194
No. 81.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH APRIL, 1877.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The fowing Instructions supplied by Captain COCKER, of the Chinese Gun-boat Ling-Feng, in May, 1876, together with the following additional Directions supplied by Commander COCHRANE, R.N., of H.M.S. Lily, in March, 1877, for entering the Hainan Straits, are published for general information. By Command,
H. E. WODEHOUSE, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 6th April, 1877.
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SUGGESTIONS BY CAPTAIN COCKER, OF THE CHINESE GUN-BOAT LING-FENG FOR ENTERING THE HAINAN STRAITS FROM THE EASTWARD.
It is dangerous to make the land in thick weather, or at night, as sand banks extend 20 miles North-east of the head.
Make Hainan Head on a S. 60° W. bearing, steer for it until about 6 miles from it. Then steer Pass North-westerly.course until Po Chui Pagoda is well open of Hainan Head bearing S. 40° W. about 4 miles North of the Head. Then curve out, keeping 8 miles North of the land until the Hummocks bear S.S. W., when run in for Hoi-how Bay passing outside the Fishing Stakes.
The conspicuous marks on the land are as follows:-
Mo-fou, high, bold, and large-makes as an Island, and is often mistaken for one of the Ta Ya Islands, which are comparatively small.
Hai an Head, moderately bold land, with a distinctly marked Dome on its end. The Head has rocks extending about 5 miles to the Eastward of it.
Po Chui Pagoda, which is on the top of, and in the centre of three remarkable hills-these hills
make as an Island.
After passing Po Chui, Kim Shu Pagoda is distinctly seen, and then the Ilummocks, which are two Domes close together.
The Sand Banks are very distinct, having dark yellow water on them with heavy breakers at all times. The Channels between them are from 4 to 5 miles wide, with a depth of 12 fathoms, and a light green coloured water.
The tides are very strong, heavy overfalls existing all about the Head. These remarks must not be taken as sailing directions, but as suggestions.
SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR HOI-HOW FROM HONGKONG BY THE TAYA ISLAND ROUTE (CLOSE ROUND N. E. POINT OF HAINAN), BY COMMANDER COCHRANE, R.N., OF H.M.S. LILY.
Shape a course for the Taya Islands S. W. W. When within 7 or 8 miles of the orth Taya, steer about W. S. W. till Mount Mo-fou is sighted, when the ship can gradually be haule more to the Westward, so as to pass about four miles to the Northward of Mo-fou Point. Keep on a West course till Mount Mo-fou bears S. S. E. & E., when stcer about N. W. by W. for N. E. Point of Hainan. A line of breakers will now be seen clearly on the starboard hand. When approaching the N. E. Point, and within four miles of it, should you shoal to under 10 fathoms and under 24 miles from the land, you should haul to the Northward nearer the breakers. When a distance of a mile or a mile and a half of the Point, keep nearly mid channel between the breakers and the Point. As you near the Point, close the land a little as shoal water extends from the breakers about half way to the Point. Abreast the Point, the North extreme of breakers bears E. by N. one mile. A reef awash at high water runs due North a mile from the N. E. Point. The courses from the time of hauling up for the Point till abreast the North extreme of reef will probably be from N. W. by W. to N. N. W. ¿ W.
The reef may be rounded at any convenient distance. The only known danger for several miles to the Northward of it is a small shoal which breaks in heavy weather and is said to have four fathoms on it, about 34 miles N. W. W. W. of the N. E. Point.
The Lily rounded the reef at about of a mile with no bottom at 15 fathoms.
Owing
At times the current off the Head runs 5 to 6 knots sweeping sharply round the Point. to this, and to the narrowness of the Chai nel it is not advisable for any Shipmaster to attempt the passage for the first time without a Pilot. The chowchow water occasionally is very heavy.
When round the Point steer W. S. This course should lead well clear of the shoals between Pochiu and Backsha Points, but if the current is running strong to the Westward a more Northerly course may be necessary as the West running stream often sets nearly S. W.
If ten fathoms or under are obtained wheu in the Bay between P'ochin and Backsha Points the vessel's head should be turned to the Northward at once as she will be very close to the shoals, and possibly in calm weather the sea may not always break on them.
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