Aug. 21, 1788
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Logbook Remarks GM
Aug. 23, 1788
Revised Jun 8 2021
Fresh Gales and Squally these 24 hours with fair Intervals. At 4 this afternoon I returned on board having determined on the spot to wood and water at, and is the same we wooded at when I was here with Captain Cook; altho at that time here was no water for this stream is filled by the Rains from the mountains producing a large quantity of water in the lake at the back of the Beach, from which only it has vent by this, and at another place near the East end of the Beach; but this is by far most convenient, having not above 60 yards to roll the Casks and the water thoroughly good. Wood was equally convenient and good to be got at any part: however this place had much the advantage in one particular, the Surf being not so great as at the other part of the Bay, where landing the Boats would not only be attended with trouble but risk. The different parties were now appointed for the several duties, and in the morning the wood cutters began their work, and the Hold was prepared for taking it on board. Contrary to my expectations we could catch no Fish with the Seine. At best only a few Flounders and others like a Soal [sole?] but not so good, with some flat headed fish called by a fisherman on board Foxes, of like value as to size or taste, the whole amounting to Twenty. I therefore sent the small Cutter away near the Rocks with Hooks and Lines, but here it had no better success, as they caught only a Few Foxes.
Our disappointment in this partiualr was felt the more, as Fish was the only provisions we could expect to find in this Place. I had hopes to have made up for all this by discovering Wild Ducks in the Lake, but with all my Care I could only get one shot at them, and those at such a distance it had no effect but driving them away, so that now totally disappointed of any thing for the present but Ships Fare, a few hours reconciled us to it. I could find no recent tracks of the Natives having been this way, or any one else, & from this I concluded Commodore Phillips touched not here on his way to Botany Bay. I examined some old trunks of Trees we cut down in January 1777, from these there were some shoots about 20 and 30 feet high, and about 1¼ Inches Circumference. Mr. Nelson began to employ himself in his way and his assistant.
Aug. 21, 1788
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Logbook Remarks GM
Aug. 23, 1788