THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 9TH APRIL, 1881.
259
Pass on the western side of the red buoy off Prongé point, and steer close past Prongé point itself, leaving a stake and white cask buoy marking the edge of the bank on the port side, having passed which, get the Prongé point beacons in line astern on a SE. S. bearing, which will lead up to a red buoy in mid-channel, from which, Nale point beacons and white cask buoy should be visible. From the red buoy, steer for the Nalé point beacons in line ahead on a W. by N. N. bearing, until the white cask buoy is reached; thence, two triangular beacons on the south west part of Prongé point peninsula kept in line astern on a S.E. S. bearing, will give the lead up to a broom stake in mid-channel, when the white triangular wooden beacons of Little Tchkil point will come in line, and being steered for (N. by W. northerly) will lead up to a white buoy. At this white buoy, the beacons on Tchnurrak point kept in line ahead N.W. N. will lead up to a red buoy, from which red buoy, the Meo point marks (on the south bank of the river) kept in line ahead N.W. by W. W. guide a vessel until the two beacons on Vassé point coming in line astern S.S.E. E. lead close past Tchnurrak point, upon which is a ruined battery.
After passing Tchnurrak point, two triangular beacons on the north bank of the river seen ahead, and in the same line as those seen astern on Vassé point, upon which the vessel has last been steering, lead on a N.N.W. W. course in the deepest water, until two other beacons situated nearer to Tehnurrak point and at the mouth of a small stream kept astern bearing E. & S. give the line of direction to the anchorage off Nikolaevsk.
Anchorage.-A berth may be taken up in 7 fathoms, a convenient distance off the stake that marks Kuegda spit. This is the best position for discharging cargo, as the heavy barges, coming round the tail of Kuegda spit, have but a short distance to contend with the strong current running out of the river.
Water.-The Amur river water contains much lime, and has the effect of removing the paint from the bottoms of boats. In the early part of the season, when the ice breaks up, the river water is unfit for drinking, much decomposed vegetable matter being brought down at that period. To this, perhaps, may be attributed the fever experienced by the crew of the S. S. Appin, during the month of July, when at Nikolaevsk.
Tides of the Amur river, from Uezut island upwards, seem' greatly influenced by the wind, the greatest rise taking place with a northerly wind, which sensibly affects the strength of the current at Nikolaevsk during the hours of the flood tide.
Pilots' for the Amur river may be obtained at Castries bay; too great reliance should not, however, be placed upon their skill.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 24th December, 1880.
1 Mr. Anderson recommends commanders of steam vessels under 13 feet draught to dispense with the services of the pilots for the Amur river engaged at Castries bay, unless able to communicate with them in the Russian language. Having navigated his vessel up and down to Nikolaevsk, on three occasions, without a pilot, Mr. Anderson states that he found the channels well marked, and buoyed, and the charts correct; instances have been known of a vessel taking the ground, from the master and the Russian pilot not understanding each other.
The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions, and compared with the Chart when the ship is navigating the parts to which it refers.
HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE.
(No. 44.)
CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. 4.
NOTICE No. 11.
The following information is derived from the reports of officers of H.M. Ships employed on the China station, and from other sources, received during the years 1875-1880.
All Bearings are Magnetic.
Eastern Bosphorus,
Suruga gulf,
Inaboye saki,
Shiu-siu saki,
Variation in 1880 :—
.6° 50′ W.
.3° 45′ W.
.3° 20′ W.
.5° 30′ W.
Siriya saki, Saba sima, Nagasaki,
.4° 15′ W.
.4° 30′ W.
.4° 0′ W.
QUELPART ISLAND.-Naboska rock, on which the Russian ship Naboska was wrecked in April, 1870, was said to lie in lat. 32° 59′ N., long. 126° 13′ E., or about 13 miles from the south part of Quelpart island.1
In August, 1877, H.M. surveying vessel Sylvia obtained soundings on the reported position of the rock; and within a radius of about 2 miles from that position, 57 fathoms, mud, was the shoalest sounding obtained. The weather was clear, and there was a moderate swell, so that had there been any shoal water in that vicinity, it would doubtless have been seen. Mr. G. C. Anderson, master of the ship Conquest, has also repeatedly in 1875 passed within 2 miles of the supposed position of the rock, in calm and in stormy weather with a heavy sea running, but without seeing indications of shoal water.
It is probable, therefore, that Naboska rock does not exist in the position originally reported.
Korea strait.-Western channel.2-The French vessel of war Atalante, proceeding through the western channel of Korea strait, passed about 8 miles to the south-east of two islets, not previously charted. These islets, now named Atalante islets, are situated in lat. 34° 41′ 45" N. and long. 128° 47' E. approximate, or about 6 miles S.S.E. of Broughton head. They are also described as being about 3 cables apart, 160 ft. high, their shape round, colour red, and are in line when bearing N.E. and S.W. of each other.3
1 See Admiralty chart:-Japan, Nipon, Kiusiu, and Sikok, and part of the Korea, No. 2347; Korean archipelago, southern portion, No. 104. Also China Sea Directory, vol. IV., 1873, page 54. Originally published in Notice to Mariners, No. 7 of 1873.
2 See Admiralty Charts: Western coast of Kinsiu and Nipon, including Tsu Sima, and Korea strait, No. 358. Also China Sea Directory, vol. IV., page 67.
3 Announce hydrographique, Paris, No. 59 of 1877.
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