“Vessels from England bound to Port Adelaide, should, after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, run to the eastward in 37 degrees or 38 degrees south latitude, until they arrive in longitude 132 degrees east, when they may haul to the northward, so as to get into latitude 36 degrees 25 minutes, in longitude 135 degrees 30 minutes; then steer to the north-east, and make Kangaroo Island, passing between which and a small island named Althorpe’s Island, they will enter Investigator’s Straits.  These Straits form the western entrance to St Vincent’s Gulf, and are so free from danger, that it seems almost wonderful how any vessel can get on shore without gross negligence.  The only danger that can possibly affect a vessel is the Troubridge Shoal, and this, by a little attention to the lead, may be easily avoided, as on the south side of the shoal the water deepens gradually from four to seventeen or eighteen fathoms.  The shores on the side of Kangaroo Island are bold and rocky, whilst on the north side, on Yorke’s Peninsula, they are low and sandy.  In working up in the night, stand no nearer to the north shore than nine fathoms, or to the southward than twelve fathoms.  You will have from sixteen to twenty fathoms in the fair way—­fine grey sand, mixed with small pieces of shell.  In working up St. Vincent’s Gulf, you may stand to the eastward in six fathoms, and towards the Troubridge Shoal in nine fathoms.  The prevailing winds are from the south-west to south-east, especially in the summer months, when the sea breeze sets in about nine o’clock.  The strength of tide in the Gulf is very irregular, with a strong south-west wind, the flood runs up at the rate of about two miles an hour, whilst with a northerly wind it is scarcely perceptible.  The anchorage in Holdfast Bay is hardly safe in the winter months, as it is quite open to north-west, west, and south-west winds, which, when blowing hard, raise a short tumbling sea.  The ground is a fine sand, almost covered with weeds, so that when the anchor once starts, the weeds being raked up under the crown, will in a great measure prevent its again holding.  In the summer months it may be considered a perfectly safe anchorage, if due caution is exercised in giving the vessel cable in time.  The best anchorage for a large vessel is with the summit of Mount Lofty, bearing east in six fathoms.  A small vessel will lay better close in, just allowing her depth of water sufficient to ride in.

“The pilot station for Port Adelaide is about five miles north of Holdfast Bay.  In running up keep in five fathoms, until abreast of the flag-staff on the beach, when a pilot will come on board.  It is always high water in Port Adelaide morning and evening, and consequently low water in the middle of the day.  In the present state of the harbour, no vessel drawing more than sixteen feet water ought to go into the port.  Several very serious accidents have befallen vessels in this port, for which the harbour itself ought certainly to be held blameless.”