JJE
No. 189.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Notices to Mariners are published for general information.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 7th August, 1880.
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HAINAN STRAITS.
{ All bearings are magnetic.
Variation in 1880,-1° 30′ E.]
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PRELIMINARY REMARKS BY LIEUT. E. P. CHAPMAN, H.M. SURVEYING VESSEL "Magpie," JULY 1880.
Directions.-A vessel bound to Hoi-How through these Straits, from the Northward, can either proceed through the Banks, to the N. Ed. of Hainan Bluff, by one of two passages (the Northern or Southern), or first make the Tay Islands, and proceed through the Inner Passage, round Mofon Point and Hainan Head.
If taking one of the Passages through the Banks, a position by observation, when near them, is desirable, as they do not always break, and the soundings give but little notice of approach, being irregular. The tides are also strong and uncertain.
The following is a description of the Banks commencing from the N.Ed., their extremes being taken from the fire fathom line:-
N.E. Bank.-This Bank has 24 feet of water on it at Low Water Springs. Its N. Eastern extreme is in Lat. XP 25′ 40′′ N., and Long. 110° 57′ 40′′ E. It extends for one mile to the S.S.Wd. and is half-a-mile broad.
North Bank.-The Eastern extreme of this Bank is in Lat. 20° 22′ 12′′ N., and Long. 110° 58′ 15′′ E. It extends to the Westward seven miles, its Western extreme (having a rock with 3 feet, at L. W. S. on it) being in Lat. 20° 19′ 57 N., and Long. 110° 51′ 25′′ E. One and a half miles S. W. of this position is another small patch with 21 feet at L. W. S. on it.
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Seal Bank. This Bank is five miles long in an East and West direction, by three miles broad at its Western end, and one and a half at its Eastern, the latter being in Lat. 20° 23′ 20′′ N., and Long. 110° 49′ 15′′ E. The least water obtained on it was fourteen feet (14 ft.).
West Bank.-The Eastern extreme of which is in Lat. 20° 17′ 30′′ N., Long. 110° 43′ 35′′ E., is 5 miles long in an East and West direction, by mile broad at its Eastern, and 13 miles at its Western end, and has 2 rocks with 4 and 5 feet on them at L. W. Springs, on its Eastern end.
Little Bank.-Is 2 miles long in an E. N. and W. S. direction, by mile broad. The Eastern extreme is in Lat. 20° 11′ 50′′ N., Long. Í10° 38′ 20′′ E., with deep water close to. The least water on this bank is 11 feet (sand).
Southern Banks.-Three banks lie on the Southern side of the South Channel, the Westernmost of which has 12 feet on it at L. W. Springs, is 43 miles long, by 2 mile broad, running in an East and West direction, and its Eastern ent is in Lat. 20° 12′ 20′′ N., Long. 110° 51′ 20′′ E. The Eastern one is 34 miles long and mile broad, runs in a N.E. and E. and S.W. and W. direction, has 15 feet on its S.W. and 24 feet on its N.E. end, which is in Lat. 20° 14′ 10" N., Lang 110° 54′ 00′′ E. The Southern one has 16 feet on it, is 2 miles long, bymile broad, running East and West, and its Eastern extreme is in Lat. 20° 11′ 10′′ N., Long. 110° 55′ 00′′ E.
Overfalls.-There are numerous "overfalls or "tide
rips" in all parts of the Straits; the space between Haitas Point and Little Bank in particular, and also to the Northward of Little Bank.
Directions for the Northern Passage.-Being in Lat. 20° 29′ N., and Long. 111° 00′ E., a S. 47° W course leads between the Banks. When Pochin Pagoda is sighted, keep it well open of Hainan Bluff on a S. 43° W bearing, until clear of the Western end of the North Bank, which will lead up to a position 34 miles North of Hai Bluff, from which a course of S. 81° W. (allowing for tide) will lead North of Little Bank, past Pochin Point to Backsha Point fishing stakes, when a course may be shaped for the anchorage in Hoi-How Bay.
Directions for the Southern Passage.-Being in Lat. 20° 2′ N., and Long. 111° 05′ E., a course of S. 70 W. will lead to the same position as before mentioned (viz.: 33 miles North of Hainan Bluff), passing clear of all Banks and then proceed on the same course as directed for the Northern Passage for Backsha Point fishing stakes.
Directions for the Inner Passage.-With North Taya Island (548 ft. high) bearing South about 1 mile. course of N. 82° W. for 20 miles will lead up to a position 2 miles North of Mofon Point (which extends 4 miles N. 4 E. of Mofon Hill), from which a course of N. 67° W. (allowing for tide) can be shaped towards Hainan Point; taki care, if a flood stream is running, to avoid a reef of rocks the N. Eastern extreme of which bears N. 41° W., distant miles from Mofon Hill; and also a Sand bank with 11 feet on its N. Western end, and 16 feet on its S. Eastern, which » 24 miles long by mile broad. Its S. Eastern extreme bears S. 56° E., 41⁄2 miles from Hainan Bluff.
When within 3 miles of Hainan Point, great caution is necessary, as there are several dangerous rocks on the p hand under water, and 2 mile from the shore, and a dry sand bank (Lat. 20° 09′ 30′′ N., Long: 110° 44′ 20′′ E.) with roc and shoal water extending N. 76° W. 2 miles, and S. 45° W. mile from it, on the starboard, thus narrowing the chan to mile. When Hainan Point extreme bears N. 65° W., the sand bank N. 55° E., and Pochin Pagoda, just seen over the land* on Hainan Head, and bearing S. 63 W., a course of N. 53° W. (allowing for a very strong tide) should be shaped so as to pass about 2 cables off a rock lying N. E. mile from Hainan Point, which covers at half tide; after rounding which, and when Pochin Pagoda is again sighted clear of the rocks off Hainan Bluff bearing S. 44° W., a course of West will lead to the Southern end of Little Bank towards Backsha Point.
Caution. This " Inner Passage" should never be used by any vessel, unless it is properly buoyed or she has ▾ native pilot on board, as the tides are very strong and erratic.
From a height of 18 feet.
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