Bacsal Islands are two small high, clear, wooded islands lying close to the south end of Daram Island. The channel between them and Daram is clear with the exception of a small 212-fathom (4.6 m.) patch lying about 1/4 mile northeastward from the western island.

From Dulugdug Point, the eastern entrance to the southern end of Daram Channel to Diutay Point, the northern entrance point to Janabatas Channel, the distance is about 22 miles. The coast line is very irregular, but the shore is clear and bold.

Janabatas Channel (chart 4464), between Samar and Leyte, is 234 miles wide at the entrance between Diutay Point, Samar, and Baluarte Point, Leyte, and extends about 8 miles eastward to Santa Rita Island, at the northern end of San Juanico Strait. The land on both sides of the entrance is high and well wooded. Mount Busay, about 2 miles southeastward of Baluarte Point, is 1,830 feet (558 m.) high, and forms a prominent landmark to steer for in making the entrance to the channel. The shore line on both sides of the channel is very irregular, being indented by a number of bays into which small streams discharge; they are all shoal and of little value to navigation. Numerous small villages lie scattered along the shores, of which Santa Rita, on Samar, and Babatngon, Samputan, and Malibago, on Leyte, appear to be the most important. There are a number of islets and much shoal water in the channel, the depths varying from 5 fathoms (9.1 m.) at the entrance to 2 fathoms (3.6 m.) northeast of Navahay Island.

Diutay Point, on the northern side of the entrance, is formed by a small islet 82 feet (25 m.) high which lies close to the shore, about 1 mile southeast of Nabatas Point. This islet is clear and steep-to on its seaward side but is connected with the land by a reef bare at low water.

Baluarte Point, on the southern side of the entrance, rises at a distance of 11⁄2 mile inland to a height of 470 feet (143 m.). It is clear and steep-to and may be rounded at a distance of 1/4 mile with safety.

Calaguan Island, on the northeast side of Baluarte Point, is fringed with mangroves and 188 feet (57 m.) high; it is connected with Baluarte Point by a reef mostly bare at low water.

Canauay Island, on the south side of the channel, about 2 miles eastward of Baluarte Point, is about 1/4 mile in extent and 117 feet (36 m.) high in the northwest part. It is covered with trees except on the northern slope of the 117-foot hill, which is cultivated. A fixed red light, visible 9 miles, is shown from two iron supports on the north side of Canauay Island.

Pilotage for vessels passing through San Juanico Strait is optional. The rate is P2 per foot, and vessels employing them are not required to pay the berthing fee at Tacloban, which is otherwise compulsory. Pilots may be obtained at Canauay Island and at Tacloban, and strangers are advised to employ them.

Ivantacut Island, about 11⁄2 miles east-northeastward of Canauay light, is small, low, rocky, covered with bushes, and is steep-to on its northern side. The usual track of vessels lies about 1/4 mile northward from it. Small craft sometimes use the channel southward of Ivantacut, but the bottom is very uneven and rocky and, as little is gained by going through it, its use is not advised.

Dabun Island is a small islet less than 1 mile in extent, lying about 11⁄2 miles eastward of Ivantacut. It is wooded, 112 feet (34 m.) high, and is clear on its southern side, but care must be taken to avoid the long northwestward extension of the rocky ledge westward from it which bares at low water. About 3/4 mile westward of this island and northward of the high hill at the northern extremity of Caltagan Island is a rocky spot covered by 11⁄2 fathoms (2.7 m.)

Caltagan Island lies about 1 mile southwest of Dabun Island close to the shore of Leyte, from which it is separated by a narrow boat channel. Caltagan Island is fringed with mangroves and 179 feet (54 m.) high near its northern end.

Navahay Island, with its northern end over 3/4 mile south-southeastward of Dabun Ísland, is wooded and 111 feet (34 m.) high. A small, rocky patch, with a least depth of 12 fathom (0.9 m.) and surrounded by depths of 2 and 212 fathoms (3.6 and 4.6 m.), lies 3⁄4 mile eastward of the northern end of Navahay Island.

Samputan Pass, between Samputan Point and Navahay Island, has a least depth of 31⁄2 fathoms (6.4 m.), and at the narrowest point is about 200 yards wide between the 3-fathom (5.5 m.) curves. Two sets of range marks formed by three beacons on Samputan Point indicate the mid-channel courses through Samputan Pass. The range marks for the southeastern reach when in line bear 146° (SE. 7% S. mag.), and those for the southwestern reach 251° (WSW. 1⁄4 W. mag.). The rear beacon for both ranges is a steel column on the hillside 200 feet (61 m.) above high water, carrying daymarks facing both reaches of the channel. These ranges lead through the middle of Samputan Pass in not less than 32 fathoms (6.4 m.) of water. Samputan Point should be given a berth of 200 to 250 yards when changing from one range to the other.

Santa Rita Island, at the head of Janabatas Channel, is small, over 100 feet (30 m.) high, clear on the southern side, but surrounded on the other sides by a narrow reef, widest on its northwestern side. It may be recognized by an old fort and some houses on it.

Bacol Island, lying close to the coast of Leyte, from which it is separated by a narrow boat channel fringed with mangroves, is about 11 miles in extent and composed of low, wooded hills and mangrove swamps. A red buoy lies about 400 yards northward of the northern end of Bacol Island to mark the southern side of the entrance to San Juanico Strait. The channel between Santa Rita Island and this buoy is about 400 yards wide.

Nababuy Island lies at the head of San Juanico Strait and divides the entrance into two channels, of which the channel northward and eastward of it is generally used. The channel southward of Nababuy is sometimes used by small vessels when the tide serves, care being taken to avoid a rocky ledge which bares at half tide, southwestward of Nababuy, and the fringing reefs of Bacol Island.

Anajao Island is a small island 54 feet (16.5 m.) high, lying about 400 yards southeastward of Santa Rita Island. Its northwest extremity should be given a berth of about 150 yards.

San Juanico Strait, connecting Janabatas Channel with Tacloban Harbor, is about 12 miles long in a general north and south direction. It has an average width of from 14 to 11⁄2 mile, reduced in two places to barely 200 yards, and carries a varying depth of from 5 to 15

fathoms (9.1 to 27.4 m.). The shores are low and fringed with mangroves. A multitude of islets and shoals confine the channels. The flood tide sets north and ebb tide south, and at times attains a velocity of from 4 to 5 knots in some parts of the strait, forming violent eddies and tide rips. There are a number of small villages on both sides of the strait.

Dangers. To attempt to describe the dangers in detail, in absence of any well-defined landmarks, would only cause confusion. The tracks and the dangers on both sides of them can be best understood by reference to the chart. Only the aids to navigation and a few of the more prominent dangers will be mentioned.

Silaga Beacon marks a small, rocky patch, which bares at low water, lying 1/4 mile southwest of the mouth of the Silaga River and 1 mile eastward of Nababuy Island. About 1/4 mile southward of Silaga Beacon is a dangerous, rocky patch with a least depth of 1/4 fathom (0.4 m.).

Uban Point Beacon marks the dangers on the eastern side of the channel nearly opposite Uban Point. The channel which lies between this beacon and a small reef, bare at low water, westward from it, is only about 200 yards wide.

Cauayan Point Beacon marks a dangerous reef lying about 200 yards southeastward of the smaller Bagasumbut Island. Vessels passing this beacon should favor the Samar side of the channel, where the best water is found.

A black can buoy in 5 fathoms (9.1 m.), about 11⁄2 miles southward of Cauayan Beacon, marks the western limit of a dangerous reef, with a least depth of 14 fathom (0.2 m.). The channel between this buoy and a 234-fathom (4.8 m.) spot lying southwestward of it is about 300 yards wide.

A small, rocky patch, with a least depth of 234 fathoms (4.8 m.), lies in the middle of the channel, about 700 yards north-northwestward of the north end of Lazaretto Island. Tacloban light, bearing 139° (SE. 14 S. mag.), carries a vessel in the best water between this rocky patch and the shoal water on the Samar side.

NORTH COAST OF LEYTE

Leyte, situated between Cebu and Samar, is generally mountainous, but contains several large and fertile valleys. It is the eighth island in the archipelago in point of size and has an area of 2,722 square statute miles. The prevailing geological formation is volcanic, and several of the mountains are the extinct craters of volcanoes. The mountains are covered with forests. The climate, though hot, is healthy. Typhoons occur and do great damage. The rivers are small and unfit for navigation, but are extensively applied to irrigation. The chief products are hemp and copra. Tacloban, the capital and principal port, is on the eastern coast at the southern entrance to San Juanico Strait, which separates Leyte from Samar. Between Baluarte Point, the southern entrance point to Janabatas Channel, and the eastern entrance to Biliran Strait, 20 miles westward, the coast recedes southward about 9 miles, forming Carigara Bay. The shore in the eastern part of the bay is faced by shoal water extending 34 mile in places. The western shore of the bay is

clear and steep-to. The entire bay is clear and deep and the charts show no danger more than 34 mile from shore, with the exception of a small shoal patch, with a least depth of 22 fathoms (4.6 m.), lying 1 mile north-northwestward of Jalaba Point, in the southeast part of the bay. There is a rock awash about 1/4 mile inshore from this shoal.

Barugo is a small town about 8 miles southwestward of Baluarte Point. Anchorage can be found in 8 fathoms (14.6 m.) about 1 mile from shore, with a large, white storehouse bearing 170° (S. by E. mag.). Shoal water extends about 3/4 mile from the western end of the town.

Carigara is at the head of the bay. Vessels are obliged to anchor about 3/4 mile from shore because of shoal water in front of the town. The cable from Catbalogan lands at the river mouth near the light structure. A fixed red light, visible 9 miles, is shown from a white concrete pillar on the sand spit between the river and bay.

From Carigara the coast trends northwestward with a curve westward for 111⁄2 miles to Talairan Point and thence west-northwestward for 4 miles to the entrance to the Biliran Strait. This coast appears to be clear and steep-to. Pacdahauan Peak, 2,088 feet (638 m.) high, about 114 miles westward of Talairan Point, and another peak, 1,871 feet (570 m.) high, lying close to it, form excellent landmarks.

Calumpijan Islet is a small steep-to islet about 100 feet (30 m.) high lying nearly 1 mile eastward of Talairan Point, from which it is separated by a deep, clear channel.

Biliran Strait, separating Biliran Island from Leyte, will be described in connection with Biliran Island.

From the south side of Biliran Strait the coast trends southwestward and southward for 5 miles to the mouth of the Palapay River and thence northwestward for 7 miles to Uson Point forming Leyte Bay. The town of Leyte stands near the head of the bay. There is a stone mole extending about 400 yards westward from the town with sufficient water at high tide at its end for small craft. The greater part of Leyte Bay is filled with shoal water, leaving a narrow, tortuous channel having a least depth of 14 fathoms (2.3 m.) leading to the mole at the town of Leyte.

From Uson Point the coast continues northwestward for 711⁄2 miles to Rabin Point, and is generally clear and steep-to and free from off-lying dangers.

Rabin Point, the northwestern extremity of Leyte, is the termination of a high, wooded promontory. A bank with 7 fathoms (12.8 m.) at its edge extends nearly 3/4 mile northward from it.

BILIRAN AND ADJACENT ISLANDS

Biliran Island, off the northern coast of Leyte, from which it is separated by Biliran Strait, is of oval shape, about 20 miles long in a northwest-and-southeast direction and 11 miles wide. It is very mountainous and the hills and peaks are heavily wooded. Mount Suiro, the highest point on the island, is in the southeastern part and 4,265 feet (1,800 m.) high. Mount Naliwatan, in the northeastern part of the island, is 4,230 feet (1,289 m.) high and is very promi

nent, having the shape of a cone as seen from the westward. There are a number of small islets and banks off the northwest part of the island. The entire coast of Biliran is clear and can be approached anywhere to 1/2 mile except in Biliran Strait.

Tagampul Islet, lying about 2 miles north of Buhoc Point, the northwestern extremity of Biliran, is very small and apparently clear, with the exception of some rocks 1/4 mile northeastward of it. Remus Rock lies about 1/2 mile northward of Tagumpul Islet. It is of small extent and has a least known depth of 12 fathoms (2.7 m.).

Tomasa Islet lies about 35 mile southeastward of Tagampul Islet ; it is very small and has a shoal off its northeast side.

Genuruan Islet lies about 11⁄2 miles eastward of Buhoc Point and less than 1/2 mile from shore.

Buhoc Point, the northwestern point of Biliran Island, is clear, steep-to, and 360 feet (110 m.) high. From Buhoc Point to the village of Telegrafo, 34 mile southward and eastward and for 1/4 mile beyond, the shore line is rocky. Just westward of Telegrafo there are some conspicuous reddish-brown bluffs about 200 feet (61 m.) high.

From Buhoc Point the coast trends southeastward for about 15 miles to Biliran Strait and is generally low with rocky points and gravel beaches in the coves between. Beyond Saban Point the shore line is straighter and is broken with shingle beaches alternating with small mangrove coves. The town of Naval and the village of Almeria and a number of smaller villages lie on this coast.

Tincansan Islet lies about 300 yards westward of Buhoc Point; the channel between them is clear and has a depth of 16 fathoms (29.3 m.) in the middle. It is about 1/2 mile long northwest and southeast and 260 feet (79 m.) high.

Calutan Islet lies about 21/2 miles southward of Buhoc Point and 1 mile southwestward of Agta Point. It is very small, bold, and rocky, and 126 feet (38 m.) high.

Caygan Islet is a small, bold, rocky islet lying about 3/4 mile westward of the village of Almeria. It is about 3⁄4 mile long east and west, narrow, and rises at its western and eastern extremities to hills 133 and 123 feet (40 and 37 m.) high, respectively. The channel between it and the shore reef in front of Almeria is over 1/4 mile wide and has a depth of 18 fathoms (32.9 m.) in the middle.

Pilar Rocks are a mass of rocks, the highest about 6 feet (1.8 m.) about 12 mile westward of Caygan Islet.

A small, detached shoal with 22 fathoms (4.6 m.) lies about 1 mile southeastward of Saban Point and 1⁄2 mile from shore.

Biliran is a small town on the south side of Biliran Island, about 3⁄4 mile westward of the strait. A steep-to bank covered by 1 fathom (1.8 m.) or less, with 5 fathoms (9.1 m.) at the outer edge, extends about 1 mile southward from the town.

Culajit Islet, lying about 3 mile southward from the town of Biliran, is less than 100 yards in extent, rocky, and covered with mangroves. It is surrounded by depths of 312 to 7 fathoms (6.4 to 12.8 m.).

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