F
434
No. 162.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 3RD NOVEMBER, 1866.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
At the request of Commander BULLOCK of Her Majesty's Ship Serpent, the following Hydrographic Notice is published for the information of Mariners, and others whom it may concern.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd November, 1866.
:
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE.
[No. 4.]
JAPAN SOUTH COASTS.
(The bearings are Magnetic.) (Variation 4" W. in 1866.)
KAGOSIMA GULF.--A sunken rock called Kami, having either 24 feet or 2 fathoms over it, lies in the inid-entrance. of Kagosima Gulf, 3 miles off the Northern shore.
Horner Point N. 65° W.
Horner Peak N. 53° W.
The bearings from it are,-
Satanomisaki (C. Chichakoff) S. 10o E.
Otosaki S. 24° E.
East head of Tsiringsima just opening the North and low wooded point of Yama-Kawa N. 24° E.
This last serves as a leading mark if Tsiringsima be kept well open. The bottom is very uneven off Yaina-Kawa, a ledge of 3 to 6 fathoms extending a mile, steep at its edge. The lead shows black volcanic sand, white sand, and clay, with seldom two casts alike. The well-known Seven Stones anchorage is the best on the Western side of the bay below Kago- sima. The remainder of the Western shore of the bay to the Southward has been partially examined; and some banks and steep ledges were found which renders the whole shore generally unsafe for anchorage.
NELLY ROCK --Even soundings of 21 fathoms were found all about the position of the Nelly Rock, off S. E. coast of Sikok, as now placed on the chart; the bottom being rotten stone. Attention should therefore be paid, if passing, to the original notice.
BOUNGO CHANNEL-Off the South-Western part of Sikok, at the entrance of this channel, several reefs and a large island are omitted from the charts, which cannot be specified in a short notice. Caution is therefore requisite.
NOMI.-In lat. 33° 23′ N., long. 133° 19′ E., is a secure and spacious harbour affording good anchorage in 11 to 7 fathoms, mud. Its entrance is to the westward of an island, Tosima, which appears isolated on the chart, by the omission of a chain of islands extending Eastward from it towards the headland. Reefs extend a mile off this headland, and also the wooded Island (Tuft) bing South from it; and a flat isolated reef 4 feet above water, lies S. by W. 2 miles from Tuft island aud S. S. E. E. 24 miles from the West point of Tosima. Inside, shallow water extending off some of the points from 1 to 2 cables.
SUSAKI-Is also stated to be a very fine harbour but it was not examined.
URA-NO-UTSI-9 miles East of Nomi, is barred across the entrance by a sand-bank. in S. W. winds, in 4 to 8 fathoms.
Some shelter may be obtained
KOTSI INLET.-In lat. 33° 30′ N., long. 133° 35′ E., has a narrow and difficult entrance. may enter at springs. The outer anchorage in 7 fathoms sand cannot be recommended.
Vessels of 15 feet draught
GOZA INLET-In lat. 34° 17′ N., long. 136° 46′ E., affords shelter from all but West winds, but has very uneven rocky bottom, and ledges off all the points. It is therefore recommended not to anchor farther up than abreast the first opening on the North, in 5 to 7 fathoms. The wooded headland at its entrance is omitted from the chart.
ROCKS OFF CAPE SIMA.-Cape Xima or Sima is directly S. E. of Goza Inlet. From time to time rocks have been reported to lie off it, and an examination has proved them to be of the most dangerous character. Two low and small islands (called Osima) with clumps of large trees on them, stand a mile or two off the coast between Cape Xima and Goza entrance, from which long reefs were seen extending in all directions, and detached sunken rocks to crop up in various places. These generally break owing to the constant swell cansed by the strong tides off the Cape. The outer rock which breaks is S. W. W. of Nami-kiri-saki, S. S. E. E. 5 miles from the wooded entrance head of Goza, and S. by W. 2 miles from the outer Osima. Numerous tide rips occur outside the reefs.
MATOYA HARBOUR.-5 miles North of Cape Xima, is open only to the East. Half-a-mile within its entrance, anchorage may be obtained in 7 fathoms, but beyond this the harbour has not been examined. A cluster of rocks lies in the entrance, North of the South head on which is a Japanese light-house.
HAMANA.-The entrance of this large inlet was not discerned in passing along the coast, it was therefore concluded to be shallow. An entrance to a river was seen eastward of it, with a breaking bar extending some distance off shore. The water may be seen about here greatly discoloured.
LADY INGLIS ROCKS.--Omae-saki is a dark wooded bluff, 150 feet in height, terminating a very sandy shore with high beaches, backed by wooded hills. It may also be recognised by two remarkable white patches, only one of which is visible from East or West. Two miles E. by S. of its southern point are the Lady Inglis Rocks separated by a 6 fathoms channel, reefs extending 2 cables from the shore. The Lady Inglis would be probably awash at high tides, but always visi- ble. Except as to position, it answers exactly to the description given in the China Pilot. It can scarcely be considered 2 danger. On the charts the coast line is erroneously drawn so as to include this rock with the point. The point passed at a mile in 12 fathoms, and shelter from S. W. winds obtained at the same distance to the northward of it, in 7 fathoms. The bottom is everywhere sand, with shells and stones. There is a light-house on the south bluff.
may be
PORTSMOUTH BREAKERS.-Soundings taken near the reputed position of these shewed no indication of any sheal, but on approaching Omae-saki from S. E. by E. the depth which was 71 fathoms at 12 miles distance and 57 at 9 miles, increased to 129 at 74 miles again decreasing to 40 at 5 miles; shelly bottom.
YOKOHAMA BANK, &c.-The bank off the Bluffs, carries very irregular soundings of 5 to 13 feet over a bank of gravel, opposite the Naval Hospital. Vessels should therefore never be anchored below the Canal.
The bank south of Kawa-saki below Yedo extends half-a-mile eastward of its position as given in the chart; bottom fine
black sand and stones.