Bass Strait.

Bass Strait. the channel which separates Tasmania from Australia, contains many islands, chiefly in its southern section, and is greatly beset by coral-reefs. It runs almost due east and west, is about 180 miles long, and has an average breadth of about 140 miles. It was named after Dr George Bass, surgeon of H.M.S. Reliance, who settled the question as to the existence of the channel between Australia and Tasmania. After a preliminary voyage, he sailed round the latter in 1798 in a barque of 25 tons, and proved it to be an island.