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A knowledge of typhoons and their paths is often require when you have to decide whether 3.--WEATHER-FORECASTS AND STORM-WARNINGS ISSUED FROM remain at your moorings or to slip your cable and run: for instance a vessel between Hongkong Swatow in an anchorage sheltered against N and E winds will be safe while a typhoon is moving fra E to W across the China Sea, but should the centre move northwards the vessel might be thrown a lee shore when the wind backs through W to S.
A steamer at anchor, when a typhoon is approaching, should get up steam and a sailer should possible, take down the top masts as soon as it blows a fresh breeze in the squalls. With referen to a sailing vessel the time when to begin striking the top masts must, of course, depend upon t extent to which she is undermanned. Striking the masts increases the rolling. A sheltered anchorag
go
THE HONGKONG OBSERVATORY.
WEATHER-FORECASTS AND STORM-WARNINGS.
METEOROLOGICAL SIGNALS.
Meteorological Signals are hoisted on the Mast beside the Time-Ball at Kowloon Point for the
A DRUM
A BALL
A CONE
Indicates a Typhoon to the East of the Colony.
Indicates a Typhoon to the West of the Colony,
Point Upwards indicates a Typhoon to the North of the Colony.
A CONE W Point Downwards indicates a Typhoon to the South of the Colony.
must be selected, and when the centre passes very near, the barth may have to be changed to information of Masters of Vessels leaving the Port. They do not imply that bad weather is expected other shore before the wind shifts to the opposite quarter, but along the China coast it does not babere, so hard after the centre has entered the mainland as before. A vessel moored by single anchor al swing with the sun in the right-hand semi-circle, and against the sun in the left-hand semi-circle. two anchors are dropped, the anchor on the advancing bow should be let first. Therefore a ve in the right-hand seini-circle should first drop her port, and afterwards her starboard anchor, so as t ride with open hawse, and a vessel in the left-hand semi-circle should first drop her starboard anche But now it is usual to ride to a single anchor with a scope as long as possible,- -over a hundrel fatho should be paid out, as the strain on two cables at a great angle is more or less increased, and ver irregular owing to the labouring of the vessel in the high sea. A second anchor is paid out in ha with the first to veer upon if the first should not hold, and a third anchor is kept ready. depending upon a single anchor, or upon two anchors dropped at an angle, may go ashore if a E should break. The engines can be kept going ahead dead slow unless the steamer is too light, so to relieve the anchors, but as this increases the irregularity of the strain, you had better stand by,s as to start the engines whenever necessary. Shallow river boats pay out cables on either side soa to help the vessel to keep upright, but at the same time they must have a single anchor paid e ahead to ride to, for no cable at a great angle could stand the strain caused by a typhoon.
A vessel in ballast steaming ahead dead slow may at times entirely relieve the strain on the call and then fall off into the trough of the sea. Should then a squall strike her broadside, she is pra
ashore. go sure to drag her anchors or even break a link in her cable and
It is therefore of no turning the propeller slowly if she is light, and especially not if she is down by the stern, as it al increases the yawing and dragging.
With reference to typhoon auchorages in China beginning with Hainan, we have Backli bay (191 N. 108° 39′ E.) with shelter against winds between NNE, and S. only. It is not a very good la
In southern Hainan we have Yulinkan bay 18° 12, 10 bour, and the natives are not to be trusted.
RED SIGNALS indicate that the Centre is believed to be more than 300 miles away from the Colony,
BLACK SIGNALS indicate that the Centre is believed to be less than 300 miles away from the Colony.
NIGHT SIGNALS,
TWO LANTERNS Hoisted Vertically indicate bad weather in the Colony and that the wind expected to veer.
TWO LANTERNS Hoisted Horizontally indicate bal weather in the Colony and that the wind expected to back.
The Signals are repeated on the Flagstaff of the Godown Company at Kowloon, and also, by day ply, at the Harbour Office and on H. M.'s Receiving Ship.
LOCAL STORM-WARNINGS.
The Colony itself is warned of approaching Typhoons by means of the TYPHOON-GUN-placed the foot of the Mast, which is fired whenever a strong gale of wind is expected to blow here.
NOTICE BOARDS.
otice Boards placed at the Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company's Offices, Observations made at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are exhibited shortly after 10 a.m. and 4 pan. on Peddar's Wharf, at the Harbour Office, and at the Office of the Kowloon Godown Company.
Weather-forecasts and Storm-warnings are exhibited daily about 11 a.in, and also at other hours, and night, whenever necessary while Typhoons are raging in the Far East. The China Coast Meteorological Register is exhibited about Noon (Sundays and Government olidays excepted).
THE LAW OF STORMS.
Further information concerning the weather to be expected while signals are hoisted, and sailing frections, are given in "The Law of Storms in the Eastern Sens."
Shipmasters may obtain by telegraph the latest information as to weather at any station reporting
an excellent typhoon harbour in case the centre is to the S. of Hainan, as often happens. Ga bay (18° 13', 109° 34′) may also be used. Manin harbour (19° 57', 109° 52') can be used when centre is to the north of Hainan. Hunghom bay (20° 17', 110° 23′) is shallow and is not often s except when no better place is within reach. Hui-ling-san (21° 34′, 111° 47') and Nano hay (21° 35', 112° 34',) are available between Hainan and Hongkong. Near Hongkong is the excele harbour by Saint John's Island (21° 40', 112° 42',) which is commonly used. Vessels of great dra anchor to the S. of the position given. Tongku harbour (22o 35′, 113° 55') is used in case of typ crossing the China Sea. It offers no shelter against W. winds, This is at the mouth of the Can River. Higher up the river ships anchor under the Bogue forts although typhoon centres pass that spot, but then it does not blow so hard as out at sea, when the coutre is inland. Capsingmoon pass to the W. of Mahwan is shelter against typhoons, but Chingwan bay (22 11496) is one of the best harbours in China. In consequence it is too crowded during a type To the NW. of Stonecutter's Island (22° 20' 114° 8') launches find shelter. Tytam bay to the Hongkong is an excellent harbour. Deep bay (22° 174, 114° 16') gives better shelter than Kors Observatory by payment for a reply of at least ten worls (2.6, twelve words including the buy (22° 184, 114° 13′) but some vessels prefer the later as the storm-signals can be seen from these). Application may also be made for similar information to be telegraphed on some future A position between Taipintong and the Channel Rocks makes the best anchorage. Mirs bay (22938ecified day. 114° 27′) under Pengchau offers shelter to vessels bound for Hongkong from a northern Between Mirs bay and Swatow there are no very good typhoon harbours, but shelter may be against NE. winds. By Namoa Island (23° 28', 116° 57') is excellent anchorage. Tongsan bour (23° 47', 117° 35′) is much used, and also Amoy harbour. Making harbour (23° 32', 118 by the Pescadores is excellent. In Pilquan harbour (27° 10′, 120° 31') there is good shelter NE. winds to vessels under 15 feet draught. The Haitan Straits (25° 26', 119° 44′) are very There are several anchorages round Chusan. In Luzon there is an anchorage at the ent to Manila bay. N. of Corregidor Island (14° 25', 120° 33'). On the S. const of Mindoro we Garza bay (12° 13′, 121° 11′),
used.
When the red drum is hoisted the weather is generally fine in Hongkong, and settled fine if the ire moves northward, so that this signal does not by any means imply bad weather here. Steamers and for northern, westeru or southern ports should then lose no tine in starting, as they may pect more or less fine weather.
Those bound for the Philippines should take precautions to avoid cyclone as explained above. Sailing vessels bound for western or southern parts should lose no e in starting, but those that are bound for the north or east ought to remain in the harbour aiting information, ould the wind be westerly here at the time.
as they may expect to fall in with calms or contrary breezes after starting, even