Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/70

 16 URVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAl. ISIS. pounds and a half, and was three feet and a half z--- long. The mouths of all the cre. eks and inlets were planted with weirs, which the natives had constructed for the purpose of catching fish. Mr. Roe, on his excursion round the harbour,'..counted eleven of these weirs on the fiats and shoals between the two rivers, one of hich was a htndred yards long, and projected forty yards, in a crescent-shape, towards the sea; they were formed by stones placed so dose to each other as to prevent the escape, as the tide ebbed, of such fish as had passed over at high water. This expedient is adopted in many parts of the conti- nent; it was observed by Lieutenaht Oxley, R.lq., the surveyor-general of New South Wales in his journey on the banks of the Lachlan River: the same was also seen by me on several parts of the North-West Coast; and, from its being used on the S.E., S.W., and N.W. Coasts, it may be concluded to be the practice throughout the country. While waiting for an opportunity of leaving this harbour, Mr. Roe assisted me in making a survey of the entrance, in the hope of finding it more available for large ships; but in vain; for ships drawing more than twelve feet water cannot pass the bar. The rise and fall of the tide is not only very inconsiderable, but also very

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