Storm warnings displays of the United States Weather Bureau are shown from the naval radio station on Point Loma; Broadway Pier; Coronado Hotel boathouse, and from the tower of the naval administration building on North Island. Day signals only are shown. Fogs occur occasionally, there being on the average about 20 dense fogs per year. These are mostly night fogs, and seldom occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Winds. The prevailing winds are from the northwest and west; the heaviest, from the south and west in winter and early spring. They seldom exceed 30 miles per hour, and shipping is considered safe at all times. Currents. The currents set generally in the direction of the channels and vary from 1 to 21⁄2 knots, depending upon the stage of the tide. Westward of Middle Ground north of Ballast Point is an inshore eddy of 0.1 to 0.3 knot on both flood and ebb. On the flood the current sets northwestward over Middle Ground, and on the ebb, in the opposite direction. South of the end of the jetty there is a slight set toward Zuninga Shoal on the ebb. The average central surface velocity in the channel east of Ballast Point at the time of strength is about 1 knot. Great care should be taken while passing this point as a vessel may take a sudden shear caused by a cross current deflected from Ballast Point. An eddy is usually encountered along the ends of the municipal piers, which makes docking difficult. The local pilots prefer to dock large vessels at about half tide, as the velocity and direction of the eddy is more regular at this time. This, however, is not always true, and the greatest care must be exercised by even the most experienced. Strangers should not attempt to dock large vessels without a pilot. For daily predictions of the times of slack water and times and velocities of strength of current see the Pacific Coast Current Tables published in advance annually by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Tides.-The mean range of tide at San Diego is 3.9 feet (1.2 m). The range between mean lower low water and mean higher high water is 5.6 feet (1.7 m). A range of about 9 feet (2.7 m) may occur at the time of maximum tides. Daily tide predictions for San Diego are given in the tide tables published annually in advance by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. DIRECTIONS, SAN DIEGO BAY Having made the lighted whistle buoy or Point Loma Lighthouse, proceed as convenient to a position 100 yards eastward of the outside bar lighted bell buoy, keeping clear of the kelp which extends southward from Point Loma. Then follow midchannel courses, using the chart (5105) as a guide. When making the turn off the quarantine station avoid the eastern side of the channel. There is a tendency for a spit to form in the vicinity of buoy "8B." Proper allowance must be made for the current. COAST FROM POINT LOMA TO POINT VICENTE The stretch of coast between San Diego and San Pedro Bays has been extensively settled in recent years. There are numerous small towns or resorts along the beach, with buildings which show up well from seaward. Communication, however, is entirely by rail, air, and highway. There is at present (1934) no traffic by water to any point in this region. From Point Loma the coast trends northward for 51⁄2 miles to the entrance of Mission Bay, a small lagoon full of shoals and of no importance. Mission Beach, just north of the entrance to Mission Bay, has an amusement beach with a roller coaster and prominent buildings, one of which is pink. Aero beacon.-There is an aero beacon 1 mile northeastward from Mission Bay. About 14 miles northward of Mission Bay is an amusement pier with a covered structure that is prominent. It has been condemned, but was still standing in 1933. Point La Jolla (False Point), 11 miles northward from Point Loma, is a rounding rocky point, the seaward termination of a spur from Soledad Mountain, 820 feet (250 m) high, the first high land northward from Point Loma. The cottages and buildings at La Jolla and at Pacific Beach, on the north shore of Mission Bay, are prominent from seaward. A measured mile course has been established northward of this point. Each range is marked by two steel towers with 8-foot targets. The line of sight of the targets is adjusted to intersect the level of the bridge of the average ship at a distance of 4 miles from shore. La Jolla, population 1,525 (1930 census), has electric rail connections with San Diego. It is a resort city and has no water-borne commerce. It is reported that the tower of the Valencia Hotel at La Jolla is lighted with a cluster of fixed red lights, and that it forms a good mark at night, being visible 10 miles offshore. About 1 mile to the northward of Ja Lolla is situated the Scripps Institute devoted to research work in oceanography and marine biology. The institute maintains a concrete pier for observation purposes. Del Mar, population 647 (1930 census), about 7 miles northward from La Jolla, is a resort town with a pleasure pier extending out to the surf line. The hotel with many gables is prominent from the sea. From Del Mar the coast extends northward for 31 miles to San Mateo Point, as a low flat table land with abrupt cliffs seaward, 60 to 130 feet (18.3 to 40 m) high, with broad, low-water beaches. The table land is intersected by numerous steep valleys containing streams that are usually dry in the summer. In the northern portion the high mountain ridges of the interior approach much nearer the coast. This section of the coast is paralleled by the Pacific Highway and the Santa Fe Railroad. Čardiff and Encinitas, population 450 and 1,463 (1930 census), are small towns 10 and 11 miles northward from Point La Jolla. There is an aero beacon, very prominent from seaward, about 1 mile northward from Encinitas. Carlsbad, population 1,660 (1930 census), 20 miles northward from Point La Jolla, is a summer resort with several hotels. Oceanside, population 3,508 (1930 census), 22 miles northward from Point La Jolla, is a small town, the buildings of which are prominent from seaward. There is a pleasure pier built out to the surf line. There is an aero beacon, prominent from seaward, and a landing field near Fallbrook Junction, 2 miles northward from Oceanside. The bridge and trestle work of the railroad crossing Santa Margarita River, 3 miles northward from Oceanside, are also prominent. San Onofre Mountain, 1,720 feet (524 m) in elevation, lies 1 mile from the coast, 12 miles northwestward from Oceanside and 3 miles eastward from San Mateo Point. San Mateo Point, terminating in cliffs about 60 feet (18.3 m) high is the north head at the mouth of San Mateo Creek. Both the San Mateo and San Onofre Creeks are crossed by trestleworks. From San Mateo Point to San Juan Point, about 8 miles, the land is higher and more rugged, and is broken by the San Juan Capistrano Valley and River, about 12 miles eastward of San Juan Point. The railway and Pacific Highway run along the beach under the bluffs in this stretch of the coast to the San Juan Capistrano Valley. There is an aero beacon, prominent from seaward, on San Mateo Point. San Clemente, population 667 (1930 census), 2 miles northward from San Mateo Point, is a small town scattered over a large area. All the houses are white with red tiled roofs, which makes the town conspicuous from seaward. There is a small pleasure pier. San Juan Point, 54 miles northwestward from Point Loma, is the seaward end of a high ridge. The spur forming the point ends in a moderately bold sandstone cliff 220 feet (67 m) high, with a precipitous broken face, and outlying rocks and ledges extend offshore for 350 yards. San Juan Rock, 10 feet (3.0 m) high, is about 50 feet in extent and lies 340 yards southward of the highest point on the cliff. There is an aero beacon, prominent from seaward, on the point. San Juan Capistrano Anchorage, now seldom used, lies 116° true (E. by S. mag.) from San Juan Point, in about 51/2 fathoms (10 m) outside the kelp. Small vessels with local knowledge may anchor inside the kelp in 3 fathoms (5.5 m) 3% mile from the beach with San Juan Point bearing 279° true (W. 12 S. mag.). There is a pleasure pier and several prominent buildings along the beach. San Juan Capistrano, population 784 (1930 census), is a small town 211⁄2 miles inland. It is the location of an old mission founded in 1776. Some of the buildings are still in a fair state of preservation. From San Juan Point to Newport Bay, 12 miles, the coast is bold, with rocky cliffs 40 to 100 feet (12.2 to 30.5 m) high, which are the seaward ends of ridges transverse to the coast, separated by narrow deep valleys. Laguna, a summer resort with a small pleasure pier, lies midway in this stretch. Santiago Mountain, 5,685 feet (1,733 m) high, double-headed and dark in contrast with the immediate coast range, is the dominant feature of this part of the coast. It lies 17 miles northwestward of San Juan Point and is visible 80 miles. Newport Bay (chart 5108) is an extensive lagoon which has undergone considerable improvement in recent years, with more developments contemplated. A jetty 2,100 feet long has been constructed from the west point of the entrance of the bay, and one about 750 feet long from the east point. These jetties are to be extended. In January 1934, the controlling depth over the bar and in a narrow channel along the west jetty into the bay was 15 feet (4.6 m). The entrance is marked by a bell buoy off the end of the west jetty, and by a flashing white light on the outer end of that jetty. Three small buoys, maintained by local interests and shifted from time to time, mark the entrance channel at its narrowest part. There was a depth of 10 feet (3.0 m) in the north channel to the railroad bridge and 8 feet (2.4 m) in the south channel toward the town. The channel leads to the west end of the town, approximately 4 miles, where the fishing and yachting fleets anchor. Storm warning displays are shown by the United States Weather Bureau from a tower at the life-saving station on the high ground just back of the entrance. Pilots and small towboats may be obtained by signaling the lifesaving station, but this service is maintained during the summer season only. Supplies.—Gasoline, water, provisions, and ship chandlery may be obtained. Repairs.-There are facilities for repairing launches and small craft only. Communication.-There is communication by rail, trolley, and motor truck with the interior, also telegraph and telephone facilities. The city of Santa Ana is situated 10 miles back from Newport Bay. Newport Pier is no longer used for commercial purposes. There is a pleasure pier at Balboa. Winds. Severe storms are rare. The "Santa Ana " is an exceptional wind from the northeast to eastward, that blows with great violence, although of short duration (see discussion under Los Angeles Harbor). The outside anchorage is open but good holding ground can be had westward of Newport Pier in 7 fathoms (12.8 m) sticky bottom, blue mud. Landmarks.-An aero beacon is located on the high ground in back of Lido Island and 3⁄44 of a mile back from the beach. About 1 mile back from the beach, in this same vicinity, is a light colored concrete school building with a high tower. About 4 miles west of the jetty, and on the high ground immediately back of the beach rises a lone oil derrick, the west timbers of which have been painted white. A half mile northward of this derrick lies a group of concrete reservoir tanks surmounted by a tall black tank. Newport Beach, population 2,203 (1930 census), is a summer resort and is the name of the general locality on Newport Bay. From Newport Bay to Point Fermin, nearly 20 miles, the coast is low with several lagoons in the vicinity of the beach. The country is treeless and has been largely built up in recent years. The towns and resorts along the beach are nearly continuous. Huntington Beach, population 3,690 (1930 census), lies about 5 miles northwestward from Newport Bay. There is a concrete fishing and pleasure pier, but no landing facilities. The city is identified by the numerous oil derricks. The tower of the Huntington Beach Union High School, about 1 mile back from the beach, is prominent. Seal Beach, population 1,156 (1930 census), is a city about 7 miles northwestward from Huntington Beach. There is a short pleasure pier with a small tower at its outer end, and numerous resort structures along the beach. A high concrete chimney from a power house at Seal Beach affords an excellent landmark along this section of the coast. It is flood-lighted at night and in clear weather is visible for 15 miles at sea in the daytime and 10 miles at night. Long Beach, population 142,032 (1930 census), lies 6 miles northeastward of Point Fermin. It is easily recognized by a cluster of high office buildings just back of the beach. There are several pleasure and fishing piers extending out beyond the surf line and numerous resort structures along the beach. Long Beach has a deep-water harbor which is described under a separate heading following. Signal Hill rises to a height of 355 feet (108 m) about 2 miles back from the beach, and is literally covered by oil derricks by which it is readily recognized. Signal Hill is shown on chart 5143 as Los Cerritos. San Pedro Bay and Harbor and Wilmington, now combined under the name of Los Angeles Harbor, are described under a separate heading following. San Pedro Hill, 1,479 feet (451 m) high, is a prominent landmark and the distinguishing feature for making San Pedro Bay from eastward or westward. It terminates seaward in steep, rocky cliffs about 60 feet (18.2 m) high, with several horizontal terraces between them and the summit. Point Fermin, the southeast extremity of San Pedro Hill, is a bold cliff 100 feet (30.5 m) high. Point Fermin Lighthouse is a white square tower on dwelling, situated near the end of the point. The light is a group flashing white light (flash 1 second, eclipse 2 seconds, flash 1 second, eclipse 6 seconds; period 10 seconds), 154 feet (47 m) above high water and visible 18 miles. A radio direction finder station, call NPZ, is located near the light. A rock, with 3 feet (0.9 m) over it, lies 1/4 mile 137° true (SE. by E. 14 E. mag.) from the lighthouse and is marked by a whistle. buoy which lies 1/2 mile 150° true (SE. mag.) from the lighthouse. From Point Fermin the coast trends in a general westerly direction about 611⁄2 miles to Point Vicente, the southwest termination of San Pedro Hill, and forms the northern shore of San Pedro Channel, 72870°-34- -4 |