TORRES STRAIT was named after the Spanish navigator Luis Vaez de Torres, who was the first to pass through it in 1606. It is situated between the most north-eastern part of Australia and the southern coast of Papua or New Guinea. Properly speaking it does not exceed 30 miles in length from east to west, and is situated between 142° and 142' 40' E. long. The moat northern point of Australia, Cape York, is in 10° 42' S. lat., and the opposite coast of Papua in 9° 15' S. lat. Thus the extent of the strait from south to north is about 100 miles. Navigators however give to the strait a much greater extent, as they consider it to begin on the east with the Pandora Entrance, situated between extensive reefs near 144' 40' E. long., so that, accordiug to them, Torres Strait extends from 142° to 144' 40' E. long., or 180 statute miles from east to west. The navigation of Torres Strait though practicable is rendered dangerous and tedious by innumerable shoals, ledges, coral reefs, and islands. Among the islands the principal groups are the Prince of Wales Islands, Mulgrave Islands, and Banke Island'. The strait can only be navigated between March and September, during the south-east mon soon : in the other six months of the year, or during the period of the north-west monsoon, the fogs prevail in the strait to such an extent, that no vessel can venture to enter among its almost innumer able reefs and rocks.
Two different routes are taken by vessels in sailing to Torres Strait, end in passing through it. They are distinguished as the Inner and Outer route. The Inner route lies along the coast of Australia, and between it and the Great Barrier Reefs, which begin, according to Flinders, in 22* 50' S. lat., 152° 40'E. long., and extend nearly parallel to the coast of Australia to Torres Strait, through 14 degrees of lati tude and 9 degrees of longitude, and are as to length not equalled in any part of the world. Their breadth is about 50 or CO miles in their southern part, but diminishes to the northward. The arm of the sea
inclosed between the harrier and the coast is from CO to 80 miles wido towards the south, but it contracts gradually to 20 miles near the great opening, and is still narrower farther north. Numerous islands are scattered in this Inclosed space, but no other eoral-banks occur except those which surround some of the islands. Being sheltered from the strong swell of the Pacific by the barrier, the water is smooth, and it also offers the advantage of regular soundings, its depth not being very unequal, and varying only from 60 fathoms at the southern end to 30 fathoms at the great opening, and to 20 fathoms at Capo Tribulation. This was the common route of communication between Sydney and Port Essington. Vessels sailing by this track pass through Torres Strait by sailing round Cape York and through Endeavour Strait. The last-mentioned strait is formed by the mainland of Australia and some of the islets belonging to the I'rincc of Wales Islands, and constitutes the southern part of Torres Strait. It is about 30 miles long, and from two to six miles wide, and offers a safe passage for vessels of good size.
The Outer route, which lies through the Corallian Sea, is dangerous, owing to the great number of reefs which are dispersed over it north of the southern tropic. After passing through Pandora Entrance the vessels enter Torres Strait by sailing north of the long reef, situated at the entrance of the strait (144' E. long.), to Murray Islands, and traverse the strait by sailing west-south-west between innumerable low islands, shoals, and rocks. They do not enter Endeavour Strait, but keep at the distance of about 20 miles from it to the northward, until they have passed on the north of Wednesday and Good's Islands, when they leave the strait and enter the Indian Sea.