Supplies.-Gasoline and provisions can usually be obtained near most of the steamer landings. No other supplies are obtainable. Directions. For directions for Eggemoggin Reach see pages 43 and 51.

DEER ISLAND THOROFARE

(chart 309) is a narrow passage leading along the south side of Deer Isle, between it and the numerous islands southward. It joins Jericho Bay on the east and Penobscot Bay on the west and forms one of the chain of inland passages. It is used by the passenger vessels between Rockland and points eastward, and by many other vessels and small craft bound through the inland passages. It has a least width of 150 yards in several places and a least depth of 15 feet (4.6 m.) in a dredged channel 300 feet wide through the bar between Moose and Crotch Islands. It is used by vessels up to 16 feet (4.9 m.) draft, but there are unmarked rocks with 9 to 14 feet (2.7 to 4.3 m.) close to the channel, and local knowledge is necessary to carry through a greater draft than 9 feet (2.7 m.) at low water The dangers for vessels of this draft are marked, and the channel easily followed in the daytime and with clear weather.

Southeast Harbor lies northwestward of the eastern end of the thorofare, between Stinson Neck on the east and Whitmore Neck on the west. It is an excellent anchorage for vessels using the thorofare. The entrance is easily distinguished and the principal dangers are marked by buoys.

Oceanville is a post village on the south side of Southeast Harbor. There is a cannery here and a wharf with little depth. South Deer Isle is a village at the head; it has a wharf with a reported depth of about 6 feet (1.8 m.) at high water.

To enter Southeast Harbor, enter Deer Island Thorofare southward of Long Ledge tripod, between a red and a black buoy, steer 264° true (W. by N. mag.) and pass 100 yards southward of Lazygut Ledge red buoy. When 400 yards westward of this buoy, steer 298° true (NW. mag.), and pass about 350 yards northeastward of Boat Rock horizontally striped buoy and buoy No. 1; select anchorage northeastward of Whaleback, taking care to avoid the rock with 11 feet (3.4 m.) over it. From westward in Deer Island Thorofare, pass between Haycock Rock spindle and Sheldrake Rock, and from a position 250 yards eastward of the latter a 328° true (N. by W. 1/4 W. mag.) course leads into the harbor.

Webb Cove, on the north side of Deer Island Thorofare, has rocks in the entrance, but there is good anchorage inside in 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m.). The best water favors the west side of the entrance. There is a quarry on the cove and a wharf with a reported depth of about 8 feet (2.4 m.).

Stonington is a town on the north shore of Deer Island Thorofare. It has steamer communication with Rockland and Bar Harbor and intermediate points, and is the headquarters for the large granite quarries on the adjacent islands. The steamboat wharf has a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m.), but there is a ledge off the wharf, marked by private buoys. The other wharves have less depths. Gasoline, provisions, and some ship chandlery are obtainable. There are telephone and telegraph connections with the mainland.

A towboat engaged in towing rock barges from the quarries is stationed at Stonington and is available at times.

Prominent objects. At the eastern entrance the most prominent object is Long Ledge tripod beacon. Shabby Island is marked by a few trees. At the western entrance Mark Island (wooded on top) with Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse (white tower attached to dwelling) are the most prominent marks. There is an unused quarry on the north side of Crotch Island and an active quarry on Thurlow Head. A large standpipe (painted red) and a high brick chimney are prominent in approaching Stonington from the westward.

Anchorage. The best anchorage for vessels bound through the thorofare and overtaken by night or bad weather is Southeast Harbor. When overtaken by fog, they may anchor anywhere near the channel where the bottom is soft and depth suitable. Many small vessels anchor on the north side of the channel abreast Stonington, the generally used anchorage being between the steamer wharf and the red buoy 3 mile eastward.

Ice closes the thorofare and Southeast Harbor for about one month each winter.

Tides. The mean rise and fall of tides at Stonington is 10 feet (3.0 m.).

Currents.-The tidal currents follow the general direction of the channel and are not strong. The direction of the currents is influenced by the wind; with strong easterly winds both the flood and ebb set westward, and with westerly winds they set eastward. When not influenced by the wind the flood sets eastward and the ebb westward, and continues to run about 3/4 hour after high and low

waters.

Directions. For directions through Deer Island Thorofare see pages 42 and 50.

MERCHANT ROW

This passage (Chart 309), leading from Jericho Bay to East Penobscot Bay and passing between the islands and ledges lying between Deer Island and Isle au Haut, is used by vessels in the winter, when Deer Island Thorofare is closed by ice, and by deepdraft vessels at all times. It is not quite so direct as Deer Island Thorofare, but the channel is wider, and is good for a depth of 26 feet (7.9 m.). There are numerous ledges and rocks on both sides of this passage, but the principal ones are marked by buoys_or spindles, and the channel can be readily followed in clear weather and daylight.

Directions for Merchant Row from eastward are given on page 43. Deep-draft vessels can enter through the passage between Marshall and Swan Islands and Jericho Bay, as directed on page 117. Directions for entering Merchant Row from southwestward in Isle au Haut Bay are given on page 132.

Halibut Rocks, in Jericho Bay eastward of the entrance, are two rocks, the northerly one marked by a red slatted beacon. There is a black bell buoy northward of the rocks.

West Halibut Rock, 1 mile westward of Halibut Rocks, has 2 feet (0.6 m.) over it and is marked by a horizontally striped buoy. A rock with 9 feet (2.7 m.) over it lies 400 yards northeastward of the

buoy. A local magnetic attraction is reported on the broken ground 1/2 mile east-northeastward of Southern Mark Island.

Southern Mark Island is about 30 feet (9.1 m.) high and grassy. Southern Mark Island Ledge, 3⁄4 mile northward, has a rock bare at high water.

Colby Ledge is bare at half tide and marked by a spindle. A ledge with 15 feet (4.6 m.) over it lies 300 yards southward of the spindle.

Barter Island Ledges are partly bare at high water and marked by a spindle.

Ewe Island is a prominent, round, thickly wooded islet, 3⁄4 mile northwestward of Merchant Island.

Farrel and Scraggy Islands are wooded; there are several bare rocks off the south side of Scraggy Island. Sparrow Island is grass covered. The islands and rocks southward and westward are described on page 128.

Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse, a white tower connected with dwelling on the north side at the entrance, is the most prominent mark entering from westward.

FOX ISLANDS THOROFARE

This thorofare (Chart 311a), leading from East Penobscot Bay to West Penobscot Bay, between North Haven and Vinalhaven Islands, is one of the chain of inshore passages commencing at Bass Harbor and ending at Whitehead. It is about 7 miles long, and the channel, with a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m.) or more, has a least width of about 150 yards in several places; the principal dangers are marked by buoys and spindles, which can be easily followed in the daytime with clear weather. The least depth in the channel is 19 feet (5.8 m.), but the thorofare is seldom used by vessels of over 14 feet (4.3 m.) draft at low water. The main channel has been examined by means of a wire drag.

Carver Cove, in the south shore of the thorofare, near its eastern end, is a secure anchorage, easy of access, and convenient for vessels windbound in East Penobscot Bay or passing through the thorofares. The anchorage is about 1/2 mile from the head of the cove and 197° true (SW. by S. mag.) from the hospital on Widow Island, in 16 to 20 feet (4.9 to 6.1 m.), good holding ground. The entrance on either side of Widow Island is clear, if the shores be given a berth of about 200 yards; but the point on the south side, at the eastern entrance of the cove, must be given a berth of over 300 yards.

Kent Cove, in the north shore of the thorofare, north of Widow Island, is a secure anchorage, with 15 to 24 feet (4.6 to 7.3 m.) good holding ground. Goose Rocks Lighthouse is the prominent guide for entering either in the daytime or at night, the entrance being westward of the lighthouse. Kent Ledge, the only outlying danger, has 5 feet (1.5 m.) over it and lies 1/4 mile northeastward of Fish Point Ledge red buoy, and the same distance from the northwest shore of the cove.

Waterman Cove makes into the north shore west of Kent Cove; it is a good anchorage for small vessels, the water shoaling gradually from 18 feet (5.5 m.) at the entrance to 5 feet (1.5 m.) near its head, where a narrow channel leads into a shallow cove called the Cubby

Hole. Waterman Ledge, with 4 feet (1.2 m.) over it and marked. by a red buoy, lies in the mouth of the cove 4 mile from the western shore. The better entrance is between the buoy and Fish Point Ledge. Fish Point Ledge, partly bare at half tide and marked at its southeast end by a red buoy, lies 400 to 600 yards southeastward of Fish Point, with foul ground between.

Seal Cove is a large arm extending 111⁄2 miles southward from Fox Islands Thorofare southeastward of the village of North Haven. Large areas in the cove have depths of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m.), bottom soft in places. Good anchorage can be selected in the channel of the thorofare between the entrance of Seal Cove and the western end of the village of North Haven, in 4 to 6 fathoms (7.3 to 11.0 m.), soft bottom.

Perry Cove is a long, narrow arm making westward on the west shore of Seal Cove; it is of no importance as an anchorage and should be avoided by strangers.

Southern Harbor makes northeastward between the Dumpling Islands and Amesbury Point, near the western end of the thorofare. It has good anchorage in 19 to 22 feet (5.8 to 6.7 m.), soft bottom, in the middle of the harbor; the water shoals gradually toward its head.

In the western entrance of Fox Islands Thorofare there is good anchorage for vessels of any draft westward or northward of Sugarloaves, and between Crabtree Point Ledge and Amesbury Point, in 5 to 7 fathoms (9.1 to 12.8 m.), soft bottom.

North Haven is a village on the north shore of Deer Island Thorofare. It has steamer communication with Rockland, Bar Harbor, and other villages. The steamer wharf has a depth of about 11 feet (3.4 m.) and the other wharves less. Gasoline and provisions are obtainable. Small craft anchor on the north side of the channel, taking care to leave a clear channel to the steamer wharf. Two ledges off the town, both marked by buoys, must be avoided. There is telegraph and telephone communication with the mainland.

Prominent objects.-Channel Rock tripod, at the eastern entrance, is a prominent mark. Widow Island is marked by a large brick building formerly used as a hospital, and is easily distinguished. Goose Rocks Lighthouse (white conical tower on black base) is on the north side of the channel, north of Widow Island; it is the guide for the eastern entrance of the thorofare and for the anchorage in Kent Cove. Browns Head Lighthouse (white cylindrical tower connected with dwelling) marks the entrance to the thorofare from westward. Sugarloaves are a ledge of prominent high rocks lying 600 yards northwestward of Browns Head Lighthouse. Fiddler Ledge beacon (gray stone), lying 1% miles westward of Browns Head Lighthouse, is a prominent mark when approaching from westward. Drunkard Ledge spindle is 11⁄2 mile westward of the beacon. Broken ground, which should be avoided by vessels, extends 1/4 mile southward of the line joining the beacon and spindle. A large standpipe just back of North Haven shows up prominently in approaching from either direction. The thorofare is often closed by ice in the winter season.

34370°-27-9

Tidal currents.-The currents are not strong; they meet at Iron Point, in the middle of the thorofare, the flood setting in from both ends and the ebb setting out. The mean rise and fall of tides is about 912 feet (2.8 m.).

Directions. For directions through Fox Island Thorofare see pages 44 and 50.

PENOBSCOT BAY

(charts 309, 310, and 311) is the largest and most important of the many indentations on the coast of Maine. It is about 20 miles wide from Isle au Haut on the east to Whitehead on the west, and is 28 miles long from its entrance to the mouth of the Penobscot River. A chain of large and small islands divides it into two parts known as East and West Penobscot Bays; the southern part of East Penobscot Bay is known as Isle au Haut Bay. Numerous harbors indent its shores, those of the most importance being Rockland, Rockport, Camden, and Belfast on the western shore, and Castine on the eastern. The bay is the approach to Penobscot River, which has several towns, and the city of Bangor at the head.

The sea approaches to the bay are well marked by the lighthouses on Monhegan Island and Matinicus Rock, and the entrances by Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse on the east and Whitehead and Twobush Island Lighthouses on the west sides of the bay. The harbors are well lighted and the more important dangers are indicated by buoys or beacons. A number of coasting and a few foreign vessels enter the bay, especially in summer. In winter many of the harbors are obstructed by ice, and the Penobscot River is sometimes entirely closed by it. The thorofares are only occasionally obstructed by ice and are much used by vessels bound along the coast.

Penobscot Bay is a region of rocks and ledges, and extreme caution is necessary in navigating. It can be entered from eastward through Eggemoggin Reach, Deer Island Thorofare, or Merchant Row, and from westward through Muscle Ridge channel or Twobush Channel. The main channel through these thorofares and the main part of both East and West Penobscot Bay, from a line joining Isle au Haut and Matinicus Islands northward to the entrances of Penobscot River and Belfast Harbor have been examined by means of a wire drag.

Pilots.-Pilotage is not compulsory for vessels entering Penobscot Bay, and vessels seldom take pilots. There are no regular licensed pilots, but local fishermen are competent pilots for the tributaries or the inside passages, and can usually be obtained from boats at work near the entrances or from the towns in the vicinity. Pilots for the inside passages between Bass Harbor Bar and Rockland can usually be obtained from Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, or Rockland.

Towboats.-There are towboats at Rockland and Bangor.

Supplies. Gasoline and provisions are obtainable at all of the towns and villages; and coal, water, and ship chandlery at Rockland and Bangor, and usually in limited quantities at Camden, Belfast, Bucksport, and Winterport. Matinicus and Criehaven are the only places on the islands off the entrance to Penobscot Bay where gasoline and provisions can be obtained.