The harbour at and conducting to the river Derwent, yields to none in the world; perhaps surpasses every other.  There are two entrances to this river, which are separated by Pitt’s Island; one is termed D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel, the other, Storm Bay.  D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel, from Point Collins up to Hobart Town, a distance, following the course of the water, of thirty-seven miles, is one continued harbour, varying in breadth from eight to two miles, and in depth from thirty to four fathoms.  The river Derwent itself has three fathoms water for eleven miles above the town, and is consequently navigable thus far for vessels of the largest burthen.  Reckoning therefore from Point Collins, there is a line of harbour in D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel and the Derwent, together of forty-eight miles, completely land-locked, and affording the best anchorage the whole way.

The entrance, however, by Storm Bay, does not offer the same advantages; for it is twenty-two miles broad from Maria’s Islands to Penguin Island, and completely exposed to the winds from south to south-east.  This bay consequently does not afford the same excellent anchorage as D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel.  It contains, however, some few nooks, in which vessels may take shelter in case of necessity.  The best of these is Adventure Bay, which is shut in from any winds that can blow directly from the ocean, but is nevertheless exposed to the north-east winds, which have a reach of twenty miles from the opposite side of the bay.  There is consequently, when these winds prevail, a considerable swell here; but the force of the sea is in a great measure broken by Penguin Island; and vessels having good anchors and cables have nothing to fear.

Storm Bay, besides thus forming one of the entrances to the river Derwent, leads to another very good harbour, called North Bay.  This harbour is about sixteen miles long, and in some places six miles and a half broad.  The greater part of it is perfectly land-locked, and affords excellent anchorage in from two to fifteen fathoms water.  That part in particular called Norfolk Bay, forms a very spacious harbour of itself, being about three miles in breadth and nine in length.  This bay, besides being better sheltered than the rest of the harbours, contains the greatest depth of water, having in no place less than four fathoms.

All the bays and harbours which have been just described, abound with right whale at a particular season of the year.  These leviathans of the deep quit the boisterous ocean, and seek the more tranquil waters of these harbours, when they are on the point of calving.  This happens in November, and they remain there with their young between two and three months.  During this period there are generally every year a few of the colonial craft employed in the whale fishery; but the duties which are levied in this country on all oils procured in vessels not having a British register, amount to a prohibition, and completely prevent the colonists from prosecuting this fishery further than is necessary for their own consumption, and for the supply of the East India market.  Between two and three hundred tons annually suffice for both these purposes.