Coasts of Australia. 
69 
tlie least in the East Channel will be four fathoms (low 
water), crossing a ledge apparently extending from Low 
Head to Middle Ground. 
The Western Channel is two cables wide, with a depth in 
the shoalest part of ten fathoms (low water). It is formed 
by the Middle Ground on the eastern side, and the Yellow 
Rock Reef on the western. The latter is an extensive 
patch of kelp, with a double light-coloured rock near its 
extremity. The least water on it at low water is six feet 
«rom the Shear Beacon. It bears N. 50° W. half a mile, 
and S. 52° W. eight-tenths of a mile from the light¬ 
house. There is generally a wdiite buoy near its vicinity, 
and a black one on the western edge of the Middle 
Ground. The Barrel! Rock beacon, and the high and 
low beacons erected by the Beagles crew on the shore 
over Lagoon Bay, kept in one, leads through the Western 
Channel, rather on the Middle Ground side of it. When 
abreast of the Shear Beacon, steer for the next beyond, to 
avoid a long patch of kelp, with three and five fathoms 
on it, extending in the opposite direction of the light¬ 
house cables from the Barrell Rock. 
The high part of the Western Reef bearing S. by E. 
leads into the fair way of the Western Channel, when the 
beacon over Lagoon Bay will be seen. The latter is the 
second sandy beach inside the light-house on the eastern 
shore. The Western Reefs are those fronting the western 
entrance point; the part above mentioned is a black 
patch of rocks near the northern extremity, and the only 
part uncovered at high water. 
The only danger near the entrance of Port Dalrymple 
is the Hebe Reef, named after a ship lost on it in 1808. It 
occupies a space of a quarter of a mile, chiefly in an east di- 
icction. A small portion of its centre is nearly dry : this 
pait bears S. 89° W. 2 to 3 miles from the light-house. 
Hiuc is a channel of seven fathoms inside it. The guide 
