SCOTLAND TO FÆRÖE ISLES.--One end of the cable for this section will
be landed in one of the many safe bays in north Scotland--the precise
place has not been determined. The other end it is proposed to land in
a beautiful bay near Thorshaven. This section will be some 225 miles,
and the depth of the sea not exceeding 254 fathoms; bottom, mud and
shells.
FÆRÖES TO ICELAND.--One end of the cable will probably be landed at
Haldervig, near the north of Stromöe Isle. Captain Young strongly
recommends this bay, and that the other end be landed in Berufiord,
Iceland, a very good place, with deep water and muddy bottom. The
cable to this place will be about 240 miles. Depth of sea, maximum,
683 fathoms, bottom mud and shells. It may be found more advantageous,
for reasons not necessary now to be discussed, to carry the cable more
westward, to or near Portland, and to which place it can be laid on a
muddy and sandy bottom, in water of good depth. Both of these places,
namely, Berufiord and Portland, are free from any volcanic influences
whatever, and ever have been, as far back as the discovery of that
remarkable island in the year 863.
ICELAND TO GREENLAND.--This section will be the longest of the series,
between 600 and 700 miles. Captain Young has reported in favour of
Hvalfiord, a little north of Reikiavik, in the Faxe Bay, but in order
to economise as to length of cable, it is quite probable that a more
westerly place will be selected, on the south side of Faxe Bay. The
other end of the cable he recommends be landed in Julianshaab fiord, on
the south-west coast of Greenland. He examined that beautiful bay, and
found it to contain deep water, with muddy bottom; and he states that
it is his decided opinion that bergs cannot reach the cable when laid
in it. The reports of others concur in this opinion. There are other
fiords near Cape Farewell, equally favourable. Tessermiut and Illoa
fiords are considered well suited for the cables.
Heretofore it was contemplated to land this section of the cable upon
the east coast of Greenland, south of latitude 61° north, in or near
Prince Christian’s sound, and then, either to carry the cable out
at the other end of the sound, or to connect this section with the
next by a cable around Cape Farewell; or, by a line across the land,
avoiding the inland ice. For the present, the intention to land on the
east coast has been abandoned, not because it has been found to be
impracticable, but because it has not been proved to be practicable. It
is now proposed to carry the cable from Iceland, around Cape Farewell,
to one of the fiords on the west side, and from the same fiord run the
cable to Labrador. Hereafter the Company may find it best to land on
the east coast, and carry out the original intentions as above stated.
GREENLAND TO LABRADOR.--The cable will start from Greenland, and
land at or near Hamilton’s Inlet. The soundings taken by Sir Leopold
M‘Clintock show 180 fathoms interior from the outer rocks on the coast,
so that the cable can be laid into the inlet from the sea in water
sufficiently deep to place the cable beyond the reach of icebergs. If,
however, the depths be found more favourable from the sea into Byron’s
Bay, near and south of Cape Harrison, that place will be equally
satisfactory, all questions being considered; and from thence the
cable can be carried into Hamilton’s Inlet, through one of the several
channels connecting Byron’s Bay with the Inlet. Length of section about
510 miles.
Before the respective cables are laid, each of the places will be
carefully sounded, and buoys will be placed indicating the deep
trenches; and, besides, steam tenders will be in readiness to serve
as pilots. Every precaution will be taken to obtain the most complete
information, in regard to the depths of the bays and of the seas.