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CHAP. TII.J CLEMENT. CHANNEL.—DIRECTIONS. 347
shoals south of Kwil island, a course may be shaped to the northward
avoiding Sunken rock.
The Channel between Vansittart Shoals and Bakan
Island is 2^ miles wide, and may be used by bringing Slemar island to
bear N.N.W., which will lead through in mid-channel. As the north-
eastern patch of Vansittart shoals is approached, take care that Slemar
island is not brought to the northward of N. by W.
STOLZE CHANNEL.
Stolze channel is rather wider, less encumbered with dangers, and
furnishes objects more convenient for guiding vessels safely through it,
than Macclesfield channel. The southern entrance is bounded on the
west by Shoalwater island and the reefs southward of it described in pages
331-2, and on the east by Pulo Selio, Carnbee rocks, and other shoals.
These latter shoals are much against this channel in making it from the
southward, for Carnbee rocks— the most southern of the dangers—lie 20
miles distant from the land, so that in thick or hazy weather, when a vessel
might be uncertain of her position, she would nqt be able to make BiUiton
island with nearly the same safety that she would be able to make Pulo
Lepar or the south coast of Banka. These shoals would appear to form
the only drawback to the adoption of this channel, and in fine weather
even this would almost disappear, for the hills on Billiton are high, and
may be seen at a distance of 30 or 35 miles, and Shoalwater island and
light, on the western side, are visible about 20 miles.
DANGERS IN SOUTHERN APPROACH.—East
Side.—Carnbee Rocks, in lat. 3° 34^' S., long, lor 41' B., are of
coral formation, and about 2 cables in extent j these rocks are covered at
high water, but a portion dries 5 feet at low water, with depths of 12 to
15 fathoms, one cable distant.
These rocks are difficult to distinguish at high water, when the sea is
smooth, from a distance of more than one cable.
A rocky patch with less than 3 fathoms lies one mile N. by E. ^ E.from
Carnbee rocks.
Anvang bank, at about 10| miles northward of Carnbee rocks,
consists of large black rocks, some of which dry at low-water, withdepths
of 5 to 13 fathdms close to. From the western extreme of the bank,
Gunong Bolo, on the south point of Pulo Selio^ bears N.W. by N.
distant lOj miles.
Naga reef, a shallow patch, lies S; f E., distant 2^ miles from
Anvang bank.