1802.
January.
Saturday 16
The basis stone of this, as it appears to be of all the islands as well as of the coast of the archipelago, is granitic; but at the south side of Middle Island there is a thick crust of calcareous rock over it, as there is at the south end of Goose Island. It was also on the south side of King George's Sound, that the calcareous rock covered the granite; a coincidence which may perhaps afford some light to the geologist.
The latitude of Goose-Island Bay, for so this anchorage was named, is 34° 5′ 23″ south, and longitude by the two best time keepers corrected 123° 9′ 30″,5 east; the observations being made on the middlemost of the three southern beaches.
The variation from azimuth, observed on the binnacle when the ship's head was west-south-west, was 0° 54′ west, and in the following year similar observations taken at anchor one mile to the eastward, with the head east, gave 6° 10′ west; whence I deduce the variation which would have been obtained with the head at north or south, to be 3° 25′ west. From the bearings on shore, compared with the latitudes and longitudes, it appeared to be 5¾ on the centre of Goose Island; and 4° upon the granitic mount of Middle Island.
No run of tide was observed, notwithstanding the narrowness of the channel where the ship lay.
Goose-Island Bay may be useful as a place of refreshment, but the geese were not found to be so numerous at a different season of the year: a few hair seals may be procured, probably at all times. The wood is a species of eucalyptus, neither abundant nor large; but two or three ships may be supplied with fuel. Fresh water was not to be obtained upon either of the islands; but upon the opposite Cape Arid, five miles to the north, I judged there might be small streams running down from the hills. The lake of salt will be the greatest inducement for vessels to stop in this bay; they must not, however, come to it in the winter season, as there will be occasion to show hereafter.
Sunday 17.On the 17th in the morning, the anchor was weighed and we