Hunt's Merchants' Magazine

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.

THE following is a copy of a letter addressed to the editor of the "European Times," by John Longmuier, master of the bark Cape Horn, of Glasgow. It contains information of sufficient importance to mariners, to entitle it to a place in the "Nautical Intelligence" of this Journal:

"On Monday, November 16th, 1846, at 8 P. M., we made the Evangelists, bearing N. N. E. five miles, wind W. and tolerably clear; at midnight, Cape Pillar bore S. S. W. three miles, and by keeping the starboard shore on board, strangers will find no difficulty in finding Long Reach. On Tuesday, 17th, at noon, we entered Crooked Reach; at 10 P. M., were off Port Famine, which is a safe anchorage ground, and where there is a Chilian settlement, at which refreshments can be easily procured. On Wednesday, 18th, at 4 30 P. M., came to anchor in Gregory's Bay, in fifteen fathoms, good holding ground. On Thursday, 19th, at 3 30 A. M., got under weigh; at 7 30 A. M., entered the First Narrows, with a strong flood-tide against us, which we found no difficulty in stemming. At 2 P. M., we were clear of the Straits; at 6 P. M., we rounded Dungeness; and, after the experience of four voyages round Cape Horn, in September, 1843, August, 1844, August, 1845, and the present voyage, I must say, that the wear and tear, owing to the bad weather we encountered, with heavy cross sea, so prevalent between the W. entrance to the Straits and Cape Horn, contrasted with the passage through the Straits from the W. coast, is, in my opinion, not to be compared; and, had I another passage to make at the same season of the year, or in the winter season, with moonlight, I would take the Straits for my passage. The risk of life and property, and the wear and tear in the one, are not to be compared with the other."

WRECK NEAR THE FIVE FATHOM CHANNEL.

A green buoy, marked with the word "Wreck," has been placed W. N. W. of a sunken smack, on the edge of the Cant, in the track of shipping proceeding to and from the Five Fathom Channel. The buoy lies in four fathoms, at low water spring tides, with the following marks and compass bearings, viz: the highest windmill at Mile Town, in line with the windmill near the beach, W. by S.; the Southernmost beacon on the Isle of Grain, its apparent length open S. of the other beacon on the beach, W. N.; Nore light-vessei N. W.; Minster Church, S. W. W.; Garrison Point at Sheerness, W.

BUOY ON THE SALT SCAR, OFF REDCAR.

A black buoy has been placed, to mark the extremity of the Eastern projection of the Salt Scar rocks, off Redcar, in the North Riding of the county of York. The said buoy lies in six and a half fathoms, at low water spring tides, and with the following marks and compass bearings, viz: Seaton high light-house, N. W.; Redcar mill, and the tower on Easton Nab in line, S. W. by W.; Marsk Church, S. W.; Hartlepool pier light-house, N. N. W. W.

WRECK IN THE SHIPWAY.

A green buoy, marked with the word "Wreck," has been placed about eighteen fathoms E. N. E. of a vessel sunk in the track of shipping passing through the Shipway. The buoy lies in nine fathoms, at low water spring tides, with the following compass bearings, viz: S. W. buoy of the Shipwash, (distant about one mile and three-quarters,) S. S. W.; Shipwash light-vessel, N. E.; Baudsey Church, N. N. W.

PORT OF GENOA LIGHT.

Official notice has been given, that a red light has been placed on a sunken caisson, about six hundred and fifty yards off the sunken Mole Head. The light stands thirty-three feet above the sea, and may be seen at the distance of a mile.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1846.

WE are indebted to the Hon. B. B. FRENCH, Clerk of the House of Representatives, for
the annual report from the Register of the Treasury, relative to the Commerce and Navi-
gation between the United States and Foreign Countries, for the year ending June 30th,
1846; and proceed to lay before the readers of the Merchants' Magazine, our usual con-
densation of its tabular statements. This report was laid before Congress on the 5th De-
cember, 1846, more than five months after the expiration of the fiscal year; and its printing
has occupied nearly five months longer; so that ten months are suffered to elapse before
the statements for the year ending June 30th, 1846, are made public—a circumstance which
greatly injures the value of a document so important to the industrial and commercial
interests of the country. The only remedy for this evil, we have pointed out in former
years. It is, for Congress to pass a law authorizing the printing of the usual number of
the document, as soon as it is made up by the Register of the Treasury; so that at the
meeting of Congress, in December of each year, it would be ready for the use of mem-
bers of Congress, as well as general distribution among their constituents.*

DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Summary Statement of the Value of the Exports of the Growth, Produce, and Manu-
facture of the United States, during the year commencing on the 1st day
of July, 1845, and ending on the 30th day of June, 1846.