PORT ALABAT-PORT MAMBULAO.

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as being situated 13 miles east and 2 miles southeast, respectively, from the eastern end of Jomalig. They are all said to be low and flat and show no prominent points.

Coast. From the south end of Alabat Island the coast trends southeast, and then curves gradually around to northwest to Paranjo Point forming a deep bay, east and southeast of Alabat Island. The shore line of this bay is very incorrectly shown on all existing charts. The town of Calauag is situated at the head of the bay. Apat Bay,* which cuts into the eastern side of the bay, nearly abreast of Silangan Pass, is reported to afford good anchorage sheltered from all winds.

Paranjo Point, low and flat, has a small, low mangrove-covered islet, Pulupari, lying about 1 mile westward of it, and between it and the coast is Penshaw Reef. From Paranjo Point the coast trends northeastward for about 4 miles to Dagdap Point. Dagdap Point is foul, and there is a reef between it and Paranjo Point, and also foul ground between Dagdap Point and Pulupari Island, reported to extend 2 miles northwest of a line drawn between them.

Shoal. The shoal on which the U. S. A. T. Sumner struck is reported as being situated 5 miles from Paranjo Point and the same distance from Dagdap Point, with the north end of Alabat Island bearing S. 81° W. (S. 80° W. mag.) and Balesin Island bearing N. 39° W. (N. 40° W. mag.).

Coast. From Dagdap Point the coast trends southeasterly for about 6 miles, and then curves around to the northeast forming Sogod Bay; this bay has not been surveyed. From Sogod Bay the coast curves around to north and east to Pinandungan Point. This coast appears clear with the exception of the small, low, flat island, Jaulo, surrounded by reefs, which lies close inshore westward of the mouth of the Capalonga River, and an extensive shoal surrounding the Dajican Islands and facing Port Mambulao. On the latest charts this shoal is shown as extending 1 mile northward from Tabusao, the northern island, but regular traders on this coast report that this shoal does not exist.

Capalonga. There is anchorage off Capalonga at the mouth of the river of the same name, in 8 fathoms, with the reefs distant about 200 yards on either bow; great care must be taken in making any port on this coast because of the irregular coral reefs.

Jesus Point seen from the eastward has the appearance of a small high island, and must not be mistaken for Jaulo Island, which is low.

Port Mambulao, between Pinandungan Point and the Dajican Islands, is safe, sheltered from all winds, and easy of access. The depth of water decreases gradually from 11 fathoms at the entrance of the bay to 2

*C. and G. S. chart: Harbors on the east coast of Luzon, No. 4265. (In preparation.)

fathoms before the mouth of a river at the head of the port. Mambulan is a place of little commercial importance and no plan of the port has ever been made.

Pinandungan Point is east of the entrance to Port Mambulao; from a low grassy point about 1 mile eastward of this point, a ledge extends about 400 yards from the shore. The land all along this part of the coast is high.

Tanao Islands are a group of three small islets and two large rocks. lying 3 to 4 miles northward of Pinandungan Point. They appear to all lie on the same reef and extend 14 miles in an east by south and opposite direction. The channel between them and the coast appears to be clear. Shoals and breakers have been reported southward in the vicinity of these islands, but the information is very indefinite. The Tanao Islands are shown in different positions on different charts.

CALAGUAS ISLANDS are a group of nine small islands and several islets and rocks, lying northeastward of Pinandungan Point. The principal islands, are Samur, Maculabo, Pinacuapan, Tinaga, Guintinua, Ingalan, Calagua, Cagbalisay, and Siapa. It has frequently been reported that these islands are not properly located on the chart. They are mostly bordered by reefs and are not heavily wooded and are of moderate height, except Maculabo, which is high, and can be seen in clear weather from a distance of 24 miles. Siapa is the largest and most central. Samur, the most northwestern of the group, is a round-topped island lying? or 3 miles northward of Maculabo. Thurston Rock, a small islet, lies about 3 miles northwestward from Samur Island; a reef of rocks. some of which are awash at low water, extends about 13 miles eastward of the islet, upon which the sea breaks.

Dangers. Breakers have been reported as being seen about 4 miles northward of Thurston Rock.

A rock, surrounded by a reef about 2 miles in extent, lies about 2 miles northwest of Pinacuapan Island. Amalia and Paquita are two small islets lying S. 64° E. (S. 65° E. mag.), distant about 6 miles, and S. 54° E. (S. 55° E. mag.), distant about 8 miles, respectively, from Siapa Island. In bad weather heavy breakers may be seen between Cagbalisay Island and Amalia, and a small area of broken water has been seen about mile southeastward of Paquita, the eastern islet, apparently caused by a sunken rock. The bottom is frequently seen between Maculabo and the mainland, but no sounding of less than 5 fathoms has been reported. A number of shoals and rocks have been reported northward and eastward of the Calaguas Islands, but they are all outside of the usual track of shipping and they have never been properly located.

Bank. A great bank is shown on the charts as lying about 30 miles to the northward and eastward of the Calaguas Islands, stretching west

PINANDUNGAN POINT—DAET.

45

over it. No soundings are given in the neighborhood of this bank nor between it and the coast; but it is believed that the channel between the bank and the Calaguas is deep.

Matandumaten Islet is a large rock about 150 feet high and 300 feet in diameter at the base, and is visible in clear weather from a distance of 15 to 18 miles. There is a rock perhaps 50 feet high lying off the northeast side of Matandumaten and a smaller one off the southwest side. Much uncertainty exists as to the position of this islet; most charts place it about 11 miles, S. 48° E. (S. 49° E. mag.) from the southeast point of Cagbalisay Island, but the majority of reports place it about 3 miles farther northward. On some charts there is an islet shown lying about 5 miles westward of Matandumaten, but according to the best evidence this islet does not exist, and it has been erased from the charts.

Coast. From Pinandungan Point the coast trends to the south and east for about 26 miles to the mouth of the Daet River.

Paracale. This town is situated in a small bay about 7 miles southeast of Pinandungan Point. The westernmost point of the bay is low, covered with mangroves and bordered by a reef.

Quinamanuca Islet, situated about 11 miles south and east of Paracale, is low, flat, and bordered by sand beach. The channel between it and the mainland appears foul. Quinamanuca Islet should be given a berth of at least 2 miles. The coast from here to the mouth of the Daet River is faced by shoal water and should be given a good berth. A depth of 2 fathoms was found 2 miles from shore.

DAET, a small open coastwise port, lies on the river of the same name about 4 miles from the sea and does its business through the village of Mercedes, at the mouth of the river. There is 11 feet of water on the bar at low water, deepening to 16 feet inside. Pilots are always in attendance and strangers are advised to employ them.

Directions. To approach the anchorage off the mouth of Daet River, bring a small, conical hill back of the town to bear S. 23° W. (S. 22° W. mag.) and steer for it, anchoring with it on this bearing in 7 or 8 fathoms of water. Vessels intending to enter the river should steer for the conical hill as previously directed until the outer channel marks are abeam close aboard. These channel marks are bamboo poles with tassel tips, and are down in 4 fathoms. Round these channel marks sharply with a starboard helm, and keep a large fish trap just inside the river mouth a little on the port bow until the sandspit to starboard is abeam. Round this sandspit sharply with a port helm and go alongside the docks at Mercedes. The best way to lie at the docks in the northeast monsoon season is with the ship's head to seaward, as the wind very often approaches the strength of a gale. The current is very strong in the river, sometimes reaching a speed of 6 or 7 knots, and good anchors

should be used off shore. Turning on an ebb tide should not be attempted, as the vessel is liable to became unmanageable. The deepest water extends about 200 feet from the northwest shore; the river is about

mile wide opposite the docks, but the southeast shore has a very gradual approach of rocky beach and should be kept clear of. Mercedes is not a safe port for vessels drawing more than 12 feet, or over 180 feet long. When approaching from the north give Quinamanuca Islet a berth of at least 2 miles, and keep well off shore to the southward of it; fathoms were found 21 miles off shore.

The passage between Luzon and the group of islands including Canin and Canton is navigable for vessels drawing not over 15 feet, but a local knowledge of it is necessary.

Canimo Island, situated a short distance east of Daet River, is about 2 miles long north and south; it is of moderate height, and its shores are mostly surrounded by reefs, but on the northeast side there s anchorage on sandy bottom. It is reported that the north side of Canime is bold and clear, and has no offlying reef as shown. Good anchorage. protected during the northeast monsoon, may be found westward of C'animo Island.

Canigo Island is a low, flat island lying between C'animo and Cantor. islands.

Canton Island is small and of moderate height, and is situated south and east of Canimo, and five small islands named Rasa lie to the southward and southwestward of Canton. The water in the neighborhood of the islands is shallow, and the channel between them and the mainland should not be attempted without a pilot. The southeast extremity of Canton Island is a prominent bluff, sparsely wooded.

SAN MIGUEL BAY is a large bay, 44 miles wide at the entranc between Canton and Siruma islands, 11 miles wide abreast of Colas: Point and extending 16 miles southward. It is surrounded by high mountains, and is capable of harboring in safety vessels of any size. Depths of 6 and 7 fathoms will be found in the middle of the bay, decreasing gradually toward the shore. The southern part of the bay is very shoal. San Miguel Island lies in the north part of the bay, the Cauit Islands close to the eastern shore, and Tangular Island close to the point of the same name in the southeastern part, Colasi Point, on the western side, formed by the slope of Colasi Hill, is high. There is a little bay 3 fathoms deep between the point and a peaked hill southward of it. The little town of Colasi stands on the northern slope of the peaked hill. The small town of Cabusao is on the left bank of the Bico River, at the mouth, and the town of Barcelona, which is more prominent, is situated 3 or 4 miles northwestward from it. Calabanga River discharges 6 miles eastward of Bicol River, and the town of the same

CANIMO ISLAND—QUINALASAG ISLAND.

47

Directions.-Vessels entering San Miguel Bay should keep well over toward Canton Island to avoid the dangers making out westward of Siruma Island, and when San Miguel Island bears S. 89° E. (East mag.), a S. 67° E. (S. 68° E. mag.) course will take the vessel to a good anchorage off the middle of the south side of San Miguel Island, in smooth water and good holding ground in 5 or 6 fathoms of water. Vessels bound for Nueva Caceres should steer up the middle of the bay and stop for a pilot in 3 fathoms of water, with the town of Cabusao bearing about S. 46° W. (S. 45° W. mag.). Pilotage is compulsory, and pilots are always in attendance.

BICOL RIVER empties into the south side of San Miguel Bay, discharging through a low, flat shore. The important town of Nueva Caceres is situated on this river about 24 miles from its mouth, and the river is navigable that distance for small steamers drawing about 10 feet.

Siruma Island, low, flat, and wooded, forms the eastern entrance point to San Miguel Bay. A reef, drying a long way out, extends westward from the south end of Siruma for a distance of 13 miles. At the western end of this reef there is a rock, plainly visible at low water. Depths of 9 fathoms were found 50 feet westward of this rock and 7 fathoms eastward, then gradually shoaling to 2 fathoms and less at a distance of mile from the island. Another shoal and reef makes out in a N. 35° E. (N. 34° E. mag.) direction from the northeast end of Siruma Island for a distance of 13 miles, breakers being plainly visible from a distance of several miles.

Coast. Siruma Bay, eastward of the reef making off from the northeast part of Siruma Island, is 18 fathoms deep at the entrance, shoaling to 24 fathoms toward the head. Sapenitan Point, about 4 miles northeastward of Siruma Island is surrounded by a wide reef. Quinabucasan Point, about 5 miles northeastward of Sapenitan Point, is the most northern point of Luzon eastward of San Miguel Bay; from here the coast trends in a general direction, S. 67° E. (S. 68° E. mag.) for about 40 miles to Caramuan Point at the northern entrance to Taebun Channel. This stretch of coast is very irregular in outline, and faced by numerous islands and reefs. It has never been surveyed, and the accounts are very conflicting.

Bantaranan Island, the northernmost island on this part of the coast, is high and surrounded by rocks.

Coast. The several bays that lie between Bantaranan and Quinalasag Islands are foul and accessible for fishing boats only. Off Tambang Point there is an islet that is very prominent and makes a good landmark.

Quinalasag Island lies about half way between Bantaranan Island and Caramuan Point. It is the largest island in this vicinity, and forms the north side of Sisiran Bay. It is moderately high and clear on the side toward the bay.