The channel to the head of Penobscot Bay leads eastward of Eagle Island, marked by a lighthouse and fog signal (bell), and passes between the islands in a north-northwesterly direction to Cape Rosier. A depth of over 5 fathoms can be carried up the bay by closely 5 following the directions.

Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse,* on a rocky islet in the middle of the southerly entrance to East Penobscot Bay, is a gray conical tower with white dwelling attached. The light is 54 feet above the water, and visible 13 miles. The fog signal is a bell. There is broken 10 ground between the lighthouse and Vinalhaven, and deep-draft vessels should enter eastward of the lighthouse.

The islands and dangers on the eastern side of this part of East Penobscot Bay are nearly all described in the preceding chapter under the headings indicating their general location. That is, under 15 the heading "Deer Island Thorofare" will be found a description of those islands and reefs at its western entrance, etc.

20

25

Between Deer Island Thorofare and Eggemoggin Reach the eastern side of this bay is formed by the western shores of Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle.

From Barred Island to Southwest Harbor, Sellers Rock, part of which bares at low water, and which is marked by a red buoy, and the 18-foot spot 700 yards west of it are the only off-lying dangers. Southwest Harbor is on the western side of Deer Isle, about 4 miles north of Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse. It is about 0.3 mile wide at the entrance and 1 mile long, with anchorage in 3 to 5 fathoms, but is not much used, as it is open southward. The village of Sunset is on the eastern shore of the harbor; there are no wharves. The western side of the harbor is formed by Sheephead Island, from which Sheephead Ledges extend 0.3 mile southward.

Northward of Southwest Harbor is Mill Pond, of no importance, and Sylvester Cove. In this cove is located the Deer Isle Yacht Club. On the north side of the cove is a float landing and a fish wharf. There is a private pier on the south side. The anchorage in the cove is partly sheltered by a long reef, which lies on the south side of the entrance and which bares at about half tide. There is 35 a buoy on the northern side of the reef. Caution should be used in rounding this reef by passing northward of the buoy, as a number of small craft are reported to have grounded on the reef.

Northwest of Sylvester Cove is Dunham Point, from which Dunham Point Ledge extends 300 yards offshore. From the southern 40 entrance point to Northwest Harbor a ledge, part of which bares at low water, extends 500 yards northwestward. Its outer limit is marked by a red buoy. Outside the red buoy, and between it and Gull Ledge, is a narrow channel. Westward of Gull Ledge is a reef, which must be avoided, even by small boats if using this chan45 nel. Its southwest end is marked by a black buoy, about 0.5 mile from Gull Ledge, and 0.4 mile off the main shore.

Northwest Harbor, on the northwestern side of Deer Isle, is about 0.3 mile wide and over 1 mile long. A large part of its upper half is bare at low water, but in mid-harbor good anchorage will be 50 found for small vessels in 13 to 17 feet, soft bottom. The harbor

*Lat. 44°00'.9, Long. 68°43′.6: Charts 225, 309, 1203, 70, 1106.

is sheltered from all but northwesterly winds. There is also good anchorage off the entrance of the harbor between Gull Ledge and Heart Island, in 31⁄2 to 5 fathoms. The village of Deer Isle is near the head of the harbor. There are two small wharves which bare at low tide. During January and February the harbor is closed by ice. 5 Directions.-Approaching Northwest Harbor from southward, pass 300 to 400 yards westward of the bare ledge off the north side of Dunham Point, steer 33° true for the eastern end of Little Deer Isle, and pass 300 to 400 yards northwestward of a black buoy which marks the southwest end of a ledge bare at half tide. When well 10 past the buoy, steer 67° true for Heart Island (high, grassy, partly wooded knoll near Deer Isle), and pass 300 to 400 yards northward of Gull Ledge (partly bare at high water). When past Gull Ledge, steer 124° true for the middle of the entrance of Northwest Harbor.

Approaching Northwest Harbor from northwestward, pass 150 to 15 not over 250 yards southwestward of the southwest point of Pickering Island and from this position a 124° true course for 2.8 miles will head to the middle of the entrance.

North of Northwest Harbor the western shore of Deer Isle extends in a northeasterly direction to Eggemoggin Reach. It was for- 20 merly possible for small boats to follow this shore and pass between Little Deer Isle and Deer Isle directly into Eggemoggin Reach. This passage is now closed by the highway fill. The islands off-lying the western end of Eggemoggin Reach are described on page 59. Between Little Deer Isle and North Haven Island there is a chain of 25 islands, between which are many passes, which must be used with care on account of the many reefs lying between them. Pickering Island, 90 feet high, and Bradbury Island, 170 feet high, both of which are wooded, are the two principal islands north of the main ship channel. About 0.7 mile south-southwest of Bradbury Island, and 0.4 mile 30 northwest of Hardhead Island (bare), lies Middle Rock, a 10-foot spot on the north side of the main ship channel. There is a red buoy on its southwest side.

Southwest of the main ship channel at this point, and between it and North Haven Island, the passes between the islands are nearly 35 obstructed by reefs in many cases, and navigation, even by small craft, must be very carefully done. A few of the reefs are buoyed. The more important of these islands are as follows:

Eagle Island is wooded, and has Eagle Island Lighthouse (white tower attached to dwelling) at the eastern end. The fog signal is a 40 bell. There is a post office (Eagle) and small settlement on the island, and a wharf at which vessels sometimes land at high water. The other islands in this vicinity are wooded and have no prominent marks. Great Spruce Head Island is the highest (220 feet on the north end). Butter Island (partly wooded) and Oak Island 45 (grassy) are uninhabited. The passage between Butter Island and the northeast Barred Islands is reported to bare at 2% tide.

Burnt Island is wooded except for its northwest end, which is grass covered.

Directions, Passage north of North Haven Island.-There is a 50 passage northward of North Haven Island, which is used in winter when Fox Islands Thorofare is closed by ice. To go through this passage, pass about 300 yards southward of Eagle Island and steer

275° true for Spoon Ledge (high, with grass on top). On this course pass 400 yards northward of Grass Ledge (high and grass-covered) and the same distance northward of Oak Island, the grassy island southeastward of Spoon Ledge. Pass midway between Oak Island 5 and Spoon Ledge and steer 242° true for 12.3 miles to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.*

The western side of the southern part of East Penobscot Bay is very foul. Northwest of Saddleback Ledge Light, 0.8 mile, is located Saddleback Ledge Shoal with 2 feet of water on it, marked 10 by a horizontally striped buoy. The mile wide channel west of this shoal and east of Diamond Rock and Diamond Rock Ledge (marked by a black buoy) has a number of shoal spots in it, on which various depths ranging from 14 to 28 feet were found by the survey. Between this and the southeast shore of Vinalhaven Island are 15 many islands and reefs dangerous to navigation. A channel is buoyed through these to enable moderate sized vessels in daylight with good visibility to run roughly parallel to this shore at a distance varying from about 0.5 mile to 1 mile. This is part of the partially protected inside route around the south end of Vinalhaven and the use of it 20 may save many miles' running.

25

Arey Cove and Roberts Harbor, on the southeast side of Vinalhaven Island, are much obstructed by rocks and ledges, and are unsafe for strangers.

The coast northward to Bluff Head and the eastern entrance to Fox Islands Thorofare has many offlying islands and reefs, extending in some places nearly a mile offshore. The coves are small and foul and of no value as harbors.

Winter Harbor, Seal Bay, and Smith Cove make into the northeastern part of Vinalhaven Island, south of the eastern entrance to Fox 30 Islands Thorofare; they are of no commercial importance and not safe for a stranger to enter.

35

40

45

50

Fox Islands Thorofare and Little Thorofare are described on page 156. Carver Cove and Kent Cove are two excellent anchorages, easily entered by strangers, in Fox Islands Thorofare near its eastern entrance. They are described under, "Fox Islands Thorofare."

DIRECTIONS, EAST PENOBSCOT BAY

This region is an area of rocks and ledges, many of them unmarked, and extreme care is necessary in navigating it. The main part of East Penobscot Bay, from a little southward of Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse to the entrance of Penobscot Bay by the channel between Eagle and Hardhead Islands, has been examined by means of a wire drag. The principal thoroughfares east and west have also been dragged. Areas near the shores were not covered.

The principal traffic through East Penobscot Bay is in an east and west direction, through the inside passages, but there is a clear channel, good for the deepest draft vessels and with the principal dangers marked, through the bay from sea to the head. The following directions lead in a depth of over 5 fathoms to the entrance of Penobscot River. For directions through the thoroughfares, see their descriptions.

*Lat. 44°06'.2, Long. 69°04'.6: Charts 310, 320, 1203, 1106.

1. Approaching from eastward or southward (Charts 225 or 1203). Approaching from eastward or southeastward, shape the course for Roaring Bull Ledge whistling buoy lying 1.7 miles southward of Isle au Haut, and from off the buoy steer 295° true for Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse.

Or, steer for Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse on any bearing between 295° true and 343° true, the latter bearing leads 1 mile eastward of Three Fathom Ledge.

5

When northward of Seal, Wooden Ball, and Matinicus Islands, steer for Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse on any bearing northward of 10 59° true. This bearing leads 0.6 mile southeastward of Bay Ledge bell buoy.

Pass about 0.5 mile eastward of Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse close to the whistle buoy and proceed as directed in section 2 or 2A.

1A. Approaching from southwestward (Chart 225).—The pas- 15 sages between the islands eastward and westward of Matinicus Island may be used with the assistance of the chart. (See the description of the islands on p. 147.) One of the best is as follows:

Steer for Matinicus Rock Lighthouse, passing southward of South Breaker buoy, pass 0.5 mile north westward of the lighthouse, and 20 steer 17° true for 4.6 miles to a position 0.7 mile off the northwest side of Wooden Ball Island. Then steer 27° true for Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse, the distance to which is 10.3 miles. The last course leads about 0.3 mile westward of Snippershan Ledge, which has a least depth of 6 fathoms, as determined by means of a wire drag, 25 and lies 4 miles southwestward of Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse.

Or (on Chart 1203) pass 1.5 to 2 miles southward of Monhegan Island and steer 64° true for 17.5 miles, heading for the north end of Matinicus Island. When about 1.5 miles from the island, and its southwest end is closed on the northeast end of Ragged Island, the 30 position should be 0.7 mile southward of Foster Ledges red buoy. Then steer 47° true for about 13 miles and pass 0.5 mile northward of Matinicus Island and over 0.5 mile southward and eastward of Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse. Then follow the directions in section 2 or 2A.

335

2. Saddleback Ledge to Fort Point (Charts 309, 310, and 311 may be used, or the single chart 1203).-Pass about 0.5 mile eastward of Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse, close to the vertically striped whistle buoy, and steer 351° true for 12.4 miles, passing 0.5 mile westward of The Brown Cow, and 0.2 mile eastward of a black bell buoy 40 0.7 mile southward of Eagle Island Lighthouse to a position 0.3 mile eastward of Eagle Island Lighthouse. Then steer 322° true for 5.4 miles to a position 0.5 mile true west of Green Ledge and 0.3 mile beyond red bell buoy No. 2. Then steer about 2° true for 8 miles, passing about 0.5 mile westward of Cape Rosier, and then following 45 the eastern shore at a distance of about 0.5 mile. When Fort Point Lighthouse bears 19° true, steer for it. Pass over 200 yards westward of Fort Point Ledge beacon and change course to pass midway between the beacon and the lighthouse. Pass 500 yards eastward of Fort Point and follow the directions for Penobscot River on page 182. 2A. Saddleback Ledge to Merchant Row or Stonington (Charts 309 and 227).-The directions of this section are good for a depth of 28 feet to Merchant Row, and are good for vessels of 12-foot or

50

less draft through the passage eastward of Crotch Island to Deer Island Thorofare, but lead close to unmarked dangers with less depth. Strangers are advised not to use them with a greater draft than 10 feet.

Bring Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse astern on a 15° true course, 5 heading for the prominent standpipe at Stonington. Farrel Island (wooded) will be made ahead, and Scraggy Ledge (bare) a little on the starboard bow. When 0.5 mile or more southward of Scraggy Ledge, stand eastward until the standpipe is in line with the eastern end of Farrel Island, and then steer this range, course 11° true, which 10 will lead nearly 200 yards eastward of the rock with 11 feet over it lying 400 yards southward of Scraggy Ledge, and pass midway between Scraggy Ledge and Channel Rock.

From a position 300 yards northwestward of Channel Rock steer 31° true for the northwestern part of Green Island and pass 300 to 400 15 yards southeastward of John Island. Pass 150 to 200 yards eastward of Sand Island, and steer 348° true, following the shore of Crotch Island at a distance of 250 to 300 yards and passing westward of two red buoys. When a little past the second buoy steer 45° true, with the entrance of Mill Cove astern, and pass about 100 yards eastward 20 of a black buoy into Deer Island Thorofare. Select anchorage in the channel off Stonington.

Bound eastward through Merchant Row.-Steer the 31° true course of the preceding paragraph until Harbor Island, the grassy island with a few trees lying on the northeast side of Merchant Island, 25 opens northward of Ewe Island. Then stand eastward, pass about 400 yards northward of Ewe Island and 100 yards southward of the buoy marking the 14-foot ledge located 0.3 mile northeast of Ewe Island. Then when 100 yards south of this buoy change course to 96° true and turn to the directions for Merchant Row on page 59.

330

30

FOX ISLANDS THOROFARE

(CHART 235)

This Thorofare, leading from East Penobscot Bay to West Penobscot Bay, between North Haven and Vinalhaven_Islands, is 35 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 19 feet or more, has a least width of about 150 yards in several places; the principal dangers are marked by buoys or spindles, which can be easily followed in the daytime with clear 40 weather. The least depth in the channel is 19 feet, but the Thorofare is seldom used by vessels of over 14 feet draft at low water. The main channel has been examined by means of a wire drag.

On the north side of the eastern entrance lie Babbidge, Calderwood, and Stimpsons Islands, inside and north of which is Little 45 Thorofare, which may be used by small craft with local knowledge. South and southeast of these islands ledges extend for over 0.3 mile. A red buoy, marking the northern side of the east entrance to Fox Islands Thorofare, lies 0.6 mile off Babbidge Island. Of the several reefs south of these islands the most prominent are Black Ledge, 50 Sunken Black Ledge (marked by a red buoy just south of it), and Channel Rock with its prominent beacon and red bell buoy.

Carver Cove, in the south shore of the Thorofare, near its eastern end, is a secure anchorage, easy of access, and convenient for vessels