V. 222.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH SEPTEMBER, 1880.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Hydrographic Notice is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th September, 1880.
765
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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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. 22.)
RED SEA.
The following information (lately published by the British Hydrographic Office) has been derived from reports ceived from officers of II.M. ships, and other sources, 1878-80.
[All Bearinge are Magnetic. Variation 44° Westerly in 1880.]
SUEZ BAY.-On the north shore of Suez bay, a leading light is established to lead through the deep water Channel westward of Newport rock, and the channel near the Spit buoy; thence to the anchorage in about 5 fathoms
water :-*
The light is a fixed white light, elevated 40 feet above the sea, visible through an arc of 1440, or between the bearings v. 101° E., and N. 440 W., and should be seen in clear weather from a distance of about 10 miles. Over the bay and its proaches, through an are of 3453°, the light is obscured, and the obscuration covers Kal-el-Kabireh shoal, and the Spit Imoy.
The light is shewn from a mast (upper part for about 20 feet painted black) above a white dwelling; placed on the allowing bearings, namely:-South dock head, port Ibraliam (Observation spot), S.S.E., 4 E. Newport rock light-vessel, s. ‡ E. Š., Kal-el-Kabireh shoal beacon, S. by W. † W., W., Atúkah quarry, S.W. § W., W.
Directions.Approaching from the southward, this leading light should be kept just upon westward of Newport- ck light-vessel, and be steered for, passing the Newport rock light-vessel at the distance of about 2 cables; the leading ght must then be kept in sight till the Spit buoy is passed.†
NOTE-The light-vessel formerly placed off Kadd-el-Marakeb was moored off Newport rock in December 1873. SAWAKIN.-The entrance to the port is now marked by three stone beacons, namely, two on the starboard hand atering, and one on the port hand. All the buoys which formerly marked the channel have been removed.§
Anchorage. II.M.S. Cyclops, in 1859, anchored to the north-eastward of Quarantine island (on which is the servation spot) in 9 fathoms mud, with Sheik Abdullah totab bearing S. 4 W.; this is the widest berth in the port. The holding ground is not good in the channel north of Quarantine island.
H.M.S. Philomel, in 1879, anchored off the Custom-house between Sawakin island and Quarantine island, in 5 fathoms ud and sand, with the vessel's stern hauled in and secured to two guns, which are situated a short distance eastward of he Custem-house: there the channel is 500 feet wide.
SHERM DUMEIGH or SHERM DEMEREH was examined in 1878 by Commander W. H. C. Selby, H.M.S. Vestal, from whose remarks the following description is derived :--|
Sherm Duneigh, a bay with a narrow entrance open to the south, is about half a mile deep, and half a mile broad. The available anchoring space is small; the width between the 5-fathoms lines of sounding (inshore of which the water hoals rapidly) is only a cable, and the extreme length of the sheltered part is 3 cables. The entrance between the fringing res of Twigg and South points is one cable wide.
The anchorage is secure in 9 to 13 fathoms, with good holding ground, soft sand and coral. It is well sheltered, the western side of the harbour being land-locked. In the north-west corner of the harbour the deep water extends to within
yards of the beach.
The Vestal anchored opposite the entrance, which would probably be a safe berth during most of the year. Directions. In approaching the Sherm either from the north or south, keep well off shore outside all danger, until Jebel Autar, 3,733 feet high, bears E. by N. 4 N. On this bearing will be seen also four or five remarkable pyramid-shaped sand hills near the beach, to the southward of Jebel Antar. Steer for the mountain on that bearing until within a mile of the shore, thence to the northward for the entrance of the Sherm, which may easily be recognised by a remarkable hill ith a rugged peak, named Punch's Cap; steer for this hill on a N.E. course until a conspicuous white rock on the beach With the hill and white rock in line, bearing N.E.¶, proceed slowly as the entrance is neared, until North rock just open to the left of Asses Ears N. E.; then alter course sharply to port, and keep about half a cable distant from e shore on the port hand. East bluff bearing S.E. E. leads clear of the shoals on either side.
seen.
Vessels entering for the first time should send a boat ahead and mark the channel, as there are some steep and dangerous patches near the centre of the harbour. The best time to enter is when the sun is high or astern and at low water, when the reefs will be distinctly visible.
*See British Admiralty charts :-Red Sea, general. No. 2523, sheet 1, No. &a; Gulf of Suez, No. 757 ; Suez canal, No. 233; Suez bay, No. 734- Red Sea pilot, 2nd edition, 1875, pages 10, 23, and 37.
Originally published in Marine Survey Department notice to mariners No. 39 of 1879, and British Adrairalty notice to mariners No. 30 of Also Red Sea pilot, pages
Se British Admiralty charts :-Red Sea, sheet 3, No. Sc.; Port Sawákin on chart No. 14; scale, m--3. 3 inches.
•1 and 82.
Commander H. R. Berners and Navigating Lieutenant W. Strugell, H.M.S, Philomel, 1879.
Se British Admiralty charts :-Red Sou, sheet 1, No. 8a; plan of Sherm Dumeigh on sheet of plans No. 14; scale m=10 inches.
* pilot, page 142.
Se view on plan on British Admiralty sheet No. 14.
Also Red