BASS STRAITS, a channel in the Australasian regions, situated in 40° of south latitude, and 147° 148° east longitude, which separates New Holland , from Van Dieman's Land. We do not know that , the precise extent to be included in this channel is ' definitively fixed : the navigators of the French expe dition who explored it in 1801, say it is about 50 leagues in length from cast to west, and the same in breadth from north to south. All the earlier navi gators supposed New Holland a vast continent in cluding- Van Dieman's Land, the southernmost point of which was considered the extremity of New Hol land ; but circumstances induced several of those who more lately traversed the Australasian seas, to conjecture that there might be some strait or channel dividing them. No one, however, could penetrate further than into what they called deep bays and in lets. At length, ten years after the establishment of the English colony of Botany Bay, Mr Bass, the surgeon of a man of war, disliking the idleness which particular occurrences exposed him to, made an ex cursion in an open boat, which fortified him in the belief of an open passage, separating New Holland and Van Dieman's Land into two great islands. A subsequent voyage proved the fact, and the strait re ceived his name.
Bass Straits have been surveyed by Captain Flip tiers along with Mr Bass, by the officers of the French expedition, and by Captain Grant of the British Navy. The discovery of them has been judged of material consequence in shortening the voyage from Europe to India. Many vessels have now passed through them, but from the rocks and islands with which They abound, experienced seamen affirm that it is a voyage of danger.
Commercial enterprise has given birth to active operations in fisheries established in different parts of the straits. Parties are carried thither in small co lonial vessels from Port Jackson, and established in gangs of ten or twelve, to collect seal skins and the oil of the sea elephant, for animals of the Phocce tribe are extremely plentiful in this channel. These speculations were for some time confined to the set tlers exclusively ; but the Americans began to avail themselves of the same advantages, and the number of adventurers increased so rapidly, that in a few years after its commencement the fishery was rather on the decline. The British government, however, resolving to encourage the enterprise of its own sub jects, attempted to establish a colony at Port Philip, on the north shore of the straits. The different gangs engaged in the fishery previously shifted their abode from place to place as the objects of pursuit became Pearce, and the collections they made were sent to Port Jackson. Port Philip, it was thought, would be a secure place of rendezvous, where the produce of the fishery might be t!eposited until ready for expor tation ; and it would besides prevent any rival nation from establishing a settlement on the coast, and proving troublesome neighbours to Port Jackson. Nevertheless this attempt proved abortive, and the settlement was removed. Sec Collins' Account of' Botany Bay. Flinder's Voyage. Tuckey's Voyage. Grant's Voyage in the Lady Aelson. Peron Voijage cux Terres Australes. Also.AusritALAsm, and PRE SERVATION Islam). (c)