In M. De Freycinet’s chart of Bass Strait, some
rocky islets are placed forty miles east of Sea-Elephant
Bay. I did not succeed in finding them, although
the Mermaid sailed close to their position. (See volume
1.)
The PYRAMID, at the east end of Bass Strait, is placed
five miles too much to the northward: its true
situation is in latitude 39 degrees 52 minutes 40
seconds, and longitude 147 degrees 11 minutes 30 seconds.
A reef of rocks were seen by Lieutenant John Lamb,
R.N., off Cape Albany Otway. (See Horsburgh volume
2 page 499.)
There appears to be a considerable difference in the
positions assigned to ALBATROSS ISLAND, by the French
expedition and Captain Flinders; the former made the
difference between the meridian of Albatross Island,
and that of the rock in Sea-Elephant Bay, 24 minutes
45 seconds; whilst by the latter it is 32 minutes
30 seconds. But as Captain Flinders only saw
the north end of KING’S ISLAND, the error seems
to originate in his having laid down its eastern side
from other authorities, for his difference of longitude
between its north-west point and the centre of Albatross
Island only differs 2 minutes 30 seconds from the French,
who surveyed that island with great care.
Several sunken rocks have been discovered from time
to time near the north end of GREAT ISLAND, so that
ships, bound through Bass Strait to the eastward,
should not pass within Craggy Island without using
great caution. The best passage is on the south
side of Kent’s Group, between it and the rocky
islet (WRIGHT’S ROCK) to the south-east.
In a line between the above rocky islet and Craggy
Island, and about two miles from the former, is a
reef with two small rocks upon it. (See Horsburgh
Supp. page 32.)
There are some considerable errors in Captain Flinders’
chart of Van Diemen’s Land, with respect to
the latitudes of the South-west Cape, the Mewstone,
the South cape, and the land between them. The
first is laid down 8 minutes too much to the North
30 degrees West (true) and the other places in proportion.
The corrected situations are given in the second volume
of this work.
...
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOALS AND REEFS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
OF THE COASTS OF AUSTRALIA.
REEFS, EAST COAST.
ELIZABETH’S REEF (see Horsburgh’s Supp.
page 52) in latitude 30 degrees 5 minutes, and longitude
159 degrees, was discovered by the ships Claudine
and Marquis of Hastings, on the 16th of May, 1820.
Within two cables’ length of the reef, they
found fourteen fathoms; at a quarter of a mile off
the depth was twenty-five fathoms, but beyond that
the bottom was not reached. It is about three
miles in circuit, with deep water in the centre:
the edge is covered, but some straggling rocky lumps
show at intervals above the surface of the water.
The east side of the reef extends about North-North-East
and South-South-West for one mile, but the greatest
extent seemed to be West-North-West and East-South-East.
