sending a telegram from the Heads (stating draught of water) to the harbour master, who would have a pilot ready to board the vessel off Point Henry.

Masters of vessels, pilots, and others using the channel, are specially cautioned to keep in remembrance its very limited width, and to use every precaution to avoid collision with other vessels, or the buoys, or beacons.

To prevent accidents, although there is width enough for ordinary vessels to pass each other from opposite directions in this channel, it is advisable not to do so. Persons in charge of vessels are recommended, when they see another vessel entering the channel from an opposite direction, to await outside either entrance until she has passed through.

Vessels beating between the West Channel lightship and Geelong.

Vessels bound to Geelong having a contrary wind between the lightship and Prince George’s bank buoy should not stand into less than five fathoms, nor bring the lightship to the westward of S. by E. ½ E. until they open out Station Peak clear of Indented Head, keeping Leading Hill open of the south Red Bluff until they are to the north of the buoy, between which and the red buoy off Point Richards do not stand into less than five fathoms, not bringing Point Richards to the westward of W. by S. Between Point Richards and Point Henry do not stand into less than four fathoms on the south side, nor less than five fathoms when standing to the north, keeping a good mile from the former and three miles from the latter shore.

Point Wilson Shoal.

A rocky bank, upwards of a mile in width, stretches due south from Point Wilson about three miles, with very irregular soundings, varying from ten feet to three fathoms; the white buoy on the southern end lies in four fathoms, with sixteen feet within a ship’s length to the northward of it.

Course between Hobson’s Bay and Geelong.

Vessels bound to Geelong from Hobson’s Bay, whose draught of water exceeds fourteen feet, should steer S.W. ½ S. twenty-four miles from a fair berth off Gellibrand’s Point lightship for Point Wilson white buoy, bringing Point Henry to bear W. ½ S. before Station Peak bears N.W. by W., when follow the directions already given above.

Point Henry to sea by West Channel.

Vessels leaving Point Henry for sea by the West Channel should steer E. for Point Wilson buoy, and from thence keep about a mile off shore until Point Richards bears south by east, when haul up E. ½ N. for the black buoy off Prince George’s bank; a round hill, visible between the two highest hummocks of Station Peak, kept just open to the northward of the highest, will carry you clear of the bank. After passing the buoy, steer S. by E. six miles for the lightship.

Point Henry to sea by South Channel.

If bound to sea from Geelong by the South Channel, steer after passing Prince George’s buoy S.E. ½ E. twelve miles for the easternmost black buoy, which is surmounted by a staff and ball, when follow the directions given for South Channel outwards.

Best time to leave Hobson’s Bay.

Vessels bound to sea by the West Channel will generally clear the Heads the same day by leaving Hobson’s Bay two or three hours before daylight, when there is frequently a moderate land or northerly wind. A S. by W. ¼ W. course from a fair berth off the lightship leads down to the West Channel lightship; after passing which steer for Swan Spit lighthouse, leaving the black buoys on the starboard and the white buoys on the port hand.

Until you pass the lighthouse, when haul to the S.W., keeping Point Lonsdale a little open of Shortland’s Bluff, leaving the Royal George buoy (white) on the port hand; after passing which, and the Pope’s-eye (red buoy), the shoals are cleared, when a course may be steered for the extreme part of Shortland’s Bluff, giving it in passing a berth of two cables’ length, and in passing out between the Heads bring the opposite marks on which are given for entering.

South Channel Outwards.

Vessels bound to sea from Hobson’s Bay by the South Channel should steer from a fair berth off Gellibrand’s Point S. ¾ E. twenty-seven miles for the easternmost black buoy off the middle ground, taking care to have the white cliffs bearing S.W. by W., before the top of Arthur’s Seat bears S.S.E.; and after passing the black buoy on the middle ground, haul up for the south white cliff until you bring the easternmost white buoy open to the northward of the Observatory Point flagstaff; then keep away for the latter buoy, leaving it on your port hand, when a W. ½ N. course will take you down mid-channel, keeping the easternmost white buoy on with the top of Arthur’s Seat astern, and the knob on Point Nepean open to the northward of the flagstaff on Observatory Point, leaving the black buoys on the starboard and white on the port hand, and when to the westward of Point King steer to pass midway between Observatory Point and the lighthouse, bringing the latter to bear in one N.E. by N., with which marks you will be guided by the state of tides in proceeding to sea.

Vessels leaving Hobson’s Bay with strong southerly winds, especially during the summer months, when these winds prevail, will sooner get to sea by working down the east side of Hobson’s Bay, and going through the South Channel, where, having smooth water, they will be enabled to lead through the channel right out to sea; whereas by beating down the middle of the bay, and taking the West Channel, more swell is experienced, and a large vessel would possibly have to anchor off the lightship, waiting for a shift of wind.

Caution.

No stranger should anchor close to the Heads, except it be to save the vessel from going ashore, although the coasters sometimes, to avoid being carried by the tide inside the Heads in a calm, anchor about a mile outside, where the bottom is sandy, and occasionally in the bight between Point Flinders and Point Lonsdale.

Anchorage Inside the Heads.

The waters of Port Phillip Bay spread over a surface of upwards of eight hundred (800) square miles, three quarters of which are available for anchorage, the depth nowhere inside the lighthouses exceeding fifteen (15) fathoms; below them the bottom is rocky and the ground foul, with very irregular soundings. Off Point Nepean there are several deep holes, with thirty, forty, and fifty-five fathoms water, and eight and ten fathoms close to.

Anchorage off the Lighthouse.

Vessels detained inside the Heads by contrary winds or tide may, during northerly or westerly winds, anchor with the high lighthouse bearing W., distant about a mile and a half, in from six to seven fathoms. The bottom below the above bearings is rocky.

Anchorage in Southerly Gales.

With a southerly gale haul over under Point Nepean, abreast of the Quarantine Station, between Observatory Point and Point King, in from ten (10) to fourteen (14) fathoms, a mile off shore.

Not to anchor in the Channels.

Capel Sound.

It is not advisable in bad weather to anchor in either the South or West Channel, on account of the tide and loose nature of the bottom; but in S.W. gales...