478

LYNGHOLMHAVN-ELTRAVAAG.

Lyngholmhavn, in Bömmelfiord, 2 miles northward of Ryvarden, between Lyngholm and the mainland, has a depth of 4 to 5 fathoms, over good holding ground, but westerly gales send in considerable swell. Skarveskjærflu, 200 yards northeastward of Lyngholm and 100 yards eastward of Skarveskjær, has a depth of 6 feet, and is marked by an iron pole; Likholm, a rock in the northern entrance, has an iron pillar on it. Tassoflu, about 100 yards southwest of Likholm, is marked by an iron pole.

Light. On the southwest extreme of Kjeholm an occulting light, with white, red, and green sectors, is exhibited, at an elevation of 40 feet, from a small iron house. The sectors are visible 7, 4, and 3 miles, respectively.

Eltravaag, 1 mile northeastward of Lyngholm, is open to the northward. Haukaasflu, a shoal almost awash lying nearly in the middle of the entrance, is marked by an iron pole.

Pilots are stationed at Mönstrevaag and Lyngholmhavn.

CHAPTER X.

BÖMMELFIORD TO KORSFIORD.

INNER LEAD, SOUTHERN APPROACHES TO BERGEN.

General remarks. In order to preserve the connection between the various channels as much as possible, it is necessary to follow the Inner Lead as far as Selbjörnsfiord before proceeding with the description of the coast.

Bergen Lead.-The term "Bergen Led," "Lead," or "Channel" really comprises all the channels leading to Bergen from the southward; but, as a rule, it is only applied to Bömmelfiord and the channels usually taken by the coasting steam vessels when proceeding from thence to Bergen. The passage generally taken by the pilots, from Bömmelfiord through Stocksund and Nyleden to Selbjörnsfiord, and from thence through Bekkervigsund to Korsfiord, is very narrow in places, so that the Langenuen route, though longer by about 3 miles, is far more convenient for vessels of war or other large steamers and sailing vessels.

Only vessels of light draft, and under able management, should attempt to turn through the Bergen Leads, as the channels are for the most part narrow, and the tidal streams are strong.

At night, the Leads above mentioned may be considered safe for steam vessels, and for sailing vessels with a fair wind, provided the weather is clear, and strict attention is paid to the leading lights.

Pilots may always be obtained before entering the Inner Lead, and strangers should employ them.

Tides. See page 458.

Bömmelfiord (Bömmelen), between Bömmelö and the mainland to the southward, is a broad deep channel, free from dangers within the entrance. Mosterhavn is about 10 miles above the entrance, from whence vessels may either proceed northward through Stoksund and Nyleden, or eastward to Langenuen and the inner fiords.

The entrance is fronted by islets and sunken rocks to a distance of about 5 miles. Those southward of the Rödholmene have been mentioned with the outlying islands to the southward. There is no difficulty in avoiding them.

Gunnarskjærhallet is the name given to the entrance from the northward, which lies between the Rödholmene on the southern

480

LILLE BLEGEN-DIRECTIONS.

side, and Gunnarskjær and other islets and rocks off the southwest extreme of Bömmelö; it is about 1,200 yards in width, and has a depth of 93 fathoms in mid-channel.

The Gunnarskjær, two rocks above water, are the southernmost dangers on the north side of the fairway; a rock covered with 9 feet water lies nearly 200 yards southeastward of the eastern rock. Skotabo, a rock at a depth of 6 feet, lies nearly 200 yards northward of the eastern Rödholm. The channel is clear between these.

Lights.-A light is exhibited on Ryvarden, south side of approach to Bömmelfiord; at Lyngholm, 2 miles northward of Ryvarden. For lights in the fiord, see below.

Lille Blegen. An occulting light, with white and red sectors, is exhibited from a small white iron tower on Lille Blegen, a small islet in the entrance to Langevaag, at an elevation of 17 feet above high water. The light is obscured in the fairway by Store Blegen from 252° to 258°. The white light is visible in clear weather at a distance of 7 miles, red light at 4 miles. Shown from July 15 to May 15.

Napholm. A group occulting light, with white and red sectors, visible 7 and 4 miles, respectively, is exhibited from a small iron house on Napholm. It is shown from July 15 to May 15.

Directions for Bömmelfiord-Bergen Lead.-There is no difficulty in entering Bömmelfiord from seaward by Gunnarskjærhallet, the northern channel. Steer in with the Rödholmene bearing about 99°, and pass midway between them and Gunnarskjær, thence in the fairway of the fiord to Stoksund, or Langenuen, the channels to Bergen.

Approaching from the southwestward. Coming from seaward, having given Sveaskjær a wide berth, steer in about 1 mile northward of the Rovar group, observing that Haavaasen open southward of the Ramsholmene, bearing 62°, leads southward of Gaaseskallen, a patch of 4 fathoms. Passing between the Ramsholmene and the mainland, Sörhaugö Lighthouse in sight, leads westward of Smörsundbo; thence keep westward of the pole on Lille Bloksten, and into Bömmelfiord. There is also a channel westward of the Ramsholmene.

At night, the southern entrance is available with local knowledge. Having passed northward of the Rovær group, in the arc of white light from Roværholm, steer to the eastward across the red sector of that light, and when it changes to white on the bearing of 230° bring it astern on that bearing, which leads southeastward of the Ramsholmene, on the western side of the passage. Ryvarden white light (as also Sörhaugö fixed white light in sight, bearing about 176°) will keep a vessel westward of Smörsundbo, on the eastern side of the channel. The northern limit of this seaward sector of Ryvarden white light will keep a vessel seaward of Lille Bloksten. If intending

ANCHORAGES-ÖKLANDSVAAG.

481

to pass eastward of Lille Bloksten, the white sector of Lyngholm Light leads inshore of this rock, and also of Store Bloksten, and the fixed white sector of Ryvarden Light leads westward of Haaskru. When past the Blokstenene, course may be shaped northeastward through the fairway of Bömmelfiord. Directions from Haugesund and Vestre Karmsund, see Inner Lead above.

Shoal. A shoal with 6 fathoms over it exists in the fairway, 1,200 yards southwestward of Napholm.

Tides. The stream, during the flood, sets in direct from seaward through Bömmelfiord, and that during the ebb runs out; but here also the tides are affected by the prevailing winds.

Anchorages in Bömmelfiord.-The harbors in Bömmelfiord are, generally speaking, only available for vessels of moderate draft, but there are places where heavier vessels might find temporary anchorage. South side. Buavaag, about 5 miles northeastward of Ryvarden, on the east side of Kvitanes, south side of the fiord, has anchorage for very small vessels in a depth of 4 fathoms. Östre and Vestre Buavaagflu at the entrance to the anchorage are each marked by an iron pole. There is also anchorage for small craft eastward of Risö, threequarters of a mile northward of Kvitanes.

Tjernagel, nearly three-quarters of a mile northeastward of Tjernagel Höien, has good anchorage for small craft on the west side. of the islets within the bight, in depths of 3 to 7 fathoms, but is exposed to the northward. Vessels of moderate draft might bring up for a time in fine weather to the southward and westward of the outer islet; the depth here is 8 to 16 fathoms, but increases rapidly to the eastward and westward. Care must be taken to drop the anchor on the off side of the bank, and hawsers must be laid out to the shore rings to secure the vessel against a shift of wind.

Öklandsvaag, 11⁄2 miles eastward of Tjernagel, is a snug harbor for small craft and has a depth of 6 fathoms.

The bight to the westward of Öklandsvaag affords temporary anchorage in a depth of 5 fathoms.

Eastward of Storholm, there is a good harbor with an area of about 5 acres, and a depth of 5 to 12 fathoms. Vessels of moderate draft might lie here in safety, but they should be steadied by hawsers made fast to the rings on shore.

To make the south entrance, vessels may pass on either side of the small islet lying halfway between Storholm and Liarskjær; the latter rock is foul to a distance of 140 yards. A rock with 6 feet water over it lies at the distance of 100 yards off the southeast end of Storholm. A shoal spit extends 140 yards northward of the rock off the northwest side of Storholm, and foul ground extends nearly halfway across the north entrance from the point on the east side. Storholmflu is marked by an iron pole with ball.

482

HELLEVAAG-LANGEVAAG.

Hellevaag, a small creek three-quarters of a mile eastward of Storholm, has a depth of 4 fathoms, but is barely 100 yards in breadth. Fördespollen extends 3 miles inland from Grimsholm and Lillenab and has several bights where small craft might anchor.

Strömövaag, on the east side of Lillenab, affords anchorage for small vessels in a depth of 8 fathoms, but hawsers must be laid out to the shore if the wind is northerly, as the ground declines to the southward.

Midvikholm.- With the wind westerly, or when drifting in a calm, a stream anchor might be dropped in a depth of 10 fathoms, shoaling to 5 fathoms, on the northern side of the point about the middle of the east side of Midvikholm.

Valevaag. Small vessels may anchor in a depth of 6 fathoms due west from the merchant's house in Valevaag, the bight northward of Valestrand Church. A shoal extends from Nabbenes nearly halfway across the entrance, and the channel leading to the inner bight is narrow and foul; a rock in the inner channel is marked by an iron pole.

North side Bömmelhavn, a narrow cove 2 miles from Bömmelhuk, is the first harbor on the north side of Bömmelfiord; it has a depth of 6 to 10 fathoms over clay, and might be used by vessels of moderate size, but they would have to be steadied by hawsers made fast to the shore rings. Vessels must keep close to the land on the west side when entering or leaving the harbor. Havneholm may be passed on either side at a prudent distance.

Langevaag. The entrance to Langevaag, on the southeast side of Bömmelö, is marked by the lighthouse on Lille Blegen. Southward of Rundö, the island on the northwest side of the entrance, there is a good harbor, with an area of about 9 acres, where vessels of moderate draft may anchor in 12 fathoms water, and moor with hawsers made fast to the rings on shore. The inner anchorage has a depth of 11 fathoms shoaling to 6 fathoms, but a ledge extends from the south point of Rundö more than halfway across the entrance, in which the depth is 3 fathoms.

Shoals extend about 100 yards offshore to the southward of Uretangen; Uretangflu, covered with 2 feet water, extending about 70 yards northward of Uretangen, as well as the rocks on either side of the entrance southward of Lille Blegen, are marked by iron poles.

Directions. If coming from the southward, give the land southward of Uretangen a berth of about 600 yards; Store Blegen may be passed on either side at a distance of 100 yards; the entrance between Lille Blegen and Rundö is clear.

At night.-Lille Blegen Light bearing 293° will lead between Uretangen and Store Blegen. If coming from the eastward, bring the light to bear 215° and steer for it, proceeding in mid-channel