Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 1916.

Marine Department,

Wellington, N.Z., 17th January, 1916.

THE following Notices to Mariners, which have been received from the Hydrographic Office, London; the Hydrographic Office, Washington; the Minister of State for Communications, Tokyo; the Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne; and the Department of Ports and Harbours, Melbourne, are published for general information.

JAS. A. MUNRO,
For Secretary.

CHINA, EAST COAST.

Kyau-chau Bay Approach.—Cha-lien-tau.—Alteration in Characteristics of Light and Fog-signal.

Position.—On the summit of Cha-lien-tau. Lat. 35° 53¼' N., long. 120° 52½' E.

(a.) LIGHT.—New abridged description : Lt. fl. ev. 10 secs., 262 ft., vis. 21 m. Details : The flashing white light has been replaced by a light having the undermentioned characteristics—character, a flashing white light every ten seconds ; elevation, 262 ft. ; visibility, 21 miles ; power, 190,000 candles ; structure. octagonal stone tower 42 ft. in height to centre of lantern.

(b.) FOG-SIGNAL.—Alteration : The explosive fog-signal has been replaced by a fog-siren giving one blast every thirty-three seconds, thus—blast 3 secs., silent 30 secs.

Charts affected.—No. 1255, Kyau-chau to Lai-chau Bay ; No. 3735, Cape Yatau to Tau-tsui Head ; No. 3480, Shantung Promontory to Nagasaki ; No. 1262, Hong Kong to Gulf of Liau-tung.

Publications.—List of Lights, Part VI, 1915, No. 1600 ; China Sea Pilot, Vol. V, 1912, page 411.

Kyau-chau Bay.—Time-signals discontinued.

(a.) Position.—At Tsingtau observatory. Lat. 36° 4¼' N., long. 120° 19' E. Description.—A time-ball. Note.—The words “Storm Signal Station” are to be substituted for “Time Ball” against the astronomical position in the title of the chart.

(b.) Position.—On Diederich’s Hill. Description.—Wireless time-signals.

Remarks.—The above time-signals, together with the note concerning them shown on the chart, are to be expunged. A time-signal, the position of which is not stated, is now made only by a gun, and this is reported to be inaccurate.

Kyau-chau Bay Approach.

(1.) Tai-kung-tau Light.—Alteration in Characteristics.

Position.—On the summit of Tai-kung-tau. Lat. 35° 57¾', N., long. 120° 29½' E.

New abridged description.—(U) Lt. gp. fl. (2), ev. 5 secs., 424 ft., vis. 13 m.

Details.—The fixed red light has been replaced by a light having the undermentioned characteristics :-

Character.—A group flashing white light showing two flashes every five seconds, thus—2 flashes 2 secs., eclipse 3 secs.

Elevation.—424 ft.

Visibility.—13 miles.

Power.—200 candles.

Structure.—Black cylindrical iron tower, 25 ft. in height to centre of lantern.

Remarks.—The light is unwatched.

Note.—The explosive fog-signal hitherto shown on the charts, is presumed not to exist, and is to be expunged therefrom.

(2.) Arkona Islet Lights.—Alteration in Characteristics.

Position.—On the summit of Arkona Islet. Lat. 36° 3¼' N., long. 120° 19' E.

New abridged description.—(U) Lt. fl., ev. 4 secs., 101 ft., vis. 10 m.

Details.—The two fixed green lights have been replaced by two lights having the undermentioned characteristics :-

Character.—Two flashing white lights every four seconds.

Elevation.—101 ft. ; 91 ft.

Visibility.—10 miles.

Power.—100 candles.

Structure.—White iron framework on octagonal stone base, 51 ft. in height to centre of upper lantern.

Remarks.—The lights are unwatched; the upper light only will usually be exhibited, the lower light being used as a reserve.

CHINA SEA.

Gaspar Strait, Banka Island.—Berikat Point.—Details of Light. Position.—Lat. 2° 34' 10" S., long. 106° 51' 12" E., on Chart No. 2137.

Abridged description.—Lt. fl. ev. 15 secs., 105 ft., vis. 15 m. Details.—Character : A flashing white light every fifteen seconds, thus—flash 3 secs, eclipse 12 secs. Elevation : 105 ft. Visibility : 15 miles ; from 90° (N. 89° E. mag.), through south, to 360° (N. 1° W. mag.). Structure : White iron framework, 46 ft. in height.

Variation.—1° E.

Charts affected.—No. 2137, Gaspar Strait ; No. 2149, Banka and Gaspar Straits ; No. 941A, Eastern Archipelago, sheet I ; No. 1263, China Sea.

Publications.—List of Lights, Part VI, 1915, No. 988 ; China Sea Pilot, Vol. I, 1906, page 501 ; China Sea Pilot, Vol. II, 1915, pages 138, 172.

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

Palau (Pelew) Islands.—Kajangle Islets.—Reefs reported Eastward and Northward of.

(a.) Position.—At a distance of about one mile, eastward, from the northern Kajangle Islet. Northern Kajangle Islet, lat. 8° 3' N., long. 134° 43' E. Depth.—5 fathoms.

(b.) Position.—Extending for a distance of about 30 miles, northward, from the northern Kajangle Islet. Details.—A series of reefs, depths not stated. Remarks.—A note “Reefs reported extending 30’ to the northward from Kajangle Is. (1915),” is to be inserted on the charts.

Johnston (Cornwallis) Island Anchorage.—Existence of a Rock.

Position.—At a distance of 9 cables and 80 yards, 153° (S. 37° E. mag.), from the hut on Johnston Island shown on the chart. Lat. 16° 44' N., long. 169° 32' W.

Depth.—3 fathoms, coral.

Variation.—10° E.

Chart affected.—No. 2867, Plans of Johnston Island anchorage and Johnston Island reef.

Publication.—Pacific Islands Pilot, Vol. III, 1909, page 262.

JAPAN.

Tsu Sima.—Tsutsu Zaki.—Rock Northward of.

Position.—At a distance of 15·4 cables, 356° (N. 1° E. mag.), from Tsutsu Zaki Lighthouse, and about 4½ cables from the shore. Lat. 34° 7¼' N., long. 129° 9½' E.

Description.—A rock awash.

Variation.—5° W.

Charts affected.—No. 2385, Tsu Sima ; No. 127, Hirado Kaikyo to Shimonoseki Kaikyo ; No. 3366, Fusan Harbour to Port Hamilton ; No. 104, Korean Archipelago, south portion.

Publications.—Japan Pilot, 1914, page 543 ; E.C. Korea and Siberia, &c., Pilot, 1913, page 83.

Yezo, South Coast.—Otchishi Zaki.—Rock Westward of.

Position.—At a distance of 3 miles and 1½ cables, 261° (S. 87° W. mag.), from Otchishi Zaki Lighthouse. Lat. 43° 9½' N., long. 145° 26½' E.

Depth.—3¼ fathoms.

Remarks.—A steamer reports having touched on this rock, which is to be marked “P.D.” on the charts.

Variation.—6° W.

Charts affected.—No. 452, Yezo Island ; No. 2405, The Kuril Islands ; No. 2459, North-west Pacific Ocean, &c.

Publication.—Japan Pilot, 1914, page 728.

Hakodate Ko.—Light and Bell Buoy with Siren established in Place of Light-vessel.

Position.—At a distance of about 9 cables, northward, from Benten Zaki, in the position formerly occupied by the light-vessel which it replaces. Lat. 41° 47½' N., long. 140° 41¾' E.

Description.—A red cylindrical light and bell buoy with a siren, surmounted by a framework superstructure, exhibiting a flashing white light every three seconds.

Remarks.—The bell is worked by the motion of the buoy on the waves, and the siren is automatically sounded by compressed air.

Charts affected.—No. 2672, Hakodate Ko ; No. 2441, Tsugaru Strait ; No. 3409, Ishinomaki Wan and Sakata Ko to Tsugaru Kaikyo ; No. 452, Yezo Island.

Publications.—List of Lights, Part VI, 1915, No. 2093 ; Japan Pilot, 1914, pages 679, 680, 681.

Nipon, East Coast.—Kamaishi Harbour.—Existence of Rocks.

(a.) Position.—At a distance of 4·7 cables, 183° (S. 8° W. mag.), from the observation spot. Observation spot, lat. 39° 16½' N., long. 141° 54¾' E. Description.—A rock, 10 ft. high,