Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/352

314 eighth high water; and the largest tide, varying from 6 feet to 7 feet 1 inch, at the eighth low water after the full and change.

From one hundred and forty observations of high and low water, the mean level of the sea was computed by Captain Crozier, and a corresponding mark cut upon the perpendicular face of the rock on the S.E. side, near the head of the cove, where we always found the best landing, and where the tide-gauge was fixed.

The latitude of the observatory, which was placed about fifty yards above high water mark at the head of the cove, was 55° 51′ 20″ S., the longitude 67° 32′ 10″ W., the magnetic dip 58° 12′ 8″ S., and the mean variation for the month of October 22° 56′ 0″.2 E.

On the 7th of November we sailed from St. Martin's cove, and the wind being favourable, we passed between its south cape and Chanticleer Island. The channel is fully a mile in width; but there are several dangerous rocks in it, which show themselves only when there is sufficient swell to form breakers. One of these hidden rocks lies in the channel between the island and the conspicuous rock off it; another lies about one-third of a mile outside of it, and is about one-fifth of a mile from Chanticleer Island, in a line with Mount Foster.

With the wind on our starboard beam we rounded Cape Horn in the forenoon, at a distance of three or four miles, the surf on the rocks off the cape was grand, and the white foam along the whole extent