FRENCH FRIGATE SHOAL

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tends 1/4 mile to the southward from the southeast end of the same island the latter reef is seldom marked by breakers at its off shore end. A coral head, not always marked by breakers, lies 5% mile south of the southeast end of East Island. Bare Island, a very small sand islet, lies 1/2 mile northeastward of East Island. Shark Island, the most northwesterly of the several sand islets, lies 6 miles 325° true (NW. % W. mag.) from La Perouse Pinnacle. Water, somewhat brackish, has been found by digging wells about 8 feet (2.4 m) deep on the sand islets back from the beach.

The bank, with depths of 10 to 20 fathoms (18.3 to 37 m), extends for 6 miles westward of La Perouse Pinnacle, where the bottom drops off rapidly to great depths. The water northeast and south of the reef, however, is very deep.

Anchorage. The best holding ground southwest of the reef is found in depths from 13 to 15 fathoms (23.8 to 27.4 m), the bottom in less depth being mostly coral. The best anchorage is found 34 mile southwestward of East Island in 14 fathoms (25.6 m), with the southeast end of that island and Bare Island in range. From this anchorage, the center of East Island bears 28° true (N. by E. 12 E. mag.), distant 3/4 mile; the coral-head breaker 5% mile south of East Island bears 90° true (E. by N. mag.) distant 1⁄2 mile; La Perouse Pinnacle bears 261° true (WSW. 14 W. mag.), distant 25% miles. This anchorage has good holding ground and is protected from northeast and easterly winds but is exposed to the westward. Another anchorage with less protection lies 1 mile northwestward of La Perouse Pinnacle, in about 14 fathoms (25.6 m). There is an 8-fathom (14.6 m) spot 1⁄2 mile northwestward of this anchorage. There is no anchorage for large vessels protected from all weather. Small vessels, by picking their way through the coral heads, can get very good protection behind the shoals from any kind of weather.

Directions.-Vessels may approach the shoals, in the daytime, from the north, east, and southeast without fear. On clear days La Perouse Pinnacle is plainly visible from every direction outside the shoals. From the south, the approach is not so safe. There is shoal water over the reef which may not break, and although the bottom is plainly visible when fairly close, the shoal water might not be detected some little distance away.

Vessels can approach La Perouse Pinnacle safely on any course between 15° true (N. 3% E. mag.) and 125° true (SE. by E. % E. mag.). Approaching from westward, anchor anywhere on the 10to 20-fathom (18.3 to 37 m) bank which extends 6 miles westward of the pinnacle, or pass 1/2 mile southward of the pinnacle on a 70° true (NE. by E. 14 E. mag.) course, crossing depths of 8 fathoms (14.6 m), and anchor southwestward of East Island as previously described.

Approaching from the southward keep La Perouse Pinnacle ahead on a course of about 15° true (N. % E. mag.) and anchor 34 mile southward of the pinnacle; or proceed from here to the anchorage southwestward of East Island.

Approaching from northward, give Shark Island (the northwestern islet of the group) a berth of about 2 miles, then head for La Perouse Pinnacle, bearing about 125° true (SE. by E. % E. mag.), and anchor northwest of the pinnacle as described above.

Currents. The prevailing current in the vicinity of French Frigate Shoal is westerly.

Winds. The northeast trades prevail throughout the year, but westerly blows can be expected during the winter months.

BROOKS SHOAL (CHART 4000)

and Saint Rogatien Bank form a group of five coral banks, totaling 50 miles in length, situated between French Frigate Shoal and Gardner Pinnacle. They are strung out in a northwesterly direction, have depths of from 11 to 40 fathoms (20.1 to 73 m), and are separated by channels over 100 fathoms (183 m) deep and several miles wide. The largest and shoalest of these banks lies 60 miles 305° true (NW. by W. % W. mag.) from La Perouse Pinnacle (French Frigate Shoal). This bank has depths of 11 to 20 fathoms (20.1 to 37 m) and is about 12 miles in diameter.

The southeasterly bank lies 27 miles 301° true (WNW. 14 W. mag.) from La Perouse Pinnacle. This bank, the smallest in the group, is about 2 miles in diameter and has depths of 28 to 40 fathoms (51 to 73 m).

The northwesterly bank lies 75 miles 311° true (NW. by W. % W. mag.) from La Perouse Pinnacle and is about 6 miles long and 3 miles wide. It has depths of 30 to 40 fathoms (55 to 73 m).

Anchorage. Unprotected anchorage can be had on the shoaler areas, with plainly visible sand and coral bottom. The holding ground is only fair. There are no dangers.

Currents. The prevailing current is westerly, but it is influenced somewhat by the tides.

GARDNER PINNACLE (CHART 4000)

is a solid, volcanic rock islet lying 120 miles 308°30′ true (NW. by W. 5% W. mag.) of La Perouse Pinnacle (French Frigate Shoal) in latitude 250°00′04" N., longitude 167°59'52" W. It is 190 feet (58 m) high, about 200 yards in diameter, and has a smaller pinnacle rock close to its northwesterly side. It is barren of vegetation and covered with guano, giving it the appearance of being snowcapped. There are no off-lying dangers. In comparatively smooth weather, landings can be made just north of the bight on the west side of the pinnacle.

Gardner Pinnacle lies near the northeastern side of a bank 52 miles long, in a north and south direction, and 22 miles wide near its northern end. This bank has depths of 9 to 22 fathoms (16.5 to 40 m), and the sand and coral bottom is plainly visible.

Anchorage can be had anywhere on the bank, but there is no protection. In general, the holding ground is poor.

RAITA BANK (CHART 4000)

lies 85 miles 291° true (W. % N. mag.) from Gardner Pinnacle in latitude 25°32′ N., longitude 169°28′ W. It is 20 miles long in a north-northeasterly direction and has a maximum width of 9 miles. It has depths of from 9 to 20 fathoms (16.5 to 37 m), and the bottom of sand and coral is plainly visible under ordinary weather conditions. At the 20-fathom (37 m) curve the bottom

drops off rapidly to great depths. In heavy weather the swells seem to lump up slightly over the shoaler areas, but there are no dangers. Large schools of Ulua fish and sharks have been observed on the bank.

Anchorage can be had anywhere on the bank, in the open sea, with fair holding ground.

MARO AND DOWSETT REEF (CHART 4000)

60 miles westward of Raita Bank, has its center in latitude 25°25′ N., longitude 170°35′ W. It is composed of a large, oval-shaped coral bank 31 miles long in a northwesterly direction and 18 miles wide, in the center of which is a large area of reefs awash. The broken reef area is 12 miles long in a northwesterly direction, and 5 miles wide. Outside of the reef, which is practically always marked by breakers, the wide shelf of the bank has depths of from 12 to 20 fathoms (21.9 to 37 m). The area of the broken reef is extremely foul, with many coral heads awash and channels of deep water between. There is only one very small rock which shows above high water. It is only about 2 feet (0.6 m) high and is on the north side of the reef.

Dangers.-There is nothing visible by which the navigator can definitely locate himself. Breakers, or the light blue-green color of the area within the reef, give the first warning of the proximity of the reef. All maneuvering in the vicinity of the reef must be done with extreme caution, and with the sea and light such that shoal spots can be seen and avoided. Ordinarily, spots with less than 6 fathoms of water are plainly visible.

There are no dangers over 11⁄2 miles from the general outline of the reef, thus leaving a navigable shelf with 12 to 20 fathoms (21.9 to 37 m) of water, on all sides of the reef. This navigable area of the bank varies in width from 3 miles on the southeast side to 11 miles on the west and northwest sides.

Anchorage.-Vessels may anchor in the shelter of the reef on any side; the closer to the reef the more caution is necessary to avoid the isolated coral heads. These coral heads can usually be seen in favorable sunlight. Good shelter from the northeast trades can be obtained on the west side between two long arms of the reef which project, one to the northwest and the other to the southwest, from the main reef area. Care must be taken to avoid the 5-fathom (9.1 m) spot off the middle of the entrance. Vessels in entering should keep within 1/2 mile of the southwest arm of the reef. However, unless the navigator is familiar with the area, he should remain as far from the broken-reef area on all sides as he can obtain the desired shelter.

Currents. The prevailing current in the vicinity is westerly, but on the bank the current tends to rotate clockwise around the broken-reef area.

LAYSAN ISLAND (CHART 4000)

is a low sand island lying about 65 miles 288° true (W. 5% N. mag.) from the center of Maro and Dowsett Reef, in latitude 25°46′ N., longitude 171°44′ W. The island is 17% miles long in a north and

south direction, about 1 mile wide, and has an elevation of 35 feet (10.7 m) near its north end. It is fringed with a narrow coral reef and is partly covered with low vines and grass, but the general appearance is white sand. The center of the island is a salt-water lagoon about 4 mile long. Water may be obtained by digging shallow wells, and sea fowl, eggs, and fish are abundant. The island is marked by two coconut trees and an ironwood tree, which are close to the ruins of a small building on the west side of the island. It is uninhabited and seldom visited, although in former times guano was collected and shipped to Honolulu.

The island lies just southeastward of the center of a circular bank about 14 miles in diameter, having depths of 15 to 20 fathoms (27.4 to 37 m), beyond which the water deepens rapidly.

Dangers. There are no particular dangers to navigation. Coral heads covered with 5 to 7 fathoms (9.1 to 12.8 m) of water are numerous over the area out to 12 miles from the island. The bottom of sand and coral can usually be seen in depths under 10 fathoms (18.3 m), and often in greater depths. When approaching closer than 111⁄2 miles a sharp lookout must be maintained to detect the coral heads.

Anchorage.-Vessels can anchor from 1 to 11⁄2 miles off the island in from 8 to 15 fathoms (14.6 to 27.4 m), on all sides, depending upon which side affords the best protection. Anchorage can be had from 1/2 to 1 mile off the west side of the island in from 8 to 15 fathoms (14.6 to 27.4 m), with fair holding ground. Small craft drawing not over 12 feet (3.7 m) can lie at anchor inside the reef and off the coconut trees on the west side of the island, except during westerly weather. This is also the best landing place during northeasterly to southeasterly weather, but landings are not safe during westerly winds. A poor landing can be made near the northeasterly end of the island during light westerly winds. The summer months are the best for landing, as then the northeast trades prevail.

Currents. A current of 1 knot has been observed in the vicinity of the island. The current tends to be rotary in a clockwise direction around the island.

LISIANSKI ISLAND (CHART 4000)

is a small, low sandy island lying about 120 miles 278° true (W. 1⁄4 S. mag.) from Laysan Island, in latitude 26°04′N., longitude 173°58′ W. It is about 1 miles long in a north-northeast direction, 12 mile wide, and has an elevation of 20 feet (6.1 m) near the northeast side. The shores are of white sand except for two stretches of rock ledge at the water line on the east side of the island. The island is overgrown with vines and bushes, and there are no prominent features. The island is uninhabited and is seldom visited. Brackish water may be obtained by digging a few feet, and sea fowl, eggs, fish, and turtle are abundant. The island should be visited only during the summer months, when the northeast trades prevail.

Neva Shoal, with innumerable coral ledges, extends 8 miles southeastward from the island; this same reef, which is about 4 miles wide, has its western extremity about 4 miles south-southwestward of the island. The southeasterly end of the reef is usually marked

by breakers, and many of the ledges show breakers in most all weather. The reef has areas of deeper water between the ledges, and small boats can maneuver over many parts of the reef; however, it must be avoided by vessels

A reef which circles around to the southwestward from off the north side of the island is marked near its offshore end by a coral ledge which bares at times and over which the seas break This ledge is 15% miles 260° true (WSW. % W. mag.) from the north end of the island. About 5% mile southwestward of this ledge is another ledge which is marked by a large breaker in most weather. Midway between these ledges or breakers is a passage leading to the lagoon between the island and the reef. The passage has an uneven bottom with depths from 2 to 6 fathoms (3.7 to 11 m). About 350 yards southwestward of the northern entrance ledge is a small shoal with only 3 feet (0.9 m) over it. These shoal spots are easily seen and avoided by small boats making the passage to the lagoon, but vessels should not enter without local knowledge. Once inside the lagoon, anchorage can be had in from 3 to 6 fathoms (5.5 to 11 m), taking care to avoid the scattered coral heads with only a few feet of water over them. Landings can be made on the west side and the south end of the island in all but southwesterly and westerly weather.

Lisianski Island lies in the center of a bank 24 miles long in a northwesterly direction and about 15 miles wide. Outside of the reefs, the general depths on the bank are from 12 to 20 fathoms (22 to 37 m).

Dangers. Besides the dangerous reef extending 8 miles southeastward and 4 miles south-southwestward from the island, there are many coral heads, with from 3 to 6 fathoms (5.5 to 11 m) of water over them, which extend out for 3 miles on all sides of the island. A small coral ledge with about 3 feet (0.9 m) of water over it and nearly always marked by breakers lies 234 miles 254° true (SW. by W. 5% W. mag.) from the south end of the island. Between this ledge and the island there are depths up to 10 fathoms (18.3 m), with a scattering of coral heads, some of which are nearly awash. A 2-fathom (3.7 m) rock lies 114 miles north-northeastward of the north end of the island. This rock is marked by breakers only during heavy weather. Under favorable conditions dangerous coral heads can be seen for several hundred yards.

Anchorage can be had 3 miles west of the island in 12 to 15 fathoms (21.9 to 27.4 m), sand and coral bottom, with the north end of the island and the breaker on the north side of the entrance to the lagoon in range and bearing 80° true (ENE. % E. mag.). The north entrance breaker will be 114 miles distant. Smaller vessels can anchor closer to the entrance breakers, but the rocky bottom is very uneven. Small boats can anchor in the lagoon, as described. previously. During southwest weather vessels can find anchorage from 3 to 4 miles east of the north end of the island, in from 8 to 15 fathoms (14.6 to 27. 4 m).

Directions.-Vessels may approach to within 3 miles of Lisianski Island from the northward, on courses between 90° true (E. by N. mag.) and 270° true (W. by S. mag.). Vessels should give the island a wide berth when passing southward of it, as the island itself is seldom seen from the southern limits of Neva Shoal. Approaching from the southwestward, keep about 5 miles westward of the