Sailing Directory for the Baltic, comprising a general description of the bays, harbours, islands, &c, included between the Sound and the Gulf of Finland, etc

Front matter

SAILING DIRECTORY FOR TUB BALTIC, COMPRISING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BAYS, HARBOURS, ISLANDS, &c, INCLUDED BETWEEN THE SOUND AND THM GULP OF FINLAND. By JAMES F. IMRAY, F.R.G.S. COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM SURVEYS MADE BY ORDER OF THE DENMARK, PRUSSIA, SWEDEN AND RUSSIA. LONDON, E JAMES IMRAY AND SON, CHART AND NAUTICAL BOOK PUBLISHERS MINORIES AND TOWER HILL Established 1763. $ SAILING DIRECTORY FOR THE B A L T I C, COMPRISING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BAYS, HARBOURS, ISLANDS, &c, INCLUDED BETWEEN THE SOUND AND THE GULF OF FINLAND. By JAMES F. IMRAY, F.R.G.S. COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM SURVEYS MADE BY ORDER OF TBE GOVERNMENTS OF DENMARK, PRUSSIA, SWEDEN AND RUSSIA. LONDON, E JAMES IMRAY & SON, CHART PUBLISHERS AND NAUTICAL BOOKSELLERS MINORIES AND TOWER HILL, 1870. Established 1763.

Preface

. The Baltic, — the Ost-see of the northern and contiguous nations, — is generally understood by seamen to be comprised between the Sound and the gulf of Finland, the Aland islands being considered its northern limit, although Kiel bay and its surrounding waters are properly included within its boundaries ; it is consequently enclosed by Sweden, Denmark, Prussia and Russia. During recent years its shores have been undergoing a minute hydrographical examination by order of the governments of those countries, and from time to time elaborate charts of the coasts and harbours have been issued. These publications have furnished the materials for the compilation of this work . This Sailing Directory furnishes general rather than detailed instructions for the navigation of the Baltic, and is sufficiently comprehensive to serve as a hand book to shipmasters visiting any of the ports in that sea.

The reader will doubt less observe that the coasts of Prussia and of Russia are more fully described than that of Sweden. This arises from the circumstance that the shore of the last mentioned country, bordering on the Baltic, is so encumbered with islets, rocks and shoals that a full detailed description of it would have increased the bulk of the work beyond reasonable limit, and have served no useful purpose, as none of its harbours should be entered by a stranger without tke assistance of a pilot belonging to the locality. It remains only to add that the longitudes of all places in the Baltic are dependent upon Copenhagen (Denmark) and Pulkowa (Russia) Observatories. The former is considered to be 12° lW 52"'5 E., aud the latter 30° 19' 40" E. from Greenwich. As from the nature of the subject it is impossible that a work purporting to be a " Sailing Directory" can be, or can remain any length of time, free from error, it is respectfully requested that any faults that may be detected in this publica tion be notified to the publishers, who will very thankfully receive communica tions tending to its improvement.

J. F. I London, June, 1H70. CONTENTS. South and East Shores of the Baltic. — Cape Arcona to Dager Ort — Cape Arcona 1 ; Tromper bay 2 ; Prorer bay, Greifswalder Bodden 3 ; Greifswalder island, Swinemunde bay 4 ; Swinemunde 5 ; Stettin, Oder bank 7 ; Dievenow, Great Horst, Treptow, Colberger Deep, Colberg, Rugenwalde 8 ; Jershoft lighthouse, Stolpmunde, Rixhoft 9 ; Danzig bay, Hela point 10 ; Putziger bay, Danzig 11 ; Weichselmunde, Bohnsack, Pillau 12; Bruster Ort, Memel 13 ; Libau 15 ; Windau, Span bank 16; Gulf of Riga, Lyser Ort, Michael banks 17 ; Domes Ness 18 ; Runo island, Riga 19 ; Pernau 22 ; Kin, Sork Holm, Manieland 25 ; Moon sound, Arensburg, Kirgo Grund, South Kalk Grund, North Kalk Grund 20 ; Swalfer Ort, general remarks on the gulf of Riga 27 ; Filsand island 28 ; Dager Ort 29.

West Shore of the Baltic — Falsterbo lights, Ystad 30 ; Cimbris Hamn, Ahus 32 ; Spanish roadstead, Solwitsborg, Hano island 33 ; Carls Hamn, Ronneby bay, Carlskrona 34 ; Utkhpporna rocks 35 ; Kalmar, Oscars Hamn, Fige Holm 36 ; Wester Vik, Waldemarsvik, Soderkoping, Noorkoping, Haradskar light, Nykoping 37 ; Lands Ort, Stockholm, Gronskar lighthouse, Korso lighthouse Soderarm, Stockholm Skaren 38. Islands of the Baltic — Bornholm, Ronne bank, Ronne 39 ; Dyner rocks, Arnager reef 40 ■ Blak reef. Detached reefs, Adlers Grund 41 ; Nexo road, Gudhiem, Sandvig Hammer point 42 ; Hasle harbour, David bank, Ertholms or Christianso' 43 ; Oland, Sodra Udden, Norra Udden, Gottland 45 ; Hoboro- En Wik 46 ; Stock Wik, Fal Udd, Sles Wik, Rone Hamn 47 ; Nars Hamn Liugarn, Sand Wiken, Ostergarn Holm, Katthammer Wik 48 ; Anesbade Hammar Grund, Slite Hamn, St. Olof s Hamn 49 ; Furillen, Missl rocks, Rute Grund, Faro sound 50 : Svin Grund, Faro, Dicer Grund Holm Udden, Kettlarne, Salvoreen 51 ; Eike Wik, Lutterhorn harbour Kappells Hamn, Wisby 52 ; Westergarn, Skarlakans Grund, Klinte Hamn' Carls Hamn 53 ; Burgs Wik, Gottska Sando, Sando bank, Kopparsten rucks 54.

CONTENTS General Remarks — Currents, tides 55; Winds 56; Passages: — Swinemunde, Danzig bay, Memel, gulf of Riga, gulf of Finland, gulf of Bothnia, Kalmar, 56—59.

Appendix

. Table of Variation of the Compass in various parts of the Baltic... 60 Glossary of German, Danish and Swedish Words 61 — 63 61—63 LIGHTS. The following is a complete List of the Lights shown at this date, June 1st, 1870, within the limits of the Navigation described in this work. As a full description of them is given in the pages mentioned, it is unnecessary to add more detailed particulars. COAST OF PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA. PAGE. Cape Arcona. Greifswalder Island Swinemunde Fixed ; visible 22 miles Revolving; visible 17 miles Fixed; visible 21 miles. Also a red fixed light on the East Mole Fixed; (withfiashes every 20 seconds): visible 20 miles Fixed; visible 7 miles Revolves every 2 minutes ; visible 18 miles Fixed; visible 22 miles 1 I 5 8 B i) Great Horst Colberg Jershoft Rixhoft If) 10 Hela point Danzig Revolves in a minute ; visible 10 miles Fixed; visible 14 miles.

Also, a red fixed hght on the end of the East Mole 11 Pillau Fixed; visible 15 miles 12 Bruster Ort Memel Revolves in 4 minutes; visible 20 miles Fixed; visible 20 miles 13 14 Fixed (with flashes) ; visible 12 miles. Also, a red fixed light on the end of the south jetty Fixed; visible 13 miles Two fixed lights ; visible 9 miles. Also a lightvessel bearing a revolving hght, at the end of the reef. Fixed ; visible 16 miles Various lights. The principal hght is fixed (with flashes every half minute) ; visible 16 miles Two fixed lights ; visible 7 miles Revolves in half a minute ; visible 11 miles Revolves in 14 minutes ; visible 12 miles Fixed; visible 13 miles Fixed (with a flash every minute) ; visible 21 miles Fixed; visible 12'miles. Is white from S * E westward to S.S.W. W. (33i°); red from S.S.W.4 W westward and northward to N.W by N (121 i ) Lat. 58° 34' N., long. 23° 31' 24" E. Fixed ; visible 14 miles.

Lat. 59° 1' 40" jj long. 23° 8' 18" E. Fixed; visible 15 miles. Lat. 59° 18' 18" N long. 23° 22' 54" E. Fixed (flash every two minutes); visible 12tol6niiles Lat. 59° 46' N., long. 22° 58' 6" E. Fixed; visible 12 to 16 miles. Lat. 59° 46' 30" N long. 21° 22' 6" E. Fixed; visible 10 to 14 miles. Is shown from N.E. J- E. northward and westward toS. S.E. (253 | Libau 16 Lyser Ort Domes Ness 17 18 1!) Runo Riga 20 Pernau 25 Kin Island Swalfer Ort 25 27 Filsand Island Dager Ort 29 30 Werder Island Worms Odens Holm Hango Head Outo Lag Skars LIGHTS. COAST OF SWEDEN PAGE Falsterbo Fixed; visible 14 miles. Also, a lightvessel off the end of the reef which shows two fixed lights Various lights. The principal hght is fixed and visible 10 or 12 miles 30 Ystad 30 Sandhammar point Hano Island Two fixed lights ; visible 16 miles Fixed (with a red flash every two minutes) ; visible 14 miles 82 34 Carlskrona Lights of direction Revolves in 2 minutes; visible 11 miles 35 Utkhpporna rocks Utgrunden reef Kalmar 36 A lightvessel showing two fixed lights Fixed on Grinskar ; visible 6 to 12 miles 36 36 Haradskar Fixed (with flashes ) ; visible 20 miles Fixed ; visible 5 miles.

In lat. 58° 38' 54" N. 37 Cape Femoro long. 17° V 9" E. Fixed ; visible 5 miles. In lat. 58° 42' 12" N. Ledskar rock long. 17° 14' E. Fixed; visible 5 miles. In lat. 58° 51' 12" N Jalaftons islet long. 17° 30' 30" E. Fixed; visible 9 miles. In lat. 58° 51' 24" N long. 18° 1' 18" Revolves in 2 minutes ; visible 16 miles Fixed ; visible 1 6 miles Masknuff rock Lands Ort Gronskar Korso 38 88 Fixed (with a, flash every 2 minutes) ; visible 14 miles Revolves in 2 minutes (the flash continues 30 seconds) visible 14 miles 38 Soderarm 38 Stockholm Skaren Simpnas Klubb A lightvessel showing two fixed lights A fixed hght on Skomakaren, — north entrance to Arholm channel, leading to Stockholm ; visible 8 miles. Lat. 59° 53' 42" N„ long. 19° 6' 9" E. Fixed (red) on Naskubben rock, Arholm channel ; visible 5 miles.

Lat. 59° 52' 42" N.,long. 19° 5' E. 38 Biorko ISLANDS IN THE BALTIC At Ronne, — t wo fixed lights; visible 8 miles On Hammer point,— a fixed light ; visible 14 miles. A light revolving every 20 seconds ; visible 14 miles On the south point,— a fixed hght ; visible 18 miles On Biornhabben rock, off the north point, — a, fixed light ; visible 16 miles Various lights on the west coast of the island On Hoborg, the south point of the island, — a hght revolving every 14 minutes; visible 16 miles On Fal Udd, — a, fixed red hght ; visible 8 miles On Ostergarn Helm, — a. fixed hght; visible 14 miles On Faro, — a hght revolving every 2 minutes ; visible 16 miles Bornholm 40 43 Ertholms Oland 45 45 45 45 Gottland 4ti 47 48 51 At Wisby, — a fixed light (red to seaward) ; visible 6 miles 53 On Ut Holm, — a. fixed hght ; visible 10 miles At Westergarns, — Two fixed lights of direction Two fixed lights; visible 1C miles 53 53 Gottska Sando SAILING DIRECTIONS for the principal ports in the BALTIC. *** The Bearings and Courses throughout this Work are Magnetic, unless otherwise expressed, and are given for still water ; it is necessary, therefore, to make allowance for the influence of the stream.

The distances are in Nautical Miles of 60 to a Degree of Latitude. A Cable is considered to be TV of a Nautical Mile, and equal to 100 Fathoms. The amount of Westerly variation from the true meridian allowed is as follows. The average annual decrease is about 5' Bornholm 13° 45' Jershoft Light .... 12° 55' Carlskrona 12 45 Danzig 10 50 Oland Island and Nykoping 13 Memel 9 55 Lands Ort Light and Stockholm 12 15 Lyser Ort 9 50 Riga 8 20 Gottland, south point . . 12 Faro and Gottska Sando 11 OSEL, WEST COAST OF . . 9 30 Hango Head 8 33 Arcona, Rugen Island . 13 48 Aland Islands .... 10 35 Stettin 13 50 Soderhamn 12 From the Kattegat to the Gulf of Finland the lines of equal variation range nearly North and South (true). SOUTH AND EAST SHOKES OF THE BALTIC. CAPE ARCONA TO DAGER ORT. CAFE ARCONA, the north-east point of Wittow, is usually the first land made by vessels sailing southward out of the Sound, and as it is a bold lofty point, it may be distinguished from a considerable distance.

It consists of a pre cipitous sand-hill destitute of verdure, which gradually declines in height towards Tromper bay. The lighthouse is a white stone tower 62 feet high, which shows a fixed hght at 200 feet above the sea, visible 22 miles. The arc illuminated is 270° (S.W. by W. 1 W. northward and eastward to S.S.E. f E.) ; its geographical position is lat. 54° 41' 10" N., long. 13 26' 20" E. CAPE ARCONA AND TROMPER BAY. ■) When in the vicinity of cape Arcona, give it a good berth, because a rocky spit extends out from it some distance, especially opposite Klusser fort, on the east side of the cape, where its edge is as mnch as i mile from the coast. Close to this rocky spit is a depth of 3 fathoms, which increases to 4 fathoms at § mile from the shore, and then rapidly increases eastward, as soundings of 13 fathoms are obtained 2 J miles due East from the lighthouse, and 15 fathoms 2j miles N. by E. from the same object; shipmasters cannot, therefore, be too careful when approaching the cape, or intending to cast anchor in Tromper bay.

For the purpose of indicating the general direction of the rocky spit just mentioned, and the distance of its extremity from the land, especially as the buoy placed upon it is frequently washed away, two beacons have been erected on the coast opposite. One of these beacons is on the fortifications of Arcona, and the other within the fort ; the inner one bears a round black basket, and the outer one a red oblong quadrangle. Vessels steering into Tromper bay, or rounding the cape, if they draw 12 feet or upwards, must not approach the reef closer than the two marks in one, for if the outer beacon (quadrangular) shows above the inner one they are too close and must immediately steer easterly. It is recommended to keep in a depth of not less than 54 fathoms. Tromper Bay on the south side of cape Arcona, is formed by the cape and the bold projection of coast known as Jasmund.

The latter bears a remarkable appearance at a distance, because when viewed from an offing of some miles it is like an elevated circular islet, and its steep chalky cliffs appear to be the ruins of an extensive building ; these have many trees about them, and from them, after much wet weather, a torrent falls into the sea. Of these cliffs, those named Konigstuhl, on the north-east side of the headland, may be specially noticed their elevation attaining 440 feet ; those named Monkgruth, more to the south ward, are not so lofty. Tromper bay has an extent of about 4 miles, and is not a desirable place to anchor in except with winds from the land, all others, those especially from between East and N.E., blowing directly in. It has soundings of 8 to 5 fathoms, gradually decreasing to the shore, saving that off the north part of the bay and close to the coast of Jasmund, the bank of soundings shelves more rapidly.

The usual place of anchorage is off the village of Vitte, southward of Klusser fort, in 4 to 5 fathoms, where there is shelter (by the reef extending north-easterly from the cape) from all winds but those between South and East ; but vessels may also anchor off Goor, at rather more than J mile from the shore, in 54 fathoms on sand, with that village bearing N.N.E., and the mill at Nobbin N.W. by W. The latter place is not, however, considered so good as at Vitte, there being some difficulty in leaving the bay when the wind blows strongly from East or E.S.E. At Vitte a channel has been formed in the strand for the con venience of boats. The coast of Jasmund, beyond a short distance from its base, is clear of danger with the exception of a rock 7 feet under the surface, named Jasmund, which lies 24 cables from the shore, at nearly a mile southward of the Konigstuhl cliffs, and is marked by a beacon bearing a cross.

From this rock the Konigstuhl cliffs bear N.W. 4 N. ; Tripenort S.S.W. \ W. ; and the shore of Collicker W. i S. Close inside the rock the depth is 4 fathoms, and outside it, 5 fathoms, so that a vessel passing in its immediate vicinity must exercise great care to avoid it ; it is recommended not to approach nearer than soundings of 10 fathoms and to keep the lead going. Generally, around Jasmund, the 4-f'athom line is about > mile PRORER BAY AND GREIFSWALDER BODDEN. from the shore, and thence the depth increases more rapidly towards the north east than towards the east and south. Frorer Bay, on the south side of Jasmund, is bounded on the south by the projection of coast named Granitzer Ort, a cliffy point of moderate height, and is not more than 24 miles deep within an imaginary line joining those points.

It is entirely exposed to all easterly winds between N.E and S.E., and therefore vessels should remain only with those from the land. Here the shoal water does not extend far from the coast, the depth increasing gradually from 4 to 10 fathoms in the middle of the hay, which depth is found nearly under Jasmund and North Perd, after which it shoals again towards the Oder bank. The usual place of anchorage is off the village of Crampas, under the south-east part of Jasmund, in 5 fathoms, where there is shelter from westerly and northerly winds to N.E. ; shelter may, however, be obtained from westerly and south-westerly winds, northward of the village of Sassnitz anywhere under the lofty cliffs, until Arcona begins to show outside the Konigstuhl, when the shore must not be approached nearer than £ mile, on account of the Jasmund rock, already mentioned.

From Granitzer Ort the coast trends 5 miles in a S.S.E. direction to the pro jecting point called North Perd, and for about half that distance is cliffy, when it falls low, but soon rises and forms at the point a hill of moderate elevation surmounted by a few trees. All this shore is bordered by a beach to a short distance, whence the soundings gradually increase outward, until at a mile from the shore a depth of 8 fathoms is obtained. At li miles north-easterly from North Perd the prevailing depth is 10 fathoms.* From North Perd the coast trends south-westward 44 miles to the point South Perd, and is low throughout, except at its extremity near the village of Thiessow, where it rises into a hillock called Thiessower Host. This shore is the eastern side of a tongue-shaped promontory forming in two prongs, named Monch and Guth, of which the former is the westernmost.

The inland side of Guth consists of lofty sand-hills, and between these and South Perd point at Kleine Zicker is a hill sufficiently high to be seen from seaward over the low promontory of South Perd. In Perd Road, between the two Perd points, small vessels occasionally anchor in 4 to 5 fathoms on ground tolerably good for holding, but the situation is not considered safe with strong winds from eastward, as such winds blow directly on shore. When approaching the pilot station at Lobbe, be careful of some shallow spots. Perd, Lobbe, and Thiessow are stations which take it in turn to send off pilots ; vessels must therefore make for that one where a flag is displayed. greifswalder BODDEN1. — This is an extensive bay, the entrance to which is immediately southward of South Perd point, and hes between that headland and a low point named Peene, which are separated from each other by an * A conspicuous object on the coast between Prorer bay and Perd point, is Lanken church, 24 miles inland, which may be recognized by its resemblance to a castle ; it is tiled, and has a lofty tower.

There is also in the forest of Granitz a tower or hunting palace, which is visible, even over Jasmund, from tbe heights of Arcona ; this tower is 126 feet high, and probably more than 400 feet above the sea, and has around it four smaller towers. Perd and Thiessow, with the heights about them on Eugen, resemble at a distance a group of islets, the land in their immediate neighbourhood being low. 2 * SWINEMUNDE BAY. 4 interval of about 6 miles ; this is not, however, the actual width of the entrance, as there is a low flat island called Ruden, at a short distance from Peene point. In front of this large bay, at 6 miles from the coast, and connected to it, more or less, by dangerous shallow flats, is the islet of Greifswalder with its surrounding banks, all which serve to protect the anchorage in the Bodden from the heavy seas which are driven on this part of the coast by strong easterly winds.

As it would be impossible for strangers to enter the bay without the assistance of a pilot, it is unnecessary to attempt a particular description of it. Suffice it, there fore, to say that there are two channels over the flats, named Land and East deeps ; of these, the former is northward of Greifswalder and between the bank extending from the point of South Perd and that running off from Ruden island, and the latter between that islet and Peene point. The depth and direction of these channels are so much influenced by the prevailing wind, that, we beheve, it is uncertain what class of vessels they will accommodate ; but, usually, 11 feet may be reckoned upon as the depth of the Land deep ; 10 feet as that of the West deep (a branch of the Land deep), and 94 to 11 feet as that of the East deep.

The town of Greifswald, in the south-west part of the Bodden, is a place of considerable commercial importance ; it is situated on the Wiek at about 24 miles from that part of the bay called Danische Wiek, and is accessible by vessels drawing 10 feet water. Stralsund, 11 miles nortward from Greifswald, can be reached by vessels drawing 14 feet. Greifswalder Island is for the most part level, and somewhat woody and steep. Upon it is a brick building 26 feet high, which shows a hght revolving every 45 seconds at 154 feet above the sea, visible 17 miles ; the flashes are bright and red alternately. It is shown in all directions seaward. Greifswalder island must be very cautiously approached, and an attempt should not be made to sail westward of it, because of the flats connecting it with Peene point and Ruden island.

A shoal surrounds it for a short distance, and at its north-east end extends out about £ mile, being immediately succeeded by soundings of 4 fathoms, which rapidly increase to 5 and 6 fathoms ; on which account the lead ought to be kept going. Vessels frequently anchor on the south side of the island, at J mile from the lighthouse, in 4 to 6 fathoms, and obtain shelter from northerly winds. swinemunde bay. — Eastward of Greifswalder Bodden the coast bends in to the southward and forms what is generally termed by seamen Swinemunde bay. Peene point is low and has upon it the village of Peenemunde, between which and Swinemunde are several white cliffs ; of these, that named Streckles berg, situated 10 miles from Peene point and 12 miles from Swinemunde, is very conspicuous and useful as a mark, for by careful bearings of it the shoals in its immediate vicinity may be cleared.* In the interior the country, generally, is covered with wood.

In the inner portion of the bay the coast is low and com manded by the woody heights around Strecklesberg and Swinhoft, which are more elevated on the western than on the eastern side. In the centre of the bay the lighthouse, pilot station and two windmills, all visible at a distance of more than 8 miles, rise above the inland heights. In the eastern part of the bav the coast is undulating and woody, and contains several white cliffs, the most remark- • Streckelsberg has a black pyramid upon it, 35 feet high, bearing a cask placed horizontally. SWINEMUNDE BAY. 5 able of which are those of Swinhoft and Kieseberg ; the latter will be recognised, by a white beacon, 40 feet high, somewhat resembling a Dutch windmil without arms. When coasting along from Peenemunde care is required to avoid the Zin nowitzer shoal, a rocky patch of 12 feet water, If miles from the shore, and 7 miles from Peene point, in the direction of S E. by S., as almost close to its outside edge is a depth of 52 fathoms, while immediately inside it are sound ings of 44 and 5 fathoms.

As a general rule it will be prudent not to get nearer the land hereabout than a depth of 8 or 74 fathoms until you are eastward of Streckelsberg, because then there is a certainty that all the dangerous patches have been cleared. Southward of the Zinnowitzer shoal, and nearly midway between it and Streckelsberg, there is a rocky flat of 10 feet wrater extending from the shore about a mile, upon the extremity of which there is a shoal of 4 feet, called Vieneta, from its occupying the site of a submerged city of that name. And several rocky patches also run off from Streckelsberg, about a mile to the N.E. by N., and have at their extremity a depth of 54 and 0 fathoms ; the outer most of these, the Coser rock, has only 10 feet water over it, and is steep on its eastern side. It is recommended to give a wide berth to this part of the coast, because all the rocks are steep towards the sea, and the soundings outside them are upon so flat a bottom that the lead gives but little warning of their close proximity.

Swinemunde, at the entrance to the port of Stettin, has a harbour formed by two piers, of which the eastern has an extent of about f mile, and the western of about half that length.* At the extremity of the eastern mole there is a hghthouse 33 feet high, which shows a. fixed red light at 39 feet above the sea, visible 10 miles; the arc illuminated is 180° (East northward to West). And there is also a hghthouse 1 mile southward from this hght, consisting of a 3rellow brick building, from which a fixed light is exhibited at 211 feet above the sea, visible at a distance of 21 miles ; this light illuminates an arc of about 101° (about N.N.W. eastward to.E. by N.). In about the centre of the mole there is a pole beacon 36 feet high, carrying two oblong boards, of which the upper and smaller is painted red, and the lower red and white ; it is from this beacon that the signals for the pilots are made.

At J mile S.S.E. from this beacon is another beacon (bearing two red triangles) which stands on the shore on the east side of the harbour. Besides these beacons a stone tower has been erected on the west side of the harbour, near the shore end of the west pier, for a look-out station for the pilots ; it is 42 feet in height, with a balcony and lantern, and has a low roofs * These piers face the sea towards the N.N.W., and have a slightly concave form, so that great protection from N.E. and E.N.E. winds is afforded. We believe that vessels can even make the harbour during violent gales from those quarters. + The signals are as follows, 1865 : — ■ 1. If pilots cannot board a vessel at sea, and a ship intends to enter the harbour, she can do so when there is a red flag hoisted on the top of the beacon on the eastern pier. 2.

In this case the master must bring the lighthouse to bear S.E. by S., and then proceed in that direction. At a distance of about 1 mile horn the eastern pier-head, a black and white buoy will be seen, — from here the beacon on the eastern pier-head, and that on the eastern clowns must be in one bearing S.S.E. This course will keep the ship about SWINEMUNDE BAY. 6 From the eastern mole at Swinemunde, eastward along the coast, shoal water extends, at first upwards of | i mile under 18 feet, narrowing afterwards to i mile, with an increasing depth. The depth on this side the channel, off the pierhead, is 21 feet, increasing regularly outwards. A black cask lies north of the lighthouse in 22 feet, opposite the second white cask on the western side. As a guide to the entrance, a large red buoy, with black and white rings, has been moored in mid-channel.

Between the western mole and Ahlbeck, shallow water runs off £ a mile from the shore, deepening gradually to 3 fathoms. The Swinefloden bank, which has 12 feet on its extremity, stretches off above £ a mile from the mole ; close to the mole it has only 6 or 7 feet water on it. The outer end of this bank is marked by a large white cask, moored in 17 feet ; and farther in, along the channel, there are two other white buoys, the last lying off the pier of the eastern mole, at a distance of 247 yards. Three other white casks mark the western side of the harbour, as you proceed thence towards Swinemunde. Upon the bar leading from sea to Swinemunde the least depth of water usually found is 17 feet, but storms occasionally affect this depth considerably. When bound for Swinemunde it is necessary first to sight either Kieseberg or Streckelsberg, midway between which the land sinks, and where it appears lowest Swinemunde hghthouse will be seen, and should be brought to bear S.S.E., when the two pole beacons are in one, and a black cask is sighted, which may be passed close on the port hand.