be given. 
Frevcinet Peninsula bounds Oyster Bav 
on the eastern side, smaller bays in Oys¬ 
ter Bay being called Hazards and Cole’s 
Bays. At the head of Cole’s Boy there is 
a narrow neck some 1,500 yards across, on 
the other side of which is Sleepy Bay. on 
the South Pacific Ocean. Going south a 
mountainous range, divided in the middle 
and rising to 1.800ft., is reached. At this 
divide a creek runs down the western side 
into Meredith’s Fishery—the site of the 
camp—and this stream, together with a 
spring at the other end of the beach 
gives an ample supply of fresh water’ 
From the camp a track runs through the 
divide eastward, passing by a nest of the 
Sea LiiRle. The southern part of the 
mountain range slopes down to a fresh 
wafer lagoon of 500 acres, on an isthmuv 
under one mile in width, nearlv at sea- 
level. having Wineglass Bay on the ocean 
side and Hazard s Bay on the inner side. 
Then more uplands—the highest peak of 
which is Mount Freycinet—extend for six 
or seven miles until the peninsula ends at 
Schouten Passage, Geographe Strait 
Tt is curious to note that the ranges on 
this peninsula run east and west, while 
