The Irish Coast Pilot

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. EAST AND NORTH COASTS OF IRELAND.--BELFAST LOUGH TO MALIN HEAD. Variation in 1893. Belfast 20 30-W., Inishtrahull island 22 5-W., decressing about 9 minutes annually. BELFAST LOUGH.--Immediately on rounding Copeland islands, Belfast lough opens into view. Its entrance, between Orlock point on the south, and Black head on the north, is 6 miles wide, and from the entrance to the banks, fronting the head of the lough, it is about 10 miles deep, with moderate depths of water and good holding ground throughout. Being easy of access, and with moderate caution free from danger, it affords an excellent port of refuge to vessels navigating the Irish channel. Even in the event of a vessel running in dismasted, and without anchors and cables, she might with confidence run on the banks at the head of the lough, where she would make a dock for herself, and remain in safety until tine weather. The shores of the lough are backed by ranges of lofty hills. Helen-s tower, crowning the summit of a hill in Lord Dufferin-s demesne on the south side of the harbour, is conspicuous from seaward. Divis mountain, at the head of the lough, attains an elevation of l,560 feet, and Cave hill, in the same direction, is remarkable from its jagged outline and precipitous summit. Depth Of water.--The depths throughout the lough are moderate, shoaling gradually inwards, from 10 fathoms at the entrance to 6 fathoms abreast Grey point, decreasing to 3Jj and 4 fathoms abreast No. 1 pile lighthouse. When Cultra mill stump comes in line with Cultra house, not more than 3 fathoms will be found in mid-channel, and when the mill stump is in line with Farm Hill, not more than 12 or 13 feet close outside Oyster bank. See Admiralty plan: --Belfast lough, ...