the light bearing from N. N. W. to N. N. E., taking care not to come under twenty-five (25) fathoms water, which will place a ship about five (5) or six (6) miles from the Cape. Masters of vessels acquainted with this port will find no difficulty in entering it by observing the following directions:—

On approaching from seaward, keep Point Douglas, a headland to the W. N. W. of Cape Northumberland, well open of the latter, and Mount Gambier open to the eastward of the latter before standing in, after which steer for Mount Schanck until the mooring-buoys are made out. By keeping the eastern set, bearing between N. W. ½ W. and W. N. W., they may be safely approached, when the Harbour-Master will, if possible, come off and moor the ship.

Masters of vessels are requested to carefully observe if any of the signals herein-after mentioned are made from the flag-staff near the jetty.

In the event of all the moorings being occupied, vessels entering the bay must anchor; and should be kept in such a condition, as to ballast and trim, as will enable them to seek an offing in event of bad weather coming on.

Although the moorings now laid are capable of the heaviest description, and fully competent to hold any vessel that can enter Port MacDonnell, it must be remembered that, during heavy south-west gales, the sea rolls in over the outlying reefs, and breaks in the bay very heavily. On these occasions vessels will ride very uneasily, and be cut off from communication with the shore.

The responsibility of remaining in the bay after the bad weather signal has been made, must devolve on the commander of a ship, although fast to the moorings.

It is obvious, from the nature of the bottom, that no vessel can be considered safe in bad weather from the westward, if at her own anchors, although their weight may be in excess of the prescribed scale.

The following Moorings are now placed at Port MacDonnell:—

One set:
One 165 fathoms of 3 inch mooring-chain
Two 13 fathoms of 2½ inch bridles
Two anchors of 4 tons
Two buoys, 13 feet water.

One set:
One 147 fathoms of 1¾ inch mooring-chain
Three 15 fathoms 1¾ inch bridles
Two anchors of 3½ tons
Three buoys — outer buoy 17 feet water, inner buoy 16 feet water.

One set:
One 60 fathoms of 1½ inch mooring-chain
One 7 fathoms of ¾ bridle
One anchor of 1½ tons
One buoy, 10 feet water.

The anchors are placed in holes blasted in the rocky bottom.

Commanders, masters, and others in charge of vessels are hereby required, when using the moorings laid down at the outports in this Province, to observe the following directions:—

In fine weather, when there is little sea, a line may be made fast to the large buoy; but on no account must a vessel hang to the buoy longer than is absolutely necessary to moor the vessel to the bridle—the buoy chains not being intended to moor by, the buoys being placed solely for the purpose of indicating the position of the moorings, and assisting vessels in picking up the mooring bridles.

In the event of the weather being such as would render it improper to take hold of the large buoy, ships must let go an anchor, clear of the direction of the mooring-chain in the bottom.

At those outports where Harbour Masters are stationed, or where pilots take charge of vessels, the direction and position of the mooring anchors and chains will be duly pointed out, and instructions given to masters of vessels in mooring and unmooring.

Having brought the ship near the mooring buoy, a small black wooden buoy will be hauled up upon the small chain, to which is shackled the mooring-bridle lying on the bottom. Having hauled up upon the small chain, and brought the large link or shackle on the end of the bridle to the hawse shackle on the ship’s cable, should any be down, lift it; and, if necessary, or so instructed, shackle on the second chain, unshackle the small buoy, and veer away cable as requisite, observing that as the bridles are in short lengths, a ship should ride with as much range as locality or the state of the weather may require, where she is simply riding to her own anchors.

In unmooring, the small buoy chain must be carefully secured before slipping, and the large buoy be used under the same conditions as expressed in the first section of these regulations.

It will be obvious to commanders and masters of vessels, that no confidence can be felt in using the large buoys for securing ships to, when it is remembered that the constant friction of that portion of the chain touching the bottom so wears the stoutest chains, that a very few months shakes out the studs, and renders them quite unfit to hold firmly in any weather likely to cause a strain on the chain.

The Board take every precaution in keeping the moorings in a perfect state of efficiency, and will hold commanders,