Directions for Navigating on Part of the South Coast of Newfoundland Part 4

_Great Jervis Harbour_ is situated at the West Entrance into the Bay of _Despair_ is a snug and safe Harbour, with good Anchorage in every Part of it, in 16, 18 or 20 Fathom, though but small will contain a great Number of s.h.i.+pping, securely sheltered from all Winds, and very convenient for wooding and watering. There is a Pa.s.sage into this Harbour on either Side of _Great Jervis Island_, the southermost is the safest, there being in it no Danger but the Sh.o.r.e itself. To sail in on the North-side of the Island, you must keep in the middle of the Pa.s.sage, until you are within two small Rocks above Water near to each other on your Starboard-side, a little within the North Point of the Pa.s.sage; you must then bring the said North Point between these Rocks, and steer into the Harbour, in that Directions will carry you clear of some sunken Rocks which lie off the West Point of the Island; these Rocks appear at Low-water. The Entrance into this Harbour may be known by the East-end of _Great Jervis Island_, which is a high steep craggy Point, called _Great Jervis Head_, and is the North Point of the South Entrance into the Harbour.

[Sidenote: North Bay.]

This is an Arm of the Bay of _Despair_, which extends to the Northward 5 Leagues from _Great Jervis Island_. In this Bay is very deep Water, and no Anchorage but in the small Bays and Coves which are on each Side of it. At the Head of the Bay of the East, which is an Arm of the North Bay, is a very fine Salmon River, and plenty of various Sorts of Wood.

[Sidenote: Eagle Island.]

To the Northward of _Long Island_, the Bay of _Despair_ extends itself to the NE. about 8 Leagues, whereon are several Arms and Islands. The first is _Eagle Island_ laying on the North-side of _Long Island_, about half a Cable's Length from the Sh.o.r.e; a little to the Eastward of it is a small Cove, wherein small Vessels can Anchor in 5 Fathom Water; off the E. Point of this Cove are some sunken Rocks, the outermost of which lay a quarter of a Mile from the Sh.o.r.e, and appears at half Ebb.

[Sidenote: Frenchman's Harbour.]

This harbour lies on the North-side of _Long Island_, 2 Miles above _Eagle Island_, in and before which Vessels may anchor in various Depths of Water; about a Cable's length to the Eastward of the West Point of the Harbour is a sunken Rock whereon is 8 Feet Water; a little way further to the Eastward is a small Island not far from the Sh.o.r.e, near to which is a Rock that just Covers at high Water.

[Sidenote: Isle Bois.]

On the North-side of the Bay, opposite to _Long Island_, lies the _Isle Bois_, it is near 3 Leagues in Length, and of a tolerable Height; the Pa.s.sage on the North-side of it (called _Lampadois_ Pa.s.sage) is very safe, but very deep Water.

[Sidenote: Fox Island.]

This Island lies nearly in the middle of the Bay, between the East-end of the Isle of _Bois_ and _Long Island_, it is of a round Form, pretty high, and bold too all round.

[Sidenote: Isle Riches.]

The _Isle Riches_ lies off the East-end of the Isle of _Bois_, it is about a Mile in Circuit, and pretty high; on the East-side of it are some small Islands, and some sunken Rocks quite a-cross from the Island to the Main, so that in sailing up the Bay of _Despair_, you must leave this Island on your Starboard-side.

[Sidenote: Little River.]

This is an Arm of the Bay laying in to the Eastward from the Isle of _Riches_, it is very narrow, and counted a good Place for a Salmon Fishery; its Banks are stored with various Sorts of Wood.

[Sidenote: Bay Rotte.]

This is a small Bay which lays North from the East-end of the Isle of _Bois_, in which are some sunken Rocks near the Head.

[Sidenote: Bay of Conne.]

From the Isle of _Riches_ the Bay extends itself to the Northward about five Miles, commonly called the Bay or River of _Conne_, then branches into two Arms, one still tending to the North, and the other to the Eastward; the Water is very shallow for some Distance from the Head of both. About these Arms, and the Bay of _Conne_, are great Plenty of all Sorts of Wood, common to this Country, such as Firr, Pine, Birch, Witch-Hasle, Spruce, _&c._

[Sidenote: Observations.]

All the Country about the Entrance into the Bay of _Despair_, and for a good Way up it is very mountainous and barren, but about the Head of the Bay it appears to be pretty level, and well cloathed with Wood.

[Sidenote: On the Tides.]

Between St. _Laurence_ and Point _May_, an ESE. Moon makes high Water at the Islands of St. _Peters_ and _Miquelon_, and in all Parts of _Fortune Bay_ a S.E. Moon makes High Water. In the Bay of _Despair_ a SE. by S. Moon makes High Water; in all which Places it flows up and down, or upon a perpendicular Spring Tides 7 or 8 Feet; but it must be observed that they are every where greatly governed by the Winds and Weather.

[Sidenote: Currents.]

The Currents on the Sea Coasts from Cape _Chapeaurouge_ towards St.

_Peter's_, sets generally to the SW. On the South-side of _Fortune Bay_ it sets to the Eastward, and on the North-side to the Westward.

[Sidenote: Winds.]

The South West, and Westerly Winds generally blow in the Day during the Summer, and about the Evening they die away; and in the Night you have Land Breezes or Calms.