Black Rock, 4 feet (1.2 m) above high water, lies 3/4 mile 58° true (NE. by N. mag.) from Pointer Island and 1/2 mile from Blakely Island; it is marked by a spindle surmounted by a barrel with black and white horizontal stripes. There is a passage between White and Black Rocks and Blakely Island, but it is not recommended.

Guemes and Bellingham Channels are described under separate headings following.

Cypress Island, 1,530 feet (466 m) high, steep on the lower slopes, and gently rounding at the top, lies northward of the entrance to Guemes Channel, and from southward appears in the middle of Rosario Strait.

Reef Point, the southwestern point of Cypress Island, has a shoal extending 500 yards southward from it; the outer end of a shoal being marked by a black buoy. Each fishing season for a number of years a fish trap has been driven on the shoal, extending a distance of about 300 yards beyond the buoy. Vessels rounding the point at seasons when the trap is not in place should give the buoy a berth of 400 to 500 yards to avoid piles which may have been left standing, broken off below water.

Strawberry Island, small and low, lies 1/4 mile from the western shore of Cypress Island; there is a passage eastward of it, but it is not recommended. An indifferent anchorage may be had in Strawberry Bay in 7 fathoms (12.8 m); it is seldom used.

Towhead Island, small, round, and wooded, lies about 400 yards northward of Cypress Island. The passage between them is used by local vessels, especially those plying between Bellingham Bay and Obstruction Passes.

Cypress Reef is a dangerous, rocky patch westward of Towhead Island. The southern point, bare at low water, lies 550 yards 289° true (W. 2 S. mag.) from Towhead Island; from the southern point it extends northward for 650 yards with depths of 9 to 15 feet (2.7 to 4.6 m). It is well marked by kelp.

Lydia Shoal, of small extent and with a least depth of 334 fathoms (6.8 m), lies about 1 mile northeastward from the light on the eastern end of Obstruction Island. It is well out of the track of vessels passing through the strait.

Buckeye Shoal, with a least depth of 24 feet (7.3 m), lies about 1 mile 320° true (NW. by W. 3⁄4 W. mag.) from Towhead Island, and is in line between Towhead Island and the middle Peapod Rocks. It is marked by a red buoy.

Peapod Rocks are a cluster of small rocks extending about 1 mile in a general north-northeast and south-southwest direction, parallel with and a little over 11⁄2 mile from the Orcas Island shore. They are bare of trees, the northernmost being the higher and larger and marked by a flashing white light. The southern rock lies 234 miles 40° true (N. by E. 3 E. mag.) from the light on the eastern end of Obstruction Island. A sunken rock lies off Doe Bay, a little over 5 mile 283° true (W. by S. mag.) from the southern Peapod. Vessels using the passage westward of the Peapods must favor the southern Peapod to avoid this rock. Otherwise this passage is clear. Vessels must not pass between the rocks forming the Peapod group. Doebay, a post village on Doe Bay, has a wharf built out to 12 feet (3.7 m). Some farm produce is shipped. The wharf is inaccessible in southerly weather.

Sinclair Island, northward of Cypress Island, is wooded and comparatively low. The northern shore is foul. Boulder Reef is a dangerous shoal, extending over 1⁄2 mile 317° true (WNW. mag.) from the northwest side of the island; portions uncover at half tide, and a large bowlder is at the inner part of the reef. It is well marked by kelp, but this is frequently drawn under by the current. The outer end of the reef is marked by a red buoy, in 7 fathoms (12.8 m).

Urban is a post village at the southwestern end of the island. It has a wharf built out to 12 feet (3.6 m) at mean lower low water. Lummi Island is about 8 miles long and wooded. The northern half is low, but the southern half is occupied by Lummi Mountain, over 1,740 feet (530 m) high. Lummi Rock, a small, double, rocky islet, lies off the southern shore about 3 miles northwestward from its southeastern point. Shoals extend for over 11⁄2 mile from Point Migley, the northwestern point; the northwestern extremity of the shoals is marked by a horizontally striped buoy, in 21 feet (6.4 m) about 2 mile 313° true (WNW. % W. mag.) from Point Migley. Sinclair Island, open westward of Village Point, clears the shoal. Lummi Island has automobile ferry service with Orcas Island and the mainland.

Clark Island and Barnes Island, with a small number of islets adjacent, form a group almost in mid-channel, 22 miles northwestward from Lawrence Point, the eastern point of Orcas Island. They should be given a berth of 11⁄2 mile.

Alden Bank, within the 10-fathom (18.3) curve, is about 3 miles long in a southeast and northwest direction with a greatest width of 11⁄2 miles. The shoalest part, 16 to 17 feet (4.9 to 5.2 m), covering a considerable area, is at the eastern end and lies 314 miles 13° true (N. by W. mag.) from the middle of Matia Island and 5 miles 305 true (W. by N. mag.) from Point Migley, the northwestern point of Lummi Island. A red and black horizontally striped lighted bell buoy is placed near the shoalest point in 27 feet (8.2 m) and should be given a berth of at least 1 mile. The position of the bank is well indicated by numerous fish traps and weirs, which are visible from a considerable distance.

DIRECTIONS, ROSARIO STRAIT

These directions are available for vessels of any draft in clear weather. In thick weather, strangers are advised to take a pilot. A range should be steered when possible, so as to insure making the compass courses good.

Between Admiralty Inlet and the entrance to Rosario Strait the current on the flood has a tendency to set a vessel eastward toward Whidbey Island; it also sets strongly through Deception Pass and up Rosario Strait. At night avoid the red sector of Burrows Island Light to clear Lawson Reef and Dennis Shoal. Through Rosario Strait the currents run with considerable velocity. Heavy tide rips and swirls are found off Black Rock, Obstruction Passes, Peapod Rocks, and Lawrence Point.

Having come from Admiralty Inlet, pass midway between Point Wilson Lighthouse and Admiralty Head, and steer 322° true (NW by W. 2 W. mag.) for 51⁄2 miles to a position 3/4 mile southwestward

of Point Partridge lighted bell buoy. Then steer 2° true (NNW. mag.) (passing 3% mile east of Partridge Bank lighted bell buoy and 1 mile east of Minor Island Light) for 111⁄2 miles to Davidson Rock Light abeam, distant 7% mile. Then steer 28° true (N. % E. mag.) for 5 miles to a position % mile WNW. mag. of Burrows Island Lighthouse. Then steer 350° true (NW. % N. mag.) for 7 miles, passing 1 mile east-northeastward of Belle Rock Light and Black Rock spindle, and to a position with Obstruction Passes Light abeam, distant 134 miles.

From here steer 24° true (N. 1% W. mag.) for 31⁄2 miles, passing % mile eastward of Peapod Rocks Light, and to a position 3/4 mile eastward of Lawrence Point. Then steer 342° true (NW. 1 N. mag.) for 31⁄2 miles to a position with the north end of Clark Island abeam, distant 5% mile, and then steer 315° true (WNW. 14 W. mag.) for 714 miles, passing 11⁄2 mile northeastward of Puffin Island, to a position 2 miles west-southwestward of Alden Bank buoy, and with Patos Islands and Saturna Island Lighthouses in range. The course can then be shaped up Georgia Strait as desired.

BELLINGHAM AND PADILLA BAYS

These bays lie eastward of Rosario Strait and extend 20 miles in a north-northwest and south-southeast direction, and vary from 2 to 5 miles in width. Lummi, Cypress, Sinclair, Guemes, and several smaller islands lie in the entrances, Lummi and Cypress Islands being the highest and most prominent. There are four principal channels in entering, Guemes Channel and Bellingham Channel from southward, the passage between Lummi and Sinclair Islands from westward, which is the widest, and Hale Passage from northward. The depths in the channels are great, as a rule, with the exception of Hale Passage, which at its northern end has a bar with but 15 feet (4.6 m) over it. The depths in the bays are moderate, and except in a few places anchorage may be made almost anywhere. Padilla Bay (chart 6380), the southernmost, is largely filled with flats, the greater portion of which bare at low water. The deepest part of the bay is on the eastern and southern sides of Guemes Island. Entrance to the bay may be had from Rosario Strait through Guemes Channel or from Bellingham Bay eastward of Guemes Island. William Point, the eastern point at the northern entrance, is wooded and about 100 feet (30.5 m) high. Owing to the low land back of it, it generally appears as an island. The western end of the point is marked by a flashing white light. From William Point flats and shoals forming the eastern side of the northern channel extend southeastward to Saddlebag, Dot, and Hat Islands, which lie about 1 mile eastward of the eastern point of Guemes Island. Huckleberry Island, small and low, lies nearly in mid-channel between Guemes and Saddlebag Islands. March Point, low and wooded, on the southern shore of the bay, is marked by a light that serves as a leading mark for the channel eastward of Guemes Island. There is a channel marked by beacons across the flats eastward of March Point which leads to Swinomish Slough. This is navigable at high tide for light-draft vessels with local knowledge, but should not be attempted by strangers. Fidalgo Bay, small and shoal, lies westward of March Point.

Guemes Channel, about 3 miles long, with a least width of 1⁄2 mile, leads eastward from Rosario Strait to Padilla Bay, southward of Guemes Island; the depths range from 8 to 18 fathoms (14.6 to 33 m). Shannon Point, the southern point at the western entrance, is low and rounding; a rocky shoal marked by a red buoy at its northern extremity extends 200 yards northward from the point. The velocity of the tidal currents does not exceed 3 knots as a rule. The commanding officer of a United States battleship reports that the velocity of the currents in Guemes Channel exceeds 5 knots at times, and that during the flood current there is an eddy between the eastern end of Guemes Island and Capsante, with an outgoing current along the northern shore of Fidalgo Island extending out about 200 yards into the channel from the shore line.

Current predictions for this channel are now included in the Pacific Coast Current Tables. During periods of strong currents, vessels anchoring in the channel should guard against dragging anchor, as the holding ground is poor.

A submarine telephone cable has been laid across Guemes Channel, Anacortes Harbor entrance. The cable extends from the foot of H Street in a 320° direction to Guemes Island.

Ship Harbor is the bight eastward of Shannon Point, at the western entrance to Guemes Channel. Several canneries are located there, with wharves built out to deep water where large steamers load.

City of Seattle Rock, with 9 feet (2.7 m) over it, lies 200 yards offshore on the southern side of the channel, about 2 miles eastward from Shannon Point; the wharves of Anacortes now extend out almost to it.

Anacortes (chart 6377), on the south shore of Guemes Channel, is a thriving town of 6,564 people (1930 census), and a port of entry. It is the center of an extensive salmon-canning industry, and canneries with wharves built out to depths of 12 to 20 feet (3.7 to 6.1 m) line the south shore of the channel from Ship Harbor to Fidalgo Bay. There are also a large fertilizer factory, a glue works, and several large sawmills. The commerce of the port consists of logs, lumber, wood pulp, shingles, salmon, fertilizer, and farm produce.

The port is incorporated as the Port of Anacortes. There are two wharves that can accommodate deep-sea vessels; the port wharf at the foot of Commercial Street, and a lumber wharf 200 yards to the eastward. Both these wharves have a depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) alongside at mean lower low water.

Capsante Waterway, leading to the eastern water front of Anacortes, is marked by a lighted range and four buoys. In October 1933 the controlling depth on the range in the dredged channel was 10 feet (3 m). It was reported that the channel would be redredged to its project depth of 12 feet (3.6 m) during 1934. At the inner end of Capsante Waterway is a small-boat harbor with a capacity of about 70 boats.

Pilots may be obtained through the Puget Sound Pilots' Association, Seattle.

Towboats.-Several local towboats are available.

Marine hospital.-The Public Health Service maintains a medical relief station and a contract hospital.

Quarantine.—Vessels subject to quarantine inspection are given this inspection at Port Townsend. If vessels require fumigation after discharging cargo at Anacortes, this service is performed at the port. Advance notice should be given the senior surgeon of the Public Health Service of Seattle.

Customs.-Anacortes is a port of entry in charge of a deputy collector. The customs office is located on Fifth Street near Commercial Street.

Immigration.-The immigration office is at the International Ferry Landing on First Street between N and O Streets.

Supplies and repairs.-Fuel oils, water, coal, provisions, and ship chandler's stores can be obtained. There is a shipyard with a marine railway for hauling out fishing launches.

Storm warnings, day and night, are displayed by the Weather Bureau from a steel tower.

Fog signal.-There is an electric fog siren, group 2 blasts every 60 seconds, on the port wharf.

Communication is by daily steamers or rail and by telegraph and telephone. Ferry service is maintained to Guemes Island and San Juan Archipelago, and during the summer season to Sidney, Vancouver Island.

Anchorage may be had off the wharves in 6 to 12 fathoms (11 to 21.9 m). During periods of strong current, vessels at anchor in the channel should guard against dragging as the holding ground is poor. No harbor regulations are prescribed. There is a port manager in charge.

Bellingham Channel, the one most in use by vessels from southward bound for Bellingham, leads between Cypress and Guemes Islands and between Sinclair and Vendovi Islands, and is the most direct. The depths vary from 17 to 60 fathoms (31 to 110 m) in mid-channel. Between Cypress and Guemes and Sinclair Islands the tidal currents have considerable velocity, but between Sinclair and Vendovi Islands they are much less.

The channel from northward, leading from Rosario Strait between Lummi and Sinclair Islands and between Viti Rocks and Lummi or Vendovi Islands, is the widest and is used by deep-draft vessels. It varies from a width of 134 miles between Lummi and Sinclair Islands to a least width of 3/4 mile between Viti Rocks and Carter Point, the southeastern extremity of Lummi Island. The depths vary from 25 to 50 fathoms (46 to 91 m), with no outlying dangers other than those extending northward from Sinclair Island.

Viti Rocks lie 34 mile 236° true (SSW. % W. mag.) from the southern point of Lummi Island, and extend 1/4 mile northwest and southeast. The northwestern islet is about 35 feet (10.7 m) high, 200 yards long, and 70 yards wide, and is marked by a flashing white light (3 seconds) on its highest point.

Hale Passage, northward of Lummi Island, is about 6 miles long with an average width of 3/4 mile. The depths range from 20 fathoms (37 m) near the eastern end to 15 feet (4.6 m) on the bar at the western end of the channel. Lummi Point, on the south side of the passage nearly 111⁄2 miles eastward of Point Migley, the northwestern end of Lummi Island, is marked by a flashing white light,