286
No. 80.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24тп MARCH, 1880..
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Hydrographic Notice is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 24th March, 1880.
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary,
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. 29.)
· CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. II. NOTICE No. 11.
CHINA-EAST COAST.
The following information, relating chiefly to Wên-chau river and approaches, has been received from Captain R. H. Napier, H.M, surveying vessels Nassau and Magpie, 1878.*
(All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 1° 37′ W. in 1879.)
SPLIT ROCK is a remarkable, steep, jagged, dark brown rock, inaccessible on the south-east face, 129 feet high at the north-east end, and 112 feet high at the south-west end, which is sharp. At a distance this rock appears to be split near the centre, but such is not the case, as the higher portions are connected.
Small islet, lying 14 cables south-westward from Split rock, is a. small, brown, rocky islet, 30 feet high. A channel exists between Split rocks and Small islet, carrying a depth of 25 to 30 fathomis,
Chow-chow water is plentiful between Small islet and the shore of Great Sanpwan island, but no sigus of shoal water were found.
On the north, west, and east
HOKEEN ISLAND is a remarkable-looking island, rising to an elevation of 726 feet. sides, the land rises gradually from the different points in long spurs till nearly half-way up, then it rises abruptly to the sunamit, the sides being rocky and steep. On the south side the ascent is more gradual, and south of the summit are two peaks of less elevation.
There is a small white joss-house on the south-west point of the island. †
To the northward of Hokeen island, and joined to it, is a rock which dries 17 feet, and from it a rocky spit extends half a mile to the northward, the least water on which is 9 feet.
Little Hokeen, off the east side of Hokeen island, rises gradually from the castward to an elevation of 150 feet; off its east end is a ledge of rocks which extends one cable.
Between Hokeen island and Little Hokeen there is a cluster of rocks, which dries 13 feet.
Scrag islet is a small but remarkable islet (with 6 peaks, the highest of which is 48 feet high), lying a quarter of a mile to the south-eastward of Iokeen; some rocks lie off its south side.
HUTAU ISLAND is 6 miles long by about 3 broad, and mountainous, having two round summits, one near to its west cxtreme (mount Myers) 1,238 feet high, and the other near to its centre (mount Warren) 1,255 feet high. Stone peak is about half a mile to the southward of monat Warren, and is very remarkable, rising abruptly to an elevation of 1,140 feet.. it has a large stone on its summit. Square peak does not appear of a square shape until bearing about N.N.W., when it begins to assume that aspect, which when bearing north is very marked. Sharp peaks. Between the two summits of Hutau island there are several peaks, two of which appear sharp from certain positions, the eastern one from south to S.E., and the The sides of the hills present a terraced appearance, owing to the natives cultivating the western one from the southward.
land in terraces, one above the other.
From East point to Rock point the coast is bold and cliffy; about half-way between are some black jagged rocks under the cliffs, and half a mile to the westward of them is a small indent, with a remarkable cliff with a fissure, just to the east- ward, which, in line with Square peak, forms one of the river leading marks.
Off Rock point is a rock joined to the shore which dries 15 feet; to the eastward of this point is a bay where shelter may
There is a rock in this bay which dries 9 feet. be obtained for boats under some rocks at its east extreme.
The bay at the east end of Hutan island affords shelter for boats and small junks during the north-east monsoon, but a heavy swell sets in. There is a rock in this bay which dries 10 feet.
Near the centre of Hutau island is an extensive bay which dries nearly a mile from its head, and off the west end of Hutau island is a small bluff island 42 fect high,
North Bank, lying between Hutau island and Wên-chau point, is composed of hard sand, which dries 6 feet, and is 24 miles long at low water spring tides.
South Bank, situated about 2 miles southward of Hutan island also consists of hard sand, which dries 4 feet, and is 14 miles in length at low spring tides.
Between North and South banks are four small banks which dry.
White rock, lying to the southward of Hutau island, and 6 cables west of Rock point, is peaked and stone5, 138 feet high, with a small portion detached to the southward. There is good anchorage west of White rock, bottom mud.
* Sec Admiralty Charts. Nos. 1759 and 1763, of Pib-ki-shan to the Hie-shan islands, and of Wên-chau river and approaches; also Hydro- graphic Notice No. 15 of 1878, and China Sea Directory, vol. iii., 1874,
This joss-house was painted white by H.M.S. Nassau, and forms one of the river leading marks.