The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP, vii.] GASPAR STRAIT.—GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 331
they will continue to do so in preference to the more circuitotiB, although
much safer route of Banka strait;' Until, however j the correct positions of
all the shoals and dangers known to exist to the northward of Gaspar
strait are determined, a vigilant; look put must be kept when approaching
the strait from that direction, as dangers may exist that are not mai'ked
on the charts. Nor must vigilance be relaxed when getting near to
Pulo Leat, and when passing through the strait. No opportunity should
be lost of determining the vessel's exact position.; and the greatest
attention should be paid to ascertaining the set of the current and to
guard against its effects. Many fine vessels have been lost in G-aspar
strait; not a few on Alceste reef, from wrongly estimating their dis-
tance from the land; but in the majority of instances from causes
which might have been guarded against by the exercise of due care and
judgment.
Macclesfield channel is the one generally taken, although Stolze channel
appears to be much less intricate and more free from danger. Clement
channel is much narrower than either of the other two, and being encum-
bered with dangers in its narrowest part, its navigation is more difficult
and unsafe.
SHOALS.—Southern approach.—Dangerous shoals extend
for about 35 miles to the southward of Gaspar strait, rendering great
caution necessary when approaching the strait from that direction.*
Hippogriffe rocks, the south-westernmost of these dangers,
lie on the eastern side of Macclesfield strait. The northern patch,
situated in lat.
3° 34^' S., long. 106° 55^' E., is a dangerous coral rock,
with 3 feet water, and about 50 yards in diameter. Other rocks lie
between the bearings of south-west and southrcast, distant, three-quarters
of a mile from the northern rock.
Hancock shoal is a small, patch about a quarter of a mile in extent,
having, one fathom of water, and 6 to 7 fathoms around. It lies 9 miles
east of Hippogrifie rocks.
Turtle shoal, with a depth of 3 feet, and 7 fathoms ^lose-to, lies
about 2 miles N.E. by E. ^ E. from Hancock shoal, and is . of about the
same extent. The tide ripples over it.
» See Admiralty chart :—Gaspar strait. No. 2,137 ; scale, m = 0-4 of an inch.
Donbtful dangers.—^A doubtful rock was marked in former charts at 8f miles
S.W. by W. i W. of Hancock shoal ; a small shoal of 6 feet, named Mary Goddard,
at 44 miles S.S.E. of the Hancock ; and another of 12 feet water, named Sharpshooter
S. from Hancock shoal ; but a careful search having been made
reef, at 11 miles W. f
for these dangers in May 1866 by H.M. Surveying Vessel Swallow, without the
slightest indication of their existence, they hav* been expunged from the charts.