An island, Pientansha, has formed to the south of Tsungming below the concave bank mentioned above, where only a sand bank that dried at low water existed in 1861. This bank was two or three feet above water, covered with grass and reeds, in 1880. Now it is a fertile island, and the channel between it and Tsungming is gradually closing at the—end as before stated. Ib will be seen by De Rijke's report that he feared the current through this channel would make it bad for the Huangpu by the concave bank forming on Tsungming, below what is now Pientansha, and forcing the current over to the north and eastward of Bush Island, and thereby filling up the present ship channel at the entrance of the Huangpu. This he considered was the worst that could hay pen for the Huangpu and happily this is not taking place, owing doubtless to the fact that the concave bank above Pientausha is forcing the current over to the right bank from there; the growing of Pientansba* and the banks above it; the filling up of the channel be-from making its way down as strongly as tween and thereby preventing the current
it used to do on to the concave bank below Pientansha; the extending of the shoals to the south of Pientansba over towards the right bank. These shoals have extended about 9 cables: since 1861; have forced the channel over to the right bank. Consequently the Blonde Shoal and the shoals that extend out along the right bank to Woosung are gradually washing away and making the channel to Woosung better and wider than has been known before. These changes have all become more marked since De Ryke's report. The Blondo Shoal, 9 to 13 miles up from Woosung, with one foot of water over it at low water, extended out from south bank 17} cables in 1861. Now it is 13 cables to the 5-fathom line.
At the Clump, 5] miles up from Woosung, the shoal extended out 7 cables in 1861, 9 cables in 1880, Now it is 7 cables to the 5-fathom line. The channel here was 8 cables wide in 1861. 11 cables in 1880, and 13 cables now between the 5- fathom lines. At Poshan Paint 1} miles above Woosung the shoal extended out 9 cables in 1863, 5$ cables in 1880, and now 3 cables to the 5-fathom line. The channel here was 94 cables wide in 1861, 8 cables in 1880, and 16 cables now between the 5-fathom lines. On a line Northeast over the Woosung spit Buoy from the Light House, the shoal extended out 18 cables in 1861, 18 cables in 1880, and 12 cables now to the 5-fathom line. The channel was 8 cables wide in 1861, 6 cables in 1880, and 14 cables now between the 5-fathom lines. It must be noticed from the above that the channel immediately above Woosung, for at least 14 miles, wag at itn worst in 1880, just after De Rijke's report; and is at its hest now. The turning point into the North Channel above the shoals at the north-west end of Buch Island was 94 cables in 1861, 66 cables in 1880, 55 cables up from Woosung now. The water in the channel at what we will call the North Channel crossing
in 1880, and 16 fest now; the channel was at its best in 1880, and at its worst now. The north-west end of Bush Island was 55 cables from Woosung Spit Buoy (position)in 1861 (ud almost abreast of Clump); it was 45 cables in 1880, and is 28 cables now. The island is no longer called Bush Island, but Taungpaosha, the former having nearly all washed away, though Tsungpaosha now is where De Rijke's proposed new channel should go where there was a channel then called Mildle Channel. It will be seen from the above that Bush Island is gone; that Tsungpaosha will follow; that the entrance to North! Channel is getting nearer to Woosung; that the shoals from Tsungming are coming" down river; that the shauls along the right bank sre washing away; that Tsungpaosha is washing away on its south-west side; that it will not be long before this dividing of the water will soon be below the entrance of the Huangpu—the greatest gond that could happen according to De Rijke'stheory. He thought there was no hope thas Bush Island would shift to below the entrance of the Huang; u so as to bring that river in direct connection with the main or North Channel. Yet nature is doing that and all else that is requisite to ensure a clear channel to the entr: nce of the Huangpu. And were De Wijke called upon to day to give s report the Estuary of the Yangtze he would probably and more than likely say, it can safely be let alone."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.