THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 8TH JANUARY, 1898..
DIRECTIONS.
3
With the HAINAN HEAD BANK Bror in the position above described and the RIVERSDALE ROCK, and the HAINAN REEF BUOYS in their advertised positions, vessels entering the South Channel from the Eastward should pass say 2 cables N. E. of the Riversdale Rock Buoy and then steer to pass say 1 cable S. W. of the HAINAN HEAD BANK BUOY, taking care to guard against being set towards the shore, and remembering that it is safe to borrow towards the banks on the starboard band--of which the lead, which should be kept going, will give warning-while on the other side the bottom is rocky and uneven and the lead gives no warning. The HAINAN REEF Buoy may be rounded at a distance of 1 cable or more at discretion.
Approved:
J. F. SCHOENICKE,
Commissioner of Customs.
Custom House,
Kiungchow, 28th December, 1897.
NOTICE TO MARINERS,
No. 316.
CHINA SEA.
FOOCHOW DISTRICT.
C. J. PRICE,
Harbour Master,
HAITAN STRAIT.
RANGE BEACONS ESTABLISHED.
Notice is hereby given that two Range Beacons have been established on the north-eastern slope of Pass Island, indi- cating a bearing of N. 201° W., to guide vessels through the narrows of Wilson Channel; each Beacon having a diamond- shaped top-mark—the northern one with a white field and the central portion black, and the southern one with a black field and the central portion white.
Also that two Range Beacons have been established on the south-eastern slope of Slut Island, with the summit of the island (a boulder painted white with a vertical black stripe in the middle) and the middle of Cow's Horn Peak directly in line, bearing N. 84° W., to guide vessels in the fairway between the reefs which extend from Mitre Rock, and the Chiu- niang Rocks, lying about 6 cables E.S.E. from Mitre Rock, the highest of which dries 8 feet at low water springs. Each of these Beacons has a triangular top-mark painted white with a vertical black stripe in the middle--the triangle on the northern one being inverted.
DIRECTIONS.
According to soundings obtained during the present month, a vessel bound to the northward should keep the beacons on Pass Island in line from the time when Quoin Hill is on with Tyne-yung-shan Peak, bearing about W. S., till the southern end of the middle one of the Rocky Islands is on with the Fort bearing from it W. by N. 4 N., and then hand cut so as to pass about 3 cables to the eastward of Black Rocks. The least depth found with the Beacons in line was 15 feet at low water of the lowest spring tides--about half-way between the north side of Middle Island on with Town Point and the last bearing given above.
The Beacous on Slut Island, if brought in line when Inner Rock bears East and kept so till Mitre Rock bears West, will lead well clear of all known dangers.
All bearings given are maguetic.
By Order of the Inspector General of Customs,
A. M. BISBEE, Coast Inspector.
IMPERIAL MARITIME CUSTOMS,
COAST INSPECTOR'S OFFICE,
Shanghai, 27th December, 1897.