Coasts of Australia . 67 
westerly gales, in the neighbourhood of the latter place. 
In the neighbourhood of King’s Island, the summer 
southerly winds would be liable to drive ships to the lee¬ 
ward of Port Phillip. The nearness of the Harbinger 
Reef is also an objection to King’s Island. 
We found the entrance of Corner Inlet navigable for 
ships drawing 16 or 18 feet. There are several good an¬ 
chorages east of the promontory in westerly winds, but 
only one secure from all quarters, a small cove five miles 
south of Sealer’s Cove. The flood tide comes from the 
north on the eastern shore of the promontory and Flinder’s 
Island; a branch from E.N.E. striking against the pro¬ 
montory causes a change in direction. 
Midway between Curtis Islands and Port Dalrymple 
we found the deepest part of the straits 45 fathoms, 
marl, broken shells, and fine grey sand. A sandy ridge 
extends from Kent’s Group to Flinders, 28 to 30 fathoms 
e ow the surface, rising into rocky patches, one of which 
is the Endeavour Reef. A deep submarine valley 
appears to run E. and W. through the strait. The 
Cause 0 ^ le whirlpools and heavy ripplings at the 
entrance of I ort Phillip i s the extreme inequality of the 
bottom. The soundings suddenly deepen from 5 and 6 to 
lo and 40 fathoms, and rise again as suddenly to 13,0 and 
G fathoms : through this channel a tide rushes with such 
rapidity, that I have seen a vessel with all sail set in a 
fresh fair wind make no way against it. 
i ilie ^des in the neighbourhood of the N. W. coast of 
Tasmania, south of Barren Island, run nearly 5 miles an 
UT. High water is three hours after the westerly stream 
from" 10-30^ t f angG ° f t5de Va, ' y Wlth the whld 
water ’ "" “ 10 fCGt ’ With0llt ^ 
so ^r g r POr . t 1 ] ? al ' TTn P le inJul y> 1842 > we made 
interesting tidal observations in the Tamar. Thfe 
F 2 
