fish, fowls, and eggs, also sweet potatoes and other vegetables, may be procured
from the authorities. I t is necessary to supply them with casts to
bring the water off.
Latitude Centre island, 34° 39' 49" N .; longitude, 138° 57' 30" E.
Variations, 52' westerly. High water, E. & 0., V hr. Extreme rise of
tide, 5 feet 7 inches. Mean rise of tide 3 feet.
To make the foregoing directions more easily comprehended, they have
been rendered as concise as possible; but to furnish further information to
navigators bound to or passing the port, the following additional remarks
are appended:
The harbor of Simoda is near the south-eastern extremity of the peninsula
of Idzu, which terminates at the cape of that name. To the northward of
the harbor, a high ridge intersects the peninsula, and south of this, all the
way to the cape, it is broken by innumerable peaks of less elevatio'n.
The harbor bears SW. by W. from Cape Sagami, at the entrance of
Yedo bay, distant about 45 miles.
Bock island is about 120 feet high, and a third of a mile long, with precipitous
shores and uneven outlines. I t has a thick matting of grass, weeds,
moss, &c., on the top.
From the summit of this island overfalls were seen, bearing N. I IV.,
distant a mile, or a mile and a half. These may have been caused by a
rock or reef. An attempt was made to find i t ; but the strong current and
fresh wind prevented a satisfactory examination. The Japanese fishermen,
however, deny the existence of any such danger.
N. by W. from Bock island, distant two miles, are the Ukona rocks.
These are two rocks, though they generally appear as one. The largest is
about 70 feet high. Between these and Bock island, the current was found
setting east-northeasterly, fully four miles an hour.
Centre island bears from Bock island N. ^ E., distant five and a half
miles, and from IJkona rocks N. by E. £ E., distant three and a half miles.
Buisako islet lies NNE. from Centre island. I t is about 40 feet high,
and covered with trees and shrubs.
Should the buoy on Southampton rock be removed, the east end of
Centre island, on with the west end of Buisako, will clear the rock to the
westward.
Off the village of Susaki, and distant one-third of a mile from the shore,
is a ledge of rocks, upon which the swell is always breaking; give them a
berth of two cables in passing.
Due west from Vandalia bluff, about one third of the way to the opposite
shore, is a deep hole, with upwards of 30 fathoms water.
Approaching from the eastward, the harbor will not open until you get
well inside of Cape Diamond.
To the northward of Cape Diamond is the bay of Sirahama, which is
finite deep, and, as it has also several sand-beaches, it may be mistaken for
Simoda; but as you approach this bay, Cape Diamond will shut in the
Ukona rocks, and Bock island to the southward, whilst in the Simoda roads
they are visible from all points.
Cape Idzu—latitude, 34° 36' 03" N .; longitude, 138° 48' 51" E. Bock
island—latitude, 34° 33' 50" N .; longitude, 138° 57' 16" E.
To the southward and westward of Kozu-Sima there are two patches of
dangerous rocks, 15 or 20 feet high, which have been named Bedfield rocks.
They are in latitude 33° 56' 13" N., longitude 138° 48' 31" E„ and latitude
33° 57' 31" N., longitude 138° 49' 13" E.
These positions may not be strictly correct, but it is believed they are
not much out of the way.
By order of Commodore M. C. Perry, U. S. N.
SILAS BENT,
t t ci ci Flag Lieutenant.
U . ¡3. ¡STEAM-h KIQATE MISSISSIPPI,
Napa, Lew- Chew, Ju ly 7, 1854.
Sailing, directions fo r Hakodadi, by Lieut. Wm. L. Maury, TJ. S. N.
This spacious and beautiful bay, which for accessibility and safety is one
of the finest in the world, lies on the north side of the straits of Sangar,
which separates the Japanese islands of Nippon and Yesso, and about midway
between Cape Sirija Saki* (the NE. point of Nippon,) and the city of
Matsmai. I t bears from the cape NW. J W., distant about 45 miles, and
is about 4 miles wide at the entrance, and 5 miles deep.
The harbor is the southeastern arm of the bay, and is completely sheltered,
with regular soundings and excellent holding-ground. I t is formed
by a bold peaked promontory standing well out from the high land of the
main, with which it is connected by a low sandy isthmus, and, appearing in
the distance as an island, may be readily recognised.
The town is situated on the northeast slope of this promontory, facing
the harbor, and contains about 6,000 inhabitants.
Approaching from the eastward, after, passing Cape Suwo Kubo, named
on our chart Cape Blunt, which is a conspicuous head-land 12 miles
E. S. E. £ E. from the town, the junks at anchor in the harbor will be
visible over the low isthmus.
FOR ENTERING- THE HARBOR.
Bounding the promontory of Hakodadi, and giving it a berth of a mile,
* Saki in the Japanese language means cape ; consequently it should be more properly
called Cape Sirija; hut to prevent mistakes it has been thought advisable to adopt the
Japanese names.