then E.N.E. till it bears N.W., after which she may alter course to N.N.E.

Soundings:—

Until the Light is brought on the latter bearing, viz., N.W., she should not get less than 13 fathoms water, and she should go sufficiently slow to obtain soundings.

Dangers:—

The Current sets in strong towards the Reef, so, should she find herself, from the altered bearings, dropping in towards them, she must haul to the Southward. While steering N.N.E. going to the Eastward of the Roman Rock, the Light must not, on any account, be brought to the Southward of S.W. by S. or S.W., or less water than 10 fathoms to be gone into, till she have run 3 miles at least after having brought the Light to bear N.W., but when 3 miles still have been so run, a N.W. course may be steered to the anchorage.

Precaution:—

But should the vessel have got into less water than 10 fathoms, they must haul to the Eastward immediately. It is better to adhere to the above directions, even though lights should be seen, apparently, amongst the shipping or in the town, as these might occur in a part of the Bay North of the town, and so deceive. The town and vessels will appear from under the shadow of the land, as the anchorage is approached, even though no light should be seen. During moonlight nights it will sometimes occur that the Beacon Point cannot be made out, the only thing distinctly visible being a long line of white sand—the Northern extremity of this may be steered for, on any course to the westward of N.W. by W.

Danger of Roman:—

I would strongly recommend that no vessel should attempt to go to the Westward of the Roman Rock at night, as the soundings are irregular, and the winds, on that side of it, are baffling; the currents also set in towards the mainland.

Redwing:—

The Redwing Rock has been most carefully sought after, without success in finding it; coupling which with the fact that there is no break in the place it is represented to be, leaves no doubt in my mind but that whatever was taken for a rock has disappeared.

St. Croix Islands:—

In Algoa Bay, and at about 10 miles N.E. by E. from the anchorage off Port Elizabeth, are the St. Croix Islands, under which there is good anchorage for all winds; indeed it is a question whether the town should not have been in preference near them, and the anchorage in that part of the colony have been under them—the open country and the Zwartkops River would have afforded no mean advantages, not possessed by Port Elizabeth.

Bird Islands:—

The Bird Islands, situated in the Eastern extremity of Algoa Bay, lie off Woody Cape, which is, as its name imports, covered with wood, except a small patch of sand at its summit, and is the only seaboard land that is so—which gives it, in contrast with that for miles on either side, a dark appearance; the land on its West side, from near St. Croix up, rises into small numerous sandy hillocks, quite bare of vegetation, and that to the Eastward, up to Padrone Point, is similarly bare.

Woody Cape:—

Is high, rugged, and not prominent, scarcely determinable as a Cape, except when very near it; not so Padrone Point, which runs out into a low point of sand, forming a determinable Cape, without vegetation, from which breakers run out some distance, and the water breaks still further out at times, owing to the meeting of currents there and after strong winds.

Anchorage off, and dangers near, Bird Islands:—

The innermost danger from these Islands is fully ½ miles from Woody Cape, and they afford tolerable shelter behind them in winds from W. to S.S.E. in 13 fathoms, at rather better than ½ a mile from the Northernmost breakers; closer would afford more shelter, but the ground is foul. They are very low, and proportionably dangerous, and though the main land will generally be seen before them, and the distance from them may be estimated by it, yet this is not entirely to be relied on; so, in shaping a course to go outside of them, allowance should be made for the fact that the eddy or return current sets in towards them, and then to the Eastward.

Doddington:—

The Doddington and Western reef should be considered as part of the Bird Island reef, and no vessel should go between them; the water does not always break on them, but in bad weather the breakers extend the whole way from them to the Islands; the Doddington lies about 11 miles from Woody Cape. In clear weather the rugged-topped mountain and the Cockscomb may be seen from these islands, or rather from abreast of them, for the latter would be shut in when on them; but in passing outside the Doddington it should be kept open to the west of the rugged-topped mountain, bearing about N. W., and the ship should steer N.W. by W. by W.; having passed the Doddington, the high land at the back of Port Elizabeth will soon appear right a-head.

Erroneous Statements:—

There are many statements current about breakers being seen from time to time in different parts of Algoa Bay; but I believe others than those laid down in the chart, now transmitted, not to have any existence, and that that which has been mistaken for such has been the effect of mirage.

Appearances of Breakers:—

I have seen an appearance of breakers extending the greater part of the bay, but examination and patient attention showed it to be unreal—at least the effect of light and moisture. It may be the effect of the sudden changes of temperature which obtain after an Easterly wind. As air is supplied with or robbed of its heat by the sea-water, its capacity for moisture is increased or diminished, and this to a greater degree the more near to the surface of the sea. Consequently, the strata of air are of unequal densities, and possess, therefore, unequal refractive powers, which may produce the appearance by turns of broken water or sea-green, and irregularly, so as the particles are set in motion, intermingling by the passage of the sea-wave (whose surface at the same time being smooth) they would reflect the rays of light to different points as it passed along, and give it the appearance of a rolling over of the wave-crest, or of a roller breaking.

Anchorage during N. W. gales:—

There may be a little sea at times, the effect of races and overfalls, where there are, as here, currents and irregular soundings, but nothing detrimental to navigation; while on the contrary, the palpable change from a considerable cross sea in N.W. gales to smooth water, which immediately follows, on passing into this bay, is quite remarkable, and renders it a good refuge in such gales, in any part, almost, of the bay, from Receife to Bird Islands.

E. Gardiner Fishbourne.

The following easy method of determining the distance may be of value:—

Suppose a ship to be steering any course,—observe the bearing of an object whose distance it is desired to ascertain; note the difference in points between this bearing and the ship’s course, and call it (A); run a certain distance; observe again the bearing of the object, note the difference between this bearing and the ship’s course, and subtract it from 16 points, call it (B). Then

Log. of required distance (in miles) = log. ran

• log. sin (A)
• log. sin (A - B)