There is a small shallow bay situated 3 miles to the westward of Beca-Marsoin, at the bottom of which is a short sandy beach, the only landing place to the eastward of Fautasque point. There is a small fishing village near the beach, but no protection for vessels.

Au Bas Village.-The village of Au Bas is situated half a mile to the westward of Fautasque point.

Reef. From the shore of the village of Au Bas a reef extends to the west and W.N.W., a distance of 3 miles, narrowing the channel between the reef and Great Cayemites island to three-quarters of a mile. The eastern part of the reef dries at low tide, and shows only a few black heads at high water, the western part of the reef has several heads with only 2 fathoms water; but there are places where the reef may be crossed in 3 fathoms.

A quarter of a mile to the south-west of Au Bas, and to the southward of the reef just mentioned, is the first of a chain of small islands, covered with low mangrove bushes, and extending along the shore to the southwest for the distance of a mile. Between the islands and the main there

is a boat passage.

Pestal. Nearly 6 miles W.S.W. from Au Bas is Pestal, a town of some importance, situated in a small inlet between high hills. Very little of the town is visible from the sea, only two or three houses on the beach and a few more on the top of the hill.

In the channel between Great and Little Cayemites islands there are only 2 fathoms water.

Directions. In entering Cayemites bay from the eastward, keep about 3 cables distant from the shore of the peninsula, no bottom at 20 fathoms will be found at that distance. As already mentioned, the channel between Great Cayemites and the reef extending off Au Bas is three-quarters of a mile wide, and has from 3 to 5 fathoms. There is deep water within 3 cables of Fautasque point, and 10 fathoms at a mile west of it.

Anchorage. The first secure anchorage westward of Bec-a-Marsoin point is in 7 fathoms, with Fautasque point bearing E. by N. and the western end of the chain of islands extending from Au Bas, bearing S. by E. In this berth the reef with only 2 or 3 fathoms water is about a cable distant; do not shoal less than 5 fathoms, as the soundings are irregular.

SOUTH COAST.-MESTE BAY.

Mella Bank. This bank is found to have much changed, and now consists of four shoals lying between the meridian of Toulan point (the eastern point of the entrance to Flamand bay) and that of Boyet point (the eastern point of the entrance to Meste bay). They are all of small extent, steep to, and when the sun is shining brightly may be seen

from aloft. It is probable that the bank is still changing. The outer shoal is about 1 miles from the shore.

The western shoal has a depth of 12 feet and lies S.E. S., nearly a mile from Toulan point, and S.W. by W. W. from Boyet point.

The other three shoals lie within three-quarters of a mile of each other. The middle and largest one is nearly circular, about a quarter of a mile in diameter, has 6 feet on its shoalest part, and bears from Boyet point S. by W. W. 14 miles distant, and from Toulan point E.S.E. The eastern shoal has 12 feet water and bears E.N.E., 3 cables from the largest shoal. The remaining shoal has 12 feet and bears N.W. N., 3 cables from the last-mentioned shoal.

By keeping 1 miles off shore a vessel will pass in 7 fathoms clear of all dangers, no shoals nor rocks having been found south of this limit. Passing half a mile outside the line of the headlands will lead through the channel between Mella bank and the main, but in using this channel the lead should be kept constantly going as the soundings are very irregular.

The pilots are not well acquainted with this locality.

AQUIN BAY.

Cay Ramier is now connected with the small cay lying to the westward by a beach of sand and coral. Shoal water, from 4 to 8 fathoms coral, extends half a mile W. S. from the west end of the small cay mentioned. Short spits project from its north-east and north-west points.

The remarkable barren white hill said to be on Cay Ramier was not

seen.

Kansas Shoal.-A coral shoal recently discovered by the Kansas lies S.W. W., 1% miles from the eastern end of Cay Ramier. It is 6 cables long N.E. and S.W., about 4 cables broad, and has from 4 to 24 feet over it; the water shoals suddenly from 9 and 10 fathoms to 3 and 4 fathoms on the edge of the reef. In smooth water their is a small and scarcely noticeable roller over the shoalest spots.

Seven cables N.W. from the shoalest part of Kansas shoal is a small coral head of 12 feet with deep water all round.

JAPAN.-NIPON, EAST COAST.

SENDAI BAY.

The following information relating to Sendai bay has been received from Captain H. C. St. John, R.N., H.M.S. Sylvia, 1874 :—

On approaching Sendai bay, the sharp wooded summit of Kingkasan island, 1,000 feet high, will be a conspicuous object:

The group of islands in the N.W. corner of Sendai bay should not be approached nearer than 2 miles, as reefs and rocks extend off them to a considerable distance, and there is no anchorage even for a small vessel on the western shore of the bay.

Anchorages.-Cape Amitsihama, the east point of Sendai bay, has deep water close to, and may be passed within two cables; soundings in from 16 to 19 fathoms will be found between the cape and Nagasima island, and anchorage for the largest ships may be obtained in from 12 to 9 fathoms, sand, off the north end of the island.

On the shore of the mainland, abreast the north end of Nagasima island, there is a bay half a mile wide, which affords anchorage in from 7 to 9 fathoms, mud. The bay may be recognized by its having the only white. sandy beach in the vicinity, and from a wooded islet lying off its northern point.

Both these anchorages afford shelter from north and east winds, but a heavy sea is thrown in by winds from east round southerly to N.W. Kingkasan Island is bold, and may be passed close to, and there is a ship passage between the island and the main shore.

Nagasima Island.-A single rock which dries, lies east two cables from the southern extreme of Nagasima island.

Light.—Kitakami light consists of a lantern similar to a ship's masthead light, and being in front of the town, it can with difficulty be distinguished from the lights of the houses and junks.

UNSEAWORTHINESS OWING TO SEASON OF THE YEAR.-CAUTION.-The following letter has been written by the Board of Trade on this subject:"Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, December 2, 1874.-Sir,-I am directed by the Board of Trade to transmit to you copy of the Report o Inquiry, held at Ardrossan, into the circumstances attending the loss of your paddle-steamer Chusan, at the entrance to Ardrossan Harbour, on the morning of the 21st ult. From this report, and from the evidence given before the Court, the Board are advised that the conclusion may be drawn that vessels of the Chusan class are not safe and seaworthy for an ocean voyage from this country at all seasons of the year. The Board of Trade trust that you will not overlook this expression of opinion, as it may be their duty to interfere, under the Acts of 1871 and 1873, with the attempted sailings of similar vessels from Ports of the United Kingdom, on long voyages, unless commenced at seasons when there is a reasonable prospect of the vessels arriving at their destinations without encountering very heavy weather during the passage.-(Signed) THOMAS GRAY."

MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF NAUTICAL NOTICES.

NAUTICAL NOTICES.

1.-JAPAN.-Nipon, South Coast.-Oö-Sima.-The following information has been received relative to the Kami-Seh rock, lying off Oö-sima, and heretofore reported as having 4 fathoms on it, viz. :-The rock lies N.E. † E. 1 miles from Oö-sima lighthouse, and has 16 feet on it at low-water springs, with 17 and 19 fathoms close to.

Note.-Itsimo-sima just touching Omi-saki rock, bearing W. N., leads well south of the rock.

2.-CHINA.-East Coast.-Han River.-Swatow.-Information has been received of the existence of a sunken rock lying off Kakchio, Port of Swatow. This rock (Madras rock) has 8 feet water on it at lowwater springs, and lies with Botterfurh rock, bearing E. by N.; English Consulate flag-staff, S.E. by E. E.; Extreme of Western pier, S.E. by S., distant 1 cables.

3.-CANADA.-Lake Erie.-North Foreland or Long Point Light.— This light has been changed from a fixed white light to a revolving white light, showing a flash every minute.

4.-AUSTRALIA.-East Coast.-Capricorn Group.-The master of the steam vessel Florence Irving, reports having passed over a coral patch (Irving reef) westward of Masthead island, Capricorn group, with apparently not more than 2 to 3 fathoms on it, Masthead island at the time bearing E. N., distant 5 miles. This bearing and distance places the reef in lat. 23° 21′ S., long. 151° 58′ 20′′ E.

5.-AUSTRALIA.-East Coast.-Cumberland Islands.-K. 4 Isle.-The master of the ship Lady Douglas reports that K. 4 isle is connected with the sand lying to the westward of it, by a coral reef which dries at low water.

6.-AUSTRALIA.-East Coast.—Cumberland Islands.—Sir James Smith Group.-The master of the schooner Io reports the existence of a rock (Io rock) which dries at half tide, lying one mile from the western shore of the largest of Sir James Smith group, Cumberland islands. From the rock Linné peak bore east, northerly. This bearing, and the distance from the shore, places the rock in lat. 20° 40′ S., long. 149° 10' E. 7.-AUSTRALIA.-East Coast.-Halifax Bay.-The master of the schooner Marchioness of Lorne reports the existence of a sunken reef (Lorne reef) lying about 1 or 2 miles W.S.W. from the north-west point of Rattlesnake island. This bearing and distance places the reef in about lat. 19° 2′ S., long. 146° 35′ E.

8.-AUSTRALIA.-North Coast.-Information has been received of the existence of a coral patch lying 1 miles north-westward of Z reef, off Kennedy river, and in the fairway of the inner passage to Torres