No. 21.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 29TH JANUARY, 1879.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Hydrographic Notice is published for general information.
By Command,"
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 28th January, 1879.
39
C. MAY, Acting Colonial Secretary.
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. 42.]
EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO.
NOTICE No. 17.
The following information relating to Balabac strait, Sulu sea, Macassar strait, and Gillolo passage, has been received from various sources, 1877-78.
[All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 1° 30′ Easterly in 1878.]
BALABAC STRAIT.*
Black Watch Rock, on which the British barque Black Watch is reported to have struck, 1878, lies just within the danger line depicted on the chart, south side of Main channel, Balabac strait.
From the position of this rock, as given by the master of the Black Watch, North Mangsee island is seen open of South Mangsee island, bearing N. E., and the cay on Banguey Outer north-east reefs, S.E. 3 E.†
From the irregularity of the soundings near this suspected locality it is possible that shallow coral heads may exist.‡
SULU SEA.§
•
KINABATANGAN RIVER, on the north-east coast of Borneo, is a large river, said to be navigable for a distance of about 200 miles from the entrance. The bar of this river lies parallel to the coast, about 4 miles from the shore; vessels of 12 feet draft might cross the bar at high water during the south-west monsoon, but it is doubtful whether it would be safe during the north-east monsoon. Within the entrance the river widens and forms a basin many miles in extent; this basin is said to have deep water throughout, but where the river again narrows a bar with only 9 feet is said to exist.
The east entrance point of Kinabatangan river is in lat. 5° 39′ N., long. 118° 35′ E.|| (approximate).
The northern part of Borneo from Kimanis river on the north-west coast to Sibocu river on the east coast, has been ceded by the Sultans of Bruni and Sulu to a British Trading Company, 1878.
Baron de Overbeck, the representative of this company, proceeded in a steam launch about 230 miles up Kinabatangan river, where it was found to be 60 to 70 yards wide, and to have a depth of 7 fathoms.¶
Coral Shoal.-H.M.S. Growler, 1877, when proceeding between Cagayan Sulu and Muleegee islands, passed over a coral shoal near the centre of the channel, the least water obtained was 63 fathoms, the bottom however, was distinctly visible. There are 23 to 26 fathoms a short distance northward, and 55 to 65 fathoms within 12 miles southward of this shoal. From the shoal South Muleegee island bears S.W. by W. westerly 44 miles, and Tanjong Tavo Tavo, west extreme of Cagayan Sulu, N.N.W. W. westerly 7 miles.*
**
ŠULU ÍSLAND—Maimbun bay. Sub-Lieutenant K. Wade, H.M.S. Hart, 1878, remarks :-While steaming into Maimbun bay, a rock about three quarters of a mile off shore was observed. This rock appeared to be awash at low water, and to form part of an extensive shoal (Batolaqui shoal) with 2 to 6 fathoms water; the rock is generally marked by a stick placed by the natives, but it cannot be depended on. Point Parang open of point Tubingantan bearing N.W. W. leads south-west of Batolaqui shoal, and mount Mabintah, N.E. by E., leads south-east of the shoal.tt
MACASSAR STRAIT.‡‡
Reef reported. A reef-of which Notice has been given by the Netherlands Government-is reported to lie about miles from the north-west coast of Celebes island, with South Watcher bearing N.E. by N.; Oedjong Balisan S.S.E. † E.; and south-west entrance point of Dyko Tambing E. by N. & N.§§
GILLOLO PASSAGE.||||
Soundings. Mr. A. Hamilton, Master of the British barque Fire Queen, 1878, states that from a distance of 10 miles south-west of Ormsby bank, in a northerly direction, to abreast its northern edge, depths of 20 to 27 fathoms have been obtained.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 11th November 1878.
* See Admiralty charts:-Balabac strait, No. 948; and Palawan island, No. 967.
f Lloyds, 7th October 1878.
See cautionary note on Admiralty chart, Balabac strait, No. 948, published 1st August 1870.
§ See Admiralty chart: -Sulu archipelago, No. 2,576.
Navigating Lieuteuant C. C. P. BAWDEN, H.M.S. Lapwing, 1878.
¶ Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 22nd April 1878.
**
Navigating Lieutenant J. W. MCFARLANE.
++ See Hydrographic Notice, No. 9, of 1878.
See Admiralty chart:-North part of Macassar strait, No. 2,636.
Beright aan Zeevarenden, No. 28 of 1878.
See Admiralty chart:-Eastern archipelago, No. 962 b.
No. 22.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Notice to Mariners is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 28th January, 1879.
C. MAY,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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