South Channel.—The South Channel is nine miles long, free from dangers, varying from one to a quarter of a mile in breadth; soundings very irregular, varying in the centre from seven fathoms at the western end to twelve and twenty fathoms off Point King, and decreasing to four and half fathoms at the eastern end, shoaling gradually from the middle to three fathoms at the sides, then suddenly to two fathoms and less. It is marked by thirteen buoys, eight black on the port hand, and five white on starboard, the former marked with odd, the latter with even numbers, commencing from seaward; the first and last black buoys and the easternmost or Capel Sound white buoy are each surmounted by a staff and ball.

To clear Nepean’s Knoll.—To pass to the northward, keep the rocky islet a little open of Point Nepean. To pass to the southward, shut in the rocky islet with Point Nepean; when the eastern flagstaff of the Quarantine ground bears S.W. by S. you are above the knoll.

Directions for Entering Between the Heads.

Waiting the turn of tide.—It is advisable for vessels waiting the turn of tide outside the Heads to keep Point Lonsdale shore abroad, where the tide runs fairer, and in bad weather small vessels incur less danger from tide ripple and will have smoother water.

West Channel.—The West Channel is five miles long and about half a mile broad, free from dangers, with an even bottom having from three to four fathoms through it, shoaling suddenly towards both sides. This channel is most used, and is marked by a lighthouse, lightship, and fourteen buoys. The lightship is built on piles in fifteen feet water on the Swan Spit. The lightship is moored in seventeen feet, at the north end of the channel, is painted red, has two masts, and shows two fixed white lights. There are five black buoys on the port hand with odd numbers, and eight white buoys on the starboard hand with even numbers. The first white buoy on the Royal George bank and the large cone buoy [No. 12], on the N.W. elbow of the bank which forms the east side of the channel, are surmounted by a staff and ball.

Cole’s Channel.—Cole’s Channel is the westernmost, is three miles long and about one quarter of a mile broad, with thirteen feet in the fairway, shoaling gradually to the shore, but suddenly towards the bank which separates it from the West Channel. The entrance to this channel is above Swan Island; it is but little used. There are two red buoys on the starboard hand.

Marks to Clear the Dangers at the Entrance and Shoals Inside the Heads.

To clear Lonsdale Reef.—Vessels drawing under fourteen feet may, in the day time, pass between Lonsdale Reef and the Rock by keeping Swan Point a little open east of Shortland’s Bluff; and to pass to the eastward of these dangers, keep Swan Point beacon open east of Shortland’s Bluff until the lighthouse on Point Lonsdale opens well out clear of the tidal flagstaff.

To clear the Lightning Rocks.—Keep the high lighthouse open to the westward of the Obelisk until you open Lonsdale Lighthouse well out to the northward of the tidal flagstaff when bound inwards, and well out to the southward when bound out.

To clear the Corsair Rocks and adjacent dangers.—Keep the south end of a two-storied building (situated close to the high lighthouse) open to the westward of the Obelisk until you open the white beacon on Point Nepean well out to the northward of the red beacon when bound inwards, and well out to the southward when bound outwards.

To clear Victory Shoal.—Keep Swan Spit lighthouse open east of Shortland’s Bluff.

To clear Royal George Knoll.—Keep Swan Spit lighthouse to the eastward of N.E. by E. until the outer end of Queenscliff jetty bears W. by S.

To clear Pope’s-eye Beacon.—To pass to the westward of the southernmost end of the Pope’s-eye do not bring Swan Spit lighthouse to the northward of N. by E. ½ E.

To clear the bank between Shortland’s Bluff and Swan Spit light.—Keep the Lonsdale lighthouse open of Shortland’s Bluff.

Proper time to enter the Heads.—Should a pilot not have been taken on board outside the Heads, and the last quarter ebb signal be up, or it be flood tide, steer, when within three leagues of the entrance, to bring the high lighthouse on Shortland’s Bluff to bear N.E. by N., upon which line of bearing, as you approach the Heads, the low lighthouse will be seen to seaward of the upper one, when steer as follows:—

Fair wind and flood tide.—With a fresh fair wind and flood tide, keep the two lighthouses in one until you bring the rocky islet of Point Nepean open to the westward of that point, when you are in clear of the reefs.

Scant wind and flood tide.—With a scant or light wind (easterly) and flood tide, do not shut Swan Point beacon in with Shortland’s Bluff.

Entering against ebb tide.—Directions for the West Channel.

Entering the Heads with the ebb tide, steer, when within two miles of the Heads, to get the low lighthouse about a point open east of the high one, until you draw near Point Lonsdale, when haul as close round the reef as practicable, taking care, however, if your draught is over fourteen feet, not to shut Swan Island beacon in with Shortland’s Bluff, nor on any account to shut in Swan Point with the Bluff, until you are clear of the reefs, and have the rocky islet of Point Nepean open to the westward of that point.

With a scant wind against ebb tide.—Vessels with a scant wind proceeding up channel against the ebb must not stand too close over towards the east bank, as they are liable to be horsed on it, especially at the north end of the channel.