ls respecting it. These observations, too, may
evince more plainly, the necessity of an anchorage at this time of the
year being sheltered from both east and west winds.

FIRE ON THREE HUMMOCK ISLAND.

The fire that had been accidentally kindled on Three Hummock Island, when
we were last there, was still burning. This conflagration had almost been
fatal to Mr. Bynoe, who was out in the scrubs when it burst forth, having
with great difficulty forced his way among them in search of specimens
for his collection of birds. His attention was suddenly roused by the
roaring of the flames as they swept down the sides of the hills, wrapping
them in a sheet of fire. The predicament in which he was placed was a
most critical one, as he hardly knew which way to turn to avoid the
pressing danger. Even when, fortunately, he had taken the right
direction, it was with the greatest exertion that he burst through the
matted thicket and reached the water's edge before the fire.

Our fishermen were very successful with the hook and line, taking near
the rocks great numbers of fish, some of which were a species of rock
cod. Alongside the ship we only caught sharks, one of which contained
thirty-six young ones.

Although the barometer remained stationery at 29.9 the weather continued
so boisterous, and westerly squalls followed each other in such rapid
succession, that it was the 3rd of February, before we could commence
work in earnest. On that day the ship was moved to near the south end of
Hunter Island, where we found a nice quiet anchorage with scarcely any
tide off a long sandy beach.

LEAVE FOR CIRCULAR HEAD.

By the 6th we completed what remained to be done of the survey of this
part, and proceeded to collect the necessary soundings between Three
Hummock Island, and Circular Head, anchoring under the latter the same
evening. Here we met Mr. Curr, the Company's Superintendent, who was
absent during our first visit. From him we experienced so great
hospitality, that our stay appeared shorter than it really was. On the
morning of the 9th we again left. It was our intention to have stood over
midway across the Strait in search of some islands reported by the French
to be thereabouts, though all the local information we could gain on the
subject tended to induce a disbelief of their existence.

HEAVY GALE.

But the sky assuming a threatening aspect, and the wind increasing from
the westward, we sought shelter under the South-East