islands are annoyed by the most powerful gales in winter.'
The result of the observations made by Sir James C. Ross at Sarah Harbour, or Terror Cove, gave for the observatory, lat. 50° 32′ 30″ S., long. 166° 12′ 34″ E.; variation 17° 40′ E.; dip, 73° 12′. High water, full and change, at 12h.; the highest spring tides scarcely exceed 3 feet.
A remarkable oscillation of the tide, when near the time of high water, was observed; after rising to nearly its highest, the tide would fall 2 or 3 inches, and then rise again between 3 and 4 inches, so as to exceed its former height rather more than an inch. This irregular movement generally occupied more than an hour, of which the fall continued about 20 minutes, and the rise 50 minutes of the interval.[1]
The establishment of the Southern Whale Fishery Company was fixed at the south side of Erebus Cove. This cove is bounded on the south side by a small peninsula projecting in an E.N.E. direction,[2] and connected by a narrow isthmus. This beach allows of easy landing, and the land, being level, is suitable for the purposes of wharfage, whaling stores, &c.
From this part the head of the harbour extends nearly two miles farther in a W.S.W. direction to its head, into which a fine and copious stream of fresh water falls. In its upper part Mr. Enderby found a large and valuable bed of cockles, little inferior to oysters. The southern side of the harbour does not require any particular notice.
The following is Sir James Ross's account of the harbour:—
'Rendezvous Harbour, which is at the north extreme of the island, contains several secure anchorages. The outermost of these, though convenient for stopping at a short time only, is a small sandy bay on the south side of
- ↑ Voyage of Discovery, vol. I., p. 153.
- ↑ Pig Point of Bristow.
