675469-1883-Hydrographic-Notices- — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH MARCH, 1883.

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From Sibi-no-saki, to Odobe-no-muru (latitude 41° 58′ N.), the coast line is more broken, there are however no off- lying dangers. Made Iwa, three miles north of Odobe, is a conspicuous dark-coloured pillar of rock 70 feet high. Odobe- no-tate, one mile north of the town of Odobe-no-muru, is a conspicuous white cliff 210 feet high. In the neighbourhood of Odobe, the hills are much lower than those either northward or southward, and are not wooded. The main road to Hako- date strikes inland close to Odobe, a little southward of the town.

YESASSHI, situated in latitude 41° 52′ N., is the principal town on this part of the coast. The population is said to be about 10,000. Off it, lies the small rocky island of Kamone-sima, which is almost connected with the mainland by a sandbank, and forms an excellent shelter for junks, numbers of which are generally, during the summer months, seen moored inside the island. Larger vessels also may obtain anchorage here in 7 or 8 fathoms, with the north part of the island bear- ing about S.W., but should be careful to clear out in good time should the wind shift to any point between North through West to S.S.W.

iwa,

The goa

between Yesasshi and Odobe is nearly straight, and free from danger except at Fusido-tatte-

about six cables from the shore.

prominent group of hills, partially wooded, nearly 2,000 feet high.

Su-ne-go (cape Rodgers) is a prominent low green point about four miles S.S.W. of Kamone-sima. It forms a bay on its north side where convenient anchorage may be found during N.E. or S.E. gales, in 7 or 8 fathoms.

The coast. →→→ The whole of the coast from Ota to Su-ne-go, is occupied by small villages which are deserted in the. winter, and inhabited during the summer months by fishermen and seaweed collectors; the product is generally taken to Hakodate, either by junk native steamers.

tion:

There is but little

tre on this coast, nor can supplies of any sort be obtained.

ORESHI. This island, situated off the west coast of Yezo, is for the most part densely wooded and rises gradually to a height 1,955 feet; the summit, which is ill defined, is near its centre, but rather towards the western side. Between the summit and the north point of the island are two moderately sharp peaks, 1,493 feet and 1,363 feet high, which show conspicuously when seen from north-west or south-east. From the northern of these peaks, the land declines gradually to the north point, (Gomiga-saki,) which is low and tapering, but rendered conspicuous by a small round hillock 237 feet high, about half a mile from the extreme point.

Reef. -A reef of recks extand about half a mile north of the point, generally visible, but should be given a wide berth.

East coast, from Gomiga saki to Imako-no-hana, is almost straight, and steep-to, the land falling almost vertically into the water, the depth at one mile from the coast is over 100 fathoms. Junks obtain an anchorage during westerly winds, off Tsurugaki-mura, north of Arch rock.

West coast, from Gomiga-saki to Kuki-ya-no-saki, is rugged and steep-to. Off Isoya-zaki, a chain of rocks extend. nearly half-a-mile in a N.W. direction; the outer rock is two feet above high water.

Conical islet.-Two and a half miles north of Kuki-ya-no-saki and 3 cables from the shore is a conical islet 300 feet high.

Rocks ten

bles W. by S. of Kuki-ya-no-saki, the outer one is 26 feet high,

Awanai-no-saki. The south point of the island (Awanai-no-saki), is low and tapering, curving slightly to the

eastward.

The coast line on the eastern side, between Awanai-no-saki and Imako-no-hana, forms a bay, with a sandy beach, fronted with shelving rocks; it is well protected from all winds between S.W. through West to North. Anchorage may be obtained in from 8 to 10 fathoms, with the small temple on the low shoulder of the hill over the south end of the village, bearing about W.S.W. or West. Although the bottom is sand the holding ground is good. No vessel should risk being caught here in an easterly wind, as a heavy sea then rolls into the bay.

Morotsu-no-sima. -Much feul rocky ground exists southward of the south extreme of Okusiri, terminating at three miles from the point i

Foul ground extends to a distance of 14 miles on the east, 7 cables on the west, and 4 cables on the south side, of the highest Morotsu-no-sima rock. These rocks should invariably be given a berth of at least 2 miles in passing, nor should a vessel attempt to pass between them and the shore of Okusiri.

large masses of Black 1 the group of rocks named Morotsn-no-sima, about 25 feet above high water, and composed of

Produce.-There is no cultivation on the island of Okusiri, the population in 1881, was about 300 Japanese, and a few Ainos, who earned a precarious livelihood by fishing, collecting seaweed, shell-fish, &c.

The strait between Okusiri and the mainland of Yezo, is nine miles wide at the narrowest part, and is nearly 400 fathoms deep in the middle.

Tides. It is high water full and change at Awanai point, at 3h. 30m., springs rise about 1 foot 6 in., neaps are very irregular. No regular tidal stream was observed, but, as a general rule there is a steady set northward, both in the strait and westward of Okusiri, but this is not to be depended on. In the strait, during a strong S.W. gale in September 1881, H.M.S. Flying Fish experienced a considerable set to the southward,

O-SIMA This island has the appearance of an extinct volcano, it is 24 miles long, east and west, and about 1 miles in width. It is steep-to all round, and free from off-lying dangers; its northern and western sides are rugged and in places precipitous. The summit, is 2,359 feet high.

KO-SIMA is a small island about three-quarters of a mile in diameter; it rises in three peaks of nearly equal height, between which is an old crater. The western peak which is slightly higher than the other two, is 1,009 feet high. This island is precipitous except on the eastern side, where landing may be effected.

Sugarloaf rock-Four cables west off the island is the Sugarloaf rock 466 feet high; between it and Ko-sima, are two smaller rocks about 35 feet high.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 29th December 1882.