to avoid the calms under the high land, steer for the sharp peak of Komaga-
daki, hearing about north, until the east peak of the Saddle, hearing about
NE. by N., opens to the westward of the round knob on the side of the
mountain; then haul up to the northward and eastward, keeping them open
until the centre of the sand-hills on the isthmus bears SE. by E. J- E. (these
may be recognised by the dark knolls upon them.) This will clear a spit
which makes out from the western point of the town in a north-northwesterly
direction two-thirds of a mile; then bring the sand-hills a point on the port
bow, and stand in until the western point of the town bears SW. W.,
when you will have the best berth, with 6£ or 6 fathoms water. I f it is
desirable to get nearer in, haul up a little to the eastward of south for the
low rocky peak which will be just visible over the sloping ridge to the
southward and eastward of the town. A vessel of moderate draught may
approach within a quarter of a mile of Tsuki Point, where there is a
building-yard for junks. This portion of the harbor, however, is generally
crowded with vessels of this description; and unless the want of repairs, or
some other cause, renders a close berth necessary, it is better to remain
outside.
I f the Peak or Saddle is obscured by clouds or fogs, after doubling the
promontory, steer N. N. E., until the sand-hills are brought upon the bearing
above given, when proceed as there directed.
A short distance from the tail of the spit is a detached sand-bank with
3£ fathoms on it, the outer edge of which is marked by a white spar-buoy.
Between this and the spit there is a narrow channel with 4 and 5 fathoms
water. Vessels may pass on either side of the buoy, but it is most prudent
to go to the northward of it.
Should the wind fail before reaching the harbor, there is a good anchorage
in the outer roads, in from 25 to 10 fathoms.
Excellent wood and water may be procured from the authorities of the
town; or if preferred, water can be easily obtained from Eamida creek,
which enters the harbor to the northward and eastward of the town.
The season at the time of our visit was unfavorable for procuring supplies
; a few sweet and Irish potatoes, eggs and fowls, however, were
obtained, and these articles at a more favorable period of the year will, no
doubt, be furnished in sufficient quantities to supply any vessels that may
in future visit the port.
Our seine supplied us with fine salmon and a quantity of other fish, and
the shores of the bay abound with excellent shell-fish.
During our stay in this harbor, from the 17th May to 3d June, the
weather was generally pleasant until the 1st June, when the fog set in. I t
was usually calm in the morning, but towards the middle of the day a brisk
breeze from SW. sprung up.
Latitude mouth of Kamida creek, 41° 49' 00" N .; longitude, 140° 47'
45" E .; variation, 4° 30' W .; high water, F. & C. V hours; extreme rise
and fall of tide, 3 feet.
Our chronometers were rated at Napa Kiang, Lew-Chew, from the
position of that place as given by Captain Beechy, B. N.
By order of Commodore M. C. Perry, U. S. N.
SILAS BENT,
tt a a -r, , , Flag Lieutenant. U. b. Steam-Fkioate Mississippi,
A t Sea, Ju ly 18, 1854.
Sailing directions fo r Yedo Bay, by Lieut. Wm. L. Maury, U. S. Navy.
Vessels from the southward bound to this bay, should pass up to the
westward of. the chain of islands lying off the Gulf of Yedo, and are cautioned
against mistaking the deep bight of Kawatsu bay for the entrance
of Uraga channel, for on the northeast side of this bay there is a ledge of
rocks several miles from the shore, bearing from Cape Sagami about WNW.,
distant ten miles, upon which one of the vessels of our squadron grounded.
A stranger without a correct .chart would naturally make this mistake, as
the opening of the channel is not seen at a distance from this quarter, the
shore appearing as an unbroken line.
The entrance to the channel bears from the centre of Oho-Sima NE. £
N., distant about twenty miles. Stand in upon this line, and the saddle-hill
to the northward of Cape Sagami will be readily recognised, as well as the
round black knob on the eastern side of the channel. On approaching Uraga,,
the Plymouth rocks will be plainly seen; give these a berth of half a
mile to clear the Ingersoll Patch, a sunken rock with but one fathom on it,
and which is the only known danger in the channel.
Between Plymouth rocks and Cape Kami-Saki the ground is clear and
the anchorage good, if care be taken to get pretty well in, so as to avoid the
strong tides which sweep round the latter with great rapidity. A spit
makes out a short distance to the southward of Kami-Saki; but to the
northward of the cape, the shore is bold and the water very deep.
On rounding Cape Kami-Saki, if bound for the city of Vedo, steer NW.
by N. until Perry island bears S. by W. f W., so as to clear Saratoga spit,
which extends well out from the eastern shore ; then haul up, keeping Perry
island upon this bearing until the beacon on the low point to the southward
of Yedo bears WNW. This clears the shoal off the point, and here there
is good anchorage in about ten fathoms water, in full view of the citv of
Yedo.
At this point our survey terminated; the boats, however, found a clear
channel with plenty of water for the largest vessels several miles farther to
the northward, and within a few miles of the city