At 9 A. M. A
Strong Current Was Felt, Which Drove Them To Sea, But At Eleven It Was
Observed
That the vessel was nearing the coast, which convinced the
commander that it was due to the tide, and this
Was confirmed by the
soundings; in entering the port, as on the first occasion, the tide was
going out, and on the second one the tide was coming in. The altitude of
the sun was taken at noon of that day, with the utmost care, and the
latitude was found to be 37deg. 42' and the longitude 17deg. 14' W. of San
Blas. At this time Point Ano Nuevo was about fourteen leagues distant to
the southeast south; the Farallones to the northwest, distant four
leagues, and Point Reyes north 1/4 northeast, distant four leagues. The
wind was from the west. At 4 p. m. the vessel was steered to the
north-northeast, and half an hour later soundings were taken and bottom
found at sixteen brazas[46] of mud and sand mixed, and distant from the
mouth about two leagues. At 5 p. m. bottom was found at fifteen brazas,
with the same kind of bottom material. Sounding was continued and the
bottom was found to be as noted in the large map. The current was so
great at the mouth of this port that at 8:30 p. m., with a strong wind
from the west-southwest with full sails, the current allowed them to go
not more than a mile and a half per hour, which shows that the current
must go at least six miles at the middle of the channel.
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