THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD DECEMBER, 1882.
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ward of the latter, until over the Outer bar when a mid-channel should be kept until abreast of Ransonnet rocks. Thence E.N.E. and more northerly courses should be steered between the East and South sands, the former indicating itself by light colored water and the latter by dark streaks of seaweed. Crossing the Inner bar a vessel can be conned by the eye between the discolored water which marks the North and South sands; or by keeping a conspicuous sand patch on the eastern shore of Dirk Hartog island on the bearing of N.W. by N.
TIDES.-In South passage (August 1882), the tides were observed to be very irregular. The ebb stream attained a velocity of 3 knots at springs, causing heavy overfalls on the Outer bar. Strong southerly winds are reported to cause the water to fall 2 feet below the mean low water level or the standard for the reduction of soundings.
BAR FLATS, at the mouth of Freycinet reach, are reported to have shoaled and extended considerably in the direction of Middle bluff (Peron peninsula).
WOORAMEL RIVER, which flows into the eastern side of Sharks bay abreast of Pelican island, is reported to have anchorage close southward of its mouth, with a channel leading thereto available for vessels of 12 feet draught.
The Wooramel is the principle outlet for the local Sandalwood industry.
PEARLING STATIONS are situated on Peron peninsula at cape Leseur and Lagoon point (Fresh water camp). SUPPLIES.-Small supplies of fresh meat and water can be obtained at Fresh Water camp, and at a sheep station on Dirk Hartog island, abreast of the north end of Bellefin prong peninsula, on the parallel of 26° S.
DORRE and BERNIER ISLANDS (unsurveyed) are reported to be much narrower than shown on the chart. GASCOYNE RIVER flows into Sharks bay about 40 miles southward of cape Cuvier of the French (Freycinet), and is entered by two channels (North and South entrances) passing northward and southward of Babbage island respectively.
North entrance dries across at low water, and is barely available for boats at high water.
South entrance is 3 cables wide, and takes an easterly and thence north-easterly direction, until its junction with North entrance abreast of the north-east extreme of Babbage island. There is barely one foot at low water springs across the mouth of South entrance (if southerly winds prevail), but the channel is available for cargo boats at high water. account of the many snags which obstruct the channel, a good look-out must be kept when entering, especially at high On
water.
Gascoyne townsite lies on the south shore, about half-a-mile within the South entrance. There are several stores erected, and other buildings in the course of erection (June, 1882), and the place is fast increasing in importance. It is proposed to lay out an additional townsite at the mouth of South entrance, separated from the present site by a swamp at high water.
EXPORTS consist principally of wool. There being no surveyed ports between Sharks bay and N.W. cape, the wool is brought overland to the Gascoyne from as far north as the Ashburton (or Curlew) river.
COMMUNICATION.-The local mail steamer calls at the Gascoyne on her way to Cossack, and on the return trip, monthly. Coasting vessels trade between Fremantle and Gascoyne river, and the wool ships call there for cargoes. SUPPLIES.-Fresh meat, water, flour, and other stores in moderate quantities can be procured at the Gascoyne. BEACONS.-A beacon 25 feet high and 42 feet above high water, pyramidal in shape and white-washed, is erected on the south extreme of Babbage island. It is to be removed to the site originally selected for it on the summit of the sand dunes on the western side of Babbage island, about three-quarters of a mile northward of its present position, at an elevation of 58 feet above high water.
A white-washed cask (vertical) beacon, 16 feet above high water, is erected on Mangrove point.
OBSERVATION SPOT.-The site upon which Babbage island beacon is to be re-erected is situated in latitude 24° 52′ 45′′ S., longitude 113° 39′ E. The present beacon is in latitude 24° 53′ 24′′ S., longitude 113° 39′ 18′′ E.
TIDES.-It is high water, full and change, about 10 h. Springs rise 5 feet, neaps 2 feet. Strong south-east winds cause the water to remain about 2 feet below, and north-west winds about 2 feet above, the mean low water level to which the soundings are reduced.
ANCHORAGE.-The deepest water and best anchorage lies off the North entrance, where the depth of 14 feet and over will be found about 6 cables from the shore of Babbage island; that depth and less water extends one mile from the shore off the South entrance, and three miles from the shore at one mile southward of Mangrove point.
Similarly, the depths of 20 and 24 feet will be found off the North entrance at 14 and 24 miles respectively from the shore of Babbage island, and 4 and 5 miles from the shore respectively at one mile southward of Mangrove point.
Marks.-Anchorage in 20 feet, sand bottom, will be found 14 miles from the shore with Babbage island (present) beacon bearing E.S.E.; Mangrove Point beacon bearing S.E. E.; and the highest part of the sand dunes on Babbage island, on which the beacon is to be re-erected, bearing E. S. A vessel drawing 14 feet can find a berth three-quarters of a mile nearer the shore, with the above-mentioned marks bearing E.S.E., S.E. E. and N.E. by E. † E., respectively.
During strong southerly winds (which frequently blow for days together in Sharks bay) the most convenient berth for a vessel of 16 feet draught (enabling the cargo lighters to work with a leading wind) will be off the South entrance, with the above-mentioned marks bearing E. by N. N., E. by S. § S., and N.E. N., respectively. A continuance of strong southerly winds will reduce the above given depths 2 feet.
YULE CREEK is about 14 cables wide and takes a south-easterly direction for about two miles, where it bifurcates and becomes absorbed in the sand flats. It is fronted by a bar with depths of 8 and 9 feet over it; but within the creek (which seems to have been a former channel of the Gascoyne) there are depths of 14 to 17 feet, available at high water for vessels possessing local knowledge, and less than 14 feet draught, if desirous of entering it to land stock. The mouth of Yule creek lies about half-a-mile southward of South entrance, and a vessel making use of it should steer in with Mangrove point beacon bearing E. by S. & S. until Babbage island (present) beacon bears N.E.. thence a general course of S.E. by E. E. will lead up the creek and a vessel may haul alongside the sand flat extending from Mangrove point, and land stock upon it.
DIRECTIONS.-Vessels approaching the Gascoyne from the southward having passed through Naturaliste channel should, when abreast of a Dampier reef, steer N.E. & N. (allowing for tide) until the beacons on Babbage island and Man- grove point are distinguished, when they may anchor as convenient on the bearings and distances before given. The lead, if carefully attended to, will given good warning, bearing in mind that sand banks, which dry, and shoal water, with depths of 1 and 2 fathoms, extend 4 and 5 miles from the shore a few miles southward of the river's mouth.
Approaching from the northward, Babbage island (present) beacon, or the summit of the sand dunes on that island, should not be brought to bear south of S.E. until within 3 miles of the anchorage, thence it should not be brought to bear southward of E.S.E.
Within 10 miles north and south of Gascoyne anchorage a vessel may stand into 5 fathoms, and off to 14 and 15 fathoms a out mid-way between Dorre and Bernier islands and the main.
WEATHER.-Sharks bay is occasionally, though rarely, visited by the outer circle of the cyclones which are experienced northward of the bay. A vessel, therefore, at anchor off the Gascoyne from December until the end of March should, upon indications of bad weather, be prepared to put to sea.
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