SAILING DIRECTIONS AND NAUTICAL, REMARKS. 383 



longitude 139° 1*7' E. It is an isolated rock, about fifty feet in height, flat topped, and with 

 vertical sides, except from one view, which presents a broken outline or step. 



Todos los Santos. — The Lexington passed over the position of this island as laid down on 

 Blunt's chart of 1851, in latitude 30° 51', longitude 139° 15', and saw no indications of land. 



The Macedonian made an ineffectual search for an island placed on the charts in latitude 30° 

 N., longitude 141° 30' E., and we feel assured it has no existence near that position. 



Ponafidiii or St. Peter's island was seen by one of the vessels of the squadron, and is believed 

 to be correctly placed on our chart, in latitude 30° 33' N., longitude 140° 15' E. 



Lot's Wife, in latitude 29° 4*7' N., longitude 140° 22' 30" E., is a tall pinnacled rock, rising 

 to an elevation of about 250 feet above the sea, and it may be seen at a distance of twenty-five 

 miles, and bears a remarkable resemblance to a ship under full sail. A cast of the lead within 

 eight miles of this rock gave no soundings with 160 fathoms of line. 



In the vicinity of all these islands, as well as in the open sea, and in fact throughout the path 

 of the Kuro-Siwo, from the south end of Formosa to Behring's Straits, constant heavy tide rips 

 will be encountered, wbich, in light weather, frequently renders a vessel for a time unmanageable. 



SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE HARBOR OF SIMODA. 



BY LIEUT. WILLIAM L. MAURY, U. S. N. 



Vessels bound to the harbor of Simoda from the southward and westward should make Cape 

 Idzu,* from which Rock island bears E.S.E. \ E., distant about five miles ; and if the weather 

 is at all clear, the chain of islands off the Gulf of Yedo will at the same time be plainly visible. 

 Between Rock island and the main land there are a number of rocks awash, and above water, 

 among which the Japanese junks freely pass ; but a ship should not attempt a passage inside 

 of Rock island, unless in case of urgent necessity, particularly as the northeasterly current, 

 which sweeps along this coast, seems to be at this point capricious, both in direction and velo- 

 city. 



Giving Rock island a berth of a mile, the harbor of Simoda will be in full view, bearing N. 

 \ W., distant five miles. 



Vandalia bluff, on the east side of the entrance, may be recognized by a grove of pine trees 

 on the summit of the bluff, and the village of Susaki, which lies about one-third of the way 

 between it and Cape Diamond. Cape Diamond is a rocky islet lying immediately off the point 

 making out to the eastward of the entrance of the harbor. 



Standing in from Rock island you will probably pass through a number of tide rips, but not 

 get soundings with the hand lead until near the entrance of the harbor, when you will be in 

 from 14 to 27 fathoms. 



Should the wind be from the northward, and fresh, a vessel should anchor at the mouth of 

 the harbor until it lulls or shifts, or until she can conveniently warp in, as it is usually ffawey, 

 and always baffling. 



Approaching from the northward, a vessel can pass on either side of Oho-sima, frem the 

 centre of which Cape Diamond bears W. by S., distant about seventeen miles. 



Between Oho-sima and Simoda no dangers are known to exist ; but the northeasterly current 

 must be borne constantly in mind, particularly at night and in thick weather. Its general 



*Cape Idzu may be recognized by a conspicuous white cliff a short distance to the northward and westward of it, and the 

 conical rocky peak a few miles further to the northward and westward, forming the southwestern extreme of the peninsula. 

 To the E.S.Eastward of the cape, distant half a mile, there is a rock about 20 feet above water, and off Point Nacane lies a 

 similar rock one-third of a mile distant. 



