"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [و‎‎٣‎٢] (٧٢٢/٦٨)

of Great Ashurada, a wooden pier lias been constructed, alongside which
small crafts and cutters can lie with ease.
On the Ghaz shore there are no landing places at all; and communication
with this part of the coast is therefore unfavourable, both from the sticky
mud of which the bottom is composed, and from the shelving nature of the
shore, which does not permit of even small craft approaching it closely.
bishing in the Astarabad Bay, as well as in all other Persian waters,
is farmed out to Armenians. The most common fish are the white dolphin
and sturgeon of two species.
It is possible to coast along the whole of the southern shore of the
Caspian, hugging the land the whole way. From the light ship the course
is west and by south for 4)6 miles, the depth being from 20 to 40 feet. The
village of Farakhabad can be recognized by a tower of defence situated on
the shore. From Farakhabad to Mashhad-i-Sar, course S. W. 75°,* distance
22^ miles, depth of water from 50 to 55 feet; from Mashhad-i-Sar
to the Chapkal roadstead, course N. W. 75°, distance 124 miles.
From Safid Rud to Enzeli the course is along the shore N. W. 82°, dis
tance 36 miles; the depth rapidly increases in proportion to distance from the
shore. From Enzeli to Astara, course N. W. 25°, distance 63 miles. From
Enzeli to the^western extremity of Nargm the course is N. W. 7 W , distance
170 miles. Following the same course, and passing the Baku group of
islands, a greater or less depth of water will indicate any deviation of the
course to east or west. Above the latitude of the Kura rocks the remarkable
depth of 18 fathoms is met with with a rocky bottom, which shows a slight
deviation of the course to the west. If this deviation should be considerable,
the abovementioned deep water will be left to the.east, and then it will be
necessary to be on the look-out for the Kura bank and St. Ignatius. In case
of doubt, or when encountering strong easterly winds, it is best to make for
the Kura rock, and, having determined its position, continue the course
according to circumstances. From Enzeli to Apsheron the course is N. W. 15°,
and the distance to the latitude of the Shakhof sandspitis 171 miles. Off the
island of Los the depth of water in the course is about 35 fathoms, and, as
the Shahkof sandspit is approached, the depth gradually decreases to 9 or 10
fathoms. From the Ashurada light ship to Astara the course is N. W.
704°, and the distance 268 miles ; to the Kura rock, N. W. 61 distance
254 miles ; to the north-west bank, N. W. 57|°, distance 263 miles, leaving
the Kura bank 5 miles to the north, and passing its meridian in a depth of
about 25 fathoms, from which spot to the north-east bank is 12 miles. If
the depth on the meridian of the Kura bank should be less than the above,
it indicates either that the course has deviated to the north or that the ship
is near the shore. As, however, the sea between the Kura bank and the Kura
rock is quite free from any danger from hidden rocks, it is best to keep
some few degrees lower so as to pass near the Kura rock; and, when the
shore is seen, to change the course as much as may be necessary to the north.
The course from the Ashurada light ship to Baku is N. W. 44°, and the
distance to the island of Nargin, directly on which the course lies, is 27 8
miles. The bank of Makarof, 9 feet high, is left 4| miles to the west. As
soon as a ship passes the latitude of this bank, the Baku towns of Ushi and
Apsheron are sighted, on which the course can always be directed. The
course to Apsheron is N. W. 41°, and the distance to the sandspit of
Shahkof about 260 miles.
Lastly, if it is desired to go from the Ashurada light ship to the eastern
side of the napthian rocks, a course N. W. 36° must be held. As the
latitude of these rocks is approached, it is necessary to cast the lead and to
* Russian compass measurement, which is taken from the first point given in the directioa
•f the second: thus, S. W. 75° means 75° measured from south towards west.