THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1876. 525
TIDES.
High Water, full and change
•
Average rise and fall-Spring tides
Do.
Do. -Neap tides
H. M. 10 30
Ft. In.
9 6
3 to 4 feet.
DEPTH OF WATER IN ENTRANCE CHANNEL AT HIGH WATER. Spring tides. Neap tides
29 feet. 24 to 25 feet.
BRAUGHT OF VESSELS ENTERING OR LEAVING PORT.
Vessels with a draught not exceeding 22 feet can now enter and leave the Port without difficulty or delay during all seasons of the year.
During the fair season, from October to 15th May, Vessels with a draught not exceeding 24 feet can enter and leave the Harbour.
Fixed Moorings are placed for Vessels of the largest class.
•
TIME OF TIDE FOR ENTERING PORT.
Sailing Vessels should enter Port on the ebb-tide.
Steamers can enter either flood or ebb at the Pilot's discretion.
Masters of Ships should not on any account attempt to enter the Harbour without a Pilot.
HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.
Among the extensive works executed, a Breakwater has been built, running out from Manora Point in a S. by E. direction, to a distance of 1,500 feet into 5 fathoms of water, this affords complete shelter to the entrance channel during the South-West Monsoon; also a channel has been opened through the Bar with a depth of 20 feet at low water spring-tides, 500 feet in breadth; the entrance is marked by Buoys, one in each side of the channel.
NOTE. A Mail Steamer arriving off the Port at night should burn two blue-lights in quick succession; during the fair season a Pilot will at once board, but during the Monsoon she must keep off the Port until daylight. A Red Light is exhibited at the extreme end of the Breakwater during the fair season only.
APPROACHING THE PORT.
COAST OF SIND.
INDUS BANKS.
The coast of Sind should be approached with great caution, too much attention cannot be paid to the lead, more especially in passing the banks of the Indus, which are extending considerably to seaward.
By night, a Vessel should give the banks a berth of 15 to 20 miles, and if after passing the "Swatch," she does not get less than 18 to 20 fathoms, she may haul to the Northward, not coming into less than 15 fathoms until the Kurrachee Light
is seen.
By day, the breakers on the edge of the banks are a good guide, unless the water is quite smooth; but it is hardly possible for a Vessel to run ashore by day'on account of the marked discoloration of the water, which extends some distance
outside the banks.
The Tides during the springs are strong, the flood sets to the S. E., and the ebb to the N. W.
From February to end of Monsoon a strong South-Easterly current may be expected, running at a rate of from 15 to 45 miles a day.
During the South-West Monsoon, Vessels should make Ras Maury (Cape Monze), which is 18 miles W. N. from Manora Light-House, and Heep to windward of the Port, if the weather is thick, or if the tide does not suit for entering the Harbour. Allowance must also be made for a strong set to the South-East, which prevails more or less during the South- West Monsoon.
Do not bring Manora Point to the Southward of E. by N., or go under 15 fathoms near Cape Monze.
Masters of Ships should endeavour to make the Port at daylight, and can with safety approach into 8 fathoms to about 2 miles distance from the Light-House, keeping is on any bearing from N. E. to N. N. E., and heave to for a Pilot.
ANCHORAGE IN THE ROADS.
From June to the middle of September, Ships should not on any account anchor, but stand off and on, keeping the Light- House bearing from N. N. E. to N. E.,-1 to 2 miles distance-until boarded by a Pilot, or directed by signal.
September to end of March.
Anchorage-Light-House N. by E. to N. N.E., distance 1 mile 7 fathoms.
April and May,
Anchorage-Light-House N. N. E. to N. E., distance half a mile, 8 fathoms.
;
Master Attendant's Office,
Kurrachee,
C
GEORGE C. PARKER, Lieutenant, I. N.,
Master Attendant, Kurrachee.
1st September 1876.
NOTE. Since 1851, the Ships "Admiral Boxer," "Alicia," and "John Starr" have been totally lost on or near the banks of the Indus, and the Ships "Thomas Campbell," "Augusta," "Diadem," and the Steamer "Pioneer" have grounded on them, but eventually floated off."
Two large Troop Ships have also in the same period touched on them.
All these casualties were principally owing to not making allowance for a strong set to S. E., and not using the lead.