Piloting directions for the Rio de la Plata, or river Plate

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Page 8 - S. by compass, with 4J or 5 fathoms, good strong clay. With southerly winds there is, in the east passage, a heavy swell; and the water, from the ground being uneven, breaks almost the whole way across in bad weather. The Diomede...
Page 6 - ... whence the bank of soundings takes a SW direction. East of Lobos, 27 leagues, the depth is 25 fathoms; and in steering in, on its parallel, the same depth nearly continues till very near that island. But, if set a little to the southward of Lobos, the water will...
Page 7 - ... with from 15 to 20 fathoms, sand and clay mixed, you are not far off the land. When you have not seen the land before night, be sure to keep to the northward of the Cape by your reckoning, to allow for the current, which sets to the southward. This is the case with the above-mentioned North and NE winds. With South and SW winds the current runs strongly the other way.
Page 6 - S. the bottom is chiefly mud, intermixed with fine sand or gravel ; and if a ship happen to be set to the southward of Cape St. Mary, as she hauls in for the land, yet keeps to the northward of Lobos, she will get out of fine sand into dark...
Page 8 - The Spanish surveys of this bay lay down a sufficient depth •of water for any ship between every part of the island and the main ; however, it cannot be safely entered, but by small vessels, except to the westward ; and you must not go farther in than to bring the NW Point of Goritti to bear SSW J W.
Page 8 - Between these the land is low and marshy ; and overflowed sometimes between the central and NE hummock. It may be seen at the distance of 5 or 6 leagues from a ship's deck in clear weather.* There is good anchorage all round this island : but a reef extends in a NW direction from the North point about a mile. Seals and sea-lions, and various aquatic birds, resort to this small island, as well as to Lobos : and, in the months of August and September, great quantities of very excellent eggs may be...

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