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In reporting Capt. Ashton's death, the Hongkong Telegraph had this to say: "He was a man with a single eye to duty who sought the favour of none, but, on the contrary, succeeded in winning for himself the admiration of his distinguished employers and all who knew him, by the faithful carrying out of the immortal Nelson's orders to British seamen to 'do their duty.' Whatever this veteran of the Merchant Service considered his duty, he did with a determination that no persuasion, no crafty arguments of pessimists, no forebodings of disastrous results either to himself or anyone else, could effect one iota. Given an order dictated either by his superior or by his conscience (and he was essentially a man who had a conscience), he was ever known to carry it out to the best of his ability, often at a loss to himself socially and pecuniarily.
"In the course of another decade or so", said the Hongkong Telegraph on August 16, 1894, "it is quite possible the hydrographers of the British Admiralty will be in a position to publish a really first-class chart of Hongkong Harbour, showing all the dangers to navigation that exist in the waters of this important outpost of the Empire."
This sarcastic comment was made following the discovery of a submerged rock by the tank steamer Trocas. The discovery was made in most unpleasant fashion, and had the Trocas not been going dead slow at the time, she might very well have sunk on the spot. While at the back, and near the north-eastern end of Stonecutters' Island, and close to the four-fathom patch, the Trocas hit this hitherto unknown rock. Fortunately, no serious damage was done and the vessel proceeded on her way to Messrs. Arnold, Karberg and Co.'s kerosene tanks at Shamshuipo.
The Telegraph pointed out that up to that time, the captains of merchant vessels had done a good deal of useful work in surveying the harbour. The respective positions of the Dunmail, Pilot Fish and Bokhara Rocks were mapped after these rocks had been struck by merchant vessels. As proof of this, the discoverers' vessels had been immortalised, in consequence of their contact with dangers unknown.
Following the Trocas incident, the following notice to mariners was issued above the name of the Harbour Master, Commander R. Murray Rumsey, R.N. (retired):
The Master of the British steamer Trocas, having reported taking ground north of Stonecutters' Island at three-quarter flood tide on the ninth instant, (the chart showing four and a half fathoms), examination disclosed two rocky heads, 54 feet apart, with three fathoms at L.W.S., three cables N. by E. (mag.) of the east end of Stonecutters' Island. A conical white buoy has been temporarily moored in 4½ fathoms, 30 feet south of the southern patch.
That, briefly, is the story of the discovery of the Trocas Rock. The charge made against the Admiralty hydrographers in 1893 would not hold good to-day. The harbour is now well surveyed and no longer presents any hidden dangers to shipping.
Week-end trips to Macao, it seems, were quite popular. The following paragraph appeared in the Friend of China on Wednesday, April 29, 1846: As had been previously advertised the Corsair took a pleasure trip to Macao on Saturday afternoon returning on Monday morning. A considerable number of our