The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

316 BANKA STfiAIT. [chap, vr.
Buoy.—A red buoy, surmounted with a staff, and the letters F.H. on
a vane, is moored in 5 fathoms on the north edge of the 3-feet patch.
Clearing Marks.—Monopin hill, E. ^ S., leads about half a mile
southward of the 3-feet patch ; and Monopin hill in line with the remark-
able yellow cliff between Bersiap and Ular points, E. by S. f S., leads
2 miles northward of the northern patch.
Caution.—The buoys and beacons in Banka strait are not to be
depended upon.
STANTON AND LUCIPAEA CHANNELS.
STANTON CHANNEL,* lying along the south-western coast
of Banka, is 19 miles long, and nearly 3 miles wide at its narrowest
part, with depths in mid-channel increasing gradually from 7 fathoms at
its south-eastern entrance to 20 fathoms near the other extreme. The
approaches from the southward are marked by the well-defined mount
St. Paul, and the conical hills of G-adong and Toboali Lama, and in fine
clear weather by the more distant range of Padang ; these cannot fail to
point out the entrance, and the water being deep within half a mile o£
Dapur islands, will give strangers confidence in steering for the land.
Prominent points and hills will also be seen along the Banka coast,
bearings of v/hich will enable a vessel at any time to ascertain her
position.
The channel is bounded by narrow sand-banks extending in a N.W. by W.
and S.E. by E. direction, with a mixture of mud and sand between. The
two marking the western boundary of the channel are named Smits and
Melvill banks, after the late Lieutenants Smit and Melvill of the Dutch
Royal Navy, whose valuable contributions to hydrography in the Java sea
are so well known to seamen.
Smits Bank consists of four smaller banks, nearly connected, and
forming within the depth of 5 fathoms one long narrow ridge 15 miles in
length, with its shoalest part of 2 feet, lying 6 miles, and the n?xt shoalest
of 10 feet, 3 miles from the north-western end ; two other patches of
3 fathoms and 2| fathoms lie on the south-east part of the bank.
Panjang hill, bearing N.E. ^ N., leads north-eastward of Smits bank,
and between it and Nemesis bank, in 6 fathoms at low water. Gadong
peak in line with Toboali point N.E. ^ E., or Lucipara island S.W., clears
the south-eastern end in 4 fathoms ; the north-eastern side should not be
approached under a depth of 10 fathoms.
* See Admiiaity chart of Banka strait, South entrance, No. 2,808, scale, m = 0-7 of
an inch.