Page:The State and Position of Western Australia.djvu/142

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130

Cockburn Sound and Owen’s Anchorage.

The following' account of the buoys at the entrance of the above harbours has been extracted from the Nautical Magazine for March 1835, into which it was copied from the Perth Gazette, forwarded to that publication by the Surveyor-General, Lieutenant J. S. Roe, R. N.

The Challenger Buoy, painted black, is moored in six fathoms water, about twenty-five yards to the north-east of the Challenger Rock, which is nearly awash, and is situated near the north-western termination of Sea Reef; extending a mile and a quarter in a north-west direction from the north-west point of Garden Island. This buoy is visible from a ship’s deck, through a spy-glass, at the distance of five or six miles, and is a principal object to be made out by a ship approaching the channel between Carnac and Garden Islands.

Stags Beacon, painted black, is placed about three furlongs in the direction of S. 65° E. (magnetic) from the Challenger buoy, in five fathoms water, about five yards to the N. N. W. of a small rock, with only six or seven feet water upon it. This rock is the northernmost of many which rise out of five and six fathoms water, and from a reef called the “Stags.”

Mid Beacon, painted white, is situated opposite to the Challenger buoy, in nearly four fathoms water, and in a line with the outer small island off the south point of Carnac, towards which it is intended shortly to remove it about eighty yards, into three fathoms on the southern edge of Middle Shoal. Mid Beacon will then float at the distance of 100 yards to the S. S. W. of eight and nine feet water on the Middle Shoal.

Flat Ledge Beacon, painted white, is placed in three fathoms and a half water, about 130 yards N. W. by W. from the Flat Ledge, a small reef, covered by only six feet water. This beacon will be shortly removed into three fathoms, about 130 yards in a south-east direction, to the south side of the Flat Ledge.

A ship may safely enter Cockburn Sound by passing to the north of the Challenger Buoy and Stags Beacon, and to the south of the Mid and Flat Ledge Beacons; steering S. E. by E. ¾ E. in Mid-channel. This course may be prolonged until the Flat Ledge and Mid Beacons are brought in a line; then haul up to the east, until the largest rock