7 to 10 fathoms (12.8 to 18.3 m.) with Cosme Point bearing about north. The head of the bay is shoal, and mud flats bare a considerable distance offshore.

Ticao Bay, 52 miles southward of Port San Jacinto, affords good anchorage, but no protection except from the west. San Fernando lies on the western shore. Approach the town with the church bearing 258° (WSW. % W. mag.) and anchor in 6 to 12 fathoms (11 to 21.9 m.). Launches can enter the lagoon at the head of the bay at high water only.

Batuan Bay, 4 miles southward of Ticao Bay, has a small, partly protected anchorage. A wide reef extends 550 yards offshore east of the town and another reef extends off the southern entrance point. Small stakes usually mark the edge of the latter reef. The entrance may be made by keeping 50 to 100 yards northward of these stakes and changing course to west near the fish trap on the south side of the channel and anchor in 3 to 4 fathoms (5.5 to 7.3 m.), mud, southward of the town. If the stakes are not in place, bring a small conical hill on the south shore to bear 225° (SW. 1 S. mag.) and change to 270° (W. S. mag.), when a depth of 5 fathoms (9.1 m.) is reached.

Biton Bay is foul. Shoal water with depth of 3 and 4 fathoms (5.5 to 7.3 m.) extends from 1 to 111⁄2 miles eastward of San Rafael Point and of the islands southward. Deep channels exist between the several islands, but the ones usually used are Black Rock Pass and the channel between Deagan Island and Cadulan Point, Masbate.

Matabao Island is separated from San Rafael Point, Ticao, by a narrow passage with a depth of 11 fathoms (20.1 m.) in the channel between the shoal areas eastward. The tidal current does not set fair with this channel, and compass courses must not be depended on when using this channel. Its use should be avoided if possible. The south and west side of the island is steep-to and may be passed at a distance of 1⁄4 mile. A fixed red light, visible 7 miles, is shown from the top of a concrete house on Argos Point, southern end of Matabao Island.

Black Rock Pass, between Argos Point and Magcaragit Island, is over 212 miles wide and is divided into two channels by Black Rock and its surrounding shoals. The rock itself is low and usually hard to see. At high-spring tides it is covered, and from a distance appears as a black log. It is marked by a white beacon in a conical concrete base. Both channels are deep, but the irregular bottom and strong tidal currents cause very heavy tide rips, swirls, and eddies. During spring tides these effects are intensified and result in disturbances equal to that in San Bernardino Strait.

Three wooded hills on the islands southward of the pass make excellent marks for cross bearings, that on Dakit Island being the most conspicuous. Vessels using the channel north of Black Rock when going east should bring the lighthouse on Argos Point to bear 70° (ENE. E. mag.) and not more than 1 mile distant; then steer 90° (E. 1 N. mag.), making an allowance for current, which has a strong tendency to set down on the rock during ebb; when the summit of Dakit Island bears south the course may be set as desired. When bound west bring Dakit Island summit to bear south and the lighthouse 280° (W. 34 N. mag.) and then steer 270° (W. 1 S. mag.) until the lighthouse is on the quarter, when the course may be changed as desired.

Vessels passing south of Black Rock should steer a mid-channel course, 1/2 or 3/4 mile northward of Magcaragit Island, until the middle of the cliff of Deagan Island bears south when bound eastward; and when bound westward, hold the mid-channel course until the lighthouse on Argos Point bears north.

The passage between Cadulan Point and Deagan Island is about 34 mile wide, with depths of 6 to 11 fathoms (11 to 20.1 m.) in the middle, but shoals on either side contract the channel to about 1/4 mile between the 5-fathom curves. Some masters prefer this channel to the Black Rock passages, claiming that the tidal streams run less strongly than in those passages.

Vessels using this passage, bound eastward, should give the south point of Deagan Island a berth of about 1/4 mile and steer out 68° (ENE. mag.) for about 2 miles, when the course may be shaped as desired. When bound westward, bring the middle of the passage to bear 248° (WSW. mag.) when about 2 miles distant and steer for it, giving the south point of Deagan Island a berth of about 1/4 mile.

EAST COAST OF MASBATE

The coast of Masbate from Cadulan Point to Caduruan Point, a distance of about 32 miles, is clear, with depths of 4 to 8 fathoms (7.3 to 14.6 m.) close to the shore except in the vicinity of Kansuriao Point, where the reef makes off about 1/2 mile.

Port Cataingan (chart 4455), about 20 miles southeastward of Cadulan Point, is a clean and capacious harbor, open southeastward, of good depth and good holding ground; it is 11/4 miles wide at the entrance and extends 41/2 miles northwesterly in the direction of Tetas de Cataingan, two prominent rounded hills at the head of the port. On the seaward side of the peninsula, forming the eastern side of the port, the 5-fathom (9.1 m.) curve is about 1/2 mile from the coast. The shores of the port are fringed with reefs and shoals from 1 to 1/4 mile, and there are three isolated shoals with little depth on the eastern side, as shown on the chart. The head of the port is sandy on the western side; the northern part is shallow with regularly decreasing soundings, and at the head there are mud flats which bare about 3 mile. Perfectly protected anchorage may be found near the head of the port in 4 to 5 fathoms (7.3 to 9.1 m.) about 2 mile southeastward from the town of Cataingan; another recommended anchorage is in the bight on the western side of the port, about 1/4 mile northwestward from Mintag Point.

Dumurug Point, the eastern entrance point, is fringed by a reef which extends about 300 yards southward.

Baslay Island, 3/4 mile south-southeastward from Dumurug Point, is very small, surrounded by a narrow reef, and has a shoal extending about 1/4 miles southward, at the extremity of which there is a depth of 1 fathom (1.8 m.).

Ordoñez Bank, with a least depth of 52 fathoms (10 m.), is a small bank lying about 1 mile southwestward of Dumurug Point and less than 1/2 mile from shore. The channel between Dumurug Point and Baslay Island is 1/2 mile wide and 10 fathoms (18.3 m.) deep in the middle and that between Baslay Island and Ordoñez Bank is nearly 1 mile wide and over 20 fathoms (36 m.) deep.

62012°-27-13

Bugtung Island, about 5 miles south-southeastward of Dumurug Point, is fringed by a narrow reef and is 343 feet (115 m.) high. Its southeastern extremity is formed by a hill 295 feet (88 m.) high. Balanguingue Island, about 212 miles south-southeastward of Bugtung Island, is very small and is fringed by a narrow reef which extends about 1 mile northwestward. The channel between these islands and Masbate appears to be deep and clear.

Caduruan Point, the southeastern extremity of Masbate, is long and sharp; shoal water extends about 1/4 mile southward, outside of which it appears clear, with a depth of 5 fathoms (9.1 m.) close-to. The point is formed by rocky bluffs separated by short stretches of sand beach. Back from the shore the hills rise between 200 and 300 feet (61 and 91 m.) in height and are very uniform, showing no prominent peaks. They are covered with a fairly heavy growth of timber and brush, with occasional clearings near the shore.

ISLANDS BETWEEN MASBATE AND SAMAR

Naranjo Islands, lying close together about 71⁄2 miles southward of Luzon, comprises a group of six small islands, San Andres, Rasa, Medio, Darsena, Aguada, and Escarpada. Their slopes are very abrupt, being steeper near the shores. The islands are almost bare of heavy timber, though practically the whole group is covered with brush and jungle. There are no important towns on the islands. The best anchorage is in Sabariog Bay, north of Darsena Island. In northeast weather anchorage may be taken up on the southwest side of Escarpada Island. Ternate Bay, between Darsena and Aguada, affords good anchorage, but is subject to strong currents at times. The flood generally sets southwest, but in the channel between Aguada and Escarpada it sets northwest and between Rasa and San Andres northeast, causing heavy tide rips where they meet the southwest

current.

Destacado Island, lying about 3 miles southeast of the Naranjo Islands, rises steeply from the water on all sides and is clear, with the exception of a reef making offshore from the middle of Lode Bay. The anchorage in Lode Bay, southeastward of Isioc Point, is good in all but southwest weather.

Capul Island is hilly, with several sharp cone-shaped summits along the sky line, but the highest, near the southeast end, is flattopped. The slopes are steep and heavily timbered except on the northeast side, where a valley makes inland and a number of clearings are found. Capul is the most important town on the island. A church with prominent bell tower is conspicuous. In fair weather anchorage may be had northeastward of the town, but this coast is exposed to the full force of the tidal currents through San Bernardino Strait. San Luis, in San Luis Bay, is a small fishing village. A good road leads from the bay to the lighthouse on Totoog Point. Capul Light, group flashing white, visible 18 miles, is shown from a round white tower, with dwelling at the base on Totoog Point.

Dalupiri Island is smoothly rounded on top and partly wooded. There is some heavy timber near the north-central part, but the island is being cultivated more each year. Both east and west sides of the island are clear and steep-to, but extensive shoals extend northward

and southeastward. Anchorage may be taken anywhere along the coast, but necessarily close in, as the water is deep everywhere except on the shoals projecting from the north and south ends of the islands. The channels between Luzon, Capul, Dalupiri, and Samar are all subject to strong currents, tide rips, whirlpools, and eddies. The shores along Capul Island show evidence of extremely heavy wave action during the northeast monsoon. No detailed observations for currents were made at the time of the survey. The following notes are based on the experience of the survey vessel during April, May, and June, working under the best conditions obtainable, and the intensifying effect of heavy weather on the strength and direction of currents should be borne in mind.

Dalupiri Pass, between Dalupiri Island and Samar, is the safest and should be used by all vessels bound to or from the south. Tide rips and whirlpools will be found about 2 miles north of Igang Point and 12 miles southeast of Minangas Point. The current generally sets fair with the channel, with a counter current close inshore.

Capul Pass, between Capul Island and Dalupiri Island, should be avoided as much as possible, and especially by vessels bound north, as there is danger of being swept on Diamante Rock. This rock is composed of sharp, black rocks, bare or almost bare at low water. Rubi Shoal, lying 11⁄2 miles westward of Diamente Rock, is also composed of sharp, black rocks, with a least depth of 314 fathoms (5.9 m.) Both of these dangers are steep-to and hard to pick up, while large eddies, sometimes a half mile or more in diameter, are liable to sweep the vessel off her course.

Through Capul Pass the current floods south on the west side and in the center and north along the Dalupiri Island shore causing a long line of rips and small eddies with a great deal of foam that gradually works across the pass with the stage of the tide. The ebb flows north in the entire pass, coming from westward over Rubi Shoal, while the flood is still running southeastward of Diamante Rock.

Naranjo Pass, between the Naranjo Islands and Capul Island, is wide and deep. Tide rips extend from Totoog Point for over a mile northward. The main current floods southwestward past the point, while a counter current runs northward on the east side of the point at the same time. Numerous swirls and eddies are formed in the channel between Capul and Luzon, the water seeming to boil up from beneath, the center of the eddy in some cases appearing to be at least a foot higher than the edge. Vessels bound southward through this channel should pass about 1 mile westward of Totoog Point and the same distance eastward of Destacado Island. Vessels bound westward with the current are likely to be carried southward toward San Andres Island unless special precautions are taken to avoid it. In the night or during stormy weather vessels from southward would do well to keep close to the Masbate shore and pass northward of the Naranjo Islands, getting their positions by the aid of Matabao and Capul Lights.

Tagapula Island, about 8 miles northeastward of Dumurug Point, is clean, steep-to, and 1.470 feet (448 m.) high. Sibugay is a small islet, 428 feet (130 m.) high, 1/2 mile from the northern side of

Tagapula, with a deep channel between them. Espana Shoal, 1 mile eastward from the northeast point of Tagapula Island, has a least depth of 2 fathoms (3.6 m.) and is surrounded by deep water.

Camandag Island, about 11 miles east-southeastward of Tagapula Island and 7 miles southwestward of Jibatan Point, Samar, is clean, steep-to, and 1,408 feet (429 m.) high.

Almagro Island lies about 8 miles southeastward of Tagapula. The northern part is 1,295 feet (395 m.) high and the southern part has a flat summit 1,824 feet (556 m.) high. The town of Almagro is at the head of Almagro Cove, a large indentation at the southwest end of the island. Cabilison is a small high islet about 1/2 mile southward from the southwest point of Almagro Island.

Santo Nino Island lies southeastward from Camandag, separated therefrom by a deep and clear channel 11⁄2 miles wide. The island is 1,550 feet (472 m.) high, clean, and steep-to. Santo Nino Harbor, on the north side of the island, is an excellent typhoon refuge for vessels not more than 150 feet long. Its entrance is only about 20 yards wide, with a depth of 134 fathoms (3.2 m.), leading into a roughly circular basin 200 yards in diameter. A sunken rock, covered 2 feet (0.6 m.) at low water, lies on the west side of the channel, about 18 yards east of some bare and awash rocks. The shingle spit on the east side of the channel is covered at high water, but the edge is easily visible and should be passed close-to on a 158° (SSE. mag.) course, which leads to an anchorage in 534 fathoms (10.5 m.), mud bottom, about in the center of the basin. The town of Santo Nino lies on the western shore of the harbor, near its head. About 111⁄2 miles east of the northeastern point of Almagro Island lies the small island of Karikiki, 668 feet (204 m.) high. Between Karikiki and Almagro are three islets called Rough, Little Karikiki, and Sayan. The first of these is very small and is close to the middle western point of Karikiki. Little Karikiki is 221 feet (67 m.) and Sayan 75 feet (22.9 m.) high. One mile west-northwest of Cambia Point on the northwestern side of Santo Nino Island is Pilar Islet, 145 feet (44 m.) high. All of these small islands are clear and steepto except for short reefs making out westward of Karikiki and eastward of Pilar. The channels between the larger islands and the coasts of Masbate and Samar are wide and deep and the tidal currents run with considerable velocity.

Maripipi Island, about 5 miles southward of Almagro, is nearly round and covered with trees and is 3,020 feet (920 m.) high near its center. The shores are clean and very steep-to.

Sambauan Islets are four small and rocky islets, close together, surrounded by a shoal of sand, about 32 miles west-southwestward of Maripipi summit and 2 miles from the shore of that island.

Buga Rock, 8 feet (2.4 m.) high, lies about 3/4 mile northward of the most northern of the Sambauan islets and over 1 mile westward of Maripipi.

WEST COAST OF PANAY

Panay Island is southeastward of Mindoro. It is the fifth in size of the Philippine Islands, having an area of 4,611 square miles. Its shape is an irregular triangle, with its western side trending nearly north and south, its northern side about west-northwest, and the