726468-1855-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 2

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Childers Rock.

Saddle Islands.

The Barren Islands.

From Saddle Islands.

Gutzlaff Island.

Amherst Rocks.

Ariadne Rocks.

Shaweishan.

Gutzlaff to the Light- ship.

Light-ship to the South Shore Beacon,

Beacon to Block House Island.

Block House Warung

to

The Hongkong Government Gazette.

Between Leuconna and the East saddle, is " Childers Rock," which is a rock awash, and which does not aivoj show. When on it, the peak of E. Saddle bears N. 9 deg, W., the Barren islands N. 70 deg. E., and Leuconna S deg. E

The lead gives no warning of it, the depth being 24 fathoms close to. This is the only hidden danger in the passage up to and beyond the Saddles. Its therefore needless to mentio the appearance of any of the other land beyond and to the Westward, the Charts being a sufficient guide.

The Saddle Islands form the Northern boundary of the Chusan archipelago, and comprise a group

of five lase islands called North," "South," " East," " False," and "Side" Saddles, with numerous smaller islets and rocks inclurection 1 ed between the Latitudes of 30 deg. 40 min, and 30 deg. 50 min. N., and Longitudes 122 deg. 35 min. and 122 de 49 min. E. The two largest of the group are saddle-shaped, about 800 feet high, and of similar appearance when from the Eastward. The Northernmost point of the North Saddle Island is in Latitude 30 deg. 50 min., and Easternmost point in Loug. 124 deg. 42 min. E,

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East by South from the North Saddle and to the Eastward of the East Saddle, in Latitude 30 deg. 43 min. X. Long. 123 deg. 09 min. E., are the Barren Islands, which are three rocks about fifty feet high, nearly East and West from each other. To the South Eastward of the Eastern rock is a rock awash, distant from it about two cable. In some of the former directions, navigators have been recommended to make these islands, probably as a caution in coming from the Eastward, as they are the most Eastern rocks on the Chinese Coast belonging to China.

Leaving the Saddle Islands: keep the North Saddle bearing about S.E. by E., and bring Gutzlaff Island to bear South fifteen or sixteen miles distance, when the Amherst rocks if in sight will bear N.E. E., twelve, January, miles,

February;

Gutzlaff Island is 210 feet high, and in a clear day can be seen twenty-seven miles. It appears a small round March,... lump, and has a small rock or islet off its N. Eastern point.,

April,.............

It is to be hoped that at no very distant day a Light-house will be established on this island, which, standing as if May,... does in the gateway to the Yang-tse-kiang, affords the best possible position for one.

The

June,.......... The Light should be a first class light, of the flashing or revolving kind, which can be seen thirty miles or more As the Island is more than high enough, a tower of sufficient size to contain the lighting apparatus and keeper's the shad dwelling, would only be required; its cost therefore would be inconsiderable. The yearly expense for keeping would be much less than what is required for keeping up the Light-ship, for which a beacon of some kind migh

then be substituted.

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The Amherst rocks are a small cluster of ragged rocks, of which one is larger than the rest, and elevated twentyanuary, feet above low water. Including the surrounding reef they occupy an area of half-a-mile in extent, and mark the February Easternmost extent of the North banks. In the old sailing directions it was recommended to make them, but it is

March... now considered best for reasons which are obvious, to make Gutzlaff as above. It may be well here to remark that April, no vessel should attempt to pass up the river without first sighting Gutzlaff or the Light-vessel. The Amhers rocks are in Latitude 31 deg. 09 min. 03 sec. N., Longitude 122 deg. 23 min. 06 sec. E., and bear from the North Saddle N. 42 deg. E., distant 24 miles.

W. 14 deg. S. from the Amherst Rocks are the Ariadne Rocks, on which several vessels have struck. These are all under water, and seldom seen, and therefore to be avoided.

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In heavy weather the sea is said to break upon them, but several of the most experienced Pilots say they have never seen them.

North of the "Ariadne Rocks" sixteen miles, and about N. by W.. from the "Amhersts," is the Island of Shaweishan,” about the size or a little larger than Gutzlaff, and one hundred and ninety-six feet high. It is not often seen when a ship is in the right position for approaching the North bank. Vessels approaching the river are therefore cautioned, that when it shows plainer than Gutzlaff (which is about the same height,) that they are too far to the Northward, and in danger of entering the False Channel to the Northward of the North Bank.

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After bringing Gutzlaff on the before-mentioned distance and bearing, if a clear day, the Light-ship under the North Bank will be seen, when steer for her to cross the outer bar. If the day is not clear, steer Northwest until she is seen, when steer for her as before directed and pass her at any convenient distance, leaving her on your star board hand. If working in, be careful not to bring the Light-ship to bear to the Westward of W. by N. if in a ship of large draft, or to the Southward of West if in a small vessel, as the bank shoals suddenly from four or five fathoms to two according to position, and the Ariadne Rocks bear East 11 deg. South from the Light-ship 13 miles Schmid

distant.

Using this cantion, you may when up with, pass the Light-ship close to, as most convenient, though strangers are not recommended to go inside of her. Thence steer W.N. W. until you sight the Beacon erected on the South Shore at the " Three Trees." When the South Shore Beacon or the "Three Trees" bears about W.S.W., your ship will be in six fathoms at low water, and the South Shore will be plain in sight.

Continue now a N.W. by W. course, and pass the South Shore Beacon at two or more miles distance, when you will in all probability see the dry North Bank on your starboard hand, which is only covered at the highest spring tides. You will soon rise “ Block House Island," which at first has the appearance of a cluster of fishing. boats, gradually showing itself a low island covered with bushy trees. When the large House on this island bears N.E. by E. you are in the narrowest part of the channel, which at that point is only one mile and one quarter wide, After passing Block House on the starboard hand, you should gradually close with the South Shore to about a mile, and keep it at that distance until the marks and buoys for Wúsung spit are seen. As the South Shore bank is steep to, that Shore should not be approached nearer than three-quarters-of-a-mile. The second clump of large bushy, trees on the low point open half a point of the square and well-defined outer point of Paushan, will clear you of the Wúsung South spit if the buoy should at any time be removed.

Vessels of Light

The foregoing directions apply to vessels of a heavy draught, say eighteen feet; small craft may use much more draught may use more freedom, closing with the South Bank when Gutzlaff is 12 or 15 miles to the Southward, and working up with the lead for a guide. The Southern shore is not to be depended on all the way, however, as after passing the Beacon the Bank is very steep, and should not be approached under three-quarters-of-a-mile.

freedom.

Wasung to Shang- hai.

Depth of Water on

After passing Wúsung marks, keep the Western shore well on board until after passing Wúsung village and up to the First point on the Eastern side, or until you open the second creek on the Eastern shore, which will be about a mile above the village, then cross over and keep the Eastern shore close on board until up to the head of this reach, where a fleet of Junks are usually moored opposite a village, which course will also take you over the bar above Wúsung, the Channel over which bar in some places is scarcely a Cable wide. Through the next reach the course is nearly south, and keep in mid-channel when up with Half-way-point close with the Eastern Bank again, and keep it close on board until the Foreign settlement of Shanghai is in sight, when cross over and keep nearest to the right or Western shore,

The depth of water on the outer bar at the Lowest Spring tides is twenty-one feet, and on the bar above the Inner and outer Wúsung it is about twelve feet. The greatest draught of water ever brought up to Shanghai, has been between? Bar.

twenty-one and twenty-two feet, and a Ship drawing that much water will have to wait for the Spring tides to pass up or down the Wusung river.

Working in after In working up after passing the Light-ship, you should not in standing towards the North Bank bring her to leaving the Light-ship. bear to the Southward of S.E. by E. 1 E., and on the South Bank side should go about when in 3 fathoms of water. The deepest water is near and along the South edge of the North Bank. Generally the inuer edge of the North Bank is lined with heavy fishing stakes close to, which are planted in four and five fathoms of water. A ship's length inside of them there is but a few feet of water.

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Can Anchor off en-

It will be generally safe for a vessel to anchor off the entrance of the river, outside of "Gutzlaff” in four, five, trance in usual wea- to six fathoms water; and I would not recommend an anchorage being sought under the Islands at night unless there. are appearances of bad weather, as it will frequently take all the daylight of the next day to work up from the Islands.

ther.

Anchor under the Islands, a Gale proaching.

In the summer time, if bad weather is approaching, which the Barometer will usually foretell, an anchorage ap-should be sought under the Islands or the vessel kept to sea, as it is dangerous to enter the river a gale co Xipon, without a prospect of getting in. It is I think preferable to anchor rather than stand to sea, as the weather is sometimes thick‘or foggy; the tides are strong and uncertain, and the ship's position may be lost,

For Canton,—WALT. OKO. DICKSON, M.D.~~ Hongkong, 9th August, 1855.

Y. J. MURROW. Agent in China..

↑ TRESS OF ADVERTISEMENTS-FIVC Lines and under, One Dollar; each additional Lino, Twenty Cents-One4 half of these charges for each Repetition.

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