1030
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH NOVEMBER,
1881.
Catherine or Evans reef, situated E. 4 3., distant 44 miles from East island, is probably the easternmost danger; 4 fathoms was the least water found on this reef.
Vessels using the Carimata strait are advised to pass to the eastward of it, as there is no passage between the Montarau islands that can be recommended.
The Moutaran islands are not inhabited, but are occasionally visited by fishermen.
CONDOR BANK.'-The reported position of this bank, bearing from Nangka island N. by E. 1 E., distant 81⁄2 miles, was carefully sounded over without finding any shoal water. But on proceeding on the same bearing from Nangka island a reef was discovered in lat. 2° 13′ 20′′ S., and long. 108° 38′ 15′′ E., this is considered to be Condor reef. From it Nangka island peak bears S. 15° 41′ W. (True), distant 18 miles. The least water is 3 fathoms. Within a distance of half a mile are several patches of 8 and 10 fathoms, beyond this distance the depth is over 20 fathoms.
ONTARIO REEF.-This dangerous reef, situated in lat. 2° 0′ 55′′ S., and long. 108° 38′ 55′′ E., is composed of On dead coral about 2 cubles long. E.S.E. and W.N.W., and at half tide a patch obout 20 yards in diameter uncovers. the S.W. side of this reef there are 18 to 22 fathoms close to; at a distance of one mile N.W. there is a patch of 11 fathoms, and another of 7 fathoms lies N.N.E., distant three quarters of a mile, between these two patches and the reef the bottom At half a mile E.S.E. of the reef there is a depth of 10 is very uneven, in some places there being as little as 5 fathoms. fathoms.
WALLER ROCK, said to lie about 3 miles westward of the Ontario reef. The Flying Fish was at anchor in this position for more than one day. No indication of shoal water could be discovered in the neighbourhood. This rock has consequently been removed from the chart.
RIVAL REEF, reported to be in lat. 1° 47' S., long. 108° 15 E. The Flying Fish was at anchor in the neighbour- hood of this reef for more than two days. No indication of a shoal could be found within a radius of 3 miles of the reported position; the depths obtained averaging about 22 fathoms, bottom principally mud. This reef has consequently been removed from the chart.
CARIMATA ISLAND.-Carimata peak, in lat., 1° 36′ 18" S., long. 108° 51′ 29′′ E., is 3,378 feet high, and in clear weather can be seen from a distance of 55 or 60 miles, but as a general rule it is obscured by clouds.
Bliang is a round conical island, the summit of which (1,301 feet high) is situated in lat. 1° 35′ 0′′ S., and long. 108° 46′ 27" E.; it can be seen for 30 miles or more, and generally forms a good mark, as it nearly always remains clear when the higher hills are obscured.
Tongado is a small round topped island 790 feet high.
Hooghly rocks.-The reported position of these rocks (lat. 1° 35′ S., long. 108° 12′ E.) was traversed on two separate occasions by the ship and boats. No rocks were seen above water, nor was any indication of shoal water obtained by the lead. These rocks have consequently been removed from the chart.
With regard to these rocks, which were said to have been seen at night, I may here observe, that on three different occasions whilst at work in the neighbourhood of the Greig and Gwalia shoals, large floating masses of vegetable matter and other débris were fallen in with. One of these was so large that it could be seen from the bridge at a distance of 7 or 8 miles, and so dense that at a moderate distance it might readily have been mistaken in daylight for a rock. Another hore a striking resemblance to a small sand bank with a bush on it, and was visible from 5 to 6 miles.
Wellesley shoal, (doubtful), said to lie in lat. 1° 18′ S., and long. 108° 34′ 30" E. No indication of shoal water could be found within a radius of 3 miles of this position. This shoal has consequently been removed from the chart.
LEEMA ISLANDS are a low group not visible from the deck of a ship for more than 15 or 16 miles. The highest point is in lat. 1° 17′ 30′′ S., and long. 108° 54′ 10′′ E.
CRESCENT SHOAL, (doubtful), said to lie in lat. 1° 10′ S., and long. 108° 38′ E. No indication of shoal water could be found within 4 miles east and west, and 2 miles north and south of this position. This shoal has consequently been removed from the chart.
GWALIA SHOAL.-The wreck of the Gralia lies in lat. 1° 6′ 27′′ S., and long. 108° 34′ 7′′ E., on the southern On the west side edge of a round coral patch about 2 cables in diameter, which has less thai 6 feet on it at low water. the depth close to is between 9 and 11 fathoms. On the south and east sides from 7 to 10 fathoms.
a small outlying pateli of 2 fathoms, distant about 24 cables from the wreck.
On the north there is
ERIKSON SHOAL, in lat. 1° 4′ 20′′ S., long. 108° 32′ 50′′ E., consists of coral about 2 cables long north and south, At a distance of one cable on the north and east sides there is with a depth of water varying between 4 and 5 fathoms.
a depth of 10 to 11 fathoms, and on the south and west sides 7 to 8 fathoms.
CHINA SHOAL.-The centre of this shoal in lat. 0° 58′ 0′′ S., and long. 108° 31′ 55′′ E., is composed of coral about 5 cables long, N.N.W. and S.S.E., and 3 cables broad. The depth of water on it varies from less than 6 feet to 4 fathoms.
GREIG SHOALS.-South Greig shoal is a small patch of coral with 5 fathoms water on it.
Middle Greig shoal, with 12 feet water on it, is about 2 cables in length, N.N.W. and S.S.E. It is steep-to on the south and west sides, there being 10 to 14 fathoms close to its edge; on the north and east sides, the soundings are more gradual.
North Greig shoal, in lat. 0° 52′ 45′′ S., long. 108° 33′ 5′′ E., has 4 fathoms water on it. This shoal is of very small extent; at a distance of one cable all round the depth varies between 11 and 13 fathoms.
Columbus shoal, reported to have a depth of 5 fathoms, and to lie in lat. 0° 51' S., and long. 108° 16′ E.; this shoal with much adjoining ground was sounded over by the ship and boats without obtaining any indication of shoal water. This shoal has consequently been removed from the chart.
Caution. These shoals, embraced between the Gwalia and North Greig shoals, rise from a depth of 10 to 13 fathoms. They are rarely visible either from the deck or mast head, and from the green nature of the surrounding bottom, and the Vessels abruptness with which they rise, the lead will seldom give sufficient warning to enable a danger to be avoided. are therefore recommended to give this neighbourhood a wide berth. On the western side of the reefs this may always be secured by keeping in not less than 16 fathoms water.
PYRAMID or BOAN ISLAND, in lat. 1° 29′ 8′′ S., and long. 108° 3′ 5′′ E., is about 1,000 feet high. PANAMBUNGAN ISLAND.-The south peak of this island is in lat. 1° 14′ 16′′ S., and long, 109° 14′ 8′′ E. Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 16th September, 1881.
Originally published in Notice to Mariners, No. 240 of 1880.
See Notice to Mariners, No. 154 of 1880.