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Lonsdale shore aboard, as the tide there runs
fairer, and in bad weather small vessels incur less
risk on the Point Lonsdale shore from the tide
ripples than towards Point Nepean.

No alteration has taken place in the Upper Lighthouse
on Shortland’s Bluff, which is as heretofore
a bright stationary light, one hundred and nine
(109) feet above the level of the water; seen in ordinary
weather twenty (20) miles to seaward, within
the bearings of south round by west to south-west
by west.

The bearings are by compass, and heights at
mean high water.

FLOATING LIGHTSHIP, HOBSON’S BAY.

A Floating Light is established at the north end
of the West Channel leading into Port Phillip Bay,
in the same position as that hitherto occupied by
the North Fairway Buoy, which is now removed.

The Lightship is painted Red, and exhibits,—
between sunset and sunrise, two (2) bright lights,
twenty-four (24) feet apart, and fifty (50) feet above
the level of the water.

These Lights may be seen from all parts of the
horizon within the distance of nine (9) miles in
clear weather.

Vessels approaching the Lightship by night or
by day, are warned to be cautious in avoiding collision.

The Lightship is moored in four (4) fathoms at
low water, with the following magnetic bearings:—

Extreme point of Indented Head N.W. ¼ N.
Summit of Arthur’s Seat, S.E. ¼ E.
Extremity of Point Nepean S.S.W. ½ W.

ANONYMA ROCK, IN PORT PHILLIP BAY.

Commanders of vessels working up the east side
of Port Phillip Bay are requested to take notice
that a Chequered Buoy has been placed upon the
Eight Foot Rock off the Red Bluff, which has been
ascertained to lie nearly two (2) miles closer in
shore than the position assigned to it in the charts.
Commanders are recommended to notice the following
bearings, and lay the rock’s position down
on their charts.

Magnetic Position of the Anonyma Rock.

Lighthouse, Gellibrand’s Point, N.W. ¼ N.
Centre of the Red Bluff, E. by S.
A small white cliff, some distance north of the
Red Bluff, N.E. ¼ E.

The Anonyma Rock lies a mile off shore, the
least water on it being eight (8) feet at low tide,
with five (5) fathoms just outside, and a clear passage
half a mile on the inside of it with three (3)
and four (4) fathoms, sandy bottom.

CORSAIR ROCK.

A dangerous Rock, with only (11) feet of water
over it at low tide, has recently been discovered
nearly three-quarters of a mile west of Point Nepean.
It is not laid down in any of the charts of
this Port. Commanders of vessels navigating between
the Heads are requested to observe the following
marks in order to avoid the said Rock
(which will hereafter be known as the “Corsair
Rock”) and are recommended to lay down its position
on their charts.

Magnetic Position of the centre of the Corsair Rock.

Upper Lighthouse on Shortland’s Bluff, N. 21 E.
Middle of the Rocky Islet off Point Nepean, N. 87 E.
Tidal Flagstaff on Point Lonsdale, N. 76. W.

The above rock is about twenty (20) feet in
diameter, the least water found over it at low tide
is eleven (11) feet, with three (3), four (4), and
five (5) fathoms water all round.

There is a clear passage between the Corsair
Rock and the extreme end of Nepean Reef, of
about a cable’s length, with three (3), four (4),
and five (5) fathoms of water; but no vessel should
ever attempt it, as the tide, both ebb and flood,
sets with great force on Nepean Reef.

Marks to clear the Corsair Rock.

In working out between the Heads, keep the flagstaff
on Observatory Point open half a cable’s length
with the lowest part of Nepean Point until Shortland’s
Bluff flagstaff is half a cable’s length open to
the westward of the low lighthouse; which latter
mark must be kept on until you open out Nepean
Rock to the eastward of that point, when you are
out clear of the rock and Nepean Reef.

In working in between the Heads, keep Shortland’s
Bluff flagstaff half a cable’s length open to
the westward of the low lighthouse until you have
the flagstaff on Observatory Point half a cable’s
length open to the westward of Point Nepean,
which will lead you clear of the Corsair Rock; but
to clear Nepean Reef, which lies a cable’s length inside
the rock, do not shut in the low lighthouse with
Shortland’s Bluff flagstaff until you open out the
Nepean Rock to the westward of that point, when
you are in clear of the reef.

NOTICE TO COMMANDERS OF VESSELS IN HOBSON’S BAY.

Commanders of vessels are requested to take
notice that, for the purpose of enabling them to rate
their chronometers, a Time Ball, painted black, will
be dropped daily (Sundays excepted), from the top
of the flagstaff at Gellibrand’s Point, at the instant
of 1 o’clock mean solar time, there corresponding
to 13h. 20m. 19s. Greenwich time.

As a preparatory signal, a blue pennant will be
hoisted at the mast-head at half-past twelve, and
hauled down at ten minutes to one o’clock, when
the Ball will be run up to the mast-head and dropped
as above.

In the event of its being necessary at any time
to suspend the dropping of the Time Ball either
from strength of wind or any casualty occurring to
the apparatus, this will be indicated by a white
pennant being hoisted instead of the blue preparatory pennant.

Assigned position of the Time Ball, lat. 37 deg.
52m. 42s. S., long. 144d. 55m. 28s. E.

TIDAL SIGNALS.

A Flagstaff having been erected at Point Lonsdale,
the following signals will be hoisted upon it
between sunset and sunrise on and after this date,
to denote the state of the tides at the Heads:—

A blue flag will be hoisted half-mast high when
the tide begins to flow in the middle of the entrance
between Point Lonsdale and Nepean, which will
be kept flying all the first quarter of the flood tide.
The second quarter, a blue flag at the mast-head.
The third quarter, a red flag half-mast high.
The last quarter, a red flag at the mast-head.

Ebb Tides.

The first quarter, a blue flag half-mast high, with
a ball underneath.
The second quarter, a blue flag at the mast-head,
with a ball underneath.
The third quarter, a red flag half-mast high,
with a ball underneath.
The last quarter, a red flag at the mast-head,
with a ball underneath.

River Yarra Yarra.

The following Tidal Signals will also be hoisted
at the foremost head of the Water Police Hulk,
moored at the entrance of the River Yarra, to denote
the height of the tide on the Bar:—

When there is 8 feet water on the Bar, a ball
will be hoisted at the mast-head.
8½ feet ... a ball half-mast high.
9 feet ... two balls at the mast-head.
9½ feet ... two balls half-mast high.
10 feet ... a blue flag at the mast-head.
10½ feet ... a blue flag half-mast high.
11 feet ... a red flag at the mast-head.

CHARLES FERGUSSON,
Port and Harbour Master.

December 22, 1853.