Part 1 (1/2)

Directions for Navigating on Part of the South Coast of Newfoundland, with a Chart Thereof, Including the Islands of St. Peter's and Miquelon.

by James Cook.

N.B. _All Bearings and Courses hereafter-mentioned, are the true Bearings and Courses, and not by Compa.s.s._

[Sidenote: Cape Chapeaurouge.]

Cape _Chapeaurouge_, or the Mountain of the _Red Hat_, is situated on the West side of _Placentia Bay_, in the Lat.i.tude of 46 53' North, and lies nearly West 17 or 18 Leagues from Cape St. _Maries_; it is the highest and most remarkable Land on that Part of the Coast, appearing above the rest something like the Crown of a Hat, and may be seen in clear Weather 12 Leagues.

[Sidenote: Harbours of St. Laurence]

Close to the Eastward of Cape _Chapeaurouge_ are the Harbours of _Great_ and _Little St. Laurence_. To sail into _Great St. Lawrence_, which is the Westermost, there is no Danger but what lies very near the Sh.o.r.e; taking Care with Westerly, and particularly S.W. Winds, not to come too near the _Hat Mountain_, to avoid the Flerrys and Eddy Winds under the high Land. The Course in is first N.W. till you open the upper Part of the Harbour, then N.N.W. half W. The best Place for great s.h.i.+ps to Anchor, and the best Ground is before a Cove on the East-side of the Harbour in 13 Fathom Water. A little above _Blue Beach Point_, which is the first Point on the West-side; here you lie only two Points open: You may Anchor any where between this Point and the Point of _Low Beach_, on the same Side near the Head of the Harbour, observing that close to the West Sh.o.r.e, the Ground is not so good as on the other Side. Fis.h.i.+ng Vessels lay at the Head of the Harbour above the Beach, sheltered from all Winds.

To sail into _Little St. Laurence_ you must keep the West Sh.o.r.e on Board, in order to avoid a sunken Rock which lies a little without the Point of the _Peninsula_, which stretches off from the East-side of the Harbour: You Anchor above this _Peninsula_, (which covers you from the Sea Winds) in 3 and 4 Fathom Water, a fine sandy Bottom. In these Harbours are good Fis.h.i.+ng Conveniencies, and plenty of Wood and Water.

s.h.i.+ps may Anchor without the _Peninsula_ in 12 Fathom good Ground, but open to the S.S.E. Winds.

[Sidenote: Sauker Head.]

_Sauker-Head_ lies 3 Miles to the Eastward of Cape _Chapeaurouge_, it is a pretty high round Point, off which lie some sunken Rocks, about a Cable's Length from the Sh.o.r.e.

[Sidenote: Garden Bank]

This Bank whereon is from 7 to 17 Fathom Water, lies about half a Mile off from _Little St. Laurence_, with _Blue Beach Point_ on with the East Point of _Great St. Laurence_.

[Sidenote: Ferryland Head.]

_Ferryland head_ lies S.W. 1 Mile from Cape _Chapeaurouge_, it is a high rocky Island, just seperated from the Main; it and Cape _Chapeaurouge_ are sufficient Marks to know the Harbours of St.

_Laurence_.

[Sidenote: Bay of Laun.]

West 5 Miles from _Ferryland-Head_, lies the Bay of _Laun_, in the Bottom of which are two small Inlets, called _Great_ and _Little Laun_. _Little Laun_, which is the Eastermost, lies open to the S.W.

Winds, which generally prevails upon this Coast, and therefore no Place to Anchor in. _Great Laun_ lies in about N. by E. 2 Miles, is near half a Mile wide, whereon is from 14 to 3 Fathom Water. To sail into it, you must be careful to avoid a sunken Rock, which lies about a quarter of a Mile off from the East Point. The best Place to Anchor is on the East-side, about half a Mile from the Head, in 6 and 5 Fathom; the Bottom is pretty good, and you are shelter'd from all Winds, except S. and S. by W. which blow right in, and cause a great swell. At the Head of this Place is a Bar Harbour, into which Boats can go at half Tide; and Conveniences for a Fishery, and plenty of Wood and Water.

[Sidenote: Laun Islands.]

Off the West Point of _Laun Bay_ lay the Islands of the same Name, not far from the Sh.o.r.e; the Westermost and outermost of which lie W.

Southerly 10 Miles from _Ferryland-head_; near a quarter of a Mile to the Southward of this Island is a Rock whereon the Sea breaks in very bad Weather: There are other sunken Rocks about these Islands, but they are no ways Dangerous, being very near the Sh.o.r.e.

[Sidenote: Taylor's Bay.]

This Bay which lies open to the Sea, lies 3 Miles to the Westward of _Laun_ Islands; off the East Point are some sunken Rocks near a quarter of a Mile from the Sh.o.r.e.

[Sidenote: Point Aux Gaul.]

A little to the Westward of _Taylors Bay_ there stretches out a low Point of Land, called _Point Aux Gaul_; off which lies a Rock above Water, half a Mile from the Sh.o.r.e, called _Gaul s.h.a.g Rock_; this Rock lies West three quarters South 5 Leagues from _Ferryland-Head_, you have 14 Fathom close to the off Side of it, but between it and the Point are some sunken Rocks.

[Sidenote: Lamelin Bay.]