NAUTICAL REMARKS. 
651 
entering it is only necessary to guard against a near approach to the signal-staff on the 
peninsula on the west. The sandy point may be passed within a few yards’ distance. 
Weighing from the anchorage off the Peninsula flag-staff with light winds and with 
the beginning of the ebb, it is necessary to guard against being swept down upon the 
Rakovya shoal, and when past it upon the signal bluff on the same side. There are strong 
eddies all over this bay ; and when the winds are light, ships often become unmanageable. 
It is better to weigh with the last drain of the flood. 
Tareinski Harbour, at the S. W. angle of Awatska Bay, is an excellent port, but it is 
not frequented. It has no danger, and may safely be entered by a stranger. 
It is high water at St. Petrapaulski at 3h. 30m. full and change. 
Tide rises . . . 6ft. 7 inches spring tides. 
2 2 neap tides. 
SAN FRANCISCO. 
CALIFORNIA. 
The harbour of San Francisco, for the perfect security it affords to vessels of any 
burthen, and the supplies of fresh beef and vegetables, wood, and fresh water, may vie with 
any port on the N . W. coast of America. It is not, however, without its disadvantages, of 
which the difiiculty of landing at low water, and the remoteness of the watering-place from 
the only anchorage which I could recommend, are the greatest. 
Ships bound to San Francisco from the northward and westward should endeavour to 
make Punta de los Reyes, a bold and conspicuous headland, without any danger lying off it 
sufficiently far to endanger a ship. In clear weather, when running for the land before the lati- 
tude is known, or the Punta can he distinguished, its situation may be known by a table hill 
terminating the range that passes at the back of Bodega. This hill in one with the Punta 
de los Reyes bears E. (mag.). If ships are not too far off, they will see, at the same time, 
San Bruno, two hills to the southward of San Francisco, having the appearance of islands; 
and from the mast-head, if the weather be very clear, the South Farallon will in all probability 
be seen. Punta de los Reyes, when viewed from the W. or S. W., has also the appearance 
of an island, being connected by low land to the two hills eastward. It is of moderate 
height, and as it stands at the angle formed by the coast line, cannot be mistaken. Soundings 
may be had off this coast, in depths varying with the latitude. In the parallel of the Faral- 
lones they extend a greater distance from the main land, in consequence of these islands 
lying beyond the general outline of the coast. 
The Farallones are two clusters of rocks, udiich, in consequence of the shoals about 
them, are extremely dangerous to vessels approaching San Francisco in foggy weather. 
The southern cluster, of which in clear weather one of the islands may be seen from the 
mast-head eight or nine leagues, is the largest and highest, and lies exactly S. 3o E. true, 
eighteen miles from Punta de los Reyes. The small cluster of rocks lies to the N. W., 
and still further in that direction there are breakers, but I do not know how far they 
extended from the rocks above water. In a thick foggy night, we struck soundings in 
4o2 
