The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-28
MEMORANDA.
Sailing Directions fr6h Honolulv for Jarvi.

Island.
DEAR Sin At your request, 1 will give you, with pleasure,
the result of my experience in making the passage fro5s liono-
lulu to Jarvis Island, in a brief manner. On leaving Diamond
Head, s. course to lat. 19e Is about the best one; but II headed
of to ss.w, 1 should still keep on the port tack. On attaining
to 10 or a little southerly, you will have the regular trades
from L. or E.N.E.; then keep on the wind, a good rap full, until
getting into 1856 W. long,, or 1861 so. This is a great plenty.
far enough to the eastward; then making a south course, you
are in a position to run free with strong breezes, or to be headed
of when first taking the Sc. trades, without any anxiety. Al
ways pass to the leetpdrd of Christmas Island, and do not tack.
even If headed of s.w, for that will not last more than an hour
or SO, and you are sure to make a south, and most likely a little
easteriy course, before reaching the Line, If you wish to. After
passing Christmas, I always steer so as to be about 80 miles to
the windward of Jarvis, when in that parallel of latitude. The
currents are a westerly set of about IL miles a day, when In the
NE trades; and in about 90 or 50 n. latitude, / have always
found a streak of about &c Of strong easferiy currents, and
have been set so miles to the eastward during a calm there Of "a
hours. The doldrums vary much, both in latitude and extent.
1 have carried a stir breeze and fine weather until taking the BE.
trades steady; and again I have had a great quantity Of rain
with most vexaious Gains and battling winds, for two or three
days. We speak of the Sc. trades, but 1 have seldom seer
them south Of E.S.E F., and more generally from due east as you
approach the Equator.
On approaching Christmas Island, you viii always nnd a
strong westerly current, and If you try to go about 80 miles to
the.windward of it, you are sure to run on 1t by night; but steer
for the west end, which lies in longitude 1879 80, latitude 90
N, and you will go all clear. 1 have shaped my course this
way a number OF times, and not seen the island at all. II you
should pass 80 miles toieeward CT this island, you have no occa-
sion to fear being able to weather Jarvis. When In the latitude
OF Jarvis, the current cannot be calculated upon, Tor i have
known 1t TO set as strong to the eastward as ever ! did TO
the west; but this is not common. There 10 one thing which
1 have always found in making these passages, both up
and down, viz II the winds head me Cd, I am always sure
that it will favor, In a proportionate manner. in some other
place. Consequently, a fair sailing ship may run free .
great deal without fear of getting to leeward. There are no
other islands in this track than Christmas Tide-rips some
times resemble shoals very much.
beg to remain yours, etc.,
w. c. STONE,
Commanding Brig Josephine.
To q. P. JuDD, Agent American Guano Co.
To MASTERS OF VESSELS BorSp South PROM THESE ISLANDS.
The longitudes Of Christmas and Fanning's Islands, on most
charts, are incorrect We give the following Fepubiished from
our issue of July 80. 1850 as the correct position Of the islands
referred to, and also of Diana shoi, not laid down We
may add, that the frequent shipwrecks known to have oe-
Cured at Christmas Island, have been owing to its incorrect To-
cation on the charts, as well as to its being larger than is gener-
ally supposed.
FAsxrys's IsLASp-The harbor Of Fanning's Island lies In
N. lat. &c 40 ". long. 159o 20 Approach the island from
the east, and sail round the south side; There is no such island
Island" or rather Washington and American are the same
Island.
the n. W.. point of the island. ism n. lat IL ssi w long 1879
ward of the anchorage, and vessels, 10 approaching. cannot be
too careful of this point, as 1t is here where yearly a,the wreck.
cannot be seen from a ships deck more than seven or eight
miles of.
down on any chart 1t lies in n. lat 30 40; W. long. 1879 %.
has ON il onIy six feet Of water. The observation was taken at
midday, within a short distance of the shoaI, and may be relied
on as correct.
JARVIS IsLAsD-Is located In s. lat. 90 %. Ion. 15ee 52w
The island is two miles long and II mile wide. The anchorage
s on the N. W. side.
~ Capt Pierce reports that the bark Emerald touched on
between Natividad Island aud Point Eugenia, on the coast
OF Lower California, on the evening of the 9th January, while
working up TO anchor under the island, but came od without any
material damage. This reef lies about East by compass from
Seal Rock, one mile distant, and breaks heavily. In very me
it breaks only at long intervals. That the passage be-
tween the island and point Is very unsafe in the night does nt
to be generally known. I have convcrsed with several
in regard to this passage, all Of whom supposed II TO be
a deep water channel. The Minerva passed through az IL r
wholly unaware Of danger until boarded by. US The tides
run very strong, perhaps five knots, at full and change. Tho
vicinity Is good whaling ground, but vessels should be cautious
OF the tides and reefs referred to.
RgPoRr or WHALEsHrP JEFFERSON. CAPT. II. .. Hrsrrse-
Took in sail, Nov. IA, 1868, Ia lat So 10 s., long. lebe 20
Saw but few whales, and they very Wild. Took 2 whales this
month. In December, the weather exceedingly bad and no
whales to be seen, the month endinga as IL began January, 1852,
the weather pleasant for the first part; took three whales this
month, which averaged 100 bbls each. In February, up 70 the
n very great show Of sperm whales. lat. AS g., long. 16se
20 W. Put away for the Marquesas Islands on the 18th; had
contrary winds most OF the passage. When In lat 81 10s,
long. 1863 10 W., CAUGHT q goncy. with . lcafhern tag attaches.
rearing the following inscription Bark S1Ppho, bound south,
lat. 34c ~ g., long. So IS w., january n, 1862 This bsd
have flown the distance between the two ships IN ~ dsys,
As we caught him on the 10th February Arrived at Nagdsiena
Bay on the 17th Of March, Took N wood and water, ana called
IN the 18th for Sandwich Islandn Had fresh trade winds unit!
We sighted toe islands, 7h - since which time have bad
light winds.