Notice to Mariners.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 60, 5 June 1863, Page 2

Notice to Mariners.

POET FHII.LTF HEAPS LIGHTHOUSES. Navigators are hereby informed that in nccord ance with a notice to mariners dated the 27th o December, 1862, the alterations in -Short land's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for t the first time of a light on Point Lonsdale, ns noti- | tied on the 3rd February, 1863, were carried into J effect on the respective dates mentioned in such notices. ] Consequent upon the<*e changes, the following sailing directions are pu'- i-hed for the guidance of vessels navigating the ci trance to Port Phillip at night : — Vessels from the southward and eastward will see the high light, (fixed white) on a N I ■ W bearing, and the white low light (fixed whito and red) oiTa N| E bearing ; as they proceed to the NW to bring the two lights in one, the low light will •change its color from white to red ou a NNE \ E ■bearing. Vessels from the southward and westward sighiing tlie high light to the eastward of NE by E should, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to •the eastward to open the low light, whicb will bo first S-en white on a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one tbe low light will change its color from white to red onn NE J E bearing. A reference to the chart will show that, as liitherto. the best and safest course between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on aNE by N and SW by S hearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity of the Corsnir Rock or the Point Lonsdale Reef, these dangers will be avoided by vessels of light draught so long as tbe Shortland's Bluff low red light is kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced must be direful to go about or haul towards midohnnnel before the low light changes from red to •white. The light (Gxod rod nnd green) on Point Lonsdale hns been established to wnrn vessels entering or departing at night, of their vicinity to. and •when tliey are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks. Vessels steering from sea for Port Piiilbp. and nenr tbe entrance, will (irst see the Point Lons dale green light on a NW by N \ N benring, and o long as they have it full in view they are to seaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks, when the two colors, red nnd green, begin to blend, it indicates vicinity to thf line which passes on a NW by W benring from tlie light over these dangers. When the Lonsdale red light opens out. full, vessels aro inside of them : nnd when thoy shut it in on a W J N bearing, tbey are inside of the Corsair rock. Vessels steering towards the West Channel will avoid the reef off Shortland's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, nnd also clear the RoyaVGeorge sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, bul keeping the red light in sight until within three cables' length of it. whon tbov will be above tho Royal George buoy. and should haul to the enstward, and open the white light, giving tbe lighthouse a berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. Vessels nnvignt'ng tbe South Chunnol nre reminded that the low light on Shortlnnds Bluff now j shows white from son up to the Soutli Channel to | the enst end of Panel Sound. Vossels below Capel Sound, White Perch Buoy. will be aided in their passage up or down the South Channel, and avoid tlie north sand, by not shutting the light in, it being masked on a west by •north bearing. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel cle-ir, vessels of light draught are 'recommended, when anchoring off Shortland's Bluff, to bring up as close over towards the shore as possible on the NW side of tbo fairway, indicated *at night by the Swan Spit light changing from re 1 to wliite on a NE { E bearing, nnd by day the Swnn Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black ■fauov. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side ofthe fairway, which is indicated nt night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE £ N bearing, and by day the Swan Spit. Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Buoy. Masters of vessels about to anchor at night off Shortland's Bluff are requested to note that the low light shuts in on a N by AY bearing. All bearings are magnetic. CITARLF'S FF.Rfs-rsov, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors. Williamstown, llth March, 1863. , , -I