Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

468 TIDES FIRST NARROW. In the eastern entrance the winds will frequently favour a ship's arrival off the First Narrow ; where, if she selects a good anchorage on the bank which bounds the northern side of the channel, she may await an opportunity of passing through the First Narrow and of reaching Gregory Bay ; where also a delay may safely be made for the pvirpose of passing the Second Nar- row and arriving at the neighbourhood of Cape Negro ; at which place the difficulties and dangers of the eastern entrance cease. The dangers being carefully placed on the chart, and now sufficiently described, nothing need be repeated here; and indeed much must be left to the judgment and discretion of the navigator. The tides answer best for vessels entering the Strait at the period of full and change of the moon, since there are two westerly tides in the day. In the winter season, if the morning tide be not sufficient to carry a vessel through the First Nar- row, she may return to Possession Bay, select an anchorage, and be secured again before night ; or, in the summer, if she has passed the Narrow, and has been enabled to anchor for the tide, there will be sufficient daylight for her to proceed with the following tide to Gregory Bay, or at least to a safe an- chorage off the peaked hillocks on the north shore. I have twice attempted to pass the First Narrow, and been obliged to return to the anchorage in Possession Bay; and twice I have passed through it against a strong breeze blow- ing directly through, by aid of the tide ; which runs, in the narrower parts, at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour. When the tide and wind are opposed to each other, the sea is very deep and heavy, and breaks high over the decks ; it is therefore advisable to close reef, or lower the topsails on the cap, and drift through ; for the tide, if at the springs, will generally be sufficient to carry a ship to an anchorage, al- though, not always to one where it would be safe to pass the night. On this account, it would be prudent to return for, although the holding ground is exceedingly good, yet, to part in the night, or drift towards, or through the Narrow, could scarcely happen without accident.