The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. II.] PEDEA BRANCA.—HORSBUR&H LIGHT. 141.
Middle Rocks are two dangerous ledges, a little above the surface
at high water, lying South and S.S.E. from the lighthouse. Eastward
a short distance from the Middle rocks is a patch of 4 fathoms, and
N. by W. I W. a quarter of a mile from this patch is a rock with 3 feet
of water.
South. Ledge, named by Horsburgh South-west rocks, consists of
three dangerous pointed rockg, with 8 and 9 fathoms close to, and 16 or 18
fathoms at a short distance. They are of small extent, not visible until the
ebb has made some time, and are nearly covered before the stream of flood
begins to run. Horsburgh lighthouse bears from them N. by E. ^ E.,
distant 2 miles.
Depths in Singapore Strait.—From l^ to 2 miles south-eastward
of St. John island, where the depths are 85 and 86 fathoms, the
general depths in mid-strait to abreast of Eammiia point, are 18 to 27 and
30 fathoms, with occasional casts of 12 and 14 fathoms ; towards the
northern shore the depths decrease gradually to 8 and 6 fathoms, but
towards the southern the depths are irregular and deeper, there being
27 to 30 fathoms within a mile of Pulo Battara ; the only dangers to be
avoided are Johore shoal on the north side of the strait, and the Pan reefs
and Crocodile shoal, within the entrance of Ehio strait, but the latter are
out of the direct tract of vessels working through Singapore strait.
About 5 miles W.S.W. from Pedra Branca, there are some small banks
with 10 to 17 fathoms water on them and 20 to 30 fathoms around ;
between them and Pedra. Branca, there are depths of 34 to 36 fathoms.
In the South Channel between Tanjong Brakit and Pedra Branca, the
depths are too irregular to be relied upon to guide a vessel safely. The
10-fathom edge of the shore bank extends from a short distance outside
Langui shoal in a north-easterly direction, passing about a mile outside
Diana shoal, thence with an irregular outline it extends half-way across
the channel between the western part of Tanjong Brakit and Pedra Branca.
Depths of 6 and 7 fathoms extend about 2 miles E.N.E. of Diana shoal
to the southward of this bank are 9 and 10 fathoms, decreasing to 7 and 6
fathoms close to the Bentan shore. In the fair channel are 12 to 14 fathoms,
aud 16 to 20 fathoms towards the dangers near Pedra Branca. The depths
in this channel are much greater to the westward of the meridian of Pedra
Branca than upon or to the eastward of its meridian, which ought to be
kept in remembrance when passing through in the night.
In the Middle channel, between Horsburgh lighthouse and Bamunia
shoals, the depths are iiregular, 17 to 35 fathoms close to the light-house,
19 to 30 fathoms in mid-channel, with some soundings of 14 and 15
fathoms rather nearer the shoals, close to which are 17 to 14 fathoms.