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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH JANUARY, 1883.
The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions and compared with the chart when the ship is navigating the parts to which it refers.
HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE.
[No. 26.]
CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. IV.
NOTICE NO. 13.
JAPAN.
The following remarks relating to Lui-Kui islands, and to Kiusiu, have been received from Lieutenant A. Carpenter, commanding H.M. Surveying Vessel Magpie, 1881-2.
[All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation, 2° 35′ W. in 1882.]
LUI-KUI ISLANDS.
KAKIROUMA.*- -The south-east and south coasts of this island are protected by a fringing reef extending one to 3 cables off shore, containing several boat harbours, and one junk harbour; the latter is situated 2 miles southward of caps Ototsino, near which is a village of some 1,500 huts, principally of a bee-hive pattern. The entrances through these reefe are marked by poles. Soundings of 30 to 40 fathoms, gravel, will be obtained at a distance of 4 cables from the reefs.
The island is hilly, wooded, and well cultivated. The north point is marked by two hills and a steep fall to the point from the outer one. The peaks are continuous to near the south point (Ohotabu) where the land is low. North of Black point on the western side of the island, is a high black cliff (400 feet); the cliffs then decrease to Ohotabu where they disappear.
AMAMI OÖ-SIMA (or HARBOUR) ISLAND is well cultivated with sugar, wheat, potatoes, bananas, and sago palm. Some of the cliffs are black giving an appearance of coal. The strata are in places much distorted, and the higher spurs denuded to sharp ridges. Paths are cut in every direction as in Japan.
The dialect and attire of the natives are Japanese. The houses are partly beehive pattern, and partly Japanese. Trade is carried on by schooners from Japan.
Oö Sima or Porpoise Strait. †-Directions.-Entering from eastward, choose a mid-channel course through the strait, observing that the north shore has the least number of sunken rocks off it. A bank of 6 to 7 fathoms, coral and hard ground, lies 1 miles from this entrance, but westward, the strait has a mid-channel depth of 25 to 50 fathoms. This bank is not safe to anchor upon, as not only is the bottom hard, but it is subject to tide whirls.
A depth of 160 fathoms, coral sand, will be found 5 miles off the eastern entrance to Oö-Sima (Porpoise) strait, and 100 fathoms gravel, one and a half miles off the western entrance.
Anchorage.-At the anchorage formerly marked on the plan, on the north shore 3 miles from the east entrance, the bottom is sand, but the 10 fathoms line of soundings is within 2 cables of the shore, so that in the event of a strong gust down the hills a vessel is liable to drag her anchor.
Kuji Mura Bay (the site of the observation spot), has anchorage for two vessels at single anchor in 10 and 12 fathoms. The bottom is fair holding ground, being a mixture of mud, broken coral and gravel.
Probably no anchorage in this strait would be secure for a vessel during a typhoon.
HANCOCK BAY, ‡ on the western side of Amami-Oö-Sima or Harbour island, is about 6 miles deep.
Sots-taka-saki, the south-west point of the bay, may be distinguished on approaching by a large land slip on its northern side, which gives it the appearance of a red cliff; the rocky islet off it is small, and not seen till close in.
Outer point, from the westward, is a remarkable conical shaped peak, and has the appearance of an island. Fortune point. One cable N.W. of Fortune point, a depth of 64 fathoms, rock, was found, with deep water close to, it is therefore to be avoided, as rocks may exist in the vicinity.
The Fairway up the bay to the anchorage off Asken-saki, is free from danger, but the outlying points should be avoided as they all appear to have ledges extending from them, from a half to one cable distance.
Anchorages.-Large ships may anchor in safety on a line between Tree point and Observation point, in 18 fathoms, mud, care being taken to avoid the reef which extends three-quarters of a cable southward of Trec point. Small vessels may anchor in Curlew bay, and between Pillar and Lava points.
Supplies are not plentiful, though fowls, eggs, goats, and pigs, may be had in small quantities. Sago, rice, and sugar cane are the principal products.
There are about 100 Japanese on Harbour island.
Tides. It is high water, full and change, at 7h. 30m. Springs rise 7 feet. §
KIUSIU.
NAGASAKI.—Dock.—In April 1882, there were depths of 27 to 37 feet, at high water spring tides immediately
off this dock, and the bottom runs level to the north-eastward.
p. 152, 153.
* See Admiralty charts :-0ö Sima group, No. 873; Formosa and Japan, islands between, No. 2,412; also China Sea Directory, Vol. IV., 1873,
See plan of Oö Sima strait on chart No. 873.
See Plan of Hancock Bay, No. 771.
The description of Hancock bay is by Staff Commander J. B. Walker, H.M.S. Iron Duke, 1882. See Admiralty chart:-Nagasaki harbour, No. 2415. Also China Sea Directory, Vol. IV., p.p. 282-3.