The shore is broken by the following unimportant coves, named from eastward with their distances in miles from West Quoddy Head Lighthouse: Carrying Place Cove, 114; Wallace Cove, 134; Hamilton Cove, 3; Julia Cove, 34; Boot Cove, 4; Baileys Mistake, 52; Haycock Harbor, 64; Sandy Cove, 62; Moose Cove, 734; Bog Brook, 92; Black Point Cove, 1134; Long Point Cove, 1214; and Schooner Brook, 1334. The largest of these are Baileys Mistake and Moose Cove. When passing along outside, both of these will appear to be good, open anchorages, but neither has good holding ground, nor can they be used as a harbor of refuge. Both have ledges, not buoyed, at their entrances, and afford shelter only from northerly winds.

When running close along the coast, the following are the only distinguishing marks between West Quoddy Head and Little River: Carrying Place Cove has a Coast Guard station and a few other buildings in the low divide at its head. Boot Cove has a few small fishermen's houses on the shore at the head. Baileys Mistake is distinguished by the cultivated land and a small settlement (South Trescott) at its head; there are landings only for small craft at high water; Bailey Ledge, on the west side of the entrance, is bare at low water and unmarked. Moose Cove has no distinguishing marks except a wooded islet on the northeast side of the entrance, and Eastern Head Ledges, 1 mile southward of the islet, which are bare at low water.

Little River (chart 303).-This harbor is 14 miles westward of West Quoddy Head and about 92 miles eastward of Libby Islands; the entrance is marked by Little River Lighthouse on Little River Island. It is a small but excellent harbor of refuge, sheltered from all winds, has 12 to 30 feet (3.7 to 9.1 m.) of water with good holding ground, and is easy of access. The channel leads northward of the lighthouse and has a depth of about 28 feet (8.5 m.). The anchorage is about 1/2 mile long and 1/4 mile wide, just inside of Little River Island. The harbor is never obstructed by ice so as to prevent vessels from entering.

Little River Ledge, bare at low water, lies 100 yards from the north shore just inside the entrance, and is marked by a red buoy. A ledge extends 110 yards from the south shore just eastward of a prominent point 1/2 mile above Little River Island. With these exceptions there are no dangers in the harbor if the shores be given a berth of 100 yards.

Little River Lighthouse, on the southeast end of Little River Island (wooded, with rocky shores), is a white conical tower. The light is fixed white, with a white flash of 0.6 second duration every 15 seconds, 57 feet (17.4 m.) above the water, and visible 13 miles. The fog signal is a bell, sounding 1 stroke every 30 seconds.

Cutler is a village on the north side of Little River. It has communication by telephone, and by highway with the railroad at East Machias. It is the headquarters of many small fishing boats. Gasoline and provisions are obtainable. The depth at the principal wharves does not exceed 3 feet (0.9 m.) at low water.

To enter Little River, pass northward of Little River Island, giving it a berth of 100 to 200 yards, and pass southward of the red buoy just inside the island. Anchorage can be selected anywhere in mid-channel inside the island. Small local craft anchor off the

wharves in 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5 m.). The passage southward of Little River Island has a rocky bar across it with a least found depth of 10 feet (3.0 m.) in mid-channel, but has not been closely examined, and should not be used by strangers.

Little Machias Bay (chart 303), about 21⁄2 miles westward of Little River, is not used for an anchorage, as it is exposed to southerly and southeasterly winds, and is close to Little River and Machias Bay, both excellent anchorages. The bay is 5% mile wide at the entrance, wider inside, and about 2 miles long. Long Ledge, in the middle of the bay 1 mile inside the entrance, is covered at high water. Above this ledge the bay is much obstructed by ledges and shoals. There are some houses on the shores of the bay, but no wharves except for small craft at high water.

Old Man, a small but prominent rocky island, sparsely wooded on top, lying 1 mile off the entrance of Little Machias Bay, is a good mark and may be safely approached as close as 400 yards.

Black Ledges are bare islets in the middle of the entrance of Little Machias Bay; there is deep water close-to or both sides.

MACHIAS BAY AND RIVER

(chart 303) is the approach to the towns of Machiasport and Machias. It is easily entered either day or night, and affords wellsheltered anchorage for the largest vessels. It is about 6 miles long, and the main entrance between Cross Island on the east and Stone Island on the west is about 2 miles wide. The principal guide to the entrance is Libby Islands Lighthouse, which lies 9 miles westward of Little River Lighthouse and 9 miles eastward of Moose Peak Lighthouse. Avery Rock Lighthouse, in the middle of the bay, 4 miles from the entrance, is the guide for vessels bound up the bay. The best anchorages for vessels are Starboard Cove and the head of the bay above Avery Rock Lighthouse.

Cross Island, the large island on the southeast side of the entrance to Machias Bay, is wooded and has no prominent marks except a few unpainted shacks on Quaker Head, the most prominent marks in approaching Cross Island Narrows from westward. There is a Coast Guard station in a small cove at the eastern end. A skeleton tower near it is the most prominent mark from outside. Storm signals are displayed from this tower.

Cross Island Narrows is a channel leading into Machias Bay east of Cross Island. This passage is much obstructed by rocks, sunken or awash at various stages of the tide, and should not be used by vessels without local knowledge. Small craft can go through the narrows by the following:

Directions.-Pass on either side of Old Man at a distance of 300 to 500 yards, and then bring it astern on a 276° true (NW. by W. 34 W. mag.) course, heading for Thornton Point Ledge spindle. Pass 75 yards southward of the spindle and steer 276° true (NW. by W. 34 W. mag.) for a black buoy and pass close northward of it. Give the point on the northeast side a berth of 200 yards and steer 313° true (NNW. 12 W. mag.) for the middle of Chance Island (wooded on north part), with the summit of Mink Island (thickly wooded) astern, and pass 100 yards northeastward of the black buoy off Quaker Head (low and flat). Dog Fish Rocks, between Quaker Head and the buoy, are bare at low water only.

Cross Island Narrows are seldom obstructed by ice in the winter, and for that reason the cove southwestward of Mink Island is much used as a winter anchorage by small fishing boats.

North West Harbor, a bight in the north shore of Cross Island near its western end, has from 4 to 9 fathoms (7.3 to 16.5 m.) of water, but is little used as an anchorage.

Libby Islands, in the middle of the entrance of Machias Bay, consist of two grassy islands connected by a bare ledge. The lighthouse and buildings on the southwest end are the most prominent marks. Several vessels have been lost on the eastern side of the islands in thick weather.

Libby Islands Lighthouse is a white conical granite tower. The light is fixed white, 91 feet (27.7 m.) above the water, and visible 15 miles. It is obscured when bearing about east-northeast (mag.). The fog signal is an air diaphone (blast 2 seconds, silent 13 seconds). Scabby Islands are described on page 70.

Foster Channel is a narrow passage, marked by two buoys, between Foster Island and Ram Island, and leads from Englishman Bay to the western entrance of Machias Bay. It has a depth of 19 feet (5.8 m.) and can be used by vessels up to 15 feet (4.6 m.) draft when the buoys can be seen. A red buoy at the eastern end of the passage lies 114 miles northwestward of Libby Islands Lighthouse. To go through the passage from eastward pass 100 yards southward of the red buoy, steer 279° true (NW. by W. 12 W. mag.), and pass 25 yards northward of the black buoy.

Ram and Foster Islands are grass-covered and surrounded by ledges. Foster Island has a shanty at each end, and there is also a shack on Ram Island.

Stone Island is wooded and has a bare rocky face at the south end. Stone Island Ledge, on the east side, is bare at low water and marked by a spindle.

Starboard Island is grassy at the southwest end and sparsely wooded at the northeast end.

Starboard Cove, on the western side of the bay 211⁄2 miles northward of Libby Islands Lighthouse, is formed on the south by Starboard Island and a bar, bare at half tide, connecting it with the shore. It is an excellent anchorage, except in easterly weather, with 15 to 24 feet (4.6 to 7.3 m.) of water, and is much frequented by coasting vessels making an anchorage for the night if bound through Moosabec Reach. A good berth is in the middle of the cove, with the north end of Starboard Island in line with the south end of Stone Island, in 18 to 21 feet (5.5 to 6.4 m.). Small vessels can anchor closer to the bar, taking care, however, not to shut out the north end of Stone Island by the north end of Starboard Island.

Starboard Cove is entered eastward of Starboard Island, passing on either side of Stone Island. Approaching from westward, bring Libby Islands Lighthouse astern on a 344° true (N. 3% E. mag.) course, and pass 250 yards westward of Stone Island and the same distance eastward of Starboard Island. There is a white church with a steeple just northward of Starboard Cove.

Starboard post office is a small settlement on the western side of Starboard Cove. There is a small wharf with a reported depth of 6 feet (1.8 m.). Gasoline and some provisions are obtainable.

Howard Bay, northward of Starboard Cove, is exposed to southeast winds, the holding ground is poor, and it is not a good anchorage. There are no wharves. Broken ground, including a rock bare at low water, extends 5% mile southeastward and eastward from Howard Point.

Bucks Harbor is a shallow cove in the west shore of the bay inside of Bar Island and 4 miles north-northeastward of Libby Islands Lighthouse; a small fishing village of the same name is located on the shore of this harbor. Small vessels can anchor 200 yards off the southern side of Bar Island in 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 m.). There is an abandoned fish cannery on Bucks Neck, with a wharf now in ruins, and another wharf, bare at low water, south of it.

Local fishermen report the existence of a sunken rock about 200 yards (NW. 34 W. mag.) from Bucks Head. Vessels should keep a mid-channel course in entering.

All of the islands in Machias Bay above the entrance are high and wooded, with rocky shores, and have no distinguishing marks.

Avery Rock, in the middle of Machias Bay, 4 miles above the entrance, is marked by Avery Rock Lighthouse, a white tower on dwelling. The light is fixed red and the fog signal is a bell, 1 stroke every 10 seconds.

Larrabee Cove, largely dry at low water, and Indian Cove are small coves in the west shore of the bay, northwest of Avery Rock Lighthouse; these coves are of no importance, but good anchorage for vessels of 8 feet (2.4 m.) draft will be found on the flats between Salt Island and Bare Island, near their entrances. There are small wharves nearly bare at low water in Indian Cove. A rock in the middle, bare at low water, is the principal danger. Larrabee is a village and post office at the head of Larrabee Cove.

Holmes Bay, a large bight in the northeastern part of Machias Bay and east of Hog Island, is so shallow that it can not be used as an anchorage, and is seldom entered except by small fishing boats.

Machias River empties into the northwestern part of the bay; it has a narrow, winding channel, leading through flats which are mostly bare at low water. The least depth in the channel up to the town of Machiasport is about 19 feet (5.8 m.). A little below the town of Machias it shoals to 4 feet (1.2 m.) at low water. Machias is at the head of navigation, and about 61⁄2 miles above the mouth of the river.

Machiasport is a village on the west bank of Machias River, 21⁄2 miles above the entrance. It has several fish canneries, and wharves with depths of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m.). There is water on the wharves. There is but little shipping at Machiasport, and in 1926 there was no hotel at the town.

East Machias River, emptying into Machias River from northeastward 1 mile above Machiasport, is practically bare at low water at East Machias, a village on the railroad 111⁄2 miles above the entrance. Some lumber is shipped from a wharf 11⁄2 mile above the entrance. Above this point the channel is difficult, and is little used except by small craft.

A highway drawbridge crosses Machias River 11⁄2 miles above Machiasport and 211⁄2 miles below Machias. It has a center pier draw, the north opening 47 feet wide and the south opening 33 feet wide. The best water is in the north opening.

Machias is a town on the railroad at the head of navigation on Machias River. It ships some lumber in small coasting vessels, the deepest draft being about 14 feet (4.3 m.) There is a depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m.) at low water to the lumber wharves. Machias is on the main highway, and good hotel accommodations are available.

Towboats.-There are no towboats on Machias Bay. The nearest one is stationed at Eastport. Local fishing boats equipped with power do all the towing required.

Supplies.-Gasoline and provisions are obtainable at Machiasport and Machias. There is water on the wharves at Machiasport. Coal is obtainable only in case of emergency.

Repairs-There are no marine railways for the repair of hulls. There are machine shops at Machias for ordinary repairs to machinery.

Storm-warning displays of the United States Weather Bureau are made at Machiasport.

Ice. In severe winters Machias River is closed to navigation, and drift ice will sometimes fill the bay above Avery Rock. In ordinary winters the bay and river are open to Machiasport.

The currents follow the general direction of the channel and are not strong except in the river.

Tides.-The mean rise and fall of tides is about 13 feet (4.0 m.).

DIRECTIONS, MACHIAS BAY

From eastward.-Many vessels have been wrecked on the eastern side of Libby Islands in thick weather, through failure to hear the fog signal. Steer for Libby Islands Lighthouse on any bearing northward of 251° true (W. mag.), and when Avery Rock Lighthouse is open from the western end of Cross Island, bearing 342° true (N. 1 E. mag.), shape the course to pass about 1/2 mile eastward of the northern end of Libby Islands. Steer for Avery Rock Lighthouse on a 356° true (N. by E. 3% E. mag.) course. Pass westward of the lighthouse, giving it a berth of over 200 yards, and steer 352° true (N. by E. mag.) for the eastern end of Round Island. Anchorage for vessels may be had anywhere between Avery Rock and Round Island, or eastward or northeastward of the latter at a distance not greater than 1⁄2 mile, in 5 to 7 fathoms (9.1 to 12.8 m.).

From westward.-Steer for Libby Islands Lighthouse on any bearing northward of 57° true (ENE. 34 E. mag.) and pass 1/2 mile northwestward of the lighthouse. Then steer 29° true (NE. % E. mag.) until Avery Rock Lighthouse bears 356° true (N. by E. % E. mag.). Then steer for the latter on that bearing, and follow the directions in the preceding paragraph.

Machias River to Machiasport.-The channel in Machias River is marked by buoys at the turns as far as Machiasport, and is easily followed. The best time is at low water, when the flats are visible.

Pass about 200 yards eastward of Round Island and steer 339° true (N. 1 W. mag.) for 11⁄2 mile to a position 100 yards northeastward of a black buoy, then 295° true (NW. mag.) for 3% mile, keeping the next black buoy well on the port bow until 1 mile from it, and then hauling westward to pass 100 yards northward of it. From this position, a 274° true (NW. by W. % W. mag.) course for % mile will lead to a position southward of a red buoy, and then a 310° true (NNW. 34 W. mag.) course for 1/4 mile will lead to a position