beach of several miles in extent commences. The land behind the beach is lower than that to the eastward or westward of it, and rises to the N.E. into high and heavily timbered hills, which may be seen in fine weather from seawards upwards of fifty miles. After passing the sandy beach, and about two miles west of the Cape, is a small bay open to the south, but not safe for anchorage. The small rivers Aire and Johanna empty their waters in the bight between Moonlight Head and Cape Otway, the first River distant five, the latter nine, miles from the Cape.

Cape Otway, the north-west point of the western entrance to Bass’s Strait, is about 250 feet high, of a dark brown color with patches of coarse sandstone, undulating grass hummocks, and openly timbered. It is marked by a lighthouse colored white, a flagstaff, and an electric telegraph station; the latter is in hourly communication with the capitals of the three colonies; it is shut out by a small hummock from the view of vessels approaching from the westward until they are abreast of the Cape.

The land trends from the Cape in an E.N.E. direction towards point Franklin, which is low and sandy, with a reef stretching about half a mile from it to the S.E. This point forms the south-western side of the small river Parker, at the mouth of which the Victorian end of the Tasmanian electric telegraph cable is secured, and where the lighthouse stores are landed. As there is usually a heavy surf on at the mouth of the Parker it is dangerous for small vessels to attempt a landing there.

From Point Franklin the coast is steep and high, bounded by dark colored abrupt cliffs well wooded on the top, trending in a north-east direction to Apollo Bay, where shelter can be found from gales between N.W. and S.S.W. This Bay is about a mile and a-half deep, situated immediately under the summit of the Otway ranges, and to the N.E of Point Bunbury, on which two conspicuous beacons are placed to mark the Henry Reef. A reef, nearly covered at high water, extends about three cables’ length in a S.E. direction from Point Bunbury.

Cape Paton lies about N.E. by E., nine miles from Apollo Bay; it is a bold steep dark looking headland, wooded to the water’s edge, from which the coast, of the same abrupt character, trends in a N.E. direction to Loutit Bay, closed in on its S.W. side by a high bold head. The bay is formed something like Apollo Bay by a projecting reef stretching a quarter of a mile to the S.E., from a low grassy point, it affords shelter from winds between N.W to S.S.W.

From Loutit Bay the coast trends about N.E by E. six miles to Split Point, which is of a reddish-brown color, and forms like three cliffs or heads close together with dark ravines between; the point is bare of trees, and has a small islet of a similar color close to the shore lying N.E. from it. From thence to Sandy Point, where the Otway ranges terminate, consists of bold projecting points with sandy bays between, and grassy plains rising inland, bare of trees, with clumps of shrub here and there. From Sandy Point the coast runs low and forms a deep bight, in which a bold, isolated, saddle-shaped hummock appears, known as Flinders Point or Barwon Head; from thence to Point Lonsdale the coast continues of the same low, sandy character.

Telegraphic Intelligence.—In passing within signaling distance of Cape Otway, vessels, whether bound to Port Phillip or not, are recommended to show their numbers and communicate any public intelligence they may be in possession of.

A sunken reef lies off Cape Otway about one and a half miles in a S.E. to S.S.W. direction; the screw steamer Black Bird, drawing thirteen feet, recently struck upon this reef. It is advisable to round the Cape at a distance of not less than four miles; and when the lighthouse bears W. by N. ½ N. six miles, steer N.E. fifty-six miles to Port Phillip entrance.

Keep an offing until daylight.—Strangers, if when abreast of Split Point, find there is not sufficient daylight to take them to pilot’s waters, should bring the ship under easy sail and stand off and on shore till daylight, not shoaling their water to less than twenty fathoms.

Henry Reef.—In running for Port Phillip be careful to avoid a sunken rock with not more than eighteen feet over it, which lies about two miles off shore, near Apollo Bay, and thirteen miles from Cape Otway.

Four beacons on the mainland mark the position of this rock; two on Cape Bunbury, bearing from each other S.E. ½ S., and N.W. ½ N., the inner one painted white, the outer red; two on Point Hayley, situated about nine miles N.E. from Cape Otway, bearing from each other E. ¼ N., and W. ¼ S., the inner one painted white, the outer black.

The position of the rock is marked by the intersection of two lines drawn through these beacons.

This danger is known as Henry’s Reef, is steep too, having ten fathoms all round within a cable’s length of its shoalest part. As the sea only breaks on the reef in bad weather, vessels should give it a good berth in passing.

Caution not to Heave to.—On no account should a vessel be hove-to when waiting for daylight near the Heads. Several vessels that have done so have drifted into danger; two (the Sacramento and the Earl of Charlemont) were lost—one on Point Lonsdale, the other on Point Flinders—from this cause, combined with inattention to the lead and state of the tide.

Current.—Should Cape Otway be rounded early in the evening, with a fresh southerly breeze, it is necessary to beware of over-running the distance, as the current, after a prevalence of westerly or southerly gales, is often found to set strong along the land to the N.E.

APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE FROM THE SOUTH-WEST.

If the weather be at all clear after passing Split Point, high land will be seen opening out on the starboard bow: this is Arthur’s Seat, rising inland over the waters of Port Phillip, with a steep declivity to the N.W., but sloping gradually with an even outline to the S.E. Proceeding onward, the land about Cape Schanck will be seen more to the eastward, making at first like a long low island, and also trending to the S.E.; and as you near the entrance Flinders Point will open out on the port bow, which is an isolated, saddle-shaped, scrubby hill, about 150 feet high, and is an excellent mark for the port, there being no high land at this part of the coast near it. Care should be taken in thick or hazy weather not to mistake Flinders Point for Port Phillip Heads, which, in several instances, has led to vessels going ashore.

APPROACHING THE HARBOR FROM THE EASTWARD.

Vessels steering for the Heads from the southward and eastward usually make the land about Cape Schanck, which cannot be mistaken, from the bold precipitous character of the coast. The opening into Western Port to the N.E., and the unbroken trending of the coast in a N.W. direction, thence to Port Phillip Heads. The extremity to Cape Schanck is distinguished by a marked isolated basaltic rock, called the Pulpit; and a small reef awash lies off the Cape three cables’ length in a S.E. direction. There is a fixed and flashing white light upon the highest part of the Cape, the tower of which is painted white. Vessels having passed Cape Schanck should keep a good offing in running down towards the entrance until they open out the Shortland’s Bluff lighthouses, which are not seen before bearing N. ½ E., owing to the high